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Ezekiel The Twelve Tribes
Texts
Revelation Ezekiel 40-48 Isaiah 19

You need to study the lesson on the twelve tribes at the sanctuary before you proceed.
Each son is a symbol in prophecy that always represents the same experience, just as the sea always represents people and a woman always represents the church. A prophetic message can be constructed by rearranging the sons in different configurations. Ezekiel has always been a confusing prophecy because this was never understood.
So let us look at one more prophecy about the twelve tribes, the temple and the city of God. Ezekiel describes a planned city that is not like any of the cities and temples of Israel. However it is not as grand as the city in Revelation and may simply be a model of that city. Ezekiel's city also includes Dan and he is excluded in Revelation 7: 4-8. Here are the differences.

- City Gates. The gates are named after the original twelve sons in a different configuration.
- Assigned Gates and Direction. The allocations are different. Everyone is in a new place.
- Land Distribution. Dan is also assigned a portion. Manasseh and Ephraim inherit the double portion of Joseph.
- City Size. Ezekiel's city is 500 cubits on each side. The New Jerusalem is a 4.5 million cubit cube (1500 miles). Since the language is ambiguous, this may be the total circumference so it would be 1.125 million cubits on each side (375 miles).
- Dan. In this configuration Dan is occupying the position in the extreme north. He is not missing from the list. He gets land and has his name on the city in place of Manasseh.
- Imperfection. Ezekiel's vision is clearly talking about a temple that exists when sin still exists. He lived during the time that the first temple was destroyed by Babylon and he was an exile there. So, he is either describing the next rebuilt temple or a future one. Since the temple built by Nehemiah and later remodeled by Herod does not fit these dimensions, some have speculated that this is a future temple. But it cannot be a temple approved by God that goes back to the old sacrificial system. It must be a temple that describes the people of God before the Second Coming and before Dan is missing.
  The model of this church best fits the church in Revelation 11.
  Judgment of the Righteous Church. Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it".
  Wicked Not Judged Yet. Leave out the outer court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty two months. (Revelation 11: 1-2)

  Moses | Solomon | Ezra and Herod | Ezekiel | New Jerusalem
  --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
  1500 | Mishkan | 1012 | First | 516 | Rebuilt | 37-4 BC | Remodeled | 4BC-31AD |  | Church | 1844 | Future | Heaven
  Dan is one of the 12 Tribes | King of the North | Dan is Missing

  As king of the north, Dan does not survive the final judgment and is missing in the new earth.
  It is our belief that Ezekiel's vision describes how the permanent temple in heaven interacts with the imperfect people on earth after the death of Christ and the inauguration of the heavenly sanctuary.
  The New Most Holy Place. The furniture in the temple confirms the structure of the tabernacle as described in Hebrews 9: 2-4. The Most Holy Place now consists of the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense (Golden Censer), just as Ezekiel's temple. The incense altar appears to be combined with the censer, where the prayers of the saints are held (Revelation 8: 3 and 5: 8).
  This temple seen by Ezekiel is only the High Priest in heaven and the praying, imperfect people on earth. It is the temple during the times of the Gentiles.

The Sanctuary Is Restored. The purpose of the vision is for instruction in righteousness after the new covenant is established. It describes the temple on the beginning of the Day of Atonement. The great Day of Atonement began when the Lord's Goat was selected and killed. The curtain was ripped signifying that the temple was open. Later on this day, in 1844, the High Priest entered the temple to finish the ceremonies on this day. At the Second Coming, the scapegoat will be banished. The message about the restoration of the sanctuary after 1844 must include the lessons from Ezekiel.
Describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them. (Ezekiel 43: 10-11)
Here are the important systems.

- Judgment. It describes a people and a sanctuary system under judgment.
- Ordinances And Laws. It describes the work of the Messiah in removing sin.
- Design and Pattern. This is the history of the church from the last week of Christ to the Second Coming.
- Exits And Entrances. It describes the journey of the church towards righteousness.

Amazingly, all these items in the sanctuary describe not only the religous works of God but the scientific laws and models of all creation including chemistry, particle physics, astrophysics, DNA and the brain.

Ordinances And Laws
These describe the work of the Messiah and what He will do as the Prince to make us righteous.

# | Ezekiel | Revelation
--- | --- | ---
1 | Throne of God | 4-5
2-3 | Scroll eaten | 10
4 | Siege by Babylon | 12
5-7 | The curses sent | 6-7
8 | First four laws broken | 13
9 | Mark of God | 13
12 | No more delay | 10
13-33 | Nations warned | 14-18
34 | Sheep Judged | 11,19
37 | Dry Bones revived | 20
38 | Armageddon | 19-20
40-48 | Temple and city and the fate of the tribes | 21-22
40-42 | God builds a sanctuary and judges
43 | God comes to the sanctuary
44 | God assigns priests
45-47 | God gives gifts
48 | God distributes land to the tribes

Ezekiel is a parallel of the book of Revelation. It can be divided into many sections. But verses 40 to 48 is the order of the ministry of Christ until the end of time.

- Chapter 40-42: God Builds A Sanctuary.
  Christ appoints twelve men as His disciples and as the foundation of the church that He was building. The vision of Ezekiel is given on the day the Passover lamb is selected (Nisan 10).
  10 Nisan 573 BC. In the twenty fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on that same day the hand of the Lord was upon me and he brought me there. So he brought me there; and behold there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. (Ezekiel 40: 1, 3)
  This was the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to judge Israel. The man with the measuring line is Christ. The measurements indicate that this is a temple, priesthood and city that is under judgment. John was told to measure only the temple, altar and people (Revelation 11), but Ezekiel measures everything. They are measuring the same temple. But since the temple begins with Christ, Ezekiel measures everything because Christ is also under judgment after Nisan 10 as He atones for the whole world. After the sacrifice of Christ only the people who claim to belong to Christ are judged at Yom Kippur as seen by John. The rest of the world who rejects Him is not judged yet.
  In our lesson on numbers in the bible we show what the numbers mean when they were used in the sanctuary. In general, the numbers 4, 7, 10, 12, 28, 40, 50, 70 and multiples of 12 and multiples of 7 are very positive numbers. The numbers 5, 6, 42 are negative numbers. Numbers used for time are 6, 7, 28, 30, 40, 42, 49, 50 and 52.
  The language makes it difficult to state with total confidence how some of the measurements are applied, especially in the structure of the sanctuary and the gates. But with the possible configurations the numbers still appear to follow a pattern. The outer court has more negative numbers and the inner court is more positive.
  - Outer Court.
    - Holy Compound and Border. 600 x 600 (includes the 50 cubit border)
    - Holy Compound. 500 x 500
    - Outer Court. 400 x 400
    - Border Wall. 6 wide x 6 cubits high.
    - 6 Gates. 25 wide x 50 long x 60 cubit high pillars. The main feature of the measurements are the preponderance of the number six. 6 guardrooms, 6 cubits square. 6 cubit thresholds and porch.
    - 30 Chambers. About 50 x 50 cubits (based on calculations)
    - 8 Slaughter Tables and 4 Instrument Tables. 1.5 x 1.5 x 1 cubits high.
    - 4 Boiling Rooms. 40 x 30 cubits. These are located in the four corners. They represent the same event as the blood on the four horns of the altar. After His arrest, Christ would be dragged around the city from place to place for four major trials by four groups (Priests, Herod, Pilate the Roman Governor and the people). Boiling, roasting and burning all night are the symbols of these trials.
    The Northern Section. In this part of the outer court, all the slaughtering occurs. This is another indication of the north being the place of judgment and death.
  - Inner Court.
    - Inner Court. 100 x 100 cubits.
    - Altar. Base 1 x 1, 1 span high. Hearth 12 x 12. East steps.
    - Sanctuary (External). 100 x 100 cubits.
    - Sanctuary (Internal). 60 x 20 cubits.
      » Most Holy Place. 20 x 20 cubits.
      » Nave (Holy Place). 40 x 20 cubits.
    - Inner Sanctuary Double Door. 6 high 7 wide and two doorposts 2 cubits wide.
    - Outer Sanctuary Double Door. 6 high, 10 wide, 5 cubits on each side and two doorposts 6 cubits wide.
    - Altar: Wooden Table before the Lord. 2 x 2 x 3 cubits.

