Page 243 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XLIII. 237
or Gentiles. They belong to Christ in heaven, where'
such differences are unknown, and therefore one of the
great characteristics of Christianity is that such dis­
tinctions disappear while Christ is the head on high,
and His body is being formed on earth by the Holy
Ghost sent down from heaven. When Ezekiel’s visions
shall be accomplished, it will be the reign of Jehovah-
Jesus on earth, and the distinction of Israel from the
Gentiles will again be resumed, though for blessing
under the new covenant, not as of old for curse under
the law. Hence the total difference of what is found
in the Epistle to the Hebrews as compared with this
and other prophecies. There can be no doubt that
that epistle applies now. There ought to be as little
question that this prophecy will apply by-and-by.
Those who make both converge upon the Christian de­
stroy the force of both. The result is that one is half
Jew, half Christian. And such is the prevalent aspect
of Christendom, to the great dishonour of the Lord,
the distress of souls, and the enfeebling of the word of
God. No, we must give each scripture its own proper
value, and, while cleaving as Christians to the doctrino
of that epistle for ourselves, let us rejoice in the pro­
phet’s bright anticipations for Israel. The heavenly
people rest upon the one sacrifice, and draw near into
the holiest of all, where Christ is at the right hand of
God. But the earthly people will have a sanctuary as
well as land suited to them, and such are all the ordi­
nances of their worship.
“ And these [are] the measure of the altar in cubits :
The cubit [is] a cubit and a handbreadth, and the
bottom a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and its border