As the title indicates, the focus of this book is the meaning of Ezekiel's temple vision which in symbolic language depicts the end-time church under the refreshing of the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the latter rain is to ripen the gospel harvest of humanity, preparing it for the return of Christ.
In the tenth chapter of Revelation, the church, symbolized by John, is given its final gospel commission. John who has just recovered from eating a bitter little book is told to "rise and prophesy again". To assist him, he's given a rod or staff.
Like the rod of judgment in the hand of Moses, this rod has power to measure the temple of God, a symbol of the church. Ezekiel's temple vision describes in detail this measuring, atoning, process.
Although to a large extent modern Christians and Jews have not co-operated with God in fulfilling their commission, the scriptures indicate that at the end there will be a remnant who will. It is when God's people, symbolized by John, obey their commission to "rise and prophesy again" that the Lord will unify us in the truth and empower us for the task.
The final ripening of the gospel harvest is also depicted in Revelation 14 as a three-fold message given powerfully by angel messengers, yet another symbol of God's people under the outpouring of the latter rain. In the pages that follow the relationship between Ezekiel's temple and these powerful messages will be explored.
As the church co-operates with God, like John, in giving the gospel invitation, this prepares and equips it for the final conflict with the beast which a revived church will more than successfully meet in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Rev 19:11-20.
Mark Shipowick 2-9-2022