    Sanctuary Layout
    The design shows two possible configurations of the chambers. They are attached to the outer wall on the left side. On the right side they are attached to an inner wall.

    The numbers in the sanctuary are generally positive. Of the two possible configurations these are the results. The height of each successive border around the sanctuary is 60, 66, 71, 75 or 76, 95 or 96 and 100. The width of each successive border around the sanctuary is 20, 32,42,52 or 50, 90 or 92 and 100.
  - The Shape of the Sanctuary. Some descriptions seem to point to the shape of a cross. The sanctuary is designed to be wider at the top than the bottom (Ezekiel 41: 7) just like a cross. The design of the gates outlines a cross with its head towards the east.
  - Chambers. There are 30 chambers around the outer court and 30 on each of three levels around the three sides of the sanctuary. 30 is related to the solar month and may be related to time. In times of trouble, the righteous are hidden away in chambers.
  - Free Space. There was a five cubit wide free space around the sanctuary. The sanctuary size combined with the six cubit walls gives a total of 32 cubits wide and 66 cubits long sanctuary next to this space.
  - The Rear Building. This mysterious 90 by 70 cubit building is in a 100 by 100 space next to the western wall. There is no description about its purpose or contents. It must represent the unseen things and the hidden information waiting for us in the west at the Second Coming. The sanctuary section is divided into three 100 by 100 cubit space. They must represent different phases in time.
    - Outer Court and Altar. The death of Christ.
    - Sanctuary. The church between His death and Second Coming with Zadok and Levites as priests.
    - Rear Building. After the Second Coming.
  - Measurement. A normal cubit is about 18 inches and a span is half a cubit. A Handbreath or palm is one sixth of a cubit. Ezekiel uses a measuring rod that is a "long cubit". This was a cubit plus a handbreath or one sixth larger. So, contained within the system is enough space given for evil to exist. Then, when everything goes back to normal, it will be as it was. We find the same expansion in time and the number of children. Solar time is 30 days and lunar time is 28. There are 12 sons but there is a spare to give 13.
  - Altar is the only Furniture. In this sanctuary a menorah is missing and the table appears to be a merged altar of incense and the table of shewbread. The sanctuary might not have artificial light but it should always have continual prayer. This is a representation of faith. The church after Christ would be dark for hundreds of years and the continual ministry of Christ was unknown.
    » Inner Tabernacle. The bible describes a sanctuary with only the Most Holy Place and the altar of incense as the tabernacle that exists after Christ (Hebrews 9: 2-4). Ezekiel describes the same place.
    Solomon describes the true purpose of a sanctuary. It is continual prayer and communication.
    Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on Sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, this being required forever in Israel. (2 Chronicles 2: 4)
    - Sweet Incense ("Offering"). This is our prayer and praise continually.
    - Continual Showbread ("High Priest"). Christ sacrificed is our High Priest forever.
    - Continual Burnt Offerings ("Timing"). Every morning, evening, Sabbath and new moon.
  - Lion and Man Cherubim. In the four-faced cherubim, the lion faces east and the man faces south. This sanctuary would exist during the time period that these faces represented.
    - West ("Bull"). The bull represents the time of the New Jerusalem when God is the temple.
    - North ("Eagle"). The eagle represents the wrath of God when no one can enter the temple.
      And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. (Revelation 15: 8)
      The final wrath of God always destroys the existing temple on earth because it is corrupted.
    - South ("Man"). The church waits in the south for their ascent.
    - East ("Lion"). Jesus comes in the east gate as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
- Chapter 43: God Comes To The Sanctuary. God comes to inaugurate the new sanctuary, the altar and the High Priest when Christ rode through the east gates on a donkey among shouts of praise.
  Then He led me to the gate, the gate facing towards the east; and the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. And the glory of the Lord came into the house by way of the gate facing towards the east. (Ezekiel 43: 1-2,3)
  As they looked at the newly rebuilt temple, the exiles who returned from Babylon compared the inferior structure to the glory of the temple of Solomon.
  The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2: 9)
  The glory of this building would be greater because the God of Israel would visit it as the Prince of peace.
  With one offering Christ fulfills every offering and the role of every official giver of the offering. He consecrated the altar, the sanctuary and gave the gift of the prince, then He was Himself consecrated as the High Priest.
  » Consecrating the Altar (Ezekiel 43: 18-27). The ritual for consecrating the altar is a time line of the last three days of Christ's life and the next seven days at His inauguration ceremony in heaven.
  - Day 1 Nisan 14: Trial ("Sin Offering"). Blood placed on four horns and then it is burned outside the sanctuary. Christ is dragged around the sanctuary all over Jerusalem for many trials and is killed outside the gate in the north.
  - Day 2 Nisan 15: Burial ("Burnt Offering"). This offering was made with salt, representing His death without decay. Christ was dead on the second day.
  - Day 3-7 Nisan 16-20: Resurrected ("Priest"). After His resurrection and during the time of His inauguration, Christ was in Heaven making this offering and being consecrated.
  - Day 8 Nisan 21: ("Peace Offering"). He came back after eight days and met the disciples. After anointing with oil, both the priest and the leper must go to the doorway of the sanctuary on the eighth day.
    Then the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, before the LORD. (Leviticus 14: 23)
    - Wave Sheaf (Nisan 16). Mary washed Jesus' feet six days before Passover on Saturday night, Nisan 9. Eight days later was Sunday afternoon when He returned to God to be the wave sheaf at His inauguration. This is the cleansing of the leper and the beginning of the wavesheaf offering.
    - High Priest (Nisan 23). On the eighth day after His inauguration Jesus returned to earth.
  » The Prince's Offering. As the Son of God, Christ is the Prince. Chapter 45 defines the land set aside for holy use and for the prince and the offerings given by the people. It also specifies that the prince provides the offerings for the feasts, new moons and Sabbaths. These offerings are given by the prince on behalf of the people. Christ made this offering with His death.
  - Nisan 1 ("Cleanse Sanctuary"). A young bull to cleanse the sanctuary. The first of Nisan was also the day the sanctuary was erected and dedicated. On Yom Kippur both the people and sanctuary were cleansed. On this day, the new temple was dedicated.
  - Nisan 7 ("Unintentional Sin of Ignorance"). An offering for the naive or those who go astray.
  - Nisan 14 ("Passover"). The prince provides a bull for a sin offering and consecrates the altar.
    Nisan 14-21 ("Feast of Unleavened Bread"). For these seven days the prince provides seven bulls and seven rams for a burnt offering and one goat for a sin offering each day.
    The prince was also inaugurated as the high priest for seven days.
  - Month 7 Day 15-21 ("Tabernacles"). The same offerings as the feast of unleavened bread.
  This is actually showing that the Yom Kippur offering was made at Passover with the dedication of the new temple. That is correct because the offering of Christ was made once for all time for all types of offerings. So, the next time they physically see their Prince it will not be at Yom Kippur but during the feast of Tabernacles at the Second Coming.
- Chapter 44: God Assigns Priests And Laws For The Sanctuary. This chapter shows the organization of the church into two branches and the renewal of the covenant.
  Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. The Lord said to me, "this gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, no one shall enter by it, for the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut." (Ezekiel 44: 1-2)
  The old sanctuary on earth would be closed as the new one in heaven was inaugurated. A literal fulfillment occurred when the Arabs sealed up the gates in 810 to prevent the Jewish Messiah from coming through them. So God destroyed the sanctuary in 70 AD to prevent any sacrifices from this place on earth and He caused the gates to be sealed to show the Jews that the Prince for whom they have been looking has already come.
  The New Organization. The chapter describes the two types of leadership of the House of Israel.
  - The Levites ("The Jews"). This group was in the north, on the right of the sanctuary. They took care of slaughtering the animals. Although the priests led Israel astray at the crucifixion of Christ, they were still called to keep the memory of the sanctuary, services and laws alive. The two groups would remain separate by the will of God and they need priests to guide them.
    But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment of their iniquity. And they shall not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the house, of all its service and all that shall be done in it. (Ezekiel 44: 10, 13-14)
    So through the Jews we still have a proper understanding of the sanctuary and the feasts and services. This information would be important at the end of time.
  - The Sons of Zadok ("The Disciples and The Gentile Church"). This group was in the south, on the left of the sanctuary. They were near the singers and were the priests. Zadok is also from the tribe of Levi, but they are the official priests. The faithful disciples get to be these priests.
    But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord. (Ezekiel 44: 15)
    Jesus was the sanctuary that the disciples took care of while Israel rejected Him.
    The Laws of the New Covenant. We are all priests under the new covenant. Everytime a covenant is made, the laws are repeated. As the new priests these are the laws that we are supposed to teach.
    - Moral Laws. The moral laws and unfulfilled feasts are still in force.
      » All Laws (verse 24). The ten commandments are still in effect.
      » Statutes about the Feasts (verse 24). The feasts are still to be kept. Tabernacles is not fulfilled yet and the fourth cup of the Passover has not been fulfilled. These laws still teach about Christ.
      » Sabbath (verse 24). The Sabbaths are still to be kept.
      » Marriage (verse 22). We should not commit adultery or be unequally yoked. Priests must only marry virgins or a widow of a priest, reflecting the purity of the church in Revelation 14.
    - Offerings. Give yourself completely to God and confess your sins by faith.
      » The Blood and the Fat (verse 15). This is the only thing that is offered up to God by these priests during the time of this temple. Christ already gave His body. What is it?
      Blood represents physical life and Fat represents emotions, feelings and personality that makes us unique. These are the people who accept God and die to sin. God promised to preserve their lives and their personalities at their physical death and restore it at the Second Coming.
      » Sin, Guilt and Grain Offering (verse 27, 29). The burnt offering and all other offerings were already offered totally to God. But the people must eat the portion of the offering reserved for them. They eat the sin and guilt offering after it has been roasted. Christ gave this offering, now it is our turn to eat it. The offerings we bring are to confess our sins and guilt. The grain offering is our willingness to be broken and to die daily. Since we are grain, we will be resurrected.
      » No Sweating (verse 18). We must wear garments of righteousness which show no sign of our own works or efforts. Sweat is a sign of work. This is righteousness by faith.
    - Clean and Unclean (verse 23, 31). Dietary laws still exist. The concept of clean and unclean actually teaches us that we should separate ourselves from things and practices that will not exist in heaven. Strive for the ideal.
    - Nazarite Vow. This vow is made by one who is dedicated to God.
      » No Hair Cut (verse 20). Long hair was a sign of being filled with life by the Holy Spirit. A shaved head was also a sign of mourning and death. We are dedicated to God and we not in mourning because the Holy Spirit is now our constant companion and Christ conquered death.
      » Clean and Unclean (verse 23, 31). A Nazarite avoids unclean things. The wicked inhabitants of Babylon associates with unclean spirits and frogs.
      » Dead (verse 25). A Nazarite avoids contact with the dead. Babylon causes death.
      » No Wine (verse 21). Jesus seems to have taken this vow. He will not drink wine until we can see Him in the kingdom. Babylon is accused of making the world drunk with wine.
  The new sanctuary in heaven was inaugurated next. This happened after the inauguration of the High Priest and before Pentecost.
- Chapter 45-48: God Gives Gifts. He gave us Christ and the Holy Spirit.
  The Gift of the Christ ("The Blood in the Sanctuary") He is the Prince of the Covenant. Chapter 46 describes the gifts from Christ to the church.
  The Sabbath Presence (Rest). Thus says the Lord God, "the gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the Sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon. (Ezekiel 46: 1)
  Christ gives us rest. The new, permanent sanctuary was opened in heaven but humans do not have physical access because the gate is shut. However, the special blessing of the Sabbath and new moon indicates that something special happens on these days. The doors are open by faith. And, at the end of time when the millennium Sabbath day of rest occurs, it will be open so that we can physically enter.
  The rules also make it clear that the doors are not open every day. The Sabbath is not one day in seven that we choose. It is a specific day with a specific blessing poured out on that particular day. It also indicates that the new moons are to be observed. We will observe both the new moon and the Sabbath in heaven (Isaiah 66: 22-23).
  The Continual (Forgiveness). Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering and the oil, morning by morning, for a continual burnt offering. (Ezekiel 46: 15)
  Christ gives us forgiveness through His continual ministry as our High Priest with His own blood.
  The Gift of the Prince. Thus says the Lord God, if the prince gives a gift out of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance. But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the year of liberty; then it shall return to the prince. His inheritance shall be only his sons', it shall belong to them. (Ezekiel 46: 16-17)
  Christ gives us the Holy Spirit who gives us both a temporary and a permanent gift.
  - The Permanent Gift of the Sons. The gift of Christ is the Holy Spirit who came at Pentecost after the Passover offering was made. Since we are sons of God, not servants this gift is forever because we need Him to keep the law written in our hearts. We are perfect children of God at the Second Coming.
    » Children of the Messiah. There is some controversy with the identification of the prince as the Messiah because Jesus will not have children. However, spiritually we are all His children who are born again through Him.
  - The Temporary Gift of the Servants. The gifts of the Spirit to the servants of God are temporary. They will no longer be needed in our year of liberty at the Second Coming. We are sons and servants.
  The Gift of the Holy Spirit ("The Water from the Sanctuary"). Chapter 47 defines the boundaries of the Holy Land and the river from the sanctuary. A river runs from the south of the sanctuary towards the east where it becomes a great river that pours into the sea. Everything along its banks is fruitful. This is a perfect description of the river of life and the tree of life by the throne of God.
  This is the coming of the Holy Spirit which is a trickle in the beginning but is a great flood at the end of time that causes the final church to bear much fruit.
  ... And behold water was trickling from the south side ... and he measured a thousand and it was a river that could not ford, for the water had risen enough to swim in ... (Ezekiel 47: 2 ... 5)
  The south side is where the faithful Christian church is symbolically located with the priests of Zadok who are in charge of them. The latter rain starts with them, then continues south and east to where the last church is symbolically located and where Christ comes.
  The Gift of Property ("An Inheritance"). God distributes the Promised Land (Ezekiel 48).

