The Glory Is Coming Back

The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 10:18-19

¹⁸ Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. ¹⁹ And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

The Glory Comes Back

Ezekiel 43:1–27

The Temple, the Lord’s Dwelling Place

¹ Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. ² And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. ³ It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw—like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. ⁴And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. ⁵ The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

⁶ Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me. ⁷ And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places. ⁸ When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy name by the abominations which they committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. ⁹ Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.

¹⁰ “Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. ¹¹ And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them. ¹² This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

Dimensions of the Altar

¹³ “These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (the cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth): the base one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a rim all around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar: ¹⁴ from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits; the width of the ledge, one cubit; from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits; and the width of the ledge, one cubit. ¹⁵ The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four horns extending upward from the hearth. ¹⁶ The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide, square at its four corners; ¹⁷ the ledge, fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim of half a cubit around it; its base, one cubit all around; and its steps face toward the east.”

Consecrating the Altar

¹⁸ And He said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God: ‘These are the ordinances for the altar on the day when it is made, for sacrificing burnt offerings on it, and for sprinkling blood on it. ¹⁹ You shall give a young bull for a sin offering to the priests, the Levites, who are of the seed of Zadok, who approach Me to minister to Me,’ says the Lord God. ²⁰ ‘You shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim around it; thus you shall cleanse it and make atonement for it. ²¹ Then you shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and burn it in the appointed place of the ^[j]temple, outside the sanctuary. ²² On the second day you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull. ²³ When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without blemish, and a ram from the flock without blemish. ²⁴ When you offer them before the Lord, the priests shall throw salt on them, and they will offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. ²⁵ Every day for seven days you shall prepare a goat for a sin offering; they shall also prepare a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish. ²⁶ Seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it, and so consecrate it. ²⁷ When these days are over it shall be, on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you,’ says the Lord God.”

Text: Ezekiel 43:1–27 Theme: God is returning to dwell with His people—not just in a building, but in purified, obedient hearts.

The Return of Glory (Verses 1–5)

Key Verse: “And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east…” (v. 4)

God’s glory had departed (Ezekiel 10–11), but now He’s coming back.

The east gate is symbolic—sunrise, new beginnings.

When glory comes, it fills the house — no room for flesh, fear, or pride.

When God returns to the church, it won’t be business as usual. He’s coming in power, sound, and brightness.

 A Holy Dwelling (Verses 6–9)

“This is where I will live among the Israelites forever…”

God declares ownership of the temple: “This is My throne.”

But He warns—no more idols, no more mixing sacred and profane.

His glory demands purity, not just passion.

Glory can’t stay where idols live. If we want His presence, we must make room through repentance and reverence.

Repentance Is the Blueprint (Verses 10–12)

God uses the temple’s measurements as a mirror: look at what you lost, so you’ll want it back.

“The law of the temple is holiness.”

The mountain is holy—no unclean thing can dwell there.

Before the glory comes back, there must be a return to holiness. Repentance is how we rebuild what sin tore down.

Rebuilding the Altar (Verses 13–17)

Key Image: Horns, steps, and layers of the altar.

Altars are where blood meets fire—a place of sacrifice.

Glory doesn’t come until the altar is in place.

The steps face east—you have to approach God from the place of new beginnings.

 If you want the glory back, rebuild the altar. Tear down entertainment, and offer sacrifice again.

The Consecration Process (Verses 18–27)

 “Then I will accept you.”

Seven days of offerings = completeness, cleansing.

Every offering had to be without defect—God doesn’t accept leftovers.

On the 8th day, a new beginning with renewed worship.

Glory doesn’t return without a process. Stay on the altar until He says, “I accept you.”

“The glory is coming back — but are you ready for it?”

Ready in purity?

Ready in worship?

Ready in obedience?

Prophetic Declaration

“The days of Ichabod are over — this house will carry glory again!”

(“Ichabod” = “The glory has departed,” 1 Samuel 4:21)
“The glory is not just coming to the building — it’s coming to the body.”