Does God through Daniel interpret a prophetic dream of five successive kingdoms, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and a final kingdom without end? Let’s begin in Daniel 2.
How did Nebuchadnezzar handle his vivid and troubling dream?
Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king said to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. Then the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: (Dan 2:1-4a LSB)
From halfway through verse 4 did the language shift from Hebrew to Babylonian Aramaic? Does Nebuchadnezzar demand that the wisest men in the kingdom both interpret his dream, and tell him what it was? Does this expose human wisdom at the highest levels of human governments as helpless?
“O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” The king replied to the Chaldeans, “The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be turned into a rubbish heap. But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.” (Dan 2:4b-6 NASB)
Does the king accuse them of stalling and deception? Is this still common in human government? Who alone reveals divine truth?
Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.” (Dan 2:7-9 NIV)
Do the royal advisors finally confess that it is humanly impossible to reveal the content of his dream?
The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” (Dan 2:10-11 NKJV)
In a rage, did the king want to execute every royal advisor in Babylon, including Daniel and his friends?
The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends. (Dan 2:12-13 NLT)
Did Daniel answer the matter with calm wisdom and bold faith?
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. (Dan 2:14-16 WEB)
Did Daniel and his friends respond to the crisis by turning to God in prayer?
Then Daniel went to his house and explained the situation to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah so that they would ask the God of heaven for help about this mystery, in hopes that Daniel and his friends wouldn’t die with the rest of Babylon’s sages. Then, in a vision by night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel! Daniel praised the God of heaven: (Dan 2:17-19 CEB)
Does Daniel acknowledge God as revealer of the king’s dream and its meaning?
Our God, your name will be praised forever and forever. You are all-powerful, and you know everything. You control human events—you give rulers their power and take it away, and you are the source of wisdom and knowledge.
You explain deep mysteries, because even the dark is light to you. You are the God who was worshiped by my ancestors. Now I thank you and praise you for making me wise and telling me the king's dream, together with its meaning. (Dan 2:20-23 CEV)
Did Daniel then request an audience with the king to explain what God had revealed?
Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” (Dan 2:24 ESV)
Did Arioch, the king’s official, take personal credit for finding the solution rather than acknowledging God's providence?
Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the Judean exiles who can let the king know the interpretation.” The king said in reply to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation?” (Dan 2:25-26 HCSB)
The exact opposite of Arioch, did Daniel acknowledge God as the one who reveals secrets?
By way of answer, Daniel addressed the king: “None of the advisors, enchanters, diviners, or astrologers can explain the secret that the king has requested to be made known. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he is making known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. (Dan 2:27-28a ISV)
Humbly, did Daniel acknowledge his inability to know dreams, but by God alone?
Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. (Dan 2:28b-30 KJV)
Does Daniel begin revealing the dream was of a large statue?
You, O king, were looking, and behold, there was a single great image; that image, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was rising up in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. The head of that image was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. (Dan 2:31-33 LSB)
What happened to a mysterious stone that struck the feet of the massive statue?
You continued watching until a stone was broken off without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed to pieces all at the same time, and they were like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth. (Dan 2:34-35 NASB)
Who was the head of gold on the statue in the king’s dream?
This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. (Dan 2:36-38 NIV)
What about the rest of the statue, what did it reveal about future kingdoms?
But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Dan 2:39-43 NKJV)
Will God then establish an everlasting kingdom that ends all human empires?
During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain. (Dan 2:44-45 NLT)
Did Nebuchadnezzar then acknowledge God as the God of gods?
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” (Dan 2:46-47 WEB)
Did God then give the four young men high offices in the land?
Then the king exalted Daniel and lavished gifts on him, making him ruler over all the province of Babylon and chief minister over all Babylon’s sages. At Daniel’s urging, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administer the province of Babylon, but Daniel himself remained at the royal court. (Dan 2:48-49 CEB)
Had Gabriel announced to Mary that Jesus will reign over a kingdom without end?