Assyria
Judgment of Babylon
| Judgment |
--- | --- | ---
Church History | 7 | Dan |  | Church Comes out of Babylon
6 | Asher
5 | Naphtali |
4 | Manasseh
3 | Ephraim
2 | Reuben
1 | Judah |
Curses on Mount Ebal
Northern Tribes
Prince Rejected | Temple, priest (25000x10000) | Prince Accepted
Levites (25000x10000)
Israel (Inheritance)
City (25000x5000)
Southern Tribes
Blessings on Mount Gerizim
Christ (First Coming) | 8 | Benjamin |  | Church United (Second Coming)
9 | Simeon
10 | Issachar
11 | Zebulun
12 | Gad
| Christ Comes |
The Final Seven Days in Shiloh
Exodus from Egypt
Egypt

The Design And Pattern
There is a design for the temple, the city and the distribution of the land.

The Distribution Of The Land
In the lesson on the twelve tribes, we learned that the order of the camps of each tribe around the sanctuary represent the characteristics of the church and the suffering of Christ in His final week. But the order of Ezekiel is different.
The land was divided into thirteen equal parallel strips from east to west. Each tribe was given a strip of land beginning with Dan in the north and ending with Gad in the South. Near the middle of this portion is a thirteenth strip assigned to the prince. In the middle of the prince's portion is the holy portion which is a 25000 cubit square. That land is divided into three strips, for the priest and the temple, then the Levites and the city.
This is not the pattern or order in which Christ experienced His suffering. It is the experience of the church after Christ, the period of Ezekiel's temple.
A census is conducted to determine how to distribute the land. Since the distribution is equal it means that the tribes are all the same size. The tribes who are sealed in Revelation 7 represent the only time when all tribes are the same size. So this is a picture of the last days. The vision divides the land into three sections that are similar to the division and fate of the tribes of Israel.

