Volume 1, Issue 30
11 Jan 2016
 As we saw in our last issue of Piecing Together Bible Prophecy, it is the power (oil) of God’s Spirit that both illuminates us to be God’s light and empowers us to build God’s temple in this dark world, as well as enables us to overcome this world’s opposition and persevere against its persecution.
Like the builders of God’s new temple in Zechariah’s day, we too must not “despise” the “day of small things” nor be discouraged within it (Zechariah 4:10). As Paul teaches us in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for indue season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Truly, the glory of the new temple in our day, just like the glory of the new temple in Zechariah’s day, will far exceed the glory of the former temple (Haggai 2:1-9).
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:7-18 NIV)
The glory has departed from the former temple.
The glory departed from the former temple when Christ, who was “the glory of [His] people Israel” (Luke 2:32), departed from the Jewish temple in Matthew 24:1-2. He never returned to it, fulfilling the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1-11), a vision within which Ezekiel watched as God’s glory not only departs from the temple and from Jerusalem, but also afterward ascends into Heaven from the Mount of Olives. It is no coincidence that Christ preached his most famous prophetic sermon—the Olivet Discourse—on the Mount of Olives after leaving the Jewish temple for the last time, as well as ascended a short time afterward from there into Heaven (Acts 1:1-12).
Before deserting the Jewish temple, Christ predicted that it would be “left” spiritually “desolate” (Matthew 23:38). In accordance with Christ’s prediction, the temple was soon destroyed by Titus the Roman in 70 AD. Ever since it has remained spiritually desolate. Today, the Temple Mount is home to the Dome of the Rock, the third holiest site in all of Islam. Carved on the mosque’s stone walls for all of the world to read are these Christ-rejecting words: “GOD HAS NO SON.”
Unlike the departed glory of the former temple, the glory of God’s new temple—the church—is proving to be, as predicted and promised, an “exceeding” and “ever-increasing glory.”
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband….And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal…And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Revelation 21:2, 9-11, 23)
The house of God is no longer a building —“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands…” (Acts 7:48). Instead, the house of God today is us — “But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house…” (Hebrews 3:6).
Each individual Christian is a temple of God.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (I Corinthians 3:16-17)
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. What? know ye not that your body is the temple. (2 Corinthians 6:16)
The church, which consist of all Christians corporately, is also the temple of God.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Do you remember what happened at the dedication of the first temple?
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)
Do you remember what happened on the Day of Pentecost, when the new temple—the church—was birthed?
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
With the new temple, just like with the former temple, faces won’t bow down to God in worship until the house of God has the fire of God to fall upon it. Likewise, faces won’t bow down to God in worship until the house of God is filled with the glory of God. It is only a Spirit-filled church that can truly impact this world for Christ.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PUBLICATION SEND YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO: don@timefortruth.org
Don Walton
|
