There is great controversy and division in both Messianism and Evangelical Protestantism as to whether the third and millennial temple described in Ezekiel 40-47 is literal or figurative. Most Messianics tend towards a literal interpretation and believe that a variation of the Mosaic sacrificial system will be restored. Protestants either believe that it is entirely symbolic or that it pertains only to the 'Jews' whereas the 'Church' has no part of it. MLT's position has always been that the Levitical system ended with Messiah. We therefore tentatively adhere to the following doctrine which is essentially Baptist in thinking:
"There are many persuasive Scriptural reasons for believing that Ezekiel’s Temple prophecy will be fulfilled in a non-literal manner.
"Ezekiel presents the priesthood of the temple as being conducted by Levite priests, Ezekiel 43:19, 44:10, 15, etc. However, we are told in Hebrews 7:11-18 that God has permanently set aside the priesthood of the descendants of Levi, in favor of the priesthood of Christ, a non-Levite.
"The system of Temple, priests and animal sacrifices was part of the Old Covenant which, according to Hebrews 8:13 was about to vanish away (which took place at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD).
"The priests of Ezekiel’s temple must be circumcised, Ezekiel 44:9, but under the New Covenant, circumcision is not required, Galatians 5:6.
"We are told in Hebrews 9:11 that Christ has become the high priest of a better tabernacle, non-literal, non-corporeal, not made with hands, located not on earth but in heaven (Hebrews 9:24). Christ now ministers for us in heaven, in "the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man," Hebrews 8:2. Any temple built on earth would be phony, not the "true tabernacle" and therefore should be rejected by believers.
"The Old Testament sacrifices and temples were only shadows and figurative representations of the true heavenly Temple and once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, Hebrews 9:24, 10:1. Christ has taken away the old system of animal sacrifices, Hebrews 10:8-10. We are commanded to go forth from the camp of Judaism with its literal sacrifices, Hebrews 13:11-14, and to concentrate on the heavenly Jerusalem, not the literal one on earth, Hebrews 12:22, John 4:21, Galatians 4:25-26. To draw back to the old Temple and sacrificial system would be an act of apostasy, Hebrews 10:26-29, 38-39.
"Here is the clincher: Revelation 21:22 teaches that there will be no Temple in the Millennium: "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." (http://www.thomaswilliamson.net/temple_next_event.htm).
We acknowledge that this position is open to valid criticism and recommend further study on this subject.
Links for Further Study
http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/proph/templemi.htm
http://reactor-core.org/ezekiels-temple.html
http://www.paul-the-temple-and-new-covenant-sacrifices.info/sacrifi...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Temple#Messianic_view