He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:32–33 CEV)
Does God through Daniel interpret a prophetic dream of five successive kingdoms, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and a final kingdom without end? You decide!
No Compromise (Daniel 1)
What is the story of four young Jewish men exiled to Babylon? Is God in control even in bad circumstances? What is a reasonable compromise with culture versus lines we cannot cross? Let’s begin in Daniel 1.
Is the setting the captivity of Jewish exiles in Babylon?
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. (Dan 1:1-2 NKJV)
How were Daniel and his companions selected for special training by the king?
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. (Dan 1:3-5 NLT)
How were the four young men given Babylonian names?
Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. (Dan 1:6-7 WEB)
Daniel did not seem concerned by a foreign name, but what did he refuse?
Daniel decided that he wouldn’t pollute himself with the king’s rations or the royal wine, and he appealed to the chief official in hopes that he wouldn’t have to do so. Now God had established faithful loyalty between Daniel and the chief official; but the chief official said to Daniel, “I’m afraid of my master, the king, who has mandated what you are to eat and drink. What will happen if he sees your faces looking thinner than the other young men in your group? The king will have my head because of you!” (Dan 1:8-10 CEB)
What agreement did he make with the guard in order for him to follow his conscience?
The king's official had put a guard in charge of Daniel and his three friends. So Daniel said to the guard, “For the next ten days, let us have only vegetables and water at mealtime. When the ten days are up, compare how we look with the other young men, and decide what to do with us.” The guard agreed to do what Daniel had asked. (Dan 1:11-14 CEV)
What was the result of the ten day food experiment?
At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. (Dan 1:15-16 ESV)
Regardless of whether the food was offered to idols or unclean or both, did God then bless the four uncompromising young men even in captivity?
God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. (Dan 1:17 HCSB)
How exceptionally blessed did the four young men become because of their faithfulness?
Then at the end of the training period that the king had established, the chief officer brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. When the king spoke to them, none of them compared to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah as they stood before the king. In every matter of wisdom or understanding that the king discussed with them, he found them ten times superior to all the astrologers and enchanters in his entire palace. So Daniel remained there in service until the first year of King Cyrus. (Dan 1:18-21 ISV)
Is there a principle that Paul also addresses in regards to the moral stance taken by the four young men?
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:1–2 KJV)
What is the story of four young Jewish men exiled to Babylon? Is God in control even in bad circumstances? What is a reasonable compromise with culture versus lines we cannot cross? You decide!
Is the setting the captivity of Jewish exiles in Babylon?
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. (Dan 1:1-2 NKJV)
How were Daniel and his companions selected for special training by the king?
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. (Dan 1:3-5 NLT)
How were the four young men given Babylonian names?
Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. (Dan 1:6-7 WEB)
Daniel did not seem concerned by a foreign name, but what did he refuse?
Daniel decided that he wouldn’t pollute himself with the king’s rations or the royal wine, and he appealed to the chief official in hopes that he wouldn’t have to do so. Now God had established faithful loyalty between Daniel and the chief official; but the chief official said to Daniel, “I’m afraid of my master, the king, who has mandated what you are to eat and drink. What will happen if he sees your faces looking thinner than the other young men in your group? The king will have my head because of you!” (Dan 1:8-10 CEB)
What agreement did he make with the guard in order for him to follow his conscience?
The king's official had put a guard in charge of Daniel and his three friends. So Daniel said to the guard, “For the next ten days, let us have only vegetables and water at mealtime. When the ten days are up, compare how we look with the other young men, and decide what to do with us.” The guard agreed to do what Daniel had asked. (Dan 1:11-14 CEV)
What was the result of the ten day food experiment?
At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. (Dan 1:15-16 ESV)
Regardless of whether the food was offered to idols or unclean or both, did God then bless the four uncompromising young men even in captivity?
God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. (Dan 1:17 HCSB)
How exceptionally blessed did the four young men become because of their faithfulness?
