The Temples of God

Good afternoon, everyone! Hopefully you'll be still awake in about an hour's time after a nice lunch. Trust you had a nice lunch, but maybe the Spirit will fill this room and you'll stay with me for the next hour. Thank you very much to the chorale. Beautiful job! It's a battle hymn, and I appreciate that very much. Thank you to the chorale for their time and effort, and putting that great piece of special music together for us here in this afternoon service on this day of Pentecost, this feast of Pentecost, this feast of first fruits. Do you find history a fascinating study? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in a distant age? I know that I'm glad I didn't grow up in the time of, say, the Middle Ages or the Dark Ages. I appreciate growing up in this age. But let's go back in history for a moment and recap the conditions that existed about 1,000 years before Jesus Christ was born. Hopefully you enjoy a little history from time to time like I do. Moral and spiritual conditions were very low at Shiloh when the prophet Samuel was born. The Levitical priesthood under Eli was about to be disqualified after the deaths of Eli's disreputable sons, Hophni and Phineas. And although God had desired to rule Israel himself as their invisible monarch and lord, the people clamored for a champion to rule them. They wanted a king. So the first king chosen was Saul of the tribe of Benjamin. And though a man of proven military ability, he failed the tests that God put before him, and King Saul was disqualified. Young David, a shepherd lad from the tribe of Judah, was then chosen by God. And David proved by his wise choices to be the man after God's own heart. As a great military strategist, David united the tribes and extended the national boundaries so that in his time, Israel enjoyed a greater fraction of the land promised to Abraham that has been any time since. David ruled his king for seven years, and Hebron then established his throne in Jerusalem after overcoming the ancient Canaanite community there. He continued his reign in Jerusalem for 32 more years.

And secure on his throne and dwelling in a magnificent palace, palace of cedar and stone, David began to be concerned that he lived in a nicer house than did his Lord. Because after all, the invisible king of kings still dwelt in an aging, temporary tent while David lived in the palace. At first, the prophet Nathan gave David approval to construct a temple for God. But the following night, God intervened, and David, a man of war, was not allowed to actually build the temple, that first temple. That task was given to his son Solomon, although David did draw up the plans for what became known as Solomon's temple. The temple was to be a memorial to Israel to turn her heart away from the idols of the surrounding nations. It was to provide a focal point for worship of the true God and to put away idolatry and evil.

Then, after the temple was built, the tabernacle, the tent, was then disbanded or dismantled. Now, there are some great lessons for us to learn in examining the temple of God.

And this is where today's history lesson begins. But there have been and will be successive temples of God constructed. In fact, we figure into the construction plan as well. And in examining the scriptures, I've found five temples listed here in the scriptures. In the sermon today on this day of Pentecost, let's examine the temples of God. And I believe you'll find it very relevant and I trust even, hopefully, inspiring, especially since we're part of God's temple building process. So, where do we start?

As we go through the subject today, you'll see why we want to examine these temples and how they apply to us individually. And so, I titled the sermon this afternoon, The Temples of God.

And we are going to go back and look at what I've listed as the first temple. I'm not going to count the tabernacle. I'm going to begin with Solomon's Temple. And as we go through the scriptures and see what went into building Solomon's Temple, keep in mind the beauty and the grandeur and the importance of the way it was constructed. Solomon's Temple was completed in 960 BC, basically a thousand years before Christ was born.

It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. So, it lasted approximately 400 years. Most of the dimensions of the temple structure were similar in ratio to that of the tent or the tabernacle of Moses, but about twice the size of the tabernacle. I have an interesting quote here from Benjamin Disraeli. He was a British conservative statesman and writer and eventually a prime minister in the 1800s in Britain. And he's noted for his flamboyant personality, for his staunch support of the British monarchy. And it was in 1835 that the Irish Roman Catholic leader Daniel O'Connell attacked Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons.

At one point, referring to the future prime minister's Jewish ancestry, Disraeli said, yes, I'm a Jew. And when the ancestors of the right honorable gentlemen were brutal savages in an unknown island, mine were priests in the Temple of Solomon. Can I dug it in a little bit? Let's turn to 1 Kings 6 and look at that Temple of Solomon. 1 Kings 6, beginning in verse 1, we'll skip through the verses and skip over some verses, but just to get a feel for Solomon's Temple. Of course, this was a temple dedicated to the great God, but we'll call it Solomon's Temple for now.

