The Laver of the Tabernacle of the Congregation speaks of the loins of Christ, the place of purification, fruitfulness, and strength. The bronze Altar of Burnt Offering portrays the sacrificial fires of judgment in which Christ always walks and all of His brothers are to walk.

This is Christ and the Body of Christ, the One anointed by the Spirit of God to perform all the will of the Father.

Ezekiel's temple also is a symbolic vision of Christ and of man in the image of Christ. It is different from the Tabernacle in that it portrays the final perfection of the entire Church, the holy city, the new Jerusalem. Whereas the first chapter of Ezekiel portrays the outer image of perfected man in Christ, the temple reveals the inner development of character.

When one sets about to glean insight from a type, such as Ezekiel's temple, it is best not to get bogged down in details. God has to speak in terms with which the prophet is familiar. The hidden meaning for the Kingdom of God is derived as one dances lightly on the text. We shall give a few examples, as we did with the vision of God. The Holy Spirit may give the reader much more understanding as he continues in the Spirit of God.

Whenever measuring takes place in a Bible type it refers to God's judgment. God wants everything in our personality to be perfect—just the way He desires to have it. He will measure and work, measure and work, measure and work, until we are perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect.

In the Kingdom of God nothing is assumed; nothing is taken for granted. All is examined carefully. God has a precise will concerning each detail of His dwelling place. This was true of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. This was true of Ezekiel's temple. It is true of you and me as we are being changed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. (Ezekiel 40:3)

There always is a wall around the work of God in the human personality. The Lord works with each saint building up resistance to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All that would contaminate, all that would invite to idolatry, all that would encourage rebellion against the Father's will, must be driven from us.

The wall against sin and rebellion is the wall around the new Jerusalem. It will stand for eternity. It is one of the prominent characteristics of each victorious saint.

And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. (Ezekiel 40:5)

To be continued.