How Jesus Rebuilt the Temple of God ? (CW59)

      Coming World War 3

John 2:19  Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

    There are so many speculations on when the law (Judaism) ended and the period of grace began. Our Lord told the Jews that He would rebuild the temple of God in 3 days.

Destruction of the Temple

Mark 15:37-38  And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

    At the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross, the veil of the temple of God was torn. At God's departure from the Most Holy Place, the temple was discarded (destroyed) by Him, resulting in the end of Judaism.

At His death on the cross, all these items were fulfilled by Him:-

1. Bronze Altar - Sacrificed as the Lamb of God

2. Bronze Laver - Obeyed God and was baptised by John the Baptist.

3. Table of Showbread - He was the Bread of life.

4. Golden Lampstand - He was the Light of the world.

5. Golden Altar - He was offered as sweet incense to God.

6. Ark of Testimony consisted of

  a) Ten Commandments - Word of God

  b) Aaron's rod - Perfect Priest

  c) Book of the law - Word of life

7. Mercy Seat - Jesus is so merciful that even at His death, He showed these mercies to us:-

a) He tasted death for us

Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

   Since all men fear death, our Lord Himself tasted death on our behalf so that we will not taste the horror of death.

b) Delivered us from Fear of Death

Heb 2:14-15  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

    Through His death, He destroyed the devil's power of death, to release Christians from the fear of death.

Discarded Temple

    Though the temple was discarded by God at the death of Jesus, yet God did not tear it down for the sake of saving the devout Jews coming back from a distant land to observe the Jewish feasts. In Acts 1-4, thousands of Jews were saved, and Apostle Paul rushed back to Jerusalem (Act 18:21) for the feast to evangelize the devout Jews.

Temple of God Rebuilt in 3 Days

Luke 24:1, 6-7  Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared... "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

   At His Resurrection (three days after His death), He rebuilt the temple of God with all the 7 items within, thereby replacing the discarded Herod's Temple.

Born Again Christian

John 20:21-22  So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

    Then Jesus gave His disciples the Holy Spirit to become born-again Christians. Every Christian can start to build his own temple of God within his body on His foundation.

Establishing God's Throne (CW58)

       Coming World War 3

1Cor 3:10-11,16  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ... Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

    Apostle Paul has helped us to build our foundation based on Christ Jesus. It is our job to build the temple of God in accordance to His design. So far we do manage to understand from the temple of God, a few important truths to help us walk along His path to holiness.

2Cor 7:1  Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1. Bronze Altar - Salvation,  sins cleansed and forgiven.

2. Bronze Laver - Water baptism to His death (sanctification, crucified)

Rom 6:3  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

3. Golden Table of Showbread and Golden Lampstand - Baptism of the Holy Spirit of truth, where His truth will enlighten us into all wisdom and understanding.

The Golden Altar of Incense

Rev 8:3-4  Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

    At the golden Altar the Priesthood burned incense to Him. When you are a living sacrifice (love as Jesus had loved us), then you are the incense offered at the golden Altar.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Perfect Sacrifice

Heb 10:5  Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.

    When you live only for Him, then you are the perfect body (sacrifice) for Him.

Gal 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Ark of the Covenant

The Mercy Seat sits on the Ark as its foundation, which consists of the ten commandments tablets, the budded branch of Aaron (heresy) and the book of the Law.

    Brethren, keep away from wrong doctrines, distorted truth and heresies. In the new Covenant with Jesus, we keep only the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and the words of our Lord and the Epistles of the Apostles. Do not keep the Law or Prophets.

 

The Mercy Seat

Luke 6:36  "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

    Brethren, we must always be merciful to the poor, needy, destitutes and brethren. But when our love is perfected, we will be merciful even to our enemies, then the Mercy Seat is within us.

1John 2:5  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

    Brethren, when we have completed His Temple, the Father and our Lord Jesus will dwell on His throne within us because we keep His word.

Establishing the Temple (CW57)

       Coming World War 3

As a new Christian, you have just presented yourself before the Bronze Altar, where the servant of God (Priest), had led you in the sinner's prayer of salvation (Jesus Christ was offered as the sacrificial Lamb). Immediately, the blood of Jesus cleanses you of all sins and unrighteousness and the Holy Spirit of redemption then dwells in you making your physical body the temple of God.

    Since your body is the temple of God you must not grieve the Holy Spirit with sins. Instead, you must ensure that your body is holy and worthy for Him to dwell joyfully within you by setting it up with the various articles that He had designed.

1. The Bronze Altar

Eph 1:7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

    If we believe the gospel and come before the Lord to confess and repent of our sins, then we have established the bronze Altar in the Temple within us.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Royal Priesthood

1Pet 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

    At our salvation, we are all called to be His royal priesthood or disciples. To be His disciples we must deny ourselves and then follow Him and His words.

Mat 16:24  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Holiness unto the Lord

2. The Bronze Laver

Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

   By obeying His commandments, we are being cleansed from our lusts, carnality, worldliness and wickedness, then we have established the bronze Laver in the Temple. As we love Him more we will slowly forsake the world and the things therein, till we can enter into the Holy Place.

2Cor 4:2  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3. Table of Showbread

Mat 4:4  But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"      

    After entering into the Holy Place, when we will hunger for His words in the Bible (not books), then we have established the table of showbread.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

4. Golden Lampstand

Eph 1:17-18  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

    As we express our love for Him by keeping His commandments, He will baptised us with the Holy Spirit of truth, to guide us into all truth thus establishing the Lampstand.

