Ezekiel 42:20

"THE WALL OF SEPARATION"

I. EZEKIEL IS HERE MEASURING THE WALL AROUND THE REBUILT TEMPLE IN

JERUSALEM.

A. The temple is to be rebuilt.

1. Desire of most orthodox Jews.

2. Many want to re-institute the sacrifices.

B. It would appear from the prophesy of Daniel that permission

will be granted by the leader of the European community.

1. Once temple built - he will come and stand in the holy

place and declare himself to be God.

C. The major obstacle is the Dome of the Rock Mosque.

1. The large temple mount is still under Moslem control.

2. Two mosques: Dome of the Rock - El Aksa.

a. Dome of the Rock - second most holy place to

Moslem faith.

b. Their tradition has it that Mohammed, after a

night long journey from Medina on his horse

ascended into heaven from the spot covered by

the Dome of the Rock.

D. Most people have assumed that this was site of Solomon's

temple - so that the Mosque must somehow be destroyed so that

temple can be rebuilt.

1. To destroy the mosque would bring on a holy war, and

the 700 million followers of the Moslem fail would come

with guns and sticks.

E. New evidence is being revealed that would indicate that

Solomon's temple was north of the Dome of the Rock Mosque.

1. Dr. Ashur Kaufman's research was printed in the

Jerusalem Post - March 28, 1980 issue.

2. He sought to prove the site of Solomon's temple north

from Dome of the Rock.

F. In Jerusalem today - north of the Dome of the Rock - is a

large, flat, empty area of perhaps 10 acres of ground. Ample

room to rebuild the temple.

1. In the Book of Revelation, John is given a reed and

told to measure the temple and altar - but not to

measure outer court.

2. Here Ezekiel refers to a wall to separate the sanctuary

from the profane place.

3. The ideal, simple solution to a complex problem.

II. GOD'S DESIRE TO SEPARATE THE HOLY FROM THE PROFANE.

A. Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

1. We need to build a wall of separation from the things

of the world.

a. "Come ye apart from them and be ye separate."

b. "Love not the world, neither the things..."

c. I Cor. 3:16 - "Know ye not that ye are the

temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in

you? If any man defile the temple of God, him

shall God destroy; for the temple of God is

holy."

B. This is not always an easy task.

1. Some things are very obvious.

a. Lists of works of flesh - Galatians 5.

2. Other things matter of personal conviction.

a. Some feel that eating meat is a sin.

b. Some feel that to wear gold is sinful.

3. Some people try to draw the line between the right and

wrong. God wants you to build a wall.