Images of Hope (Ezekiel 40:1-5; 48:35; Revelation 21:1-4)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
24 October 2021
Desperate people need hope. But hope must be understood lest it is mere imagination. Israel received hope in the vision of a new temple. Israel readily understood the temple. The Lord would reside in it. The sacrificial system would be restored. These things resonated in the minds of Israelites. They were given hope.
The Lord's temple was precise in its dimensions. Its design was according to divine specification and not left to human imagination. Salvation is precise. It came through Jesus Christ and through no one else.
The temple sacrifices served a purpose. They would atone for the sins of Israel. The ultimate sacrifice was made by Jesus Christ who shed his blood for the forgiveness of sins.
The Lord's temple would manifest the presence of the Almighty. His glory would fill the entire temple. When Jesus came his glory was seen by his contemporaries. It was full of grace and truth.
In due time the temple was rebuilt in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. But it was inferior to Solomon's temple (Haggai 2:3; Ezra 3:12-13). Although this second temple was inferior the Lord nevertheless still blessed it with his presence. Significantly Jesus did not hesitate to enter and minister in the third temple in the days of Herod. He spoke of it as "my Father's house."
The second temple in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah and third temple known as Herod’s temple in the days our Lord all fell short dimensionally of Solomon's glorious temple. The temple of Ezekiel's vision had a significance beyond the literal; it had symbolic significance.
It gave to Israel images of hope—-images which Israel could identify with. This was surely the aim of Ezekiel’s vision—-to give hope to a despondent people.
Christians are also given images of hope which would encourage them on their way to heaven. There are things of heaven which we do not understand (John 3:12). We cannot imagine the wondrous things God has prepared for us (1 Cor.2:9). No wonder then that God who is merciful gives us images to help us understand what lies before us.
Consider some of these images of hope.
There are mansions in heaven. Jesus spoke of them. People on earth build magnificent mansions. We admire them for their beauty, spaciousness, and not the least, the shelter and protection they give their residents. In heaven all these things are present.
There is dining and celebration in heaven. There is a marriage supper when Jesus presents his radiant bride, the church, which will have no blemish.
There is singing in heaven. On earth we appreciate music. In heaven there will be singing when the whole universe will sound the praises of God.
There are gardens in heaven with trees and rivers. On earth we appreciate gardens and the freshness of grass and the beauty of flowers. These familiar things are in heaven.
There is a Lamb in heaven who is Jesus. A lamb is a docile creature. It does not harm anyone. In heaven the Lamb of God is there. Jesus will do you no harm.
There is a reunion in heaven (Revelation 7:9). What a blessed thing this is. In heaven we shall be reunited with our fellow believers never to be parted by death. We shall worship God before his throne.
Just as the Israelites looked forward to the land of Israel so Christians look forward to their place in heaven.
The symbolism of the temple does not deny that Israel will literally be blessed in the future. This is foretold in Romans chapters 9 to 11 but God's purposes of salvation will be achieved with or without a temple. It will be through the gospel which is God’s power to save Jew and Gentile.
Three words summarise the matters we have considered: YHWH Shammah, Emmanuel, Maranatha.
For Israel the Lord is there in the temple, (YHWH Shammah).
For Christians the Lord is here in the church, (Emmanuel), God with us.
For all believers Jew and Gentile, the Lord is coming again, (Maranatha).
Israel had its vision of hope in the form of a new temple. We have visions of hope in the images God has given to us. Israel had Solomon and all his glory. We have one who is greater than Solomon—-Jesus Christ.
Believe in him and you will be saved and have a dwelling place in heaven. We have pictures of hope given to us. Our appetites have been whetted. Next will be the real thing.