John 16:13  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

Praise the Lord that the Holy Spirit will be happy dwelling inside the Holy Place within us.

I Will Speak In Parables (cCW56)

       Coming World War 3

John 16:25  "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father."

     Our Lord taught and guided His disciples at every opportunity. Regrettably, they could not understand His parables due to the absence of the Holy Spirit, who was given only to the anointed Israelites (priesthood, prophets and kings) then.

Luke 8:9  Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"

Mat 21:45  Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

    The Jews, specifically the spiritual leaders understood many of His parables for they were the people of God and had the Holy Spirit (until the death of our Lord Jesus). God wanted them to understand so that they would repent and be saved. One of such examples is the follower, Nicodemus. Foolishly, the Jews lose the entitlement when they put our Lord to death.

Mat 13:34-35  All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

    Hidden in the parables are the secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom of God. All those without the Holy Spirit will not be able to understand them, for God kept the secrets from them.

But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language

    Our Lord was crucified a few hours after these final instructions. After His resurrection, He gave His disciples the Holy Spirit as a seal of redemption.

    After our Lord was glorified, the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of spiritual gifts.

    On a different note, His disciples were baptized with the Spirit of truth, who would teach them all things.

John 16:13a  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;"

    Brethren, unless we are baptized with the Holy Spirit by our Lord Jesus Christ (not by man) with the Spirit of Truth, our understanding of the word of God, and the parables of Jesus will be limited.

Truth in Other Parables (CW55)

      Coming World War 3

Parable of Hidden Treasures

Mat 13:44  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

   These Christians gave up all when they can get His hidden treasures.

What are these treasures?

1. Spirit of Truth teaches all truth, understanding of His words, end time signs, etc.

2. Free from worldliness, bondages, etc.

3. Fruit of the Holy Spirit

4. Empowering of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation, persecution, etc.

5. Joy and Peace of His presence

6. Counted worthy to be His bride.

2 Cor 4:6-7  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Parable of the Pricey Pearl

Mat 13:45-46  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

    When Christians can find the entrance (each pearl is a gate) into New Jerusalem (Kingdom of heaven), they will give up everything to be able to enter in.

Rev 21:21a  The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.

Mat 7:6  "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

    If a non-believer (swine) was able to interpret these verses, then he would certainly give away everything he owned, in order to be saved, thereby entering the kingdom of heaven (pearl).

    In reality, the concept of salvation illustrated above is preposterous to non-believers. The truth would be quickly be dismissed as demonic teachings. In a nutshell, those who are not born again are without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they will not be able to understand the parables of Jesus and His words which have hidden spiritual meanings and teachings, concerning the kingdom of God.

Parable of the Sower (CW54)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

Mat 13:34-35  All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

    Within the parables are the secrets of God concerning the kingdom of heaven.

By the Wayside

Mat 13:18-19  "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside."

    All those by the wayside are those involved in worldly affairs and are busy pursuing their dreams of successes, riches or recognition. They don't have time for the gospel.

Stony Places

Mat 13:20-21  "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles."

    These are the ones with lots of problems - financial, health, business or family. With the proper presentation of the gospel, they will grab at His love and grace for they have just found the real Almighty Father. Please do not expose these new converts to be persecuted by family members and friends.

Strangled by Thorn

Mat 13:22   "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful."

    Unfortunately, many Christians after their salvation still love the world.

Perfect Ground

Mat 13:23   "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

    These are His disciples who follow Him. They want to please Him at all cost - by keeping His commandments and words.

2 Cor 5:9   Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Interesting Truths in the Parables (CW53)

    Coming WW3 - 4th Seal

Wicked Vinedresser

Mat 21:33,35,38-39   "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country... And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another... But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

    The Israelites were chosen (leased of vineyard) as God's people to receive His protections and blessings. They were expected to be fruitful (faith in God) but unfortunately they tend to be stiff-necked and rebellious. God constantly sent prophets (servants) to guide them back to repentance but they killed all His prophets. Finally, God sent His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus, who displayed His divinity by His birth, OT prophecies, signs and wonders, His truth and grace. Yet they killed Him knowing full well that He was their Messiah, the Son of God because they feared the Romans more than God.

John 11:47-48  Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."

End of Salvation of the Jews

Mat 21:40-43  "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it."

    God is just and righteous and He is faithful to His words. So He made the Old Covenant obsolete (kingdom of God taken away from the Jews), thus condemning all Jews to damnation.

    However, His love and mercies endure forever, and immediately with the blood of Jesus, He made the New Covenant of grace with all mankind. Thousands of devout Jews were saved as Christians before the gospel of Jesus reached the Gentiles.

Only the devout Jews were Saved

John 5:46-47   "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

    It is clear that only devout or godly Jews will believe in Jesus and be saved. So John the Baptist was sent to preach repentance for the kingdom of heaven is near. After the death of John, our Lord Jesus sent His disciples out to preach repentance and the kingdom message too so that repented Jews would also believe Jesus and be saved.

Luke 16:29-31  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

Brethren, to know truth and be able to rightly divide His words, we need to understand the whole counsel of God in the whole Bible. Don't try the 'hit and run' as practiced by heretics, televangelists, false prophets and covetous pastors.