“Glorious Return”

Ezekiel 43: 4-5: “And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.” Early in Ezekiel’s ministry he saw in a vision the glory of the Lord depart from Jerusalem, headed toward the east. (Ezekiel 11: 22-23). Now the Lord prophetically shows him His return from the same direction. We say prophetically because Jerusalem, including the temple, had already been destroyed(Ezekiel 33: 21). It didn’t even exist anymore. But God, having brought His promised judgment upon His unrepentant people, was now looking ahead, not behind, and was already promising restoration. Oh, the mercy of God!