Then at the end of the training period that the king had established, the chief officer brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. When the king spoke to them, none of them compared to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah as they stood before the king. In every matter of wisdom or understanding that the king discussed with them, he found them ten times superior to all the astrologers and enchanters in his entire palace. So Daniel remained there in service until the first year of King Cyrus. (Dan 1:18-21 ISV)
Is there a principle that Paul also addresses in regards to the moral stance taken by the four young men?
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:1–2 KJV)
What is the story of four young Jewish men exiled to Babylon? Is God in control even in bad circumstances? What is a reasonable compromise with culture versus lines we cannot cross? You decide!
The Lord is There (Ezekiel 48)
Does Ezekiel conclude with re-division of the promised land, and a new name of the restored city? Let’s look at Ezekiel 48.
What was the first and northernmost land allotment for the restored twelve tribes of Israel?
Here is the list of the tribes of Israel and the territory each is to receive. The territory of Dan is in the extreme north. Its boundary line follows the Hethlon road to Lebo-hamath and then runs on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north. Dan’s territory extends all the way across the land of Israel from east to west. (Ezek 48:1 NLT)
What were the allotments of northern tribes (Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Judah)?
By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion. By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion. By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.
By the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion. By the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, Reuben, one portion. By the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion. (Ezek 48:2-7 WEB)
Did God set apart a sacred, centralized district of land, placing the sanctuary and worship of God at the heart of the nation?
Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the portion which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits in breadth, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the midst of it. The portion that you shall set apart for the Lord shall be 25,000 cubits in length, and 20,000 in breadth. (Ezek 48:8-9 ESV)
How does Ezekiel outline the special land portion set apart for the descendants of Zadok, the faithful priests?
The holy Terumah [portion] is to be reserved for these, the priests: Toward the north, 25,000 units in length; toward the west, 10,000 units in width; toward the east, 10,000 units in width; and toward the south, 25,000 units in length. The Lord’s sanctuary is to be in its midst.
It is to be for use by priests from the descendants of Zadok, who have observed the things with which I charged them and who did not wander astray when the Israelis went astray, just as the descendants of Levi wandered astray.
It is to be a Terumah for them from the allotment of the land, a Most Holy Place, adjoining the border of the descendants of Levi. (Ezek 48:10-12 ISV)
Did the specific land allotment for the Levites belong permanently to God and cannot be bought, sold, or traded?
And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord. (Ezek 48:13-14 KJV)
Will there be common land and open spaces surrounding the city?
And the remainder, 5,000 cubits in width and 25,000 in length, shall be for common use for the city, for places of habitation, and for open spaces; and the city shall be in its midst.
And these shall be its measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.
And the city shall have open spaces: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250 cubits, on the east 250 cubits, and on the west 250 cubits. (Ezek 48:15-17 LSB)
Was there agricultural land to feed the workers who serve the central city in Ezekiel’s vision?
The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment shall be ten thousand cubits toward the east and ten thousand toward the west; and it shall be alongside the holy allotment. And its produce shall be food for the workers of the city.
And the workers of the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it. The whole allotment shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits; you shall set apart the holy allotment, a square, with the property of the city. (Ezek 48:18-20 NASB)
What was the allocation of land for the leader of Israel flanking the central sacred district?
What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.
So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin. (Ezek 48:21-22 NIV)
What are the southern tribal land allotments (Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad) in Ezekiel’s vision?
As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west, Benjamin shall have one section; by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon shall have one section; by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar shall have one section; by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun shall have one section; by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad shall have one section; by the border of Gad, on the south side, toward the South, the border shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea.
This is the land which you shall divide by lot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 48:23-29 NKJV)
Do we have Ezekiel’s final vision of a restored city where the twelve tribes of Israel are fully reconciled and God's presence dwells permanently among His people?
These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. On the east side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.
On the south side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun. On the west side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There [Yahweh-Shammah]. (Ezek 48:30-35 ESV)
Does this echo a prophecy recorded by John in the book of Revelation?
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev 21:3 HCSB)
Does Ezekiel conclude with re-division of the promised land, and a new name of the restored city? You decide!
What was the first and northernmost land allotment for the restored twelve tribes of Israel?
Here is the list of the tribes of Israel and the territory each is to receive. The territory of Dan is in the extreme north. Its boundary line follows the Hethlon road to Lebo-hamath and then runs on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north. Dan’s territory extends all the way across the land of Israel from east to west. (Ezek 48:1 NLT)
What were the allotments of northern tribes (Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Judah)?
By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion. By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion. By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.
By the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion. By the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, Reuben, one portion. By the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion. (Ezek 48:2-7 WEB)
Did God set apart a sacred, centralized district of land, placing the sanctuary and worship of God at the heart of the nation?
Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the portion which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits in breadth, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the midst of it. The portion that you shall set apart for the Lord shall be 25,000 cubits in length, and 20,000 in breadth. (Ezek 48:8-9 ESV)
How does Ezekiel outline the special land portion set apart for the descendants of Zadok, the faithful priests?
The holy Terumah [portion] is to be reserved for these, the priests: Toward the north, 25,000 units in length; toward the west, 10,000 units in width; toward the east, 10,000 units in width; and toward the south, 25,000 units in length. The Lord’s sanctuary is to be in its midst.
It is to be for use by priests from the descendants of Zadok, who have observed the things with which I charged them and who did not wander astray when the Israelis went astray, just as the descendants of Levi wandered astray.
It is to be a Terumah for them from the allotment of the land, a Most Holy Place, adjoining the border of the descendants of Levi. (Ezek 48:10-12 ISV)
Did the specific land allotment for the Levites belong permanently to God and cannot be bought, sold, or traded?
And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord. (Ezek 48:13-14 KJV)
Will there be common land and open spaces surrounding the city?
And the remainder, 5,000 cubits in width and 25,000 in length, shall be for common use for the city, for places of habitation, and for open spaces; and the city shall be in its midst.
And these shall be its measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.
And the city shall have open spaces: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250 cubits, on the east 250 cubits, and on the west 250 cubits. (Ezek 48:15-17 LSB)
Was there agricultural land to feed the workers who serve the central city in Ezekiel’s vision?
The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment shall be ten thousand cubits toward the east and ten thousand toward the west; and it shall be alongside the holy allotment. And its produce shall be food for the workers of the city.
And the workers of the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it. The whole allotment shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits; you shall set apart the holy allotment, a square, with the property of the city. (Ezek 48:18-20 NASB)
What was the allocation of land for the leader of Israel flanking the central sacred district?
What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.
So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin. (Ezek 48:21-22 NIV)
What are the southern tribal land allotments (Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad) in Ezekiel’s vision?
As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west, Benjamin shall have one section; by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon shall have one section; by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar shall have one section; by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun shall have one section; by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad shall have one section; by the border of Gad, on the south side, toward the South, the border shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the Great Sea.
This is the land which you shall divide by lot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 48:23-29 NKJV)
Do we have Ezekiel’s final vision of a restored city where the twelve tribes of Israel are fully reconciled and God's presence dwells permanently among His people?
These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. On the east side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.
On the south side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun. On the west side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There [Yahweh-Shammah]. (Ezek 48:30-35 ESV)
Does this echo a prophecy recorded by John in the book of Revelation?
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev 21:3 HCSB)
Does Ezekiel conclude with re-division of the promised land, and a new name of the restored city? You decide!
The River of Life (Ezekiel 47)
In his great prophetic vision, did Ezekiel see the river of life and the extent of Israel’s land? Let’s look at Ezekiel 47.
Was there a prophetic vision in which Ezekiel saw water flowing out from beneath the restored temple in Jerusalem?
