Essentials of Religion (iii)

In the preceding chapter we introduced this area of our subject and showed how a temple is an integral part of religion, and Christianity is no exception. We showed that the physical body of Christ is called the temple of the Lord by Christ himself, and also that he confesses to be "greater than the temple" that was built by either Solomon or Herod. We also pointed out how today there is no physical building that the new testament calls the Christian temple. It is true, as we will see, that both an individual believer and the local church are said to be God's temple, but neither the believer's body nor the social body of believers are  buildings in the normal sense. Though many call the meeting house a church or temple, technically that is not true. Rather, the church meets in a building, the people who compose the assembly (i.e. the members) being the church (which comes from the Greek word "ekklesia" and denotes an assembly of people or citizens). The same is true with being a temple, it being not a physical structure but an assembly of baptized believers.

Though there is no physical building on earth today that God recognizes as his temple, yet there is a temple in heaven and will be a new temple building in the millennial age to come. 

The Heavenly Temple

There are several references in the Book of Revelation to this heavenly temple.

"Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev. 11: 19 nkjv; See also Rev. 15: 5-6)

In the Book of Hebrews we also have these texts:

"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." (Heb. 8: 1-2 kjv)

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building." (Heb. 9: 11 kjv)

Speaking of the priests who served in the old testament temple, the writer of Hebrews also wrote:

"They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Heb. 8: 5 niv)

There is some disagreement among theologians as to whether "the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man" or "a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands" is an allusion to the physical body of Christ or to the temple in heaven. 

Barnes in his commentary says:

"By a greater and more perfect tabernacle - The meaning is, that Christ officiated as high priest in a much more magnificent and perfect temple than either the tabernacle or the temple under the old dispensation. He performed the great functions of his priestly office - the sprinkling of the blood of the atonement - in heaven itself, of which the most holy place in the tabernacle was but the emblem." 

Barnes thinks that the greater antitypical temple is the temple that is in heaven. Gill writes in his commentary this way however:

"by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; meaning the human body of Christ, which was greater than tabernacle of Moses...and this is a tabernacle which God pitched, and not man; which was reared up without the help, of man: Christ was not begotten by man, but was conceived in the womb of a virgin, under the power of the Holy Ghost; he came not into the world in the way of ordinary generation, but in a supernatural manner; and so his human body is a tabernacle, not of the common building, or creation, as the word may be rendered, as other human bodies are."

I find both of these views true. However, I think Barnes' view to be what it alluded to. The old testament temple, though a literal building, was nevertheless full of symbolism. The same may be said of other literal or physical things. The cross of Christ was literal but also a sign of other things. Many Christians believe that the great pyramid of Giza is also symbolic. 

The temple God as architect described to Moses, and later first built by Solomon, was a copy, figure, or pattern of 1) the temple in heaven, and 2) of God himself, and 3) of the person of Christ in his incarnate state. It is also a picture of God's plan of salvation through the atoning sacrificial blood of Christ. But, on this we must not address now for it gets beyond the scope of this series and if done would take up several other chapters. With still having many other essential elements of religion to address, we must not tarry here. However, the bible student should read the book of Hebrews to see the significance of the temple and its ordinances and ceremonies. The old testament temple is also almost identical to the temple that Ezekiel envisioned for the millennial age. It also in some ways typifies the spiritual body of Christ, which is, as we will see, also a temple.

In the book of Revelation there is frequent mention of the heavenly temple and there are a number of items in that temple, such as altars, the ark of the covenant, the throne of God, etc. Also, of course, are various groups of worshipers, such as the various order of angels, and redeemed men and women, i.e. "the spirits of just men made perfect." (Heb. 12: 23; See also Rev. 6: 9) In fact, it was into this heavenly temple that Christ entered after his death and presented his blood on the mercy seat located there. Wrote Paul:

"For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." (Heb. 9: 24 esv)

"But into the second part (holiest place in the temple) the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance." (Heb. 9: 7 nkjv)

These verses say that Christ went into the heavenly temple and there offered his blood for atonement. That act within the heavenly temple was signified when upon his death on the cross we read that "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Matt. 27: 51 kjv) for Christ entered the holy place to sprinkle his blood on the mercy seat, the place of propitiation of sin.

Promise of a New Temple

In the old testament there were prophecies of the destruction of the old testament temple and the building of a new temple. So prophesied Daniel:

“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary." (Dan. 9: 26 nkjv)

This was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Roman general Titus destroyed the city and the temple. Jesus himself had foretold of this, saying to his disciples as they spoke to Christ of the greatness of Herod's temple:

"Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Matt. 24: 1-2 nkjv)

No doubt the apostles also warned the Jews of this coming fate for the Jewish leadership in seeking to condemn Stephen said - "we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place" (Acts 6: 14 kjv). 

Along with the old testament prophecies of the destruction of the Hebrew temple was the promise of a new temple to take its place. This promise is in some respects fulfilled now but in other respects will not be fulfilled till we enter into the one thousand years of Christ' reign on earth.

“Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’(Zech. 6: 12-13 nkjv)

Many bible commentators and theologians believe this is fulfilled in the building of the church and that is somewhat true. However, it ought not to be limited to that, for there will surely be a new temple built of stones, gold, and precious stones, with all the furniture belonging to it, in the millennial age to come. How do we know this? From the several passages that speak of the millennial age to come and of the presence of the temple. One of those is this familiar text:

"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isa. 2: 2-4 nkjv)

By "house of God" is meant the millennial temple. We know this because of the description of it in the prophecy and because of the time period which it is realized, which is the millennial age, when there is no more war on earth, when Christ is on earth ruling the nations, and when all nations are united in worship of Christ. The last several chapters of the Book of Ezekiel (40-48) describe this glorious temple and cannot be interpreted in a non literal manner.

Though many try to prove that the above prophecy is completely fulfilled now in the new testament church, that view is not tenable. Those who hold to this view will often begin their commentary on this prophecy by stating that the prophecy must not be taken literally, it not only being given in figurative language but also fulfilled figuratively too. As long as there is war among the nations, however, with each possessing arsenals for war, this prophecy cannot be said to be realized. Not only that, but such spiritualizers of prophecy are inconsistent in interpreting some things in the prophecy literally and other parts non literally. Wrote one commentator on this point (See here - emphasis mine):

"Some interpreters reject the literal meaning of Ezekiel 40–48, and view the description as figurative of the New Testament Church. They go to great lengths to explain away the measurements and specifications of the temple building. Such a symbolic view seems forced. A natural reading of the text points to a literal physical temple. The golden rule of interpretation is: “When the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense.”

Next, let us notice another text about a future temple, one in which theologians once again interpret differently. The risen Lord Jesus Christ says to John in the Book of Revelation:

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name." (Rev. 3: 12 nkjv)

"I will make" is from the Greek word ποιήσω (poiēsō) and is an active verb in a future tense (indicative case). For this reason alone we cannot find the fulfillment of it when a person believes and is baptized and becomes a member of the church. Another reason is because "he who overcomes" is from a present tense participle and literally means "he who is overcoming," denoting what one is steadily doing in life and service to Christ, to the ones who ultimately are victorious through Christ. But, that does not occur until a man's race is run, until he finishes his course or life. Another reason is because the other things in the text occur in conjunction with being made a pillar in the temple and those things are yet future for the believer, such as having the name of God and the city of God written on him, as well as the new name of Christ. 

So, it is better to see the fulfillment of this prophetic promise in the millennial age via Ezekiel's glorious temple and Isaiah's house in the top of the mountains, and even in the eternal ages following, even though we are told that in the new heavens and earth in the age following the millennial age that there will be no more temple. (Rev. 21: 22) But, more on that later.

I do not doubt that by being made a "pillar" in the temple is metaphorical in the same way that Paul refers to certain other apostles as being pillars in the church. (Gal. 2: 9) We use that expression today when speaking of those leaders in a community or when people say "he is a pillar of strength." 

That is not to say however that the mystical body of Christ, or the church assembly, is not also a fulfillment of old testament prophecy about a greater temple. 

A Believer is a Temple

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." (I Cor. 3: 16-17 nkjv)

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (I Cor. 6: 19 nkjv)

Every man's body, whether believer or unbeliever, is a tabernacle or temple. (II Peter 1: 14; II Cor. 5: 1; etc.) The question then becomes - "what god dwells in your temple?" Every saved man in Christ has God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit especially dwelling in him. So Christ promised:

"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." (John 14: 23 nkjv)

The indwelling presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is what makes one's body a holy place, a holy temple. God dwells in the inner man, in a man's heart, in his soul and mind, in his center or core of being. He dwells in the spirit of a believer, and the spirit of the believer tabernacles in the body of the believer. Thus, the body, via the spirit, becomes a temple or house of the Lord. How wonderful and glorious a thought is this! This means a believer can live in the temple and never exit it. As previously stated, the believer entering into Christ is an entering into the greater temple, which is Christ himself. Once he has entered into Christ, he cannot ever leave. Why would he? To be there is the greatest of all joys. In fact, the Greek word that gives us our word "enthusiasm" means "God within." Also, as stated, when Christ enters into the believer, ever to stay and abide, the believer becomes a temple.

Because of this a believer can praise, worship, and offer prayers to God at any time. His heart becomes a sanctuary where Christ sits enthroned as Lord, King, Priest, and Prophet. Ego or self no longer sits in the heart, nor any other god or idol. By the presence of God in a believer's heart, soul, mind, and spirit the believer's body becomes a most holy place. Just as the blood of the sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on the temple's altar of sacrifice, so it is mystically sprinkled on the believer's heart. So writes Paul in Hebrews: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience." (Heb. 10: 22 kjv; See also Heb. 12: 24; I Peter 1: 2)

Not only is the believer a temple because of the Lord's entering and making his home in his heart, and a holy place therefore, and a mercy seat for propitiation, but the other things in the Hebrew temple are also within the believer. In his heart, as we will later see when we come to speak of the Christian altars, there is an altar, both an altar of incense for prayer, and an altar of sacrifice, a place to present our offerings of praise and our gifts to God. What a glorious temple is this inner Christian temple! It is a beautiful place where the believer enjoys the presence of God and this is often confessed when the believer is engaged in fervent prayer and praise, and when musing and deeply meditating upon God, his word, works, and ways.

The Church Temple

"And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." (II Cor. 6: 16 nkjv)

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2: 19-22 nkjv)

If we say that the church is a temple, as Paul does in the above verse in second Corinthians, then that seems to suggest that it is a finished building. But, the second text in Ephesians seems to teach that the temple is not yet a finished construction, for it is growing into a temple. In the text we see where some of the construction has been completed, some still ongoing, and the completion yet future. 

Once again we see that what makes an assembly of believers a temple is the presence of God within the group, "a dwelling place of God." Being a temple, the believer enjoys temple delights when assembled. Mystically there is an altar of incense, an altar for presenting gifts and sacrifices, a table of shewbread, priests, manna, and the presence of angels. Though we will focus on these things separately as we proceed in upcoming chapters, let us give a sample of verses that show this to be true.

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Heb. 13: 15-16 nkjv)

Christ is the heavenly manna or bread. (John 6: 31-58) and he is feasted upon in the assembly of saints. Also, the word of God is bread and is received and eaten when the church meets. 

Christ is the great high priests and all of his people are priests and as such act as priests when involved in church worship and service. But, more on that later in our series. (See I Peter 2: 9) 

In the church we also find the altar of incense which stands for prayer. The temple of the church is a "house of prayer" and their prayers there are compared to incense. 

"Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." (Psa. 141: 2 kjv)

Also, angels are often present in the assembly of believers. (See I Cor. 11: 10; Heb. 12: 22-23)

No Temples?

“But Solomon built Him a house. “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest?" (Acts 7: 47-49 nkjv)

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things." (Acts 17: 24-25 nkjv)

These verses seem to counter the idea that God dwells in a temple, whatever that temple is, whether it be the old testament temple, or the temple in heaven, or in the believer or in the church, or in the millennial age. But, we must not make that inference. Wrote Gill in his commentary on the first text:

"...he did indeed dwell in his temple, but he was not confined to it, nor included in it, or circumscribed by it; and so much Solomon himself suggests, when he expresses his wonder at his dwelling on earth, seeing the heaven of heavens could not contain him, and still less the house which he had built, 1 Kings 8:27..." 

Gill on Acts 17 passage

"Dwelleth not in temples made with hands; such as were the idol temples at Athens; nor in any other edifices built by man, so as to be there fixed and limited; no, not in the temple at Jerusalem: but he dwells in temples that are not made with hands, as in the temple of Christ's human nature, in which the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in the hearts of his people, who are the temples of the Holy Ghost. This strikes at a notion of the Athenians, as if God was limited, and circumscribed, and included within the bounds of a shrine, or temple, though it is not at all contrary to his promises, or the hopes of his own people, of his presence in places appointed for divine worship, but is expressive of the infinity and immensity of God."

I believe that is what is intended in those two passages. But, what about this text?

"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." (Rev. 21: 22 kjv)

Barnes in his commentary gives us the right interpretation. He says:

"And I saw no temple therein - No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It was all temple - nothing but a temple. It was not like Jerusalem, where there was but one house reared expressly for divine worship, and to which the inhabitants repaired to praise God; it was all one great temple reared in honor of his name, and where worship ascended from every part of it. With this explanation, this passage harmonizes with what is said in Revelation 2:12; Revelation 7:15."

We should keep this in mind when we think upon the promise of being made a pillar in the temple of the Lord and dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. In the New Jerusalem and in the new heavens and earth, the whole realm of which will be a temple.