What is the meaning of Ezekiel 43:5? Then the Spirit lifted me up “Then the Spirit lifted me up” • The same Holy Spirit who empowered prophets (cf. Ezekiel 3:12, 8:3) once again acts supernaturally, affirming that the vision is God-given, not imagination. • This upward movement mirrors other literal transports: Philip carried away by the Spirit (Acts 8:39–40) and John “in the Spirit” before the heavenly throne (Revelation 4:1–2). • For Ezekiel, being physically elevated reinforces God’s authority to direct His servant wherever He wills (cf. 2 Peter 1:21). • The action also signals transition—from observing the temple exterior (chapters 40-42) to experiencing its heart. God personally initiates deeper revelation. and brought me into the inner court “and brought me into the inner court” • The inner court is the most sacred accessible area before the temple proper (Ezekiel 40:47; 44:17). • By placing Ezekiel there, the Spirit shows that restored fellowship with God is possible; exile and sin no longer bar entry (contrast Ezekiel 10:18-19, where glory departed). • The movement anticipates believers’ future access: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). • The literal geography underscores the tangible reality of Ezekiel’s millennial temple (cf. Isaiah 2:2-3; Zechariah 14:16). and the glory of the LORD filled the temple “and the glory of the LORD filled the temple” • God’s visible glory returns just as tangibly as it left in Ezekiel 11:22-23, proving His faithfulness to restore. • Parallels: Solomon’s dedication (1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3) and Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah 6:1-4). Each time, overwhelming brightness and holiness affirm God’s acceptance of the house. • The filling indicates total occupancy—no rival powers, idols, or human glory. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” (Habakkuk 2:14). • Ultimately foreshadows the New Jerusalem, where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” and its glory gives light (Revelation 21:22-23). summary Ezekiel 43:5 records a literal sequence: the Holy Spirit bodily lifts Ezekiel, deposits him in the temple’s inner court, and he witnesses God’s glory re-inhabit the sanctuary. The verse assures us that the Spirit actively guides, that restored access to God is real, and that the Lord will definitively dwell among His people with manifest glory, just as He promised. |
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