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Appendix V
The Messianic Temple: In Shiloh, not Jerusalem
I. Introduction
In the book of Ezekiel, from chapter 40 through the end of the book, the prophet is shown in vision the future Messianic Temple. The Temple is inside a sanctuary. The sanctuary and the city of Jerusalem are inside the oblation. The oblation is inside the territory assigned to the prince. The territory assigned to the prince covers an area that is 50 miles from north to south and extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River. The prince’s estate is located between seven strips of land to the north and 5 strips of land to the south, assigned to 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel, with the tribe of Joseph receiving 2 strips of land and the tribe of Levi located in the holy oblation. Those strips of land are parallel to the prince’s estate and cover an area in the shape of a truncated triangle extending from Hamath, Syria to Kadesh Barnea, from north to south; and on the western border, the Mediterranean Sea all the way down to the Nile Delta, Egypt; on the eastern side, the Euphrates River all the way down to the Persian Gulf.
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
(Isaiah 19:23-25)
Question: Will the Messianic Temple stand in Jerusalem, the city where the kings of Judah and of United Israel ruled from; and also, the location of the Temple for a thousand years, from king Solomon to AD70; or will Jesus Christ build His Temple in Shiloh, 20 miles north of Jerusalem, the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant during the Theocracy, when the LORD was KING of Israel for a period of 400 years, from Exodus in 1446 BC to the first mortal human king Saul in 1047 BC?
Based on the evidence presented in the book of Ezekiel, when Jesus Christ returns and restores Theocracy, the KING of Israel will again choose Shiloh, not Jerusalem, for His habitation. However, as we shall demonstrate, He will reign in both places, Jerusalem and Shiloh.
Since the temple and the city of Jerusalem will be both inside the oblation, we will focus our attention on the oblation, in order to answer accurately the above question. In Ezekiel 40:2, Ezekiel is standing on a high mountain in a vision, and at a distance, he sees the outline of a city situated south of where he is.
In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. (Ezekiel 40:2)
If Ezekiel is standing in the Messianic Temple, and the city in question is Jerusalem, than we will know for sure that the Temple will not be located in the city of Jerusalem.
In 40:19,20, a man with a measuring reed is measuring the inner court and the outer court; therefore, Ezekiel is in the vicinity of the Temple, and this is the first proof that the Temple will not be in the city.
Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. (40:19,20)
In 40;5, we learn that the reed used for the measurements is six cubits long by the cubit and a hand breath; the long cubit or royal cubit which measured 20.67 inches (1). Six royal cubits = 20.67 inches X 6 = 124 inches, or approximately 10 feet for each reed.
And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth; (40:5)
We will ask questions and let the Book of Ezekiel give the answers.
Question: What are the dimensions of the Oblation?
Answer: And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation four-square, with the possession of the city.
…it shall be the holy oblation, and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof
(48:8,20,21)
The Oblation will be a square with sides of 25,000 reeds or 250,000 feet or 50 miles. The sanctuary and the city of Jerusalem will be inside the Oblation. The sanctuary will be in the middle of the Oblation, that is 25 miles from all four sides of the Oblation.
Question: What is the dimensions and the purpose of the sanctuary?
Answer: He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. (40:20)
The Sanctuary measures one square mile and the wall of the sanctuary separates the Temple area from the profane place, which is all the territory outside the sanctuary.
Question: How will the Oblation be divided?
Answer: Portion 1: The Holy portion, for the loyal Levites, sons of Zadok, called the priests. The Sanctuary and the Temple will be located in that portion.
And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place.
The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.
(45:3,4)
Portion 2: For the Levite idolaters
And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves... (45:5)
Portion 3: For the city and suburbs
And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel. (45:6)
The oblation will be divided into 3 longitudinal strips of land from west to east. The holy portion will be in the middle of the oblation, because the sanctuary will be inside the holy portion and the sanctuary is in the center of the oblation. Therefore, if we describe the three divisions of the oblation from north to south we will obtain: One tract of land 20 mile by 50 miles for the Levite idolaters. The Lord did not want them near Him (44:10).
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity. (Ezekiel 44:10)
The next tract of land, 20 miles by 50 miles is for the sons of Zadok, the loyal Levites (44:15).
But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 44:15)
The sanctuary and the Temple are inside this tract (45:3).
And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place. (Ezekiel 45:3)
A third tract of land 10 miles by 50 miles is for the city and suburbs.
Question: Where will the city be located on the third tract of land?
Answer: And the five thousand, that are left in breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred
(9 miles), and the south side four thousand and five hundred (9 miles), and on the east side four thousand and five hundred (9 miles), and the west side four thousand and five hundred (9 miles).And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty (1/2 mile), and toward the south two hundred and fifty (1/2 mile), and toward the east two hundred and fifty (1/2 mile), and toward the west two hundred and fifty (1/2 mile).
And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward (20 miles by 20 miles on the east side of the city), and ten thousand westward (20 miles by 20 miles on the west side of the city): and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
(48:15-18)
The city will be in the middle of the third tract of land which measures 10 miles by 50 miles, and that tract of land will be next to the holy portion where the Temple is located.
The city will measure 10 miles by 10 miles. On both sides of the city, the 2 tracts of land measuring 10 miles by 20 miles are the suburbs to be used for agriculture and food supply for the city. The city proper will be 9 miles by 9 miles with a wall around it and a clearance area outside the wall ½ mile wide surrounding the wall (48:15-18). Each side will have 3 gates and the 12 gates of the city will be “after the names of the tribes of Israel” (48:31).
So now, we know that the center of Jerusalem will be 5 miles north of the southern border of the oblation and 25 miles from the eastern and western borders. As previously mentioned, the Temple and the sanctuary will be located in the center of the oblation. Therefore, the Temple will be located 25 miles north of the southern border of the oblation, and 20 miles north of Jerusalem. Of interest is the fact that Shiloh is situated 20 miles north of Jerusalem (2), therefore, exactly the future location of the Temple and sanctuary. “The site of Shiloh was still known in the Middle Ages and in the 19th century it was correctly identified with Khirbet Seilun, about 20 miles north of Jerusalem.” (2)
III. Further evidence in favor of Shiloh as the site of the Messianic Temple
A. Mount Zion is Shiloh
The LORD of hosts, Jesus Christ, will reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem.
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. (Isaiah 24:23)
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, 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 the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)
But His habitation, that is His Temple, will be in mount Zion.
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. (Psalm 132:13,14)
Mount Zion is the place of the name of the LORD of hosts.
In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto, a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion. (Isaiah 18:7)
The place of the name of the LORD of hosts is Shiloh.
But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. (Jeremiah 7:12)
Mount Zion is therefore Shiloh.
B. The Tabernacle of David was in Shiloh
The Messianic Temple will be located “in the tabernacle of David”, which was in Shiloh.
And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. (Isaiah 16:5)
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the branches thereof, and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: (Amos 9:11)
The administrative center will be in Jerusalem and all the tribes of Israel will participate in the day to day activities in Jerusalem (48:19). But the place of worship will be in Shiloh.
And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. (48:19)
Zechariah 14:4 mentions a cleavage of the Mount of Olives when Jesus Christ returns, forming a great valley in the east-west direction, possibly extending from the Salt Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. This could explain Zechariah 14:8, with living waters flowing out of Jerusalem, toward the Salt Sea and toward the Mediterranean Sea.
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley, and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
(Zechariah 14:4-8)
However, the source of the river of living waters will be under the Temple in Shiloh.
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house, and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on the side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:1,2,12)
The earthquake that forms the valley will move Shiloh upward to become a “high mountain” (Ezekiel 40:2). The river will flow from the Temple in Shiloh, downward south 20 miles to reach Jerusalem, and then split into two branches, flowing west in the Mediterranean Sea and east in the Salt Sea. (See Figure on page 8).
IV. Why not Jerusalem?
And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.
Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever. (Ezekiel 43:7-9)
Jesus Christ does not want to be near the “carcases of their kings”. There are a lot of kings who did evil in the sight of the Lord and those dead kings are buried in and all around Jerusalem, including the infamous Herod family. In 42:20, we learn that the purpose of the sanctuary was to separate the temple from the profane place. Jesus Christ called Jerusalem “profane” (40:15).
And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
(Ezekiel 48:15)
According to the “Archeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land”, Jerusalem is surrounded on all side by tombs and cemeteries. Jerusalem is surrounded by a necropolis (2), which means city of the dead. Quoting from this Encyclopedia: “By the end of the Second Temple period, the necropolis of Jerusalem surrounded the city on all sides and especially on its eastern and northern sides. Thus far about 700 tombs have been surveyed at a distance of 3 miles from the city limits… These tombs formed part of the vast cemetery encircling ancient Jerusalem and belonged to rich Jewish families who could afford to have monumental tombs cut into the rock.”
Jesus Christ is the God of the living, not the god of the dead, which title belongs to Osiris/Satan who will be in the bottomless pit during the Messianic Kingdom for 1000 years (Revelation 20:3). It is understandable why the God of the living would not want to be surrounded for a thousand years by a necropolis with remains of evil kings awaiting the resurrection to judgment and the second death.
In the Los Angeles Times newspaper, May 4, 2003, there was an article by Ruth Morris entitled “Settlements Pose Daunting Challenge”. The first paragraph reads: “SHILOH West Bank ___ Sooner or later, the road to peace in the Middle East will have to pass through there.” How prophetic! True and lasting peace in the Middle East and the world will not be established until the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, sits on His throne in Shiloh.
References:
The Oblation
