“Write down all these specifications and decrees as they watch so they will be sure to remember and follow them. And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.” (Ezekiel 43:11b–12, NLT)

The above two verses are critical in understanding God’s purpose in leading Ezekiel on a guided tour of the future millennial temple. As the people understood the plans, including the walls, gates, altar, and services, then they would be ashamed of their iniquities and of all the things they had done to offend the LORD.

The walls of the temple were intended to keep out evil. From the beginning, God separated light from darkness and good from evil. It was the job of the priests to help the people discern between the holy and the common, between that which was acceptable and that which was unacceptable. But they had failed to do this. They had permitted the people to mix idolatry with their worship of Yahweh. They had defiled the temple with their abominations. Rather than erecting walls to keep out the evil, they had built a wall between them and God! Their sins had separated them from the LORD to the point that His presence had left the temple.

By understanding the plans of the future temple, they would realize that God required absolute holiness. This was the law and the purpose of the temple. God provided gates because we must “enter through the narrow gate.” Of course, we know that the only way we can enter the presence of God is through the Door of Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

We also know that the altar where sacrifices will be offered points to the cross of Jesus Christ where complete atonement has been made for our sins. Under the Old Covenant the sacrifices looked forward to the atoning work of Christ, but in the future they will be a memorial to what Christ did in the past. Through His one sacrifice He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14).

Finally, the various services and duties of the priests point to our eternal service of Christ. As He came to serve us by laying down His life for us and delivering us from our sins, we are to minister to Him by laying down our lives in holy service both now and forever.

It is true that reading all about walls, gates and cubits can get rather tedious. But all Scripture is profitable if we are willing to dig a little deeper to discover the precious gems beneath the surface.