- The Church in the North ("Seven Northern Tribes"). The ten northern tribes of Israel went into captivity in 721 BC because of idolatry to Assyria, the king of the north at that time.
  Now the seven tribes represents the church who went north towards Babylon and idolatry. This is the experience of the Christian church after Christ. As the church moves further north, it moves further away from the sanctuary and towards apostasy. At the end they turn around and go south as they come out of Babylon.
  Other prophecies describe this journey.
  » The Four Horses of Zechariah. They describe the last curses.
  Red: Persecution. This drives the church south, out of Babylon.
  Black: Apostasy. The wicked are separated from the righteous.
  White: Purity. The church is now separated from the wicked, and they flee towards the temple.
  » The Highway from Assyria to Egypt. Isaiah 19 describes conditions at the end of time that are a pattern of this drama. This highway is the road on which the north to south journey is travelled.
  Assyria (The Work of My Hands). Isaiah also depicts the people of God as being composed of three nations. He recreates us out of the people who flee the king of the north.
  Three Nations. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians in Assyria and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth. whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." (Isaiah 19: 23-25)
- The Church in the Middle. The Levites represents the work of the 144,000. They remain attached to God and are faithful to the laws of God and teaching the people about His sanctuary. Like Levi, these are the ones who loved God more than mother, father and brother and did not love their lives until the end. In the last days they are the ones that "shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, and Your law to Israel". They convince the Jews that Christ is the Messiah and facilitate the union of the two branches into one church named Benjamin.
  This church is not called to rebuild a physical temple in Jerusalem and restart ancient sacrifices. This church is called to restore knowledge of Christ through the sanctuary, the laws and offerings in the Old Testament. This work will bring back Christians to obedience as they recognize the rich heritage of their Jewish roots and it will convince Jews that Jesus is their Messiah.
  When the early church separated themselves from the Jews, they ignored all the previous customs. When the will of God ordained that these two branches remain separate by saying of Simeon and Levi "let me not enter their counsel or join their assembly", He actually preserved this knowledge which would have been wiped out by the Christians. Now God is calling both branches back to this knowledge to reveal Himself to both groups in all these laws and customs when He restores the sanctuary after 1844. In this way the Jews will fulfill their original destiny of being a light. They will fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah which says that they will lead the world to the Messiah. This is through two methods.
  1. By Example. Their conversion will be a great sign to the world.
  2. By Knowledge. Preservation of the knowledge of the old laws and customs that lead to Christ.
  Israel (My Inheritance). We obtain our rich inheritance from the Jews when we get acquainted with the sanctuary and its services.
- The Church in the South ("Five Southern Tribes"). The southern tribes and the sanctuary were not captured by the Assyrians but they later went into captivity to Babylon in 609 BC, some were exiled in 597 BC and their temple was destroyed in 586 BC. Now this is the church with Christ as they wait for His return as they flee from the king of Babylon the Great, who has corrupted and occupied the sanctuary.
  » Fleeing the Abomination in the Sanctuary. As they move further south they are not moving away from the sanctuary to idolatry. The picture is that in their days, the sanctuary of God is taken over and corrupted by the man of sin who is pretending to be God. So the faithful priests and people have to flee south from this corrupted sanctuary because God always destroys the sanctuary that has become an abomination.
  Grey: Death and Hell. God punishes the wicked in the plagues. The first three horses are like the first three plagues that fall on everyone. The last horse is like the seven last plagues which fall on the wicked only.
  » Seven Last Plagues. All our experience in the south occurs after we have been sealed and God has determined His people. Therefore, the plagues fall during the experience of the last five sons.
  Egypt (My People). Finally, His people are waiting in the south. Once again Egypt becomes a place of refuge for the people of God and we make our final exodus from Egypt.
  In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking in the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. (Isaiah 19: 18)

  Casting Lots At Shiloh
  Wicked | 7 | Dan | - | Manasseh Gad Reuben
  --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
  Rapture | 6 | Naphtali
  5 | Asher
  Righteous Living | 4 | Issachar
  3 | Zebulun
  2 | Simeon
  1 | Benjamin
  Shiloh | Joseph
  Tent
  Levites
  Jerusalem | Judah | -

  The Allegiance of the Covenant People. The five cities may be a symbol of the five tribes in the south. All five tribes or nations represent the phases of the church after they have been sealed and allied to God and His covenant. The city of Destruction must be Gad, which is the Second Coming.

Joshua Distributes The Land At Shiloh
Shiloh Comes. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a ruler's staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49: 10)
How can the sceptre be taken away from Judah if David will have a descendant forever on his throne? Since Christ is also from the tribe of Judah through David, the promise is still kept because He is the King of kings.
Shiloh is a city in the north. Several important events happened there that are related to the final generation. Ezekiel is clearly the model for the last days, and although Joshua occurred thousands of years before it still has value for the people who are about to enter the Promised Land. Ezekiel represents the order in which the church come to a knowledge of God. Joshua represents the order in which the final inheritance is distributed.

- Five Tribes: Previous Distribution. After they had subdued the land, only five tribes had received their inheritance. Joseph (Ephraim) and Judah received their inheritance near Jerusalem and three tribes received their inheritance beyond the Jordan (Manasseh, Gad and Reuben). Levi had none. They were scattered.
  Christ subdued the land at the crucifixion, defeating the seven headed monster to win back control of the earth.
  - Christ Inherits (Judah and Joseph). Christ receives His inheritance first. He is the High Priest at the temple in heaven where the stick of Judah and Joseph are joined (Ezekiel 37: 19). Joseph, goes ahead to prepare a place for Israel who will need a place of refuge.
  - Christ Comes (From the East). These three sons are the first born of three women. Reuben from the first generation, Manasseh from the second generation and Gad from a concubine. Representing all types of first born sons, Christ comes from across the river (Sea of Glass) to redeem all sons.
  All first borns except Dan receive an inheritance. Dan inherits the dust.
- Seven Tribes: Final Inheritance Distributed. Joshua cast lots to divide the land in Shiloh in this order: Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan had not received their inheritance (Joshua 18-19). Compare them to Elijah's distribution and notice that Dan still has the seventh lot in the far north, but the other tribes were mainly from the Ezekiel's south. Both final distributions involve the same tribes.
  - Righteous Living. The first four tribes represent the righteous living who are the same tribes waiting in the south to be rescued by Gad in Ezekiel's distribution.
  - Asher and Naphtali. The next two sons represent the righteous dead and the raptured church.
  - Wicked Living (Dan). He is the last one to receive his inheritance.

  Ezekiel (Seven Tribes in the North) | Babylon | After Babylon Falls
  --- | --- | ---
  Five Tribes in the South | Plagues | 1 Year
  Seven Tribes at Shiloh | 7 Days

  » The Last Seven Days. Since Gad is not represented in this list of the final seven, it must be the world at the Second Coming. Those events are predicted as lasting seven days. The first four tribes are from the tribes in the south who have been sealed. By the end of the plagues Zebulun and Issachar have switched places because the people living in tents who have fled Babylon and the corrupt temple are now waiting to go forth to Heaven. So when Shiloh comes again, He finds an obedient people who are waiting to go to heaven. He raises the dead and raptures His people, leaving Dan behind.
- The First House of the Lord. It was the first dwelling place of God before the temple in Jerusalem.
- It was Abandoned. God rejected this place and later banished the people because of evil.
  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) See also Psalm 78: 60.
  On three occasions God abandoned the chosen.
  - Joseph (Shiloh). The first house of the Lord is rejected for Jerusalem.
  - Benjamin (Saul). The first tribe of kings is rejected for Judah.
  - Judah (Israel). The nation of God is rejected for Gentiles and also the temple at Jerusalem.
  In the end, all their shame is removed and everyone is restored to a place of honor when Christ identifies with all.

Shiloh is now a person, not a place. Jesus Christ became this Shiloh because the events surrounding His appearance mimic the events at Shiloh. Israel, the first house of God was abandoned for another nation who obeyed Christ. The inheritance was redistributed to the seven last churches.

Migration: The Law Of The Order Of Travel And The Final History Of The Church
The law of the temple specifies that the people should only travel in one direction and enter and exit from different gates. This is a very important concept because it unlocks some of the symbolism of prophecy.
Prince in the East. When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out the same way.
People Travel North and South. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts,
Southern Migration. he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate.
Northern Migration. And he who enters by the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate.
One Way Travel. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. (Ezekiel 46: 8-9)
We will follow the rules of travel and focus on the north to south journey and the journey back from south to north.

