THE PRINCE
Suggested Reading: Ezekiel 46-48
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The view of Jericho from half-way up the Mount of Temptation. Jericho is located at the junction of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and is 1,200 feet below sea level. It is an oasis in an otherwise harsh wilderness, because of fresh water springs which give abundant life. Ezekiel prophesies that this area will flourish during the time of the final Temple (yet future), because of a new river of water which will flow from Jerusalem into the valley of what we now know as the Dead Sea. Imagine a river flowing along the valley seen on the right of Reynold's photograph (Ezekiel 47:8-9).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Ezekiel 47:22, 48:35
…you will divide it [the land]…for yourselves and for the strangers who sojourn among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native born…All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE!
Ezekiel 46 tells us five times of “The Prince!” Isaiah calls Him “Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6) and during His reign as Messiah King, there will be total peace. Here and now He brings “peace on earth” (the message to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus), and read about how He brings peace to the troubled soul in the present (Ephesians 2:13-18).
Ezekiel 47 describes the final Temple to be built in Jerusalem, serving the whole world during the final 1,000 years before the new heaven and the new earth, of which Peter writes (we move over to Second Peter in tomorrow’s reading).
Ezekiel 48 describes the distribution of land and includes the “stranger” (non-Jew). The departments of immigration in our various countries could learn God’s plan for caring for everyone whom He cares for equally. Seven times in today’s reading we read of lands that “belong to the Prince.” We have something in Canada called “Crown Land.” In theory it belongs to Queen Elizabeth 2 (translate that as government). We may have temporary title to land, but the real owner of all is “The Prince!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You are so concerned with every detail of the Temple construction and use. Surely You are even more concerned with the temple in whom You dwell in this age. Paul taught that I am Your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Be in charge of this human temple, I pray! I ask You this in the Name of the One “In Whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:8-10), Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My wife, Norma-Jean, told me yesterday that she expects Israel to build a wall between the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim shrine on the Temple mount for the last 1,300 years) and the actual location of the Temple Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, so that a new Temple can be built. She has actually paced it out back when all tourists could access the Temple Mount. She claims there’s room there for a Temple to be built beside the mosque. Maybe? That land is a fuse waiting for someone to ignite it, launching what could be World War III.The Eastern Gate in Jerusalem’s wall, blocked up by the Muslims, leads directly into the core of what once was the Temple.
My sons (who help me with this blog) and I walked down from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is 2,500 feet above sea level and the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below. I imagined the rush of the waters spoken of in Ezekiel 47, coursing down the valleys beside the road (someone captured on video a rush of water down to the Dead Sea after a rain in the Judean hills…click here). My imagination and ability to use words which paint a picture is not nearly as descriptive as those of Ezekiel. Today is the last reading for now in Ezekiel. I think back on his gifts as a communicator. I’d love to do a movie in computer-generated images (CGI) which tell the amazing visions of Ezekiel (e.g. the Seraphim, the flying wheel within a wheel, etc.).
Yours for communicating, in as many ways as possible, the Gospel message,
David
A facinating photo of the Eastern Gate. It is amazing to think of the work involved in quarrying the stone, architecture and building of this massive temple. A movie of the visions of Ezekiel would definately be a hit, given all the recent productions around this time era. We are obviously not meant to know in advance how Ezekiel’s visions will play out, however some of his visions are probably more conceivable today than by those in the time period ie. aircraft, nuclear, other life forms, geographic change possibilities excetra. Looking forward to 2nd Peter tomorrow. Have a great day!
I agree with what David said it is awesome !!!
wow….yes very exciting:-)
Ezekiel has been an incredible book to study; the prophecy in the final chapters especially inspiring. Thank you, David, once again, for such explicit guidance backed up by scripture, Ezekiel 47. Thank you for sharing Norma-Jean’s vision with us. Praise God! Personally, I have suffered the loss of one Christian friend after another in bible study groups because of their claim to know the end times are coming in the next few years, according to their interpretations of the Bible. I cannot waste the valuable and precious energy I have for such negativity. It pains me that the gift of the Word and fellowship is lost. Thank you for the gift of the past two years for this excellent Bible study, David! It has been a gift from God! And we are so blessed! Wishing all saints a wondrous day in the Lord!
Ezekiel 47 describes the final Temple to be built in Jerusalem, serving the whole world during the final 1,000 years before the new heaven and the new earth, of which Peter writes (we move over to Second Peter in tomorrow
Thank You, Christ, for being our Peace. For through You, we have access by one Spirit to the Father. And our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in us. That Spirit is a gift from God, for we are not our own. Praise Him in the highest, sing out all ye peoples, praise God in the highest, amen!
It must be rather bizarre living 1200 ft. below sea level.
How wonderful a human being is made to have a brain to remember history and write things down and do work etc. Only God could have created us.
Thank you Rev. Mainse for being one of the good brains of God’s creation. Your devoted wife, Norma Jean must be a constant inspiration to you. May the rest of us be as richly blessed as you two dear souls.
Today is the date for Putin’s bizarre, trumped- up vote on Ukraine’s Crimea separation, or not. Will be watching to see what God allows on that situation. I pray for Ukraine and the Russian people.
Blessings on this beautiful almost-Spring sabbath day.
Yes thank you David for your commitment to the Lord to explaining and getting the Word out. Ezekiel is much clearer now with all its symbolism. Found Norma-Jean’s statement about the new temple coming interesting too. Just listened to more features on your last click and found it astounding. Praying for lastest eruptions(Crimea) and the Malaysian plane. Felt the grief of the poor Chinese families. God bless you everyone!
Thank you David for all you do to forward the “Good News”…the video of the water rushing into the Dead Sea after the rain was wonderful…and thank you Reynold for the illustrative photos!!!
I so appreciate this blog. Our pastor at church today spoke about this very region (he just returned from Israel so it was vivid in his mind). It was wonderful to come to the blog tonight and see the picture! Thank you, David, for writing it; thank you, Reynold, for the amazing photographs; thank you, Ron, for the links; thank you, Ann, for the editing; and thanks to Norma Jean for the lovely things shared here, I especially loved her pacing the temple. We were able to go in spirit with her!!! God bless you all 🙂
President Jimmy Carter of the United States of America and although he is not the President now, He is an extremely intellingent person and has written a book (the title escapes me) that outlines all the HORRIBLE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE AGINAST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
IN OUR WORLD TODAY, IN THE USA and ALL OTHER COUNTRIES.all for financial gain.
with every problem he has authored a solution. Please get ahold of the book and pray for this man and for all of humanity. I would ask that Mr David Mainse would perhaps look at the book or maybe even have Mr . Carter on the program… he was on the David Letterman show last night and everyone was stunned at his words. People don’t believe things are as bad as they are but things are bad and we need God’s help with all of this wrong doings to othere people. Only prayer, praise and supplications will put down the darkness in our world! Pray without ceasing!