Post by Ben on Jul 10, 2014 16:20:04 GMT
Verses 23-24: "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
The following is a very interesting section from Bro. Sulley's book on the Temple of Ezekiel's prophecy. In this excerpt, he is describing his understanding of how the people of the nations will offer sacrifices in the kingdom age, and connects it to Isaiah's prophecy in verses 23-24.
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"Let us now suppose that the appointed rulers are seated upon their thrones between the cherubim in the recesses of the inner portion of the buildings encircling the Most Holy. In front of them is the table before the Lord. As each worshipper arrives at the door of the sanctuary, he finds there a "minister of the house," whose duty it is to make himself acquainted with the business of the visitant, to prepare his offering according to the law, or to direct the disposition of his "present." The fat and blood of the sacrifice (Chap. XLIV. 11-15) and that part of the oblation which is to be burnt upon the altar is conveyed for presentation before the judge who occupies one of the thrones of judgment above referred to. Before the judge, if it be a sin offering, he may confess his offence; or if it be a meal offering of first fruits he may place the elements wheresoever directed with a suitable recognition of the author and giver of all things. Each offering is conveyed to the altar. This done, the offerer may adjourn to that part of the house appointed, probably the upper part of the buildings over which the judges sit, awaiting judgment. Gradually the building is filled, and the flow of incoming visitors stops. The work of slaughter is finished. Those portions reserved for food have been placed in the storehouses, and the last of those sacrifices and oblations which are to be burnt, has been conveyed to the altar.
"Let us suppose that the acceptance of the offering is signified by the intervention of a divine hand as in the days of old, and that Deity will answer by fire consuming the offerings upon the altars if they are acceptable.
"We see the assembled throng : each with eyes attent upon that far off altar, bearing now the symbol of guilt or the sign of forgiveness. A supreme moment has arrived. Will the Father accept, or will He reject? No sign is seen ; the pause is understood, and quickly interpreted, and the now familiar question, Is it I? Is it I? passes murmuringly from side to sid —a huge wave of momentary excitement and fear. But confidence reigns; for in most, the answer of a good con-science removes terror, and everybody knows that one "Achan" is sufficient for the Deity to interpose His judgment of destruction before He gives an answer of peace.
"The ministers of the house proceed with their appointed task. The lot is taken with simplicity and despatch, nation by nation, tribe by tribe, family by family, member by member until the transgressor stands discovered and ashamed in the midst of his fellow men. And the question is put, after the historic type: "My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of all the earth; and make confession unto Him, and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me." (Joshua VII. 19). The sin confessed as in the case of Achan would not bring pardon. His judgment would have been determined by the Infallible One, through His ministers, and his confession would simply be an attestation of his guilt. The Lord has given His answer, death must ensue, and his carcass cast out as "an abominable branch," probably into that public portion specially set apart for the purpose "in the appointed place without the sanctuary" (Chap, XLIII. 21) where the bodies of the whole burnt offering are consumed. Thus we read: "The sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed . . . And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (Isa. 65:20; 66:23-24).
"Investigation having resulted in the death of the sinner, all is now ready, and every eye again turned towards the altar. Suddenly a flash of light penetrates the mass of fat and blood, upwards the smoke and burning of acceptance ascends : that vast multitude bow with one consent, breathe their grateful sigh of gratitude, murmur their supplication for the continued mercy of their heavenly King and Ruler, or acclaim their joy. This going forth from the Temple foretold by the prophet Isaiah to look upon the carcass of the transgressor appears to be arranged in connection with the Temple service for the express purpose of awe-inspiring government, in order that everyone may know the Judgment of God. In the manner indicated the death of the sinner and the cause of his punishment would be made manifest to all peoples because " all flesh" shall assemble at the Temple and therefore "shall go forth from it and look upon the carcases of the men who have transgressed."
"Now we have seen that all who enter the Temple must leave it on the opposite side--those entering on the north passing out at the south, and vice versa. From considerations hereafter mentioned, all the worshippers reach the Temple from the south; and since they cannot pass the sanctuary on the eastern side (see further on), all must, of necessity, pass the burning refuse on the western side, either in going to the Temple or in returning therefrom. Hence when the judgements of the Lord "are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (Isaiah XXVI. 9.)"
(The Temple of Ezekiel's Prophecy, "Simultaneous Offering", pages 80-81). [Emphasis added. -Ben]
The following is a very interesting section from Bro. Sulley's book on the Temple of Ezekiel's prophecy. In this excerpt, he is describing his understanding of how the people of the nations will offer sacrifices in the kingdom age, and connects it to Isaiah's prophecy in verses 23-24.
**********************************************
"Let us now suppose that the appointed rulers are seated upon their thrones between the cherubim in the recesses of the inner portion of the buildings encircling the Most Holy. In front of them is the table before the Lord. As each worshipper arrives at the door of the sanctuary, he finds there a "minister of the house," whose duty it is to make himself acquainted with the business of the visitant, to prepare his offering according to the law, or to direct the disposition of his "present." The fat and blood of the sacrifice (Chap. XLIV. 11-15) and that part of the oblation which is to be burnt upon the altar is conveyed for presentation before the judge who occupies one of the thrones of judgment above referred to. Before the judge, if it be a sin offering, he may confess his offence; or if it be a meal offering of first fruits he may place the elements wheresoever directed with a suitable recognition of the author and giver of all things. Each offering is conveyed to the altar. This done, the offerer may adjourn to that part of the house appointed, probably the upper part of the buildings over which the judges sit, awaiting judgment. Gradually the building is filled, and the flow of incoming visitors stops. The work of slaughter is finished. Those portions reserved for food have been placed in the storehouses, and the last of those sacrifices and oblations which are to be burnt, has been conveyed to the altar.
"Let us suppose that the acceptance of the offering is signified by the intervention of a divine hand as in the days of old, and that Deity will answer by fire consuming the offerings upon the altars if they are acceptable.
"We see the assembled throng : each with eyes attent upon that far off altar, bearing now the symbol of guilt or the sign of forgiveness. A supreme moment has arrived. Will the Father accept, or will He reject? No sign is seen ; the pause is understood, and quickly interpreted, and the now familiar question, Is it I? Is it I? passes murmuringly from side to sid —a huge wave of momentary excitement and fear. But confidence reigns; for in most, the answer of a good con-science removes terror, and everybody knows that one "Achan" is sufficient for the Deity to interpose His judgment of destruction before He gives an answer of peace.
"The ministers of the house proceed with their appointed task. The lot is taken with simplicity and despatch, nation by nation, tribe by tribe, family by family, member by member until the transgressor stands discovered and ashamed in the midst of his fellow men. And the question is put, after the historic type: "My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of all the earth; and make confession unto Him, and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me." (Joshua VII. 19). The sin confessed as in the case of Achan would not bring pardon. His judgment would have been determined by the Infallible One, through His ministers, and his confession would simply be an attestation of his guilt. The Lord has given His answer, death must ensue, and his carcass cast out as "an abominable branch," probably into that public portion specially set apart for the purpose "in the appointed place without the sanctuary" (Chap, XLIII. 21) where the bodies of the whole burnt offering are consumed. Thus we read: "The sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed . . . And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (Isa. 65:20; 66:23-24).
"Investigation having resulted in the death of the sinner, all is now ready, and every eye again turned towards the altar. Suddenly a flash of light penetrates the mass of fat and blood, upwards the smoke and burning of acceptance ascends : that vast multitude bow with one consent, breathe their grateful sigh of gratitude, murmur their supplication for the continued mercy of their heavenly King and Ruler, or acclaim their joy. This going forth from the Temple foretold by the prophet Isaiah to look upon the carcass of the transgressor appears to be arranged in connection with the Temple service for the express purpose of awe-inspiring government, in order that everyone may know the Judgment of God. In the manner indicated the death of the sinner and the cause of his punishment would be made manifest to all peoples because " all flesh" shall assemble at the Temple and therefore "shall go forth from it and look upon the carcases of the men who have transgressed."
"Now we have seen that all who enter the Temple must leave it on the opposite side--those entering on the north passing out at the south, and vice versa. From considerations hereafter mentioned, all the worshippers reach the Temple from the south; and since they cannot pass the sanctuary on the eastern side (see further on), all must, of necessity, pass the burning refuse on the western side, either in going to the Temple or in returning therefrom. Hence when the judgements of the Lord "are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (Isaiah XXVI. 9.)"
(The Temple of Ezekiel's Prophecy, "Simultaneous Offering", pages 80-81). [Emphasis added. -Ben]