When he brought me back to the temple’s entrance, I noticed that water was flowing toward the east from under the temple’s threshold (the temple faced east). The water was going out from under the temple’s facade toward the south, south of the altar.
He led me out through the north gate and around the outside to the outer east gate, where the water flowed out under the facade on the south side. (Ezek 47:1-2 CEB)
Was the prophet Ezekiel led through a miraculous, steadily deepening river that flows out from the Temple of God?
Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep.
Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” (Ezek 47:3-6 ESV)
Does the miraculous river flow from the Temple to the Dead Sea, turning salt water fresh and bring life and fish as it goes?
As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.
And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. (Ezek 47:7-9 ESV)
Is this a miraculous millennial transformation of the dead, salty Judean wilderness into a thriving ecosystem teeming with fish and fruit-bearing trees through a life-giving river flowing from the Temple of God?
Fishermen will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim. These will become places where nets are spread out to dry. Their fish will consist of many different kinds, like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt.
All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine. (Ezek 47:10-12 HCSB)
Is the land once again to be divided among the twelve tribes?
This is what the Lord God says: “This is to be the territorial border by which you apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph double-portioned.
Apportion it for their inheritances, distributing everything equally as if you were distributing things to your own brother, which is how I promised to give it to your ancestors. This way, the land will fall to you as an inheritance. (Ezek 47:13-14 ISV)
What is the northern boundary of the restored promised land in the mysterious vision of the temple and kingdom?
And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad; Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran. And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. (Ezek 47:15-17 KJV)
What are the eastern, southern and western boundaries of the restored promised land?
And the east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.
And the south side toward the south shall extend from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt and to the Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.
And the west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the west side. (Ezek 47:18-20 LSB)
Are non-Israelites (sojourners or foreigners) who live and raise families among the tribes of Israel to be granted an equal inheritance of land, treated just like native-born Israelites? Is that different to modern immigration in many countries?
“So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the strangers who stay in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst.
And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel; they shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And in the tribe with which the stranger resides, there you shall give him his inheritance,” declares the Lord God. (Ezek 47:21-23 NASB)
Did John also see a similar vision of the river of the water of life, lending credence to a possible millennial interpretation of Ezekiel’s vision?
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22:1–2 NIV)
In his great prophetic vision, did Ezekiel see the river of life and the extent of Israel’s land? You decide!
Was there a prophetic vision in which Ezekiel saw water flowing out from beneath the restored temple in Jerusalem?
When he brought me back to the temple’s entrance, I noticed that water was flowing toward the east from under the temple’s threshold (the temple faced east). The water was going out from under the temple’s facade toward the south, south of the altar.
He led me out through the north gate and around the outside to the outer east gate, where the water flowed out under the facade on the south side. (Ezek 47:1-2 CEB)
Was the prophet Ezekiel led through a miraculous, steadily deepening river that flows out from the Temple of God?
Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep.
Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” (Ezek 47:3-6 ESV)
Does the miraculous river flow from the Temple to the Dead Sea, turning salt water fresh and bring life and fish as it goes?
As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.
And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. (Ezek 47:7-9 ESV)
Is this a miraculous millennial transformation of the dead, salty Judean wilderness into a thriving ecosystem teeming with fish and fruit-bearing trees through a life-giving river flowing from the Temple of God?
Fishermen will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim. These will become places where nets are spread out to dry. Their fish will consist of many different kinds, like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt.
All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine. (Ezek 47:10-12 HCSB)
Is the land once again to be divided among the twelve tribes?
This is what the Lord God says: “This is to be the territorial border by which you apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph double-portioned.
Apportion it for their inheritances, distributing everything equally as if you were distributing things to your own brother, which is how I promised to give it to your ancestors. This way, the land will fall to you as an inheritance. (Ezek 47:13-14 ISV)
What is the northern boundary of the restored promised land in the mysterious vision of the temple and kingdom?
