Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 14 paras. 21-25 and Box 14A, Responses.
21. What can anointed Christians learn from the priests of this vision?
Ezekiel saw that the inner and outer court gates were the same, which represents that Jehovah's standards were the same for everyone, including the Levites and priests, so what Anointed Christians can learn from the priests of old is that Although they have a special relationship with Jehovah, they are also part of a single Flock and served under "one shepherd" and the same rules of Pure Worship must be followed.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
These massive inner courtyard gates reminded the priests that Jehovah's standards for pure worship were for them as well. Being an example for anointed Christians, although they have been chosen as children of God, they can also be advised and corrected, since we are all part of one flock.
ILLUSTRATION
Brothers and sisters greeting each other outside a Kingdom Hall.
What do the huge gates and courtyards teach us about pure worship? (See paragraphs 18-21).
22, 23. (a) What can the elders learn by thinking of the chief who appears in the vision?
This chief supervised and helped the people to present sacrifices, yet he also had to submit to the authority of the priests within the temple grounds. From this example elders including traveling overseers learn that they must be obedient and submissive to the faithful and wise slave.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
This chief, although he supervises the people and helps them present sacrifices, because he is not from the priestly tribe, he has to submit to the authority of the priests within the temple precincts. The same is true today, although the elders and overseers have some authority, they must submit to the instructions of the faithful and prudent slave.
b) What could happen in the future?
In the future, many Elders who are preparing in our days will continue to help in Paradise. In addition, more details of Ezekiel's vision may be revealed later or details fulfilled.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Jehovah in the future will help us to better understand Ezekiel's vision and the other promises of restoration when he sees fit. Perhaps some details will be fulfilled in the future in a surprising way; in a way we can't even imagine now.
In the future those same elders may be used by Jehovah. Later, when Jehovah sees fit, we may better understand Ezekiel's vision and the other promises of restoration. And there are things that are fulfilled in a way that today we could never imagine.
Jehovah Blesses Pure Worship
24, 25. What prophetic images in the vision describe Jehovah's blessings for his faithful people?
Jehovah in these prophetic images describes some of the many divine blessings: 1) a river that flows from the temple sanctuary and turns the ground into fertile and full of life, and 2) a country divided in an orderly and precise way, with the temple and its land in the central zone. These passages have a lot to do with us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
There are two: 1) a river that comes from the temple sanctuary and turns the soil into fertile land full of life, and 2) a country divided in an orderly and precise way, with the temple and its land in the central area. They are images that have to do with us, since Jehovah has entered, in a much more sacred system of worship, the great spiritual temple, which he himself has purified and approved.
INFORMATIVE BOX 14A: Lessons from Ezekiel's Temple Vision
Aerial view of the Temple of the Vision of Ezekiel.
Pure worship is elevated and protected
The temple of vision is set on "a very high mountain" (1). Have we put pure worship high and does it rank first in our lives?
The outer wall (2) surrounded a huge area of land (3); in the center of that area was the temple precinct. We draw an important lesson from this: Let us not let anything contaminate our worship of Jehovah. If even "common use" must be far from pure worship, even more so impure or immoral conduct must be outside the lives of those who worship Jehovah (Ezek. 42:20).
Eternal blessings
From the sanctuary of the temple comes a stream of water that increases until it becomes a torrent that turns the ground into fertile land full of life (4). In chapter 19 of this book we will discuss those blessings.
The same rules for everyone
The massive outer (5) and inner (9) doors remind us that Jehovah has set high standards of conduct for all who wish to give him pure worship. Note that the interior and exterior doors are identical, the same size. And it is logical, because Jehovah's righteous commands are the same for all his servants, regardless of their responsibilities or position in the congregation.
A meal at Jehovah's table
The dining rooms (8) remind us that, in ancient times, people could eat part of the sacrifices that were brought to the temple; in that sense they shared a meal with Jehovah. Today is different. Christians worship in the spiritual temple, where “one sacrifice” has already been offered (Heb. 10:12). However, we do offer sacrifices of praise (Heb. 13:15).
A guarantee from God
Reading so many measurements and details in the vision may make you feel somewhat overwhelmed. But all of this teaches us a very important lesson: it assures us that Jehovah's purpose of restoring pure worship is something certain, something as unalterable and exact as those measures. Although Ezekiel does not say that there are other people in the vision, he wrote down the firm correction that Jehovah gave to the priests, the chiefs, and the people. All of God's servants must abide by his righteous standards.
PURE WORSHIP AND YOU
What practical lessons did the exiled Jews perhaps learn when they studied the vision of the temple?
The high mountain reminded them of the Worship system far above other gods. And by mentioning the huge gates, he reminded the Jews of Jehovah's high standards. Also, the outer wall reminded them to keep idolatry and filth as far away from Pure Worship.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Another lesson the exiled Jews surely learned is to see that Overseers humbly accepted discipline.
They learned that all Christians are one, we all form one flock and that only one shepherd is served.
The Jews, seeing the high mountain, learned that pure worship would be restored, the huge gates taught them that to become part of God's people again, they would have to respect Jehovah's high standards.
The outer wall indicated that they would have to remove any practices that Jehovah hated so that he would bless them with his presence. And the firm correction for those who led taught them that they would have to give an account for how they were doing their work, and what Jehovah asked of the people, they also had to fulfill.
Why can we say that vision also has to do with us?
By giving so many details, Jehovah wants the high standards to be remembered, and he did so because this vision has to do both for the time of the exiles and for our times, that is why in 1914 the faithful slave has kept away from false teachings and has contributed to upholding God's standards as Jehovah desires.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Because there was a great resemblance between Ezekiel's vision and Isaiah's prophecy. In Ezekiel's vision, God's holy house is on "a very high mountain" and, in Isaiah's, "the mountain of Jehovah's house" would be "firmly established above the top of the mountains." Isaiah specifies that his prophecy would be fulfilled during "the final part of the days," that is, "the last days."
As you study the box “Lessons from Ezekiel's Temple Vision,” what lessons have you thought about putting into practice in your personal worship of Jehovah?
We draw an important lesson from this: Let us not let anything contaminate our worship of Jehovah. If even things “in common use” have to be far from pure worship, all the more so impure or immoral conduct has to be outside the lives of those who worship Jehovah.
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