More than any other chapter in the Book, Ezekiel 46 talks about the person called “the prince.” In fact, 8 times I see his name (title) there.
I earlier wrote that he may be a “type” of God’s Read Prince, the Lord Jesus Christ! I still think that may be so, symbolically speaking.
But He is NOT literally the Son of God!
(However in Isaiah 9:6 the “Prince” is Jesus, the Messiah. That’s for sure! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.” Amen!)
How do I know Ezekiel’s “prince” is not Jesus?
Several reasons, one being he has “sons,” literal offspring. Read with me verses 16 and 17 of our chapter, Ezekiel 46. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance. But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them.” These are literal sons, physical offspring! (We are the sons of God, but spiritually, not literally.)
Another reason being that God seems to order him around a lot! Telling him many things to do, how to worship … all through the chapter. This seems to me to be a way God the Father does not treat God the Son, the Trinity is perfectly harmonious and co-equal. Read with me now verses 4-7. “And the burnt offering that the PRINCE shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish. And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah.” Wow!
And a third (and most compelling) reason is that the “prince” offers a sin offering both for himself and for the people! Ezekiel 45:22 tells: “And upon that day shall the prince prepare FOR HIMSELF and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.” Case closed!
Then, who is this “prince?”
I suspect a good (godly) administrator!
One (in a limited sense) leading the Jews during the Millennium, giving the people law and order.
At least that’s the best answer I can give to the question.
And as I write I am realizing that (even though Jesus the Messiah will be the King of all earth during this 1,000 year period) Ezekiel does not emphasize HIS PRESENCE, HIS IDENTITY as clearly as does, for example, John in the Book of Revelation! Revelation 20:6 being an example. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Surprising!
More about this prince tomorrow, Lord willing.
When we shall still be in this same chapter.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Because … I have seen a couple of other Bible “principles” from this part of Ezekiel (chapter 46) that I’d like to share with you.