Ezekiel 40:48

Now we come to what is called the house. The whole building is 60 cubits from north to south and 100 cubits from east to west… The porch, the holy place, and the most holy place are measured in turn… The whole building is called "the house." The porch is the first part described. The next part is called "the temple," which is 40x20 cubits; this is the holy place. The third room is "the holy of holies," 20x20 cubits.

The man has in his hand a cord of flax and a measuring reed. He is prepared to measure. In fact he keeps the prophet at this work as he leads him through the courts and around the buildings of the Sanctuary. This measuring has prophetic meaning… It suggests God's care and interest. Everything to do with His purposes and promises matters. Then it may well signify that God has risen up to take possession — it is the assertion of His title.

As we move toward the divine centre, we see first Israel's separation from the nations. Then comes the holy portion of land set apart in the middle of the country. Then the Sanctuary with its walls and courts. Last of all, the Temple with its three graded rooms — porch, holy place, and most holy place. The whole plan is a striking picture of the divine majesty and holiness… Note too that seven steps lead up to the outer court, eight to the inner court, and ten to the House… God always leads the creature into the secret of His presence by steps, one stage of learning and experience at a time.

Two is the number of testimony and fellowship, and above all of Christ Himself as the second Person of the holy Trinity. It rules throughout this threefold entrance to the place of the divine glory… And let us remember what leads up to it from the court where the great altar of sacrifice stands: a flight of ten steps. Shall we not say that this means every claim of the divine righteousness, toward God and toward man, has been fully met? And met, as we know, in the Person and work of the One of whom that very altar always speaks — CHRIST.

In the temple of Solomon the dimensions are similar. The holy and most holy places are the same size. But Solomon's porch was 20x10 cubits, and here it is 20x11 — while the old Greek translation gives 12… The account of Solomon's temple dwells on its rich decoration, its gold and precious stones. Ezekiel mentions no such details. In fact the only material he names is wood. This seems to show that one purpose, at least, is to impress on us how massive and solid these buildings are, rather than how beautiful in detail and decoration.

It was a divine disclosure of a new condition, when Israel shall be restored finally and for ever. It is a real, physical temple. Its feasts, sacrifices, rites and priesthood are literal, though in some serious ways unlike anything before. So is the whole ordering of the new capital and the nation. All of it stands in wholly new conditions, crowned with the glory of Jehovah, who once again is pleased to dwell in their land.