- The Prince ("From The First Coming To His Exodus"). The prince enters and leaves by the porch in the east but the people must travel north and south. The prince comes from the east gate and goes west to the temple to give His offering then returns to the east. But for the people who worship the Lord, there is no turning back in their experience. And, before they make the east to west journey at the end of time, they must take up their cross and go through trials and afflictions and wrath and death. At a minimum we must be dead to sin. Let us look at Micah to get a clearer picture of what Christ did before He came to the earth the first time.
  "Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek. "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." Therefore He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has borne a child then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel. (Micah 5: 1-3)
  Christ came as a baby with the star from the east, then He made the offering and left from the Mount of Olives on the east gate of the temple. The journey from heaven was in this order.
  1. Gad ("The Troops"). Jesus gathered an army because a siege was laid against Him. Revelation 12 says that there was a war in heaven before the child was born.
  2. Zebulun ("Goes Forth"). Micah says that from the days of eternity Jesus was "going forth". On one of these journeys, He came to the earth as a baby.
  3. Issachar ("Tents"). Earth, in a human body, is the tent where He came to live. This Ruler of Israel gave up heaven to come to earth as a child to be a homeless stranger in a hostile land. Mary was in labor with this Child but Israel was the woman who gave birth to the perfect child.
  4. Simeon ("His Brethren"). Jesus calls the disciples and they go to the sons of Israel with the Gospel.
  5. Benjamin ("Son of the Right Hand"). He is the last son of Israel. The Man of Sorrows who will become the Son of the Right Hand because He was the only faithful son. When this child is born, Israel will return to God and will not longer reject the Messiah.
  Christ Comes to The Temple. At a certain point in time Jesus comes to the city of Jerusalem, to the temple where He is rejected.

  Christ Comes to the Temple
  Baby Jesus |  | Benjamin | Young Boy
  --- | --- | --- | ---
  Violence | Simeon |
  Born in a Stable | Issachar |
  Zebulun
  | Gad |
  Exodus from Egypt
  Blessings and Deliverance

  This pattern of events is an excellent example of a prophecy repeating its pattern during an important phase of its fulfillment.
  A promised blessed event precipitates an exodus. The righteous leave on a journey and live in temporary shelters in the wilderness. They meet violence, but at the end a beloved son is born who goes to the temple to fulfill the covenant.
  - Christ ("The Journey from Heaven"). Christ was Gad who went conquering and to conquer as the raider on a donkey, among His disciples as He goes forth to Jerusalem. With Zebulun, His disciples, He formed the Christian church from Simeon. Then He went to the temple through the east gates as Benjamin the son of the right hand who would suffer as the son of sorrow. While He was in the city and the temple, He taught the people the law. He also threw out those who were disobeying the law and taking advantage of the people (Ezekiel 45: 9-10).
  - The Birth of Christ ("Mary's Journey to Bethlehem"). Mary went on a donkey and travelled to Bethlehem because they were scattered by a law from the violent Romans. They lived in a temporary shelter in a stable. Christ was born there and eight days later He went to the temple to officially join the covenant by circumcision.
  - The Death of Christ ("The Journey to Heaven"). Christ came to Jerusalem on a donkey. He lived in a temporary place in Bethany, was seized by a violent mob, taken to the temple and killed. Then He was raised and taken to heaven.
  - Israel ("The Journey from Egypt"). The journey on earth began when Israel was pursued out of Egypt by Pharaoh and his army. They went forth, living in tents, even meeting God on Mount Sinai where the number of people were as the sand on the sea. They were the treasures taken out of Egypt. At the time of the Messiah they were under the rule of the violent Gentiles who were destined to carry the covenant. So Christ was the last son of Israel, Benjamin, born out of the pregnant Israel as one destined to be the Son of the Right Hand. He came to the temple at the age of twelve, when He was responsible for the covenant.
  - The Birth of the Church. The prophecy in Revelation 12 also uses this pattern. The pregnant church is being pursued by a dragon who tries to use violence to take her child. The Child escapes to the temple in heaven and the woman lives in the wilderness.
  Notice that they all terminated with Christ in the temple. The ultimate fulfillment was the crucifixion of Christ, but the pattern appeared at His birth, His death and the journey of Israel.
- The Journey North ("From Christ To Laodicea"). The crucifixion story begins when He goes to the temple in the middle. After the crucifixion, the journey north continued in the seven last churches.
  As time progresses the church goes further north toward Babylon, the king of the north, and away from Christ in the sanctuary. This is the church in the wilderness that progressively gets further away from the sanctuary. It is the Jewish version of the prophecy of the seven last churches (Revelation 1-3).
  1. Judah ("Ephesus"). The church that saw Christ greeted as King has now forgotten Him. They lost their first love. Christ, like Ephesus proved the love of the people and the apostles. They learned that they can abandon Him to save their own lives or reputations.
  2. Reuben ("Smyrna"). These are the martyrs and the ones who "say they are Jews but are not". Reuben is the Jewish branch of the church under the old covenant that was almost wiped out along with the Christian church. In the period, the Christians were actively abandoning all connections to the Jews. They say they are from the line of Judah, but they are not.
     "May Reuben live and not die" is Moses' hope. The Rabbis during this time period also had this sense of impending death and they compiled the Mishnah and the Talmud to write down all that they remembered.
  3. Ephraim ("Pergamos"). This phase was apostasy and Ephraim is the Christian branch. The Christian church has fallen into immorality and idolatry.
  4. Manasseh ("Thyatira"). This is the Jewish church under the new covenant whose "deeds of late are greater than at first". At first they rejected Christ, but they are faithful to the laws. However, they still tolerate Jezebel and they must end all association with her before leaving on the exodus. During the dark ages the Jews suffered terribly under the Christians.
  5. Naphtali ("Sardis"). He is the loose doe that represents the resurrection. With all the opportunities of the Reformation, Sardis is supposed to be resurrected. Sardis thinks that they are alive but they are dead!
  6. Asher ("Philadelphia"). In contrast, Asher represents the dead Christ. Philadelphia that should be dead is actually alive. The church with the key belongs to the one who received the keys of death and hell while He was Asher in the grave. The church with the open door is symbolically linked to these doors.
     - The Keys of Death and Hell. In this phase Christ was conquering death and hell for them.
     - The Key of David. He has the answer to reuniting the house of David.
     - The Keys to the Sanctuary. They teach about the forgotten sanctuary and the judgment of Dan.
  7. Dan ("Laodicea"). The church that is being judged belongs to the one who has been judged! Dan occupies the extreme northern position and must be compared to the king of the north at the end of time. Dan is the religious arm of this power that joins with the state.
  » North: The Place of Slaughter. North of the altar were the places to slaughter, skin and cut up the sacrifice.
- The Journey South ("From Laodicea To The Second Coming").
  This is the church that emerges after the judgment. The church in the north comes out of the wilderness and out of Babylon the Great and proceeds south towards the sanctuary and towards unification. When this church turns around and goes south to flee Babylon, they will probably pass through the reverse experience. The church that emerges passes the Yom Kippur judgment where God judges in their favor and keeps their name in the Book of Life. Then the church that was once as dead as Asher becomes alive like Naphtali. These three churches represent the experience of the two witnesses in Revelation 11: 7-12.
  - Dan ("Judged a Serpent"). They were condemned to death because they tormented the wicked.
  - Asher ("Dead"). The church is dead. The beast wages a war to kill them and celebrate their deaths.
  - Naphtali ("Resurrected and Set Free"). God resurrected them in public and the people feared God.
    This is the church that probably exists when the abomination of desolation begins to capture territory. Naphtali is instructed to capture the sea and the south. This is the people of the world and the people of God, living in the city of David which is south of the temple. The abomination of desolation also takes possession of the same territory between "the sea and Pleasant Land".
    "But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go out with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. "He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. (Daniel 11: 44-45)
    The rumors from the north are about the people fleeing from Babylon to God. The rumors from the east are indications of the Second Coming which will end his reign.
  Then the Jewish branch of Manasseh leads out, the majority of Christians represented by Ephraim follow this great sign. Then, like Reuben, their afflictions begin and they are forced to look to their King. Christ is now acknowledged as King of the Jews by both Jews and Gentiles.
  Reuben reverses his shame. His crime was to sleep with his father's concubine. At this phase of earth's history, Reuben resists the temptation of the great whore of Babylon.
  » Rebuilding the Temple. The church has now officially rebuilt and restored the spiritual temple. Then the period of Tabernacles begins. By faith they flee to the sanctuary for protection from the wrath of the wicked as priests, Levi. It is their time of sorrow and it is where the church of Benjamin is born. From there they will begin the journey to the Second Coming, where Jesus rides a white horse to conquer, not a donkey to be broken by burdens. At this time, when the righteous and wicked are separated, two spiritual temples emerge when the righteous leave the sanctuary because the beast has followed them and is now corrupting the sanctuary.
  The beast is now corrupting the sanctuary and people, so both will be destroyed in the plagues.
  Mishkan. The righteous are now the portable temple of God on their final exodus with the new Moses, Christ resurrected. They are the temple made from living stones and they must not be corrupted. They flee. Their final experience goes through five phases.
  1. Benjamin ("Son of Sorrow and Son of the Right Hand"). This church emerges in times of sorrow. Like Christ, they are the child who was born from the woman who is being persecuted by the dragon. The church is martyred in the persecution and is now dead to sin. She is sealed. She gives birth to the little child who will be taken up to heaven. Because we can only enter heaven when we become little children.
  2. Simeon ("Hated"). When they have taken refuge in the south (Egypt), Benjamin redeems Simeon who was guilty of trying to kill his brother then selling him into slavery.
     The son that was hated is now the church that is hated in the persecution. The church that was once scattered is now one but they are scattered by persecution as they become the church in hiding. Moses does not mention Simeon, because Benjamin now represents the church and Simeon now renounces violence. The purely Christian phase of Simeon is over. There is no separation between the Jewish and Gentile branches.
  3. Issachar ("Rejoice in Your Going Forth"). We will leave Babylon the Great in a massive exodus.
  4. Zebulun ("Living in Tents"). At the end of time we will live by faith in booths ("tents") as we begin the last feast of tabernacles living as homeless refugees under the protection of God.
  5. Gad ("The Second Coming"). The journey ends when Jesus comes as the raider on a white horse who destroys the wicked with His army. Gad is the rider from the east who meets the people in the south.
  » South: The Ascending Ramp. They are waiting in the south for their ascent to the clouds. This is where the ramp was located for the altar of sacrifice.
  » The Righteous Shall Never Go South Again. There seems to be a law about the king that contradicts this image of the church going south towards Egypt.
  Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, "you shall never again return that way". (Deuteronomy 17: 16)
  The promise is that either the king or the people shall never go to Egypt again or return from that land again.
  - Never Return From Egypt. The church will never make another exodus out of Egypt as slaves. When they flee south from Babylon several unique things may occur.
    » Brothers. Egypt will greet them as brothers, not slaves.
    » Earth Changes. A very unique fulfillment at the end of time causes the earth to change its rotation so that the south is now facing east. So the people are waiting in the east where their Lord will appear.
  - God Sends Us To Egypt. The law means that we should not take the initiative to go to Egypt for any reason, especially to multiply horses.
    » Christ Goes to Egypt. Christ, the King of kings, went to Egypt as a child to flee the persecution of Herod. So, either as a King or one of the common people, the Lord sent Him to Egypt and called Him out again.
    » The Last Church Goes to Egypt. So, God can send us there again and call us out again.

