- the visions:
- There can be little doubt, that the grand outlines of the description of the temple, in the following extraordinary vision, were taken from that of Solomon's, with all the additions made to it in after ages; and we may suppose that Zerubbabel and the other Jews had respect to it, as far as circumstances would permit, in rebuilding the temple after the captivity. There are, however, many circumstances which conclusively shew, that something infinitely superior to either the first or second temple was intended; and that the external description must be considered as a figure and emblem of spiritual blessings. Probably the more immediate accomplishment of the prophecy will be subsequent to the conversion and restoration of the Jews, the destruction of Gog and Magog, and the pouring out of the Spirit, mentioned at the close of the last chapter; but whether there will be any external forms analogous to these cannot be determined, though in some respects it seems improbable. "Now it came to pass¹ in the thirtiethª year,ª in the fourthª [month], in the fifthª [day] of the month,ª as I¹ [was] amongª the captivesª by¹ the riverª of Chebar,ª [that] the heavensª were opened,ª° and I sawª° visionsª of God.ª" {Ezk 1:1} + "And he put forthª° the formª of an hand,ª and tookª° me by a lockª of mine head;ª and the spiritª lifted me upª°¹ between¹ the earthª and the heaven,ª and broughtª° me in the visionsª of Godª to Jerusalem,ª to¹ the doorª of the innerª gateª that lookethª° toward the north;ª where¹¹ [was] the seatª of the imageª of jealousy,ª which provoketh to jealousy.²°¹" {Ezk 8:3} + "In the firstª yearª of Belshazzarª kingª of Babylonª Danielª hadª° a dreamª and visionsª of his headª uponª his bed:ª thenª he wroteª° the dream,ª [and] toldª° the sumª of the matters.ª" {Dan 7:1} + "Afterª thisª I sawªª°° in the nightª visions,ª and beholdª a fourthª beast,ª dreadfulª° and terrible,ª and strongª exceedingly;ª and it had greatª ironª¹ teeth:ª it devouredª° and brake in pieces,ª° and stampedª° the residueª with the feetª of it: and itª [was] diverseª° fromª allª the beastsª that¹ [were] beforeª it; and it had tenª horns.ª" {Dan 7:7} + "Andª it shall come to passª° inª the¹ lastª days,ª saithª° God,ª I will pour outª° ofª myª Spiritª uponª allª flesh:ª andª yourª sonsª andª yourª daughtersª shall prophesy,ª° andª yourª young menª shall seeª° visions,ª andª yourª old menª shall dream²¹ dreams:²°¹" {Act 2:17} + "Andª a visionª appearedª° to Paulª inª the¹ night;ª There stoodªª°° a manª² of Macedonia,ª and¹ prayedª° him,ª² saying,ª° Come overª° intoª Macedonia,ª and helpª° us.ª" {Act 16:9} + "It is²° not² expedientª°¹ for meª doubtlessª to glory.ª°² I will¹ comeª° toª visionsª andª revelationsª of the Lord.ª ... Andª lestª I should be exalted above measureª° through the¹ abundanceª of the¹ revelations,ª there was givenª° to meª a thornª in the¹ flesh,ª the messengerª of Satanª toª buffetª° me,ª lestª I should be exalted above measure.ª°" {2Co 12:1-7}
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