As a Dispensationalist I believe that Ezekiel 40-48 forms an incredibly important foundation for solidifying the future for Israel. Ezekiel paints a clear picture that the people of Israel will once again be restored to their former state in the future (Ezekiel 36-39) and with that the restoration of the Davidic Dynasty led by Christ himself. Also, the reestablishment of the temple (Ezekiel 40-48) and the return of the Lord and his Shekinah Glory (Ezekiel 43).
Ezekiel 40-48 has been a text that has been neglected by Covenant Theologians due in part to 4 main factors:
1.) New Testament Priority Presupposition
2.) Spiritualizing
3.) “Either/or” not “both/and” Fallacy
4.) Failure to Harmonize Ezekiel 40-48 with Preconceived System
Covenant Theologians are notorious for employing a New Testament Priority Presupposition when it comes to interpreting Old Testament texts. They look for reasons or excuses in the New Testament writings to dismiss the physical nature of a future temple. This method completely destroys the grammatical/historical methodology of reading the Word. The New Testament isn’t an eraser for the Old Testament. The New Testament writers drew their material from the Old Testament, and never once contradicted it. If we believe in totascriptura we would never employ a New Testament priority presupposition (lens by which we read the Old Testament). We would exegete both the Old Testament and the New Testament and then harmonize both. Covenant Theologians refuse to do the leg work to actually exegete the Old Testament. This leads them to make erroneous conclusions.
Secondly, Covenant Theologians are also known for spiritualizing texts. Take for instance Ezekiel 40-48. Without a shadow of a doubt these 9 chapters speak about a reinstated temple. Rather than simply acknowledge this, they try to find ways around this. They will often claim that 9 chapters of hyper-literal details are speaking of the Church or Christ. I am sorry, but this is frankly impossible and it doesn’t explain anything. If you cannot walk through the text consistently and explain why 9 chapters are used by Ezekiel to speak about a reinstated temple, then your beliefs should be rejected. Exegesis is the means by which we hold up a position. That means articulating *all* the details of the text, not picking and choosing what comports with apriori beliefs.
Thirdly, Covenant Theologians often create false dichotomies. They pit physical against spiritual (neoplatonism) and make the claim that spiritual is somehow superior to physical. Ergo, it is alright for them to assume that the Temple spoken of by Ezekiel is a spiritual temple, not a physical temple. It is both true that Paul speaks of us as a spiritual temple, and it is true that Ezekiel speaks of a physical temple. Both are compatible. It is “both/and” not just “either/or”.
Fourthly, it is my belief that the reasons Covenant Theologians have so neglected Ezekiel 40-48 is because they have no idea what to do with it. It either harmonizes with the position or it doesn’t. In an amillennial framework, there is no place for a return to a physical temple in the future, ergo, this must be speaking about the Church or Christ. Postmillennialist (especially more modern ones) also struggle to harmonize these passages within their framework.
It is my belief, based upon the evidence, that Covenant Theology cannot rightly uphold these texts, and has repeatedly failed to produce convincing exegesis of Ezekiel 40-48. Dispensationalism, on the other hand, continues to handle the texts with care, even with the challenges they face in doing so. Dispensationalism honors the Old Testament prophets and doesn’t seek to alter the author’s intent. It establishes a coherent and meaningful breakdown that comports with all of scripture.
Here is my exegesis (94 pages) of Ezekiel 40-48:
Link for IPhone Users: https://abidingfoundations.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/exegetical-analysis-ezekiel-40-48-revised.pdf
