Temples..

Part 7 of 10

We've just seen what encompasses a New Covenant Sacrifice - but where does this sacrifice take place? In a temple! A New Covenant temple, of course.


Old Covenant dwelling places?

A temple is simply a dwelling place. A tabernacle too. In the Old Testament, under previous covenants, tabernacles and temples were the places where God chose to have His glory dwell and abide. This is also where the priesthood would function, where the sacrifices would occur, etc. As we are learning, however, many of these Old Covenant truths are simply shadows of the New and more glorious Covenant. The New Covenant, and all that it contains, is the truth which the figure simply pointed to: "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Heb 9:24). It is no different with Old Covenant tabernacles and temples. All were but a type and shadow of the eternal reality.

There were three structures in the Old Testament that housed the presence of God: the tabernacle of Moses, the tabernacle of David, and the temple of Solomon. The many truths contained within these three structures are voluminous in and of themselves. For now, therefore, we will simply peer into these tabernacles and temples with the sole purpose of contrasting them between the Old and New Covenants.

The tabernacle of Moses was built via divine revelation from God, according to the pattern that was shown to Moses upon Mt. Sinai. At this tabernacle, the glory and presence of God dwelt upon the Mercy Seat (the Ark), in the Most Holy Place. You can read about the structure's details in Exodus chapters 25-40. This tabernacle was placed in the center of Israel's camp, and all of their movements were determined by the Lord in the glory-cloud over the tabernacle. This tabernacle continued through the 40 year wilderness wandering, and on into Canaan. It lasted up until the time of King David.

The tabernacle of David was built to replace that of Moses. David's tabernacle existed upon Mt. Zion, while Moses' tabernacle continued to carnally operate upon Mt. Gibeon (even though it was void of the presence and Ark of God). The one and only Ark of the Lord was placed in David's Tabernacle, after it returned from captivity in the land of the Philistines. At this tabernacle, David established a whole new order of worship in Israel. The details concerning this tabernacle can be found in 1st Chronicles chapters 15-16, 2nd Samuel chapter 6, and 2nd Chronicles chapter 1.

The temple of Solomon was the final physical structure that would house the Ark (presence) of God. David was the one who received the revelation and divine pattern of this temple, but Solomon is the one who built it. It was built once Israel had rest from all her enemies. The main details of this temple are found in 1st Chronicles chapters 28-29, 2nd Chronicles chapters 1-7, and 1st Kings chapters 1-8. This temple was destroyed under Babylonian captivity, and rebuilt years later.

New Covenant dwelling place?

As I said, the temple of Solomon was the FINAL physical structure that would house the Ark of God. There are some who believe in another physical temple to be rebuilt in the future, but we will see how this simply cannot be true.

Even before the New Covenant was officially established, Jesus spoke repeatedly about "the temple of His body" (Jn 2:18-22, etc). The material temple was steadily approaching it's final end. In Matthew 23:38, Jesus said to the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate"! In other words, it was no longer God's house! It was devoid of a divine inhabitant, devoid of the glory of God - the whole reason for the temple's existence in the first place. Jesus even prophesied that the material temple would soon be destroyed (Matt 24:1-2). This event occurred in A.D. 70, by the Roman armies and Prince Titus.

Scripture informs us that the eternal Godhead set their seal to the fact that material and earthly temples were to be forever finished. By the rending of the temple's veil from top to bottom, God the Father was signifying the end of all material temples (Matt 27:50-52). Jesus signified His rejection of a material temple when He cleansed it twice, at the beginning and the end of His earthly ministry, and by prophesying of it's imminent destruction. It was no longer His father's house (Matt 23:38). The Holy Spirit too confirmed this truth when He bypassed the material temple on the subsequent day of Pentecost. At the material temple, the Old Covenant priests were keeping this feast according to the letter of the law. But in the upper room, New Covenant kings and priests were keeping the spirit of the feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). There, the Holy Ghost came to fill and indwell New Covenant temples, that is, individual believers. Now, under the New Covenant, the individual believer houses the presence of God! We have become "little sanctuaries":

"Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come" (Ezek 11:16).

All New testament writers unmistakeably declare that believers (both personally and corporately) are now God's temple. We are God's New Covenant dwelling place. Why would the Holy Spirit leave us to re-inhabit a material temple in the future? It's a ludicrous thought.

"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" (1 Cor 3:16-17).

"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" (2 Cor 6:16).

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 2:5).

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens 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" (Eph 2:19-22).

Friends, the Lord Jesus is now "in you", as the hope of glory (Col 1:26-28).. He dwells ("tabernacles") in our hearts (Eph 3:16-17)! Paul told Timothy that the church of the living God (a people, not a mere building) is the house of God (1 Tim 3:15)! Oh what a wonder!

To be continued...