"And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the Sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel." Ezekiel 45:17  

The Bible gives special attention to one prince during the Messiah’s reign.  This prince cannot be the Messiah because the Messiah will be seated on His throne in Ezekiel 43:7.  The Bible never identifies this prince, but it is important to show that he is not King Messiah.

This prince never sits on a throne.  In fact, Ezekiel 44:2-3 clearly indicates that this prince will be only permitted to enter by the way of the porch of the East gate and eat bread before the LORD.  The Messiah will reside in the temple seated on His throne.  The Bible shows that during the reign of King Messiah there will be only one throne in the temple, not two.  There is no indication of a second throne.  There is only one throne and this is in the most holy place, Ezekiel 43:7.  This is not the throne of the prince, but it is for the LORD, King Messiah.  The Scriptures to show that the prince will only come before the throne follow:  

Ezekiel 44:2 "Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.

(3) It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same."  

Since the prince of Ezekiel 45:17 does not sit on a throne, he cannot be the Messiah.  According to Ezekiel 44:2,3, it is this prince who only approaches the throne.  The Messiah will be the King sitting upon the throne of David.  By realizing that King Messiah is sitting on His throne, according to Ezekiel 43:7, it becomes clear that the prince cannot be the Messiah.

One other area to look at to show that this prince is not the Messiah is the inheritance of land.  Ezekiel 45 lists the land that this prince will inherit during the Messianic reign.  He will inherit a small parcel of land near the temple.  This is the entire land granted to this prince.  These Scriptures follow:  

Ezekiel 45:6 "And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel . (7) And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion…"  

Notice in verse seven the prince only receives a tiny portion of land.  Is this the land for Messiah, the King over all the earth?  Psalms 2 clearly states that the Messiah will inherit the entire earth, not just a small parcel of land in the nation of Israel :  

Psalms 2:6 “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (7) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

(8) Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”  

The contrast between the possession of land for the prince of Ezekiel 45:6-7, and the Messiah in Psalm 2:8 is remarkable.  The Messiah, the King of the world, receives the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.  On the other hand, the prince of Ezekiel 45:6-7 receives a small parcel of land in Jerusalem .

The Prince of Ezekiel 45 will be special before the LORD, but he is not King Messiah.  Although the identity of this prince is not known, it is clear that he will not be King Messiah.

By John McTernan: Defend and Proclaim the Faith
Blog: John McTernan's Insights at www.johnmcternan.name