[Illustration: GROUND PLAN OF EZEKIEL'S TEMPLE] A. The Temple House, xli. B. Altar of Burnt Offering, xliii:13. C. Inner Court. D. Gates to Inner Court, xl:28. E. Separate Place, vli:10. F. Hinder Building, xli:12. G. Priest's Kitchens, xlvi:19. H. Chambers for Priests, xlii:1. I. Chambers, xl:44. K. People's Kitchen, xlvi:21-24. L. Gates into Outer Court, xl:6. M. Pavement, xl:18. N. Chambers in Outer Court (30) xl:17. O. Outer Court. ---------------Temple Stream THE GROUND PLAN OF THE TEMPLE. THE MILLENNIAL TEMPLE AND ITS WORSHIP. THE LAND AND ITS GLORY. Chapters xl-xlviii. The final nine chapters of this book form the climax of the great prophecies of Ezekiel; they belong to the most difficult in the entire prophetic Word. Once more the hand of the Lord rests upon the seer and in the visions of God he is brought into the land of Israel. In the very beginning of this grand finale we learn therefore that the visions concern the land of Israel. Let us remember that after the fall of Jerusalem had been announced to Ezekiel (chapter xxxiii:21), his prophetic utterances and visions concern the future when Israel is to be regathered and restored to the land. The previous two chapters dealt with the last invasion of the land of Israel and the complete overthrow of Gog and its hordes. The vision contained in this last section follows after Israel's final deliverance. So much is clear as to the time when the prophecies of these eight chapters will be accomplished. They have not been fulfilled in the past, certainly not in the remnant which returned under Zerubabbel and Ezra. Nor have these prophecies been fulfilled since then. All is future. Only when the Lord has gathered Judah and Israel, when He has established His glorious Kingdom in their midst and delivered His people and the land from the last invader, will this last vision of Ezekiel become history. This disposes then at once of the different modes of interpretation employed by so many expositors of this book. These are the following: