Principalities and powers are looking at Israel. The church, however, may not be in step with heaven’s focus; some do not line up with God’s prophetic word. The Church may be looking in the wrong direction. The focus is often on history and not what God is doing today. Prophetic disciples know to fix their gaze on the Holy Land and watch God’s prophetic time clock. They know we cannot circumnavigate Israel and be in step with God. One focus the Bible speaks of is the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Will it happen, how important is it, and what is its significance? Most ministers avoid the topic but allow me to share what I have discovered. Let’s look to the scriptures. “Here is the man whose name is Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord … He will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne … Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord.” Zec. 6:12-15 Jesus is the Branch and He will rebuild the third temple vicariously. After building it, He will sit on His throne and rule from the temple. We read that people from far away will come and help build it. In the Bible, Jews are those who are close and Gentiles are those who are far away. Both will help to rebuild the temple.
Temple Comparisons
The physical temple on Mount Zion is the focus of our study but the Bible gives us several other pictures of the temple. The restoration of the physical temple is in keeping with the restoration of all things. It is a physical illustration of restoration that points to six other things scheduled for restoration. So counting the temple, there are seven things. 1. Jesus’ physical body, 2. The Church, 3. Israel, 4. The Temple, 5. Your Body, 6. The Nations, 7. The Planet. Here is the verse that speaks of the restoration of all things.
“That he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything.” Acts 3:20-21
The physical temple being rebuilt is the start button for the restoration of all things. When you see it, get very excited.
1. Jesus’ Body is a Temple
We will briefly look at other temple types mentioned in the Bible and other things that will be restored as well. Here is the scripture about Jesus’ body being a temple.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will rise it again in three days.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ But the temple he had spoken of was his body.” Jn. 2:19
This restoration and rebuilding was fulfilled. Jesus died, was buried, and He rose again. His physical body was raised to life eternal. Jesus said His body was a temple
The Church is a Temple
Some think the Church has replaced the physical temple in Jerusalem as God’s dwelling place. Jesus is not just a Spirit, He is also physical and rules from a physical place. Be careful, do not replace the land, the people of Israel, or the temple with spiritual ones. The Lord has a spiritual house but He has not forgotten Abraham’s natural seed. Those who teach replacement theology are in error. They will find themselves resisting the plans of God. The Church is a temple, but so is the natural one. Here is a verse about the Church being a temple.
“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1Co. 3:16
Like the natural temple, the Church needs to be rebuilt. The church had a reformation five-hundred years ago but the New Testament Church was not fully reformed. That was a salvation reformation. We still need a Holy Spirit reformation and a five-fold ministry reformation in the Church.
Israel – A Restoration in the Works
Many ministers understand God’s call for the people of Israel. The Messianic movement, the rebirth of the State of Israel, and the battle over her land are essential aspects of Israel’s restoration. The most important detail for Israel’s restoration will be a spiritual revival that connects the Jews with Jesus their Messiah.
Scripture says that God’s gifts and calling for Israel are irrevocable (See Ro. 11:29). Although Jesus said He was taking the kingdom from her and giving it to another, He also tells us that He will choose Israel a second time (See Mt. 21:43 and Isa. 11:11).
Israel’s coming revival is central to God’s end-time plan. Every disciple should support God’s plans for Israel.
Your Body is a Temple
Individual believers are also temples of the Living God for He comes to dwell inside of people. Scripture tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you.” 1Co. 6:19
We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (See Phi. 2:12). Our spirits are being renewed daily, but the last part of our redemption involves our bodies. This temple, which is our body, is made perfect on resurrection day (See Ro. 8:23).
Restoration of the Nations
When Emma, my granddaughter was four, she said to me, “Papa, one day God is going to renation the whole earth.” She was not only correct, I think she invented a new word, renation. There will be sheep nations that will enter the millennium and goat nations that will not (See Mt. 25:32-33).
“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations.” Isa. 25:7
“The nations … will go up year after year to worship the King. “Ze. 14:16
They are called, the nations of the saved.
Restoration of the Planet
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Re. 21:1
When the great tribulation is over the earth will be uninhabitable. The ozone layer will be depleted, the sea lifeless, the drinking water poisonous, the vegetation burned, and the land broken from the earthquakes. The Lord will restore the entire planet.
Rebuilding the Temple
Two thousand years ago, Jesus’ physical body was restored to life. As mentioned, six other things will also be restored. The next restoration will be the rebuilding of Lord’s temple.
This is so significant, for Jesus will put His throne in the temple. Before then, the Beast will set up his image there (See 2Thes. 2:4, Ze. 6:12, Re. 13:14).
Once the temple is built we know that Christ’s coming is imminent. President Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and will move the US embassy there this month. This is an eternal action in step with God’s end-time plans. It brings us that much closer to the rebuilding of the temple.
The temple has to be rebuilt before or during the first half of the great tribulation because the Antichrist violates it in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. Perhaps, you wonder why Jesus would rebuild the temple and then allow the Beast to defile it. Consider; that is what happened to Jesus when He was crucified, but resurrection followed.
Right now, Gentiles have control of the temple mount. More conflict will come to the Middle East before it will be swept clean. I personally believe that everything on the temple mount will be destroyed during the upcoming battles. Then, the Jews will repossess it and Jesus will rebuild His temple.
The furnishings and priestly garments for the temple have already been made by the Temple Institute. Pray, and do your best to be in step with the Lord. Keep your eyes on the news and keep your eyes on the temple mount. The temple and the Lord are coming.
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