All the temples are temples of God that we'll look at today, but this one we'll call Solomon's Temple. 1 Kings 6, verse 1, came to pass in the 480th year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Eternal, the house of the Lord.

Verse 2, now the house which King Solomon built for the Lord, its length was 60 cubits, its width 20 and its height 30 cubits. And if you go with a 20 inch length for a cubit, that would put Solomon's Temple about 100 foot long, 33 feet wide and 50 feet tall. Okay? Verse 7, and the temple when it was being built was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

Great care was taken to fashion the temple rocks and stones off-site, so that during construction it was a more pristine environment. Verse 11 of 1 Kings 6, then the word of the Lord came to Solomon saying, concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in my statutes, execute my judgments, keep all my commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform my word with you, which I spoke to your father David, and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

So verse 14, Solomon built the temple and finished it. So we've skipped over some of the details, obviously, here. Verse 19. Now note here the care and beauty that went into building the inner sanctuary of the temple. Verse 19, and he prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple to set the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord there. Verse 20, the inner sanctuary was 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 20 cubits high. It was 33 foot cubed. He overlaid it with pure gold and overlaid the altar of Cedar. It's pure gold. Verse 21, so Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold.

He stretched gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary and overlaid it with gold. Verse 22, the whole temple he overlaid with gold. Until he had finished all the temple, also he overlaid with gold the entire altar that was by the inner sanctuary.

Verse 23, inside the inner sanctuary he made two carobim of olive wood, each 10 cubits high. Then down to verse 27, then he set the carobim inside the inner room. And they stretched out the wings of the carobim, so that the wings of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other carob touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.

Verse 28, also he overlaid the carobim with gold. Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of carobim, palm trees, and open flowers. And verse 30, and the floor of the temple he overlaid with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

So you walked on gold. Verse 37, in the fourth year the foundation of the house of the eternal was laid in the month of Ziv, and in the eleventh year in the month of Bull, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details, and according to all its plans, so it was seven years in building it. It was quite a construction program for those seven years, and the finished temple was a magnificent sight.

Let's go to 1 Kings chapter 8, beginning in verse 4, and read a few verses there. 1 Kings chapter 8 now, in verse 4. Here's where they bring in the ark now. Then they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up.

Verse 6, then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place, under the wings of the carobim.

Verse 7, for the carobim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the carobim overshadowed the ark and its poles. And verse 10, notice this, and it came to pass when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord.

Verse 11, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Verse 12, then Solomon spoke, the Lord said he would dwell in the dark cloud. I have surely built you an exalted house and a place for you to dwell in forever. This was a place for God Himself to dwell. It became His house here on earth. And this is an important fact for us to remember as we proceed forward. This is where God would dwell. And so God was present at the temple in the holy place.

The priests saw visible evidence of the moment the eternal entered.

There's an interesting Psalm, Psalm 99. Let's turn to Psalm 99 for a moment.

This adds further color to the story of God dwelling here between the carobim. Psalm 99 verse 1.

The Lord reigns. Let the people tremble. He dwells between the carobim. Let the earth be moved. Here's another reference to where God is dwelling on this earth at this time, between the carobim. There were carobim in the tabernacle, and now there are carobim in Solomon's temple in the holy place. Verse 2.

Verse 6.

As we read in verse 1, in response to the majesty and power of God's reign, people on earth tremble and shake with respect. And God dwelling between the carobim here refers to God's exalted throne in heaven.

Yet the significance here is that of God coming down to the earthly model of his heavenly throne in both the tabernacle and then subsequently in the temple of Solomon. It was a replica of God's throne in heaven. Remember the two golden carobim fashioned to cover the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle? You can read about that in Exodus chapter 25. But we see a similar arrangement in Solomon's temple. And during the time of Israel's wilderness years, 40 years in the wilderness, God met with Moses at the mercy seat and actually spoke with him.

You can read about that in Exodus chapter 25 as well. I'll quote it to you, Exodus 25, 22, and there I will meet with you, he told Moses, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat from between the two carobim which are on the Ark of the testimony. Exodus 25, 22. And so this parallels the account we read about here in Psalm 99 regarding God speaking to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel in the cloudy pillar. And when Solomon's temple was completed, that cloud entered the holy place and the priests couldn't conduct business because of it. God let them know he was now dwelling there. Now sadly, this beautiful historic piece of architecture, this dwelling place for the eternal, Solomon's grand temple was not to last. It was to be destroyed because of Judah's sins, and God withdrew his support for a sinful nation. And in 586 BC, it was destroyed by the invading Babylonian military forces. The inhabitants of Jerusalem were taken away themselves. The temple was destroyed and Judah became slaves to their enemy. Now this leads us to a second temple, Zerubbabel's temple, which came to be known as the second temple. It was during the time of Zerubbabel that a second temple was built. Seven decades after being carried away to Babylon, a reconstructed temple was built in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel's temple stood between 516 BC until 70 AD. It became known as the second temple. Construction of this new temple was begun in 535 BC, with completion not occurring until 516, a dedication ceremony being performed in 515 BC, as best we can tell. After the return from Babylonian captivity under Zerubbabel, arrangements were made almost immediately to reorganize the desolated kingdom of Judah after its demise 70 years earlier. First, they erected and dedicated an altar on the exact spot where it had formerly stood. The rest of the temple was in ruins, but they put up the altar first in the exact spot where it had originally stood 70 years earlier. Then they cleared away the debris and the charred remains which occupied the site of the old temple. In the second month of the second year, the foundations of the second temple were laid. You'll see why we're talking about this here as we go forward. After a delay of about 14 years for various reasons, and six years of further construction, under the earnest counsel and admonition of the prophets Haggai and Zachariah, was ready for dedication and was dedicated in 515 BC, more than 20 years after they returned from the Babylonian captivity. Now, this second temple was missing some items that were in the first temple. It was missing, according to most tradition, the Ark of the Covenant. It was missing the tablets of stone upon which were written the Ten Commandments. It was also missing the Uriman and Thummun. It was also missing the miraculous Holy Fire that lit the sacrifices.

And the Holy Place was separated by curtains this time instead of by a wall. What became known as the veil. It wasn't a solid wall this time. It was a curtain to separate the Holy Place from the rest of the temple. Let's turn to Haggai chapter 2 and read a few verses about Zerubbabel's temple, the second temple, and look at some commentary written by Haggai about this second temple because there are a few interesting things for us to note.

Haggai chapter 2 verse 1 In the seventh month, on the 21st of the month, the word of the Eternal came by Haggai the prophet, saying, verse 2, Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Who is left among you who saw this temple in its form of glory? Let's see a show of hands. Did anybody see the first temple before it was destroyed 70 years ago? And how do you see it now? he asks. In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?

Zerubbabel's temple didn't measure up to the original one that Solomon built. verse 4 So my spirit remains among you, do not fear.

For thus saith the Lord of Hosts, So God was going to use this temple in a very special way. The goal is mine, says the Lord of Hosts. Verse 9, The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of Hosts. And in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts. Verse 9 is a very interesting passage about the glory of the later temple being greater than the glory of the former. Even though when they looked at it, they said it really doesn't measure up to what Solomon built. And they were kind of disappointed with it. And in recalling these things, some measure of disappointment must have set in with the tribe of Judah as they returned home. Just as it happened when the foundation of the second temple was first laid, when those who remembered the former temple of Solomon wept, actually cried when they saw the new one. Didn't measure up, as you read about in Ezra chapter 3. Maybe this was part of the reason that it was delayed in being constructed for six years. They stopped. And then had to be encouraged to get back and finish it. You know, what's the use? It will never be as good as the one before it. The Babylonian Talmud indicates five things that were lacking in this temple. I mentioned them a bit ago. But the Babylonian Talmud says these items were missing. They were originally present in Solomon's temple. The Talmud lists the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments, the Holy Fire, the Shekinah Glory, or the Divine Presence of God, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Holy Spirit, and the Urim and Thummim. Yet, don't forget that to this very temple that Zerababel was involved in reconstructing, which was later renovated by King Herod, hundreds of years later, to this temple would come the very creator of mankind. As a human being, God made flesh, Jesus Christ. This second temple that didn't quite measure up is where Jesus Christ worshipped, where He came. Furthermore, as our own Bible reading program discusses, if you want to look it up at some point, there is reason to believe that the second temple, Zerababel's temple, may have been the house where Jesus' disciples were gathered in Jerusalem on this day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the church for the first time. There's a very good reason to believe they were in this temple. That was the house where they were meeting, the house of God. This is where it's quite possible the Holy Spirit came and filled them in a manifestation of power with thousands of gathered witnesses from different countries converging. This was the beginning of the New Testament church, the spiritual temple of God, you and me, providing a sense of continuity from what was a physical temple to a new spiritual temple, the beginning of the church. It's just an interesting possibility that the New Testament church may have begun in the very same place. Now Haggai puts the discouraging sentiments into the mouths of the audience. They're all thinking it. He just came out and said it. The new is inferior to the old. We know it doesn't measure up. We know the discouraging circumstances, and he admitted that the people were depressed about it. Compare Solomon's temple with the meager means of the returned exiles whose temple must have looked small in comparison. And by way of analogy, we too can fall into this way of thinking regarding the spiritual temple that we're a part of now. God's church, considered either collectively or personally. Perhaps we reflect from time to time on the material possessions and the accomplishments of the church of God in the last century.

With huge congregations, superb buildings, nice grounds, abundant financial means, and a powerful globe-girdling work, we could then look on the more modest physical situations of today, become discouraged. Why don't we have such a big church anymore? Is our temple today inferior? No.

We may be wondering what the use is of carrying on with the temple-building work God has delegated to us, when our physical circumstances will seemingly never match what was there before in our earlier lifetime. So people do get discouraged from time to time when they think something's not as grand as it should be or as it was, but that's not the point when we look at what God is building with these temples. Around 19 BC Herod the Great began a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple complex. This was just a couple of decades before Christ came on the scene. The temple itself was torn down. So, rubber bells temple is not the one that actually Jesus walked into. Herod tore down the old one and put a new one in its place. The resulting structure is sometimes referred to as Herod's Temple, but it's still called the Second Temple because the sacrificial rituals continued unabated. They never ceased throughout the construction process.

The rituals continued on while the new temple was built around it. So, under Herod's reconstruction, it was still called the Second Temple, even though it was rebuilt. And of course, the foundation, the temple mount that you see now in Jerusalem today, is the foundation that that temple once stood on, the one that King Herod restored. As you know, in 66 AD the Jewish population rebelled against their Roman occupiers. And four years later in 70 AD, Roman legions under Titus reconquered and subsequently destroyed much of Jerusalem and much of what is even that that temple and temple mount. It's interesting, while in Rome two years ago, myself and Clay Thornton were recording material for the feast women video about European prophecy two years ago for the feast video. And right there in Rome is a memorial, the Arch of Titus. We've got some video of that and some photographs. But on this memorial that Titus built in Rome, you see Roman soldiers carrying off of the menorah from the second temple in jubilation as they destroyed the temple in 70 AD. Kind of chilling to look at, actually, but an amazing piece of history. So we have two temples, Solomon's temple, the Rubble's temple, or the second temple. And this leads us to a third temple, which is you and me in the day of Pentecost. You, me, in the day of Pentecost. The people of God, the church of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, is now the temple of God.

Upon the crucifixion of our Savior, our Lord and Master, the veil, the curtain in the second temple, the curtain closing off the Holy Place, was miraculously torn down, signifying a new way for people to approach the throne of God. Instead of just the priest going into the Holy Place, the church itself could now approach the throne of God's grace individually, each member. Matthew 27, 51, records what happened when Christ died. Matthew 27, verse 51, we read, Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

So let's read the biblical account of the beginning of our temple. As we ponder the glory of the former temples, as we think on the intricate and elaborate artwork, as we imagine the pure gold covering the walls and even the floor, as we imagine seeing the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy Place, we now start to glean some respect and admiration for the diamond covered, bejeweled, and gilded temple that God is creating in each one of us. This temple of the church is greater than the former temples, as Haggai prophesied. What God is working in each of us, the beautiful spiritual craftsmanship, cannot be compared with the former physical temples. Remember Malachi 3, verse 16. I'll read it to you. Malachi 3, verses 16 and 17. Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them. So a book of Remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on his name. And then the Lord said, They shall be mine on the day that I make them my jewels. Our Father in heaven sees us as valuable jewels in his temple.