And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad; Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran. And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. (Ezek 47:15-17 KJV)
What are the eastern, southern and western boundaries of the restored promised land?
And the east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.
And the south side toward the south shall extend from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt and to the Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.
And the west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the west side. (Ezek 47:18-20 LSB)
Are non-Israelites (sojourners or foreigners) who live and raise families among the tribes of Israel to be granted an equal inheritance of land, treated just like native-born Israelites? Is that different to modern immigration in many countries?
“So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the strangers who stay in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst.
And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel; they shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And in the tribe with which the stranger resides, there you shall give him his inheritance,” declares the Lord God. (Ezek 47:21-23 NASB)
Did John also see a similar vision of the river of the water of life, lending credence to a possible millennial interpretation of Ezekiel’s vision?
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22:1–2 NIV)
In his great prophetic vision, did Ezekiel see the river of life and the extent of Israel’s land? You decide!
Worship (Ezekiel 46)
How did God detail the worship role of a leader and offerings in a mysterious temple? What does it mean for us? Let’s look at Ezekiel 46.
What are the opening times of the inner eastern gate, and weekly and monthly roles of the leader?
The east gate of the inner courtyard must remain closed during the six working days of each week. But on the Sabbath and on the first day of the month, this gate will be opened. Israel's ruler will go from the outer courtyard into the entrance room of this gate and stand in the doorway while the priest offers sacrifices to ask my blessing and sacrifices to please me. The ruler will bow with his face to the ground to show that he has worshiped me. Then he will leave, and the gate will remain open until evening. (Ezek 46:1-2 CEV)
What were sacrificial requirements for the people and the prince at the eastern gateway?
The people of the land shall bow down at the entrance of that gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. The burnt offering that the prince offers to the Lord on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish. And the grain offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, together with a hin of oil to each ephah. (Ezek 46:3-5 ESV)
What monthly offerings were required? How should the prince enter and exit?
On the day of the New Moon, the burnt offering is to be a young, unblemished bull, as well as six lambs and a ram without blemish. He will provide a grain offering of half a bushel with the bull, half a bushel with the ram, and whatever he can afford with the lambs, together with a gallon of oil for every half bushel. When the prince enters, he must go in by way of the gate’s portico and go out the same way. (Ezek 46:6-8 HCSB)
What were traffic rules for worshipers and a leader during appointed festival days?
When the people who live in the land come into the Lord’s presence during the festivals, whoever enters through the northern gate is to leave through the southern gate, and whoever enters through the southern gate is to leave through the northern gate. No one is to leave by the same route that he enters, but instead is to go straight out. The Regent Prince is to enter when they are coming in, and he is to leave when they go out. (Ezek 46:9-10 ISV)
What grain and oil offerings were required during appointed times?
And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. (Ezek 46:11 KJV)
What was the protocol for offerings made by the leader outside of regular schedules?
And when the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings as a freewill offering to Yahweh, the gate facing east shall be opened for him. And he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he goes out. (Ezek 46:12 LSB)
What was the daily morning worship requirement of a lamb, grain and oil offering?
And you shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord daily; morning by morning you shall provide it. You shall also provide a grain offering with it morning by morning, a sixth of an ephah and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour, a grain offering to the Lord continually by a permanent ordinance. So they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, morning by morning, as a continual burnt offering. (Ezek 46:13-15 NASB)
Are there moral and legal limits on property ownership, inheritance, and royal power?
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is to be their property by inheritance. If, however, he makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons only; it is theirs. The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property. (Ezek 46:16-18 NIV)
Was there special placement of designated kitchens for the priests?
Now he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which face toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end. And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.” (Ezek 46:19-20 NKJV)
What were the four enclosed, identical kitchens like?
