7 classes on Belgic Confession 37 (Vol. XXXIX) on CD in an attractive box set
Many dispensationalists and premillennialists claim that Ezekiel 40-48 is a powerful argument for a literal future 1,000-year period of bliss (for resurrected Jews, regenerated people and unbelievers), alleging that its holy temple, Zadokite priesthood, bloody animal sacrifices, ceremonial laws, godly prince, amazing river, tribal land divisions, etc., are all to be taken literally. These audios survey the contents and eschatological significance of Ezekiel 40-48, and present 7 solid arguments against understanding it literalistically. The positive teaching of Ezekiel’s last 9 chapters involves startling changes to the OT law, a “better” state for God’s people, and Scripture’s own teaching on the time and manner of its fulfilment, as well as the hope of OT and NT saints.
(1) Introducing Ezekiel 40-48
(2) Land Divisions, Sacred Reserve, Temple Compound and Healing River
(3) Three Arguments Against Literalism in Ezekiel 40-48
(4) Seven Massive Problems With a Literal Ezekiel 40-48
(5) Changes in OT Law in Ezekiel 40-48
(6) Ezekiel 40-48 as “Better”
(7) The Fulfilment of Ezekiel 40-48
Herman Bavinck: “Ezekiel’s realistic picture of the future contains elements that require a symbolic interpretation: the equal shares assigned to all the tribes, though in numbers [of tribal members] they vary widely; the precisely measured strips of land intended for priests, Levites, and the king: the separation of the temple from the city; the high location of the temple on a mountain and the brook that streams out from under the threshold of the east door of the temple toward the Dead Sea; and finally the artificial way things are put together and the impossibility of implementing them practically—all these features resist a so-called realistic interpretation” (Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 4 [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2008], p. 660)