I'd like to turn to Acts chapter 2 on this day of Pentecost, and skip through a few verses here. Beginning in verse 1, Acts chapter 2, verse 1. Let's go back and read this passage.

At least hit the highlights. A couple of things we want to note here. But Acts chapter 2, verse 1. When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And as I said, there's very good reason to believe that they were actually meeting at the temple at this time. It means the day of Pentecost, where would you go if you lived in Jerusalem on a holy day? That's where you'd be. In verse 2, suddenly, there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind. And it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Kind of reminds you of when the cloud entered the temple when it was dedicated before, doesn't it? Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. And so, God miraculously visibly showed the Holy Spirit being given to His church on this day of Pentecost. He wanted there to be no mistake about what was happening. And so, they saw, as it were, tongues of fire coming down on each person. Verse 6, and when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were confused because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Skip down to verse 11, go through all the different languages that were being spoken. Even cretins and Arabs, we hear them speaking in their own tongues, the wonderful works of God. Verse 12, so they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, what could this mean? Others mocking said, they're full of new wine. But Peter, verse 14, standing up with the 11, raised his voice and said to them, men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and heed my words. For these are not drunk as you suppose, since it's only the third hour of the day. It's like 9 a.m. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. This is prophecy being fulfilled, says Peter. Verse 17, as he quotes Joel, and shall come to pass in the last day, says God, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and on my men servants and on my maid servants, I will pour out my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. Prophecy was being fulfilled as the Holy Spirit was given to a larger group of people than just the occasional king or prophet of the past. It was going to a group, a congregation now. Verse 22, men of Israel hear these words, and Peter gives a sermon here. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know. Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death. Verse 24, whom God then raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. Verse 32, this Jesus God has raised up of which we are all witnesses. Many people saw Jesus Christ after he was resurrected. Verse 33, therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you now see and hear. Therefore, verse 36, that all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ. Now therefore, when they heard this of a cut to the heart, said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter said to them, repent, that every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and your children, to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call. Does require God to call you?

And so, we read the account of that first day of Pentecost as they were gathered when the Holy Spirit came in a very visible sense. Now this leads us straight into the epistles of Paul. Let's go to Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians 2.19. So what's the result of all this happening?

Ephesians 2 verse 19. Paul writes to the Ephesians, Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God.

So once you receive the Holy Spirit, you become a member of God's house. Verse 20. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. Verse 21, In whom the whole building, it's like building a temple, in whom the whole building being joined 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. So God came and ancient Israel actually saw Him visibly enter the holy place of the earlier two temples. You too are being built together for a dwelling place of God. It's almost unbelievable, isn't it? When you stop and think about it, each of us here, a dwelling place for God, to think that God is placing each of us into His temple, dwelling in His, innocent, saying we are His temple. Forget Solomon's temple, forget Zaraab El's temple, the one that Herod fixed up. No! The size and spectacle of the temple of Solomon cannot compare to what is sitting here today. A motley group of us here in Indianapolis. It's hard to believe. Do we really appreciate what God is doing through each of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit? Do we appreciate the miracle that occurred on the first day of Pentecost?

Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 3 for a moment. 1 Corinthians 3, verses 16 and 17. Here Paul has to remind the Corinthian church of who they are and what they're supposed to be about. 1 Corinthians 3, 16. Don't you know that you're 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. A stern warning. So therefore we must live our lives in a worthy manner, respecting the vessel that we become upon conversion.

We must not allow our lives to defile the temple of God. How are we walking?

How are we talking? How are we living? Is gold covering the floor of our temple? Was it getting a little dusty and dirty? Is it besmirched? How sacred are the holy places of our lives?

