THE TEMPLE The description mentioned here, needs some concentration; because of the difficulty that faced some of those who tried to interpret it. 1- The Temple a- Dimensions of its doorposts 1. b- The entryway to the temple 2. c- The wall and the side chambers 5-6. d- The foundations of the chambers; their walls, and doors 8-11. e- Dimensions of the temple 13. 2- The Holy of the Holies 3-4. 3- A separate outer building 12-15. 4- The building design 7; 16-17. 5- The decorations 18-20. 6- The altar of incense and the table 22. 7- The doors 23-26. 1,2- THE SANCTUARY AND THE HOLY OF HOLIES The dimensions of the sanctuary and the Holy of the Holies were as follows: The sanctuary is 40 cubits x 20 cubits (Ez 41:2); while the Holy of the Holies is 20 cubits x 20 cubits (Ez 41:4). But these figures seem to include the chambers surrounding the building on all sides (Ez 41:5): north; south, and west (as the east side represents the gate or the entrance). Thus the dimensions of the whole building, except for the east are: (60 cubits on the north; 60 cubits on the south; 20 cubits on the west). So if the width of the surrounding chambers is 4 cubits, the building would have 33 chambers (Ez 41:6), that surround the sanctuary and the Holy of the Holies on the three sides: 15 chambers on the north side, 15 chambers on the south, and 3 chambers on the west. It is to be noticed that the entryway is very wide (10 cubits Ez 41:2), to accommodate all who wish to enter to the sanctuaries of God, and to let all humanity enjoy the divine bosoms. In verse 3 it is to be noticed that the prophet Ezekiel did not enter the Holy of the Holies; It was not said: “He took me inside,” but said: “He went inside...” as the High Priest alone may enter it once every year; a reference to the Lord Christ the Most High Priest, Who alone can enter into the bosom of God the Father, offering His own blood as atonement for our sins, so that we may enter by and in Him! The 33 chambers that surround the whole building, may refer to manhood of the Lord Christ, in whom the Divinity is hidden. Through it, the believers dwell as members in His body. 3- THE SEPARATE OUTER BUILDING On the far west, beside the wall, there was a huge building (90 cubits x 70 cubits); that was probably used as a storehouse. Some believe that this is a prophecy about another building; namely, the Church of the Gentiles. As though God was waiting for the predestined time to receive everyone, through faith in Him, to enjoy the fellowship in the body of Christ. 5 4- THE BUILDING DESIGN The walls at the base were very thick; then become thinner in the middle; and more so at the top; thus the higher we go up, the thickness of the wall becomes less; and the width of the structure increases (Ez 41:7). So is the Christian: the more his heart rises to heaven, the lighter would his body become (the wall); the more spacious his heart would be with love; and the more spacious his soul would be; for God to dwell in him with His kingdom and glories. The Lord Christ carried our body hidden behind our wall (Song 2:9). Yet He did not carry it heavy with sins. But likened us in everything except for sin alone. That is why His body was light - not in the material sense, but the spiritual - He could walk on water and not drown (Mat 14:25); while the apostle Peter, when the sin of doubt entered his heart, his body became dense or heavy, and he almost drowned; but when the Lord held his hand and lifted him up, he became light, and the water could not drown him. The same thing the prophet Elisha did, when he threw the stick (the cross of Christ) in the water, and made the heavy iron ax float on the surface of the water. It is as though we do not need to take off the body - that is the wall - but to have it sanctified by our union with the body of Christ, our nature would be blessed in Him; our body would be much lighter; and our heart would become more spacious for His Kingdom1. The whole building from the inside - the sanctuary and the Holy of the Holies - was paneled with wood from the ground to the windows, and on every wall all around etc. (Ez 41:16, 17), so that the whole building from inside would appear as though one single wooden unit, hiding behind it the versatile rocky structure. That is a proclamation of the unity of the one body of Christ, or of the resurrection of us all as one body hidden behind the cross; no one with any prominence over another. In the cross - as I said before2 - there would be one vertical unity, and another horizontal one: unity of heaven with earth, and unity of the earthliness together. Concerning this, St. Irenaeus says: [The One who gathers all in Himself, was hanged on a tree3.] St. Gregory of Nyssa says: [The cross is the way to unite all the world4.] St. Cyril of Jerusalem says: [On the cross, the Lord stretched His hands to embrace the far ends of the world5.] St. Hippolytus of Rome says: [The cross is Jacob’s ladder; that tree of heavenly dimensions extended from earth to heaven as an eternal plant, to lift all the world up... and to embrace together various kinds of human nature.] 5- THE DECORATIONS The two units of decoration are the cherubim and the palm tree: A palm tree between a cherub and another. Every cherub has two faces: a face of a man on one side, and the face of lion on the other (Ez 41:18, 19). It is a magnificent portrait of the Church that embraces humanity, holy in the Lord (the palm trees), united with the heavenliness, who do not stand passively, but gaze at us looking each with a face like humans; namely have our feelings; and another like a lion, a reference to their spiritual strength, and their help to us in Christ Jesus. . 1 ا رجع للمؤلف: سفر الخروج، 1981 ، ص 95 2 Cf. The Commentary on Ez 37:15-28. 3 Adv. Haer. 5:17:4. . 4 المؤلف الكنیسة بیت اللّه، 1979 ، ص 333 5 Cat. Lect. 13:28. 6 6- THE ALTAR OF INCENSE AND THE TABLE Here, the altar of incense appears as being made of wood; as it refers to our prayers risen in the presence of God through the cross. The table refers to the altar of the New Testament, on which the sacrifice of the Eucharist - the bread of life - is offered. 7- THE DOORS These doors are more spacious than those of the Old Testament; as the way to heaven is opened before all nations through the preaching of the gospel. 7 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 41 THE NEW TEMPLE Set in me the sanctuary and the Holy of the Holies; Dwell in me; And let my heart be filled with love for Your saints and Your angels. What are these 33 chambers that surround the temple; But a symbol of Your manhood; You who lived those years among us?! What is that spacious door, but to accommodate every man; To enter into Your Father’s bosom?! How amazing is the design of Your temple: It starts very thick at the base; then gets thinner with height. Will You lift up my heart, to relieve me of the weight of my body! To become light, lifted up by the Spirit; The waters of the world would be unable to devour me! You paneled the whole building with wood, to turn it into an amazing unit, as one single wooden unit! Surround my brothers and I by the wood of Your cross, the Grantor of life and reconciliation. You adorned the temple of my heart by units of Cherubim and palm trees. As though by the unity of the heavenliness with the saints. Each cherub has two faces: one like human and another like a lion; I see the heavenliness as though they are humans who share my love; I see them also like lions that strongly watch over me; May glory be to You, Who connected us to Your heavenly creation! How beautiful is the wooden altar of incense?! On it I offer my prayers in the worthiness of the wood of the cross! How beautiful is the table?! From which I get fulfilled by Your holy body and precious blood! How spacious are the doors of Your new temple! Spacious enough to invite all humanity to the heavenly gospel life!
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