The book of Ezekiel ends with a nine-chapter description of a temple in the land of Israel. By the time Ezekiel saw this vision, the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed fourteen years earlier, so he was envisioning a rebuilt or an idealized temple (Ezekiel 40:1). In fact, he never identifies the city where the temple stands. At the very end of the vision, he specifies that in the future, that city will be called “The Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35).
Ezekiel’s vision contains many details of the architecture and uses of the temple, mirroring the descriptions of the tabernacle in the book of Exodus. But the main purpose of the building becomes clear in the middle of his description. After describing the architecture and before laying out the duties of the priests, Ezekiel describes the arrival of God at His house:
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
Ezekiel 43:2-6
And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.
And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house.
Twenty years earlier, Ezekiel had seen God in a vision near the river of Chebar. Now, he saw a similar vision, but instead of God enthroned in heaven, he saw God coming to a temple on earth. No wonder Ezekiel referred to that place as “The Lord is there.”
The Book of Mormon tells the story of a group of people who experienced firsthand the arrival of God at a temple. After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a “great multitude” was gathered in the Americas, at a temple in a land called Bountiful. After hearing a voice announcing the arrival of the Son of God, “they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe.” Stretching out his hand, He said:
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
3 Nephi 11:10-11
And behold, I am the light and the life of the world.
Similar to Ezekiel’s experience in vision, God had come to the temple, and it had been sanctified by His presence.
Today I will be grateful for holy places which invite God’s presence. I will schedule my next visit to the temple where I can draw closer to God.
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