The North-South History Of The Twelve Tribes (Egypt To Heaven)

Promised Land | Judgment | Death | Exodus | Out of Egypt
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dan | Asher | Naphtali
Benjamin |  |  |  |  |  | Judah
Manasseh | Issachar
Joseph | Zebulun
- | Gad | Simeon | Reuben | -
Second Coming | Christians | Jews | -

The north to south route in the camp layout is a history of the people of God. It seems to be based on another pattern embedded in the campsites of the tribes. They seem to represent the three great phases of the history of all Israel. We will look at the events from right to left or east to west because this is the order in which the Jews wrote and this is the order of the work of God. Then we will follow the travel rules of going north to south.

- Naphtali to Reuben ("Jews"). This is the period from the time the twelve tribes were set loose from Egypt to go to the Promised Land up to the time that the first born son lost preeminence when they rejected Jesus Christ.
  Israel leaves Egypt, living in booths. Symbolized by Judah (Jews), Issachar (Exodus) and Zebulun (Tents).
  » Reuben to Asher. This is the short three day period when they killed Christ. He was the fist born Son who lost preeminence and was killed.
- Asher to Simeon ("Christians"). This is the short period from the death of Christ to the call of the Christians.
  » Simeon to Dan. This is the history of the reign of the second born son, the violent and scattered Christians, after the inauguration to the seven last churches and the Yom Kippur judgment.
- Dan to Gad ("United"). This is a distinct phase in the final church after the judgment to the Second Coming. The Jewish and Christian phase both lasted about 2000 years. This is an important phase of unity at the end of time.
  Ezekiel's north to south distribution of the Promised Land from Dan to Gad is based on this time slice of the general history.
  Israel arrives in the Promised Land, symbolized by Joseph, Manasseh and Benjamin (on the right hand).

The East-West History Of The Christ (From Heaven To Earth)
The east to west route in the camp layout is a brief history of the Prince of the Covenant. There are three distinct phases.

- Judah to Benjamin ("The Reliable Prince"). The Prince in heaven who gave up His priviledges and agreed to be the son of the right hand and go to the earth to execute the Plan of Salvation.
- Issachar to Manasseh ("The Son of Man"). God has amnesia! The Christ who went forth out of heaven and came to the earth to bear the burden of the wages of sin. While He is here He is "made to forget" His former life and learn about His calling through the Torah, His mother and the Holy Spirit. Then He has to choose to obey God by submitting to death.
- Zebulun to Joseph ("The Favorite Son"). This is the Christ who formally began His ministry by selecting disciples. The mission ends with His reproach removed and the great blessings heaped upon Joseph, the favorite son.

Ezekiel has no detailed history of the Christ from east to west. His pattern in the gates of the city only shows how this coming of Christ will affect the tribes. He comes from the east to remove our sins and lives with us in the west.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103: 12)

The Holy Portion: The Design Of The Temple And City

- The Prince. The land of the prince is on either side of the holy property. They are the house of David.
- Priests and Temple. The priests are from Zadok. They represent the small group of Christians who understand the temple and the sanctuary. It is this group and their message that will meet the church fleeing from the north.
  » The Water from the Sanctuary. A stream comes out of the southern side and flows east and becomes a great river. This is the latter rain which occurs when the church is fleeing from Babylon in the north and before the Levites are converted. They flee from the north to the south and reach the waters from the temple in the south.
- Levites. They represent the Jews who accept the Gospel when the latter rain occurs. They now lead the way to the city by their example. It is not until they accept that the group goes forward. So that Zechariah is fulfilled when it says that the house of Judah will be saved first before the city.
- City. The city of God on earth is now formed. From this city, the last five tribes emerge. The tribes of Levi, Judah and Reuben enter the city from the north and the tribes of Zebulun, Issachar and Simeon emerges in the south.
  » Food For the Workers. As we flee the city and Babylon the Great and the forces of persecution, we will find food prepared for God outside in the open fields and pasture lands. This is prefect for a people who are literally and symbolically living in booths or tents.

Judah
Prince's Land ("The House of David") |
| Temple
--- | ---
Water from the temple
Priests of Zadok | Prince's Land
--- | --- | ---
Levites
250 | 10000 x 5000 Worker's Food | 250 (Pasture Land)
Levi | Judah | Reuben
--- | --- | ---
Naphtali | City 4500 x 4500 | Joseph
Asher | Benjamin
Gad | Dan
Zebulun | Issachar | Simeon
250 (Pasture Land) | 10000 x 5000 Worker's Food | 250
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
(City: 25000 wide x 5000 high)
Benjamin

After the seven tribes in the north turn around and flee from Babylon, they must pass through the holy portion before they become the last five tribes. The Holy Portion consists of three groups: the priests, the Levites and the inhabitants of the city. But let us look at two parallel prophecies before we see what happens to them in the temple and the Holy Portion.

