How big is Ezekiel’s temple?

It is much too big to be built on the current site.

By Craig C. White

Ezekiel chapters 40 through 47 provide a detailed description of a future temple in Jerusalem. This is the temple that Jesus Christ will rule from during the millennial kingdom. That is the first one thousand years after Jesus’ return at his second coming. Jesus Christ will return to defeat Israel’s enemies and he will then set up his throne in Jerusalem to rule there forever.

Jerusalem will look a little different then. For instance; the small hill known as Mount Zion where the temple building will sit will become a very high mountain.

Eze 40:2 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.

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

How high will Mount Zion become? I don’t know but according to the dimensions that Ezekiel gives for the land area that is dedicated to the temple and to its service, Mount Zion could easily be one mile high! The temple site will be one mile square but the land surrounding the temple will be about 52 miles long and 21 miles wide. If we were to fit a mountain into those dimensions it could easily reach to one mile high even with gentle slopes.

The following verses describe the outside length of the temple building site. The temple building site will include walls, courtyards, many rooms, and of course the temple itself. The dimensions are given in “reeds”. One reed is equal to eleven feet. Five hundred reeds are equal to 5,500 feet or just over one mile. So the temple proper will be about one mile square.

Eze 42:15-19 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.

In the next verses Ezekiel describes the land area around the temple that is dedicated to God himself. The outskirts of this holy parcel will be for the Levites who will serve at the temple site. The Levites will build their homes on the gentle foothills that surround the mountain of the temple of God. The entire land mass that is dedicated to God’s temple is about fifty two miles long by twenty one miles wide. That’s big.

Eze 45:1-2 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about. 2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.

Here is an interesting feature about the temple mountain. A river of water will flow out of the east side of God’s temple. The river will flow down the east side of the mountain down to the Dead Sea. The river will become deep and wide and the waters will bring new life to the desert and also to the Dead Sea. There will be water for swimming and many fish in the Dead Sea.

Eze 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

Jerusalem will be a much different place after Jesus returns. God’s temple will be high and lifted up on his holy mountain. The land of Israel will be watered and brimming with life. Israel, God’s chosen people will live in peace there forevermore.

Ezekiel’s temple is not the next temple that will be built in Jerusalem.There is a terrible time of trouble coming upon Israel and also upon the entire world. For seven years world powers beginning with Turkey will oppress Israel. Wars and natural disasters will kill perhaps one half of the worlds population. This seven year period of trouble is known as the “Tribulation period”. During the Tribulation period another temple will be built in Jerusalem. Animal sacrifices will resume for a while until the Antichrist stops them. Jerusalem will then be devastated for three and one half years which is the second half of the seven year period of trouble. At the end of the seven years Jesus Christ will return to vanquish Israel’s enemies.

The temple that is to be built during the Tribulation period should not be confused with Ezekiel’s temple that will be built after the Tribulation period. Ezekiel’s temple will be built after Jesus Christ returns. Ezekiel’s temple will be much bigger than the Tribulation temple. Unfortunately Jewish rabbis today think that by building a temple in Jerusalem they will bring lasting peace. But the Bible says that when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come upon them.