And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. (Jeremiah 3:16, ESV)
In reading Ezekiel 40-47, I was struck by the absence of the ark of the covenant, lamp stands, table of show bread, and altar of incense. It seems the only furnishing is something resembling an altar of wood, called the table of the Lord (41:21-22). Not sure what this means, except I think the temple Ezekiel describes is a literal temple built during the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. Coming soon to a city near you. We might not be able to make an argument from silence (just because the furnishings aren’t mentioned doesn’t mean they aren’t there) but with all the measuring and specifics in this section it is apparent that every detail is mentioned as it was with the building of the Tabernacle.
“As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan. (Ezekiel 43:10, ESV)
If this is true, then sacrifices, tithes and the feasts of God (Ezekiel 44:24, 45:21) will be implemented too as Ezekiel also describes.
In a dispute, they shall act as judges, and they shall judge it according to my judgments. They shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts, and they shall keep my Sabbaths holy. (Ezekiel 44:24, ESV)
If there is no ark of God, I think it’s obvious Jesus is the “glory of God” that takes up residence again in the holy of holies (43:1-5).
The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.” (Ezekiel 48:35, ESV)