- Malachi ("The Messenger of the Covenant"). The same group is described by Malachi 3: 1-4. The sons of Levi, Judah and Jerusalem. When the Lord comes to His temple, the message of the messenger of the covenant will purify the sons of Levi so that the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable. Then they will offer peace offerings of love and praise.
- Zechariah ("The House of David"). He mentions three groups: the house of David, the tents of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It does not mention priests or Levites. It is the "house of David" that acts in the role of the priest. (Zechariah 12: 7-8, 10) After the Levites are converted with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they lead by example even though they were first led by the small group of Christians represented by the priests of Zadok.

Israel Becomes A Holy Nation
When the church in the north flees south, they spiritually become several groups as they become children of God. They arrive as sons of Judah to the Holy Land. They become princes from the house of David, priests from Zadok and Levi and inhabitants of Jerusalem. And they are holy by law.
This is the law of the house: its entire area on top of the mountain, all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. (Ezekiel 43: 12)

- Judah. The mixture of Jews and Gentiles fleeing from Babylon are under the banner of the tribe of Judah because they must trace their heritage to the lineage of Christ. They approach the holy mountain and are transformed into the holy nation of God by looking more into the sanctuary.
- Priests. Some are priests that explain the sanctuary and the covenant, the Holy Spirit is poured out from the sanctuary in this phase so that people understand the symbols that point to Christ.
- Levites. Some are priests from the Jewish branch. When this group commits, the holy nation moves forward.
- House of David. They are princes who are also part of the tribe of Judah. It is another level of authority outside of the Christian and Jewish clergy who were faithful keepers of the law and sanctuary. These must be the 144,000 who have the authority to come to the sanctuary and provide an offering for the people.
- Inhabitants of Jerusalem. These are the great number of the common people, old and new converts.
- Benjamin. The entire group is transformed into Benjamin. There is no male or female, Jew nor Gentile, no head or leader except Christ. They must realize that they are the final generation.

The Sealing Of The Tribes

The Sealing (Revelation 7: 4-8)
Leaders | House of David
--- | ---
Judah
Latter Rain Poured Out | Reuben
Gad
Asher
Naphtali
Manasseh
Simeon
Levi
Worldwide Acceptance | Issachar
Zebulun
Joseph
Benjamin

At this point we will pause to look at another prophecy that is being fulfilled at this time. The sealing is occurring and Revelation 7: 4-8 lists the order in which the twelve tribes were sealed. Zechariah is ambiguous about who is the leader and who is saved first. Is it Judah or the House of David? We can look at the marching order rules and the view of the church in this period to get a definitive answer.

- House of David. Whenever the camp moved out, the priests always moved ahead with the ark of the covenant to guide them. Moses and Christ were both the angels of the Lord leading their exodus. In essence, this leadership group is acting like God or like the angel of the Lord before them. The future church will have great leaders.
- Judah. Judah was the first tribe to move out. The picture from Ezekiel places the whole remnant church fleeing from Babylon symbolically as one clan. They are Judah and they are being saved but they have not changed the world yet because the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain has not occurred. The events following the Latter Rain are the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.
  Look, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves ... And in that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Israel.
  Latter Rain. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplication, so that they will look at Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like bitter weeping over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12: 2-3, 6,9-10)
- The Role of the Jews. At three points the Jews appear to respond first after their initial conversion by the Gentiles. Reuben is the first to come out and accept the initial message. Then Manasseh, the Jews who now understand the new covenant accept before Simeon, the majority of the Christian church in rebellion. Then the world follows after Levi converts because the Jews once again become priests of the true covenant. Christianity is in danger of apostasy just as the Jews had done. It takes the observation of this miracle conversion to wake up Christianity. So it is correct to say that the Christians lead the Jews who then lead the majority of the Gentiles by example. In the final phase we are a nation of priests who know, obey and teach the laws of God.
- The Latter Rain. The initial sign of the response of Reuben caused Gad to go out and raid the fortress of Satan. This is the hour of great and fearless evangelism. New life springs into the dead, sleeping churches of Asher. And, like Naphtali, they free themselves from all that holds them back. There are now two distinct waves of response. Manasseh, the Jews under the new covenant and Simeon, the rest of the Christians.
- The Results. But it is only after Levi accepts, that it becomes a great sign and then we see the great exodus of people as Issachar "goes forth among the sheep". Then they have to live in tents like Zebulun because of persecution. Finally they become Joseph who is the symbolic father of the two final nations. Then those two nations become even more unified as the last church, Benjamin who is the cherished little brother.

Levi | Judah | Reuben
--- | --- | ---
Naphtali |  | Joseph
Asher | Benjamin
Gad | Dan
Zebulun | Issachar | Simeon

The Exits And Entrances
The Twelve Gates Of The City
This arrangement is not the same as the order of the tribes around the sanctuary. This is a symbol of how Christ builds and fills His city before they continue on their journey south.
The strange configuration of the city gates now makes sense. It is a diagram of where the tribes will be at the Second Coming when Jesus comes from the east and goes west. These are the people that are the city of God.
For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24: 27)
Christ comes from the east and meets a church that is polarized along very distinct lines. From the north and south, He will gather a church that is afflicted and persecuted and suffering wrath and death at the hands of the wicked. Then He leaves in the west.

- East ("The Second Coming and the End Time Church"). When Christ comes from the east He will meet a church represented by Joseph, Benjamin and Dan. Dan is the rejected church that is judged. Benjamin is the united church of the persecution and Joseph represents the two fruitful parts of this union, Ephraim and Manasseh who have their reproach removed. Joseph is greeted with honor in heaven.
- North ("The Old Foundation"). The names represent the groups defined in Zechariah 12: 7-10 and Malachi 3: 1-4. These are the Jews and the twelve tribes. Reuben is the symbol of this church. The disgraced firstborn is redeemed. Levi is a symbol of the role of priests that they will play in leading the church to the importance of the old testament scriptures. Christ introduced Himself to this church as Judah, the one who gives the Messiah to the world through the Jews.
  It has a great and high wall, with twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels; and names are written on them which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21: 12, 14)
  All the children of Leah, the hated wife, are in the north and south. This will become the story of how our status is changed from hated to loved in the eyes of the universe.
  The old foundation is not dug up and discarded. It is used to support the new foundation.
- South ("The New Foundation"). The church will be based on a foundation of the old and new. These are the disciples and the Christian church. Simeon is the symbol of this church. Christ introduced Himself to this church as Issachar, the one who bears burdens. At the end of time, Simeon is the church that is hated and persecuted. Then the church "goes forth" as Issachar as they flee Babylon the Great and the persecution. They will live in tents or "booths" like Zebulun because they will be protected by faith in the sanctuary during the feast of booths.
- West ("The Raptured Church"). When Christ comes, He will come as Gad, the raider with His army. He will raise Asher, the righteous dead and will rapture the church of Naphtali and set us loose or free. Then He leaves in the west. The children of the beloved wife and the concubines are in the east and west. Christ comes for a bride that He loves, but she was once a harlot.

Priest's Portion and Temple
Priests
- | 50 | 50 (Open Space) = Total (600 x 600) | 50 | -
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Temple (500 x 500)
50
Priests
(25000 wide x 10000 high)

The Six Gates Of The Temple
Revelation 11: 1-2 says that the city and the outer court will be given to the wicked to trample on. But at some point the wicked man must also take over the temple because the prophecies indicate that a usurper, whose number is 666, will sit in this temple pretending to be God and it was already in existence at the time of the apostles. Look at the number of sixes in the holy compound.

- Land. The size is 600 x 600 with the border.
- 6 Gates. 60 cubits high.
- Threshold. 6 cubits.
- 6 Guardrooms. Each is a 6 x 6 cubit square.
- Sanctuary. The length is 60.
- Walls. The width and height are 6 cubits.

