Sunday June 25, 2017
Dr Daniel Woodhead
Because of The Great Tribulation the earth will undergo many topographical alterations. The central mountain in Israel will become the highest mountain in the entire world. The top of this mountain will have an area that will be fifty miles square (Ezekiel 45:1). It will incorporate a significant number of buildings for the management of the earth’s government during the thousand year reign of the Messiah Jesus during His Messianic Kingdom. This will be the headquarters of the earth for one thousand years. The Lord has revealed to many of the prophets information related to the Millennial Mountain.
There are parallel passages in chapter 6:12 of the book of Zechariah, Revelation 1: 12-16 and in Ezekiel 40:3. All three coupled together identify this figure as the Angel of Jehovah. These passages make it clear that this is a pre-incarnate appearance of Lord Jesus the second person of the Trinity. In fact Zechariah 6:12 clearly demonstrates that this “man” is identified with a title of the “Branch”. The “Branch” is an Old Testament term for the Messiah.
THE MAN WITH THE MEASURING & AND THE MILLENNIAL MOUNTAIN
Ezekiel 40:1-4
1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year,
in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was
smitten, in the selfsame day, the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he
brought me thither. 2
In the visions of God brought he me into the land of
Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, whereon was as it were
the frame of a city on the south. 3
And he brought me thither; and, behold,
there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a
line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4
And
the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with
thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent
that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou
seest to the house of Israel.
GOD PROMISES A SANCTUARY
EZEKIEL 37:26-28
26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an
everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them,
and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27My tabernacle
also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
28And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth Israel, when
my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore (ASV, 1901).
MALACHI 3:1
1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and
the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger
of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts
(ASV, 1901).
This passage is one that embodies the hermeneutical Law of Double Reference. Jesus
spoke the first part of verse 3:1 in the eleventh chapter of the book of Matthew.
2
Matthew 11:10
10This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy
face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee (ASV, 1901).
The second part of verse 1 says that the Lord will suddenly come to His Temple. This is a
direct reference to Jesus Himself coming to the Millennial Temple. By reading the rest of
the text of Malachi chapter one it is apparent that Jesus is talking about a time when He
will come again or as we say the Second Coming.
THE MILLENNIAL MOUNTAIN
Because of The Great Tribulation the earth will undergo many topographical alterations.
The central mountain in Israel will become the highest mountain in the entire world. The
top of this mountain will have an area that will be fifty miles square (Ezekiel 45:1). It will
incorporate a significant number of buildings for the management of the earth’s
government during the thousand year reign of the Messiah Jesus during His Messianic
Kingdom. This will be the headquarters of the earth for one thousand years. The Lord has
revealed to many of the prophets information related to the Millennial Mountain.
Isaiah 2:2-4
2
And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s
house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3
And many peoples shall go
and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house
of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his
paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from
Jerusalem. 4
And he will judge between the nations, and will decide
concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more (ASV, 1901).
Frequently the Scripture’s designations of mountains denote governmental authorities
(Daniel 2:35; Amos 4:1). The Millennial Mountain described here is where God will rule
the government of the earth from the temple. Verse two states that the mountain upon
which The Lord’s House will stand will be the highest of all the mountains in the world.
It will also be the most exulted of any in the world. Everybody in the world will come in
pilgrimage so as to learn the ways of God because the Law of the Millennial Kingdom
will come forth from this mountain. The net result will be that the entire world will be at
peace. This will only be because disputes between the nations will be settled by the Word
of the Lord. The Messiah will decide their grievances and they will no longer use war as
a means to settle differences. Their weapons will be refashioned into tools for peaceful
purposes. God also says through the prophet Isaiah that the nation Israel will be called to
this mountain as a center of worship.
3
Isaiah 27:13
13And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown;
and they shall come that were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and they
that were outcasts in the land of Egypt; and they shall worship Jehovah in the
holy mountain at Jerusalem (ASV, 1901).