Then he brought me back to the outer courtyard and led me to each of its four corners. In each corner I saw an enclosure. Each of these enclosures was 70 feet [40 cubits] long and 52 1⁄2 feet [30 cubits] wide, surrounded by walls. Along the inside of these walls was a ledge of stone with fireplaces under the ledge all the way around. The man said to me, “These are the kitchens to be used by the Temple assistants to boil the sacrifices offered by the people.” (Ezek 46:21-24 NLT)
If Jesus and the apostles never commanded Sabbath, what rest did Jesus give us?
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. (Mat 11:28-29 WEB)
How did God detail the worship role of a leader and offerings in a mysterious temple? What does it mean for us? You decide!
What are the opening times of the inner eastern gate, and weekly and monthly roles of the leader?
The east gate of the inner courtyard must remain closed during the six working days of each week. But on the Sabbath and on the first day of the month, this gate will be opened. Israel's ruler will go from the outer courtyard into the entrance room of this gate and stand in the doorway while the priest offers sacrifices to ask my blessing and sacrifices to please me. The ruler will bow with his face to the ground to show that he has worshiped me. Then he will leave, and the gate will remain open until evening. (Ezek 46:1-2 CEV)
What were sacrificial requirements for the people and the prince at the eastern gateway?
The people of the land shall bow down at the entrance of that gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. The burnt offering that the prince offers to the Lord on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish. And the grain offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, together with a hin of oil to each ephah. (Ezek 46:3-5 ESV)
What monthly offerings were required? How should the prince enter and exit?
On the day of the New Moon, the burnt offering is to be a young, unblemished bull, as well as six lambs and a ram without blemish. He will provide a grain offering of half a bushel with the bull, half a bushel with the ram, and whatever he can afford with the lambs, together with a gallon of oil for every half bushel. When the prince enters, he must go in by way of the gate’s portico and go out the same way. (Ezek 46:6-8 HCSB)
What were traffic rules for worshipers and a leader during appointed festival days?
When the people who live in the land come into the Lord’s presence during the festivals, whoever enters through the northern gate is to leave through the southern gate, and whoever enters through the southern gate is to leave through the northern gate. No one is to leave by the same route that he enters, but instead is to go straight out. The Regent Prince is to enter when they are coming in, and he is to leave when they go out. (Ezek 46:9-10 ISV)
What grain and oil offerings were required during appointed times?
And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. (Ezek 46:11 KJV)
What was the protocol for offerings made by the leader outside of regular schedules?
And when the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings as a freewill offering to Yahweh, the gate facing east shall be opened for him. And he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he goes out. (Ezek 46:12 LSB)
What was the daily morning worship requirement of a lamb, grain and oil offering?
And you shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord daily; morning by morning you shall provide it. You shall also provide a grain offering with it morning by morning, a sixth of an ephah and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour, a grain offering to the Lord continually by a permanent ordinance. So they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, morning by morning, as a continual burnt offering. (Ezek 46:13-15 NASB)
Are there moral and legal limits on property ownership, inheritance, and royal power?
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is to be their property by inheritance. If, however, he makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons only; it is theirs. The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property. (Ezek 46:16-18 NIV)
Was there special placement of designated kitchens for the priests?
Now he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which face toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end. And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.” (Ezek 46:19-20 NKJV)
What were the four enclosed, identical kitchens like?
Then he brought me back to the outer courtyard and led me to each of its four corners. In each corner I saw an enclosure. Each of these enclosures was 70 feet [40 cubits] long and 52 1⁄2 feet [30 cubits] wide, surrounded by walls. Along the inside of these walls was a ledge of stone with fireplaces under the ledge all the way around. The man said to me, “These are the kitchens to be used by the Temple assistants to boil the sacrifices offered by the people.” (Ezek 46:21-24 NLT)
If Jesus and the apostles never commanded Sabbath, what rest did Jesus give us?
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. (Mat 11:28-29 WEB)
How did God detail the worship role of a leader and offerings in a mysterious temple? What does it mean for us? You decide!
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