The Number 666 and the Antichrist. This number can be seen in the value of the measurements as you approach the compound. With the border, the total size is 600. The height of the gate is 60 and several structures in the gate measure six. The reason this is important is because the hand and forehead on the human and the doorpost and gates on a house are where the good or evil marks are placed.
The size of the land without the border is 500 by 500. It indicates that this is a sanctuary under judgment.
Five is the total number of covenant warnings given before the sanctuary is destroyed. With a 50 cubit border, the size allocated to the temple is 600 by 600. It is an indication of the amount of time given for reflection after the judgment. Therefore that space and time still belong to the judgment of the temple. So final judgment begins at five and ends at six. When the space-time reaches 600, the temple will be taken over by the Antichrist and by the enemy.
The Man of Sin. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [the second coming of Jesus] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is worshipped;
In the Temple as God. so that he as god sits in the temple of God [the church], showing himself that he is god.
Restrained. And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
Revealed. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming. (2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4, 6-8)

666: A Temple Under Judgment
All indications are that this is the temple under judgment in Revelation 11. The space outside the temple will be corrupted by the world, but the temple and people belong to God. This temple will also be taken over and corrupted by the Antichrist. There have been several indications that the sanctuary and people will be corrupted. The symbols are that our body is the temple that will be violated and corrupted.

Most Holy Place | Holy Place |  | Outer Court (6)
--- | --- | --- | ---
? | 6 Boards | Sacrifice
6 Boards | Shekinah Glory (6-6-6) |
| (6-6) |
6 Boards | Obedience
Heaven | Earth | Earth

- Moses' Portable Temple (6 x 6 x 6). This may be the basis of the temple described by Ezekiel with the dimensions of 600 x 60 x 6.
  - Most Holy Place Walls (6-6-6). The Most Holy Place was constructed of six boards on three side.
  - Holy Place (6-6). This room is filled with two sixes.
    » Table of Shewbread (6-6). It had two stacks of 6 breads.
    » High Priest's Priest Shoulder (6-6). He had two stones on each shoulder with the names of six tribes inscribed on each stone.
    » Menorah (66-66-66). The number 6 or 66 can be found throughout the menorah.

    Menorah 1
    | 22 |
    --- | --- | ---
    7 |  | 14 |  | 21 |  |  |  | 15 |  | 8 |  | 1
    6 | 13 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 2
    5 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 3
    |  |  | 18 |  |  |
    | 11 |
    | 4 |
    Menorah 2
    | 22 |
    --- | --- | ---
    7 |  | 8 |  | 21 |  |  |  | 15 |  | 14 |  | 1
    6 | 9 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 2
    5 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 3
    |  |  | 18 |  |  |
    | 11 |
    | 4 |

    - 6-6-6. There are 22 bulbs on the design, 4 down the center lamp and 6 on each of the three arms, 3 on either side.
    - 66-66-66. If you number the bulbs on each pipe starting from one side at the outer to the inner then the sum of each of the three rows is 66. e.g. (7 + 14 + 21 + 15 + 8 + 1 = 66)
    - 66-66-66. The results are still the same if you always start counting each pipe from one side (Menorah 1) or alternate (Menorah 2). e.g. (7 + 8 + 21 + 15 + 14 + 1 = 66).
      The only difference is that if you count the totals of 3 bulbs on each side, then Menorah 2 shows the sequence 30, 31, 32, 33 (center 3), 34, 35, 36.
    The sum of numbers on the four center bulbs is 55.
  - Outer Court (6). This section is the location of the sinner.
  So we have come to the conclusion that 6-6-6 is not necessarily an evil number. It is simply related to the design of man. The condemnation in Revelation is that incomplete man, whose number is 666, is asserting himself to take over the throne of God.
- The Body Temple. The bone is a symbol of a nation. The rib from Adam created a woman and a nation from her. The twelve tribes are symbolized by the twelve pairs of ribs in the chest. So, just as the "number of a name" indicates the population of a tribe under one head of household, a bone indicates a nation. The 12 pairs of bones in the chest are the symbol of the 12 nations of God whom He has on His heart.
  » Rabbinical Anatomy. The rabbis had an interesting view of the number of bones in the body.
  - Sternum (6 Bones) "The Key to the Gateway". According to them, the sternum has six bones and it is "the key of the heart" which is in the chest "gateway to the heart". We can see this reasoning in the gates in this temple with a preponderance of the number six.
  - Hands (60 Bones). The rabbis also teach that there are six bones in each finger and six in each toe. There are 60 bones in both hands (thirty in each) and 60 bones in both feet.
  » Modern Anatomy. The appendicular skeleton supports 60 vertical and six horizontal bones.
  - Extremities (60 Bones). There are 60 bones in the arms and hands and in the legs and the feet.
  - Pelvic and Shoulder Girdle (6 Bones). There are a total of six bones.
- The Standard Temple Measurements (Ezekiel 45). The standards were the shekel and the Homer.
  - Weight (Balances). Gerah (20 shekels), shekel and maneh (60 shekels).
  - Liquid Measure (Bath). 10 baths is an homer.
  - Dry Measure (Ephah). 10 ephahs is an homer.
    The manna in the ark was one omer (Exodus 16: 33,36). Ten of these as an ephah.
  This is the quantity given.
  - Animals (Sheep). One in every 200. 3 out of 600 for burnt, grain and peace offerings.
  - Wheat (Sixth of an Ephah). One homer is enough for sixty offerings.
  - Barley (Sixth of an Ephah). One homer is enough for sixty offerings.
  - Oil (Tenth of a Bath). One bath is enough for one hundred offerings.

The conclusion we reach is not that the number 666 is evil, but the evil one will take over the church when is has this measurement. We will reach the time of the mark of the beast when the following is true.

- Land (600). The entire world is within the jurisdiction of the church that has been invaded by the man of sin.
- Gate (60). When our hands are feet are dedicated to the work of the beast.
- Threshold (6). When the doorway of our hearts and minds belong to the beast.

Seven Northern Tribes
Dan • Asher • Naphtali
Golgotha and Garden Tomb
| Slaughter the Offering | Assyria
--- | --- | ---
| Curses on Mount Ebal
| Assyria
Highway Exodus | Temple Priests | Israel
Levites
City
Corrupt Temple
Plagues | Blessings on Mount Gerizim | Egypt
City of David
Ascending Ramp
Gethsemane and Gehenna
Gad • Simeon • Reuben
Five Southern Tribes

Repetition and Enlargement
This north to south journey of the righteous is prophecied and typified in many stories. In this journey, the south is both the place where the righteous find refuge, and the pursuing wicked will be slaughtered. It can be seen as both good and bad because evil corrupts the righteous there. The center is the dwelling place of God. But evil can also corrupt the Holy Place. The north is the land of the evil usurper who wants to replace the righteous King of the North on Mount Zion. It is never seen as a place of good on earth. It is always a place that the righteous must leave.

- Campsites Of The Twelve Tribes. At this stage, it is the blessings of Moses, not Israel that determine what these tribes represent. Moses blesses those who are about to enter the Promised Land. Israel blesses those before they have leave on an exodus.
- Zechariah's Horses. We are pursued and separated into those who are good and those who are evil.
- The Highway From North to South. This is the story of the journey of the people of God in the end.
- Mount Gerizim And Ebal. The blessings were in the south and the curses were in the north.
- Outer Court (Altar). The ascending ramp (rapture) was in the south and the place to slaughter the sacrifice was north.
- The Holy Place. The table with the wine and bread (broken body and blood) were on the north wall and the menorah with the light was in the south.
- Abraham. He left Babylon in the north and found refuge in Egypt. After Moses, the people of God never went north beyond the Promised Land again. They always travelled between the Promised land and Egypt to find refuge.
  - Israel. They fled from famine and found refuge in Egypt because Joseph was sent ahead.
  - Jesus. He was sent to Egypt to escape from Herod.
  - Exodus. When Egypt corrupted them they fled north to the Promised Land.
- Geography (Jerusalem). The garbage dump called the fires of Gehenna are in the south, but the city of David is also south. In the north is the tomb and the crucifixion site.
- Geography (Holy Land). Israel is in the center with Babylon, Assyria and Rome as the king of the north and Egypt as the king of the south.
- Ezekiel. The construction of the temple and the north to south division of the land explained in this lesson.

Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15 | Time: 80 minutes Print: 16 pages
Copyright First Created : May-June 2007 No permission is granted to use this material except for personal bible study. Credits: Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2008) June 2007. The Holy Spirit taught me about Ezekiel as a part of instruction about the 12 tribes. 21 December 2008. God taught me how the Mishkan modeled all basic science. All images and page design created by Laverna Patterson and are the property of teachinghearts.