While the nation Israel are the first chosen elect of the Lord’s people, all nations will be
coming to the Great Mountain in the Messianic Kingdom. Sabbath keeping which has not
been commanded during the Church Age will return during the thousand year reign of the
Messiah as the Lord’s New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) will be followed.
Isaiah 56:6-8
6
Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him,
and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keepeth
the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant; 7
even them will
I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer:
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8
The Lord
Jehovah, who gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others
to him, besides his own that are gathered (ASV, 1901).
Even though the Gentiles will be co-heirs of the glorious Messianic Kingdom they will
bring the Jews to the Mountain.
Isaiah 66:20
20And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation
unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules,
and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the
children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of
Jehovah (ASV, 1901).
The Lord also spoke through the prophet Micah regarding His Millennial Mountain.
Micah 2:2-4
But in the latter days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of Jehovah’s
house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted
above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it. 2
And many nations shall go
and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the
house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk
in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah
from Jerusalem (ASV, 1901).
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Micah received nearly the same information as Isaiah which emphasizes its importance to
the Lord. He also was privy to learn that The Millennial Mountain will be the highest, be
exulted above all and God’s Law would proceed from it. It will be the center of the
world’s government activities. Ezekiel received the most information regarding the
Millennial Mountain as well as the Temple that will be erected during that time.
Ezekiel 20:40-41
40For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the
Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the
land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the
firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 41As a sweet savor will
I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of
the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you
in the sight of the nations (ASV, 1901).
After the national regeneration of the nation Israel at the end of the Tribulation the Jews
will worship on the Millennial Mountain. It will be a center of their worship as they
conduct the services that the Lord will require during that time. In these verses the Lord
describes what He will have them do in terms of offerings and oblations. The Mountain
will be holy in that the Messiah will dwell there for a thousand years and will conduct
holy rituals there in the Millennial Temple. More detail regarding the dimensions of the
various aspects of this Mountain and its structures will be provided in chapter forty-five.
Diagram by the author, Daniel E. Woodhead
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THE MAN WITH THE MEASURING ROD
Ezekiel 40:1-4
1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year,
in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was
smitten, in the selfsame day, the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he
brought me thither. 2
In the visions of God brought he me into the land of
Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, whereon was as it were
the frame of a city on the south. 3
And he brought me thither; and, behold,
there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a
line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4
And
the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with
thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent
that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou
seest to the house of Israel (ASV, 1901).
The vision of the new Temple was given to Ezekiel in the year 572 B.C. This was in the
twenty-fifth year of the exile and the fourteenth year after the Babylonians had sacked the
city in 586 B.C. At the time of this experience Ezekiel was spiritual transported from
Babylon again to Israel to see the new city of Jerusalem as it will look restored for the
Millennium. He has been transported back several times to see the wicked practices of
the religious leaders and the Babylonian’s last invasion. This prophecy and spiritual
experience was separated by a period of thirteen years. The last dated prophecy was
provided in chapter 32:17. The remainder of this book may be segmented in large
measure as follows:
1. The New Temple (40:1-43:12)
2. The New Worship of God (43:13-46:24)
3. The New Appointment of the Land Among The Tribes (47:1-48:35).
This prophecy’s designation is important to the Jewish calendar. Ezekiel saw the earlier
departure of the Shekinah Glory from the Temple of Solomon due to the gross sins of the
Israelites (Ezekiel 10:18). Now he is receiving the images of the restored Jerusalem and
the Millennial Mountain. The departure of the Shekinah Glory was in the thirtieth year of
the fifty year of the Jubilee (Hebrew yovel). This was the fifth year of the exile of king
Jehoiachin. Therefore twenty years remained in the Jubilee cycle. Add six more to
Zedekiah the successor king until the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. As Ezekiel
said, “in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten.” This brings this prophecy to
the year of the Jubilee. The New Year or Rosh HaShanah is the tenth of the month of
Tishri. Since all debts and slaves are released on this date, The Day of Atonement in the
Jubilee Year, God chose this special time and date to show Ezekiel this massive prophecy.
