The Return of Yahweh to the Land in His Heavenly Temple. His Throne Enters the Heavenly Holy of Holies (Ezekiel 43:1-12).
‘Afterwards he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks towards the east, and behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and his voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city, and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the River Chebar, and I fell on my face.'
Ezekiel was now brought back to the East Gate, (having followed his visitant as he measured the externals), the temple and its environs having been fully measured in order to demonstrate that God was about to act again in relation to it. And there he saw again the vision of the glory of God. Especial stress is laid on the massive volume of sound (‘as the voice of many waters' like the thunder of the mighty Niagara or Victoria falls - Ezekiel 1:24; Revelation 1:15) and the greatness of the glory (the earth shone with His glory, reflecting the glory of God - Isaiah 60:1-3; Habakkuk 3:3-4 see also Deuteronomy 33:2; Exodus 34:29-30; Exodus 34:35; Mark 9:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 18:1).). The heavenly temple now having been established, the heavenly chariot throne of Yahweh in all its majesty, the great reality behind the symbolic ark of the covenant, now comes to enter the ‘real' holy of holies in the heavenly temple. God is here in earnest.
‘Came from the way of the east.' Previously it was from the north (Ezekiel 1:4). God can come from anywhere. We must not limit Him to one place, and it was towards the east that He had previously departed. See Ezekiel 11:23.
‘When I came to destroy the city.' Ezekiel felt so involved with his visions that he saw himself as having had a part in the destruction of Jerusalem. His words of prophecy had, as it were, brought it about.
‘And I fell on my face.' His reaction was the same as before. A response of awe and worship. Before the glory of Yahweh none could stand. All had to hide their eyes.