It means that they would finally be released from bondage in the world, have a new
Temple and He would no longer remember their sins. From the Mosaic Law we see the
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precursor regulations that God had planned for this release. Remember God never goes
back on His Word.
Leviticus 25:8-12
8
And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven
years; and there shall be unto thee the days of seven sabbaths of years, even
forty and nine years. 9
Then shalt thou send abroad the loud trumpet on the
tenth day of the seventh month; in the day of atonement shall ye send abroad
the trumpet throughout all your land. 10And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year,
and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it
shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession,
and ye shall return every man unto his family. 11A jubilee shall that fiftieth
year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself
in it, nor gather the grapes in it of the undressed vines. 12For it is a jubilee; it
shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field (ASV,
1901).
As to their release they Law said, “and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his
possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.” In other words they will
finally be completely free and shall have all their possessions returned namely the Land
promised to Abraham. Further Israel will become the head of the nations of the world as
God also stated in the Law. Because of the New Covenant they will be sinless and
therefore able to keep God’s Law and receive the blessings He will provide them in the
Millennial Kingdom.
Deuteronomy 28:13-14
13And Jehovah will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be
above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the
commandments of Jehovah thy God, which I command thee this day, to
observe and to do them, 14and shalt not turn aside from any of the words
which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after
other gods to serve them (ASV, 1901).
Now God chose this special time to show the prophet His New Temple for the Messianic
Kingdom. God showed Ezekiel the New Temple as well as the destruction of Solomon’s
Temple to console the exiled House of Israel while they were in Babylon. Additionally
the Jews have had this comfort to look forward to throughout the ages as they have been
persecuted and chastised by many countries, people groups and ecclesiastical
organizations. God wanted to inspire them not to lose hope in that some day they will
return to the Land with a temple that will vastly surpass the old one. Just Isaiah and
Micah before Ezekiel had been blessed to see, he too saw a very high mountain which
had the skyline of a city on its southern side (v. 2). As will be affirmed later in this book,
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this city is the Millennial Jerusalem. Then a message is spoken to the prophet that he is
about to be given certain revelations which he is to declare to the House of Israel.
Then appeared in the vision the man with the line of flax and the measuring reed.
Zachariah beheld such a man with a measuring line in his hand to measure Jerusalem.
Zechariah 2:1-5
“1
And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a man with a measuring line in
his hand. 2
Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure
Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. 3
And,
behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to
meet him, 4
and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem
shall be inhabited as villages without walls, by reason of the multitude of men and
cattle therein. 5
For I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about,
and I will be the glory in the midst of her.” (ASV, 1901)
In Zechariah’s vision there is a near-term view and a far-term view. The near-term view is the
rebuilding of the city, and especially the Temple, by Ezra and Zerubbabel. The far-term view
looks to the Millennial Kingdom when Jesus returns and Jerusalem will become the capital of
the world with Jesus seated on David’s throne running the government of the world (Isaiah
9:6).
In this vision there are three participants, The Messiah, the communicating angel and
Zechariah. As the vision comes to Zechariah, he receives the communication from God and is
alerted to it with the word “behold”. The man with the measuring line is not clearly identified
by the Hebrew text in this verse. There are parallel passages in chapter 1:8; and 6:12 of the
book of Zechariah, and in Ezekiel 40:3. All three coupled together identify this figure as the
Angel of Jehovah. These passages make it clear that this is a pre-incarnate appearance of Lord
Jesus the second person of the Trinity. In fact Zechariah 6:12 clearly demonstrates that this
“man” is identified with a title of the “Branch”. The “Branch” is an Old Testament term for
the Messiah.
NEXT MESSAGE: THE PROPHECY AGAINST PART III OF THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
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