It certainly gives us a moment to pause and consider when you realize what the first two temples of God pictured. Those elements of the first temple that were missing in the second temple are actually back now. They have spiritual counterparts in us, in the spiritual temple, the church. Rather than the ark of the covenant containing the Ten Commandments, the members of the church have God's law written in their hearts. Not on tables of stone. God's law is back in this temple. Rather than divinely ignited holy fire for sacrifices, those in the church of God are offering up their lives as living sacrifices. We're offering up prayers of incense to God in a spiritual way. The indwelling glory of God that was in the first temple is now within the members of this, shall we say, third temple, the church. The church of God has the prophetic word confirmed. Read in 2 Peter 1.19.

The prophetic word confirmed. Don't need that spirit of prophecy in the same way.

And rather than consulting the urum and the thummon, try saying that fast, by the way, those in the church are able to consult the full written word of God and his ministry and receive discernment through God's Holy Spirit. We go through God's word here. We are filled and led by God's Holy Spirit in order to make wise, discerning, full-justice decisions. We don't need the urum and thummon. We have God's word dwelling with us. It is the church of God, the spiritual temple that will obtain the greatest glory of all. When it is fully glorified, indeed, the church of God will not just be glorified, it will be deified at the time of Christ's return. We partake of the divine nature. The glorified church will then dwell with Christ at the beginning of the millennium at a millennial temple, which is actually a fourth temple, the way we're counting today, again providing further continuity of the temple theme, that of a dwelling place, a house, a home for God and His family. Let's take a look at two more New Testament passages. 1 Corinthians 6. Go forward a page. 1 Corinthians 6.19. And see a couple more passages that describe what God is doing through each of us as His temple. 1 Corinthians 6.19. Well, do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? Verse 20. For you have bought that a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. See, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Once again, we must live our lives in a worthy manner, respecting the vessel that we become upon conversion. Each day, how we walk, how we talk, how we behave, is it in honor of the temple that God sees us as? 2 Corinthians 6. Go there for a moment. 2 Corinthians 6. You will turn over a few pages. 3 Corinthians 6.16-18. 2 Corinthians 6.16. 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. God says, just as He did with Solomon's temple, I will dwell in it. I will dwell in you. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

Now, we've talked about three temples, Solomon's, the second temple, and you and me in the day of Pentecost temple. We have a few minutes left, so let's take a quick look at the two remaining temples. These will give us a vision of what lies ahead for us and also for all of mankind. Imagine them. Picture them in your mind's eye as we talk about them here. The fourth one is the Millennial Temple. You can read about it in Ezekiel 40-43.

There are four chapters that go in quite a bit of detail about the Millennial Temple. They'll be established when Christ returns. It's to that temple that we go when Christ returns.

Providing continuity again from one temple to the next. Okay. It's to be constructed after Jesus Christ returns to the Mount of Olives, to Jerusalem, to set up His Father's kingdom for 1,000 years. We won't read it all right now, but you can in your own time. But I am going to turn to Ezekiel 43 and note something here. Interestingly, the Temple Sanctuary building itself is not described in detail in Ezekiel, but it is described enough to recognize that the design is very much like that of both the tabernacle and the Temple Solomon built. It's once again built after the same pattern as the earlier temples. And this does make sense when we realize that the designs of those earlier structures were given by God to reflect the pattern of the heavenly temple. And so even this fourth temple, the millennial temple, is after a similar pattern to what is in heaven. But beginning with chapter 40, Ezekiel relates a vision of a future temple, a city and nation, which must have given some hope to those who are in captivity when Ezekiel was writing. And indeed, with the Jerusalem Temple of Solomon in ashes at this time, Ezekiel does not only say there'll be a new temple built, but he gives extraordinary details of a coming temple complex and a new arrangement of the Holy Land that was quite different from what they'd seen in the past. And some scholars have asked, is Ezekiel's vision here of the millennium or of the time beyond the millennium, during the time of the New Jerusalem? And we'll find that there are differences between the descriptions of Ezekiel here and those of the New Jerusalem, making it clear that what Ezekiel's talking about is the temple built when Christ returns for his millennial rule. The millennial temple will be a different temple than the ones the rubber bell built. The rubber bell's temple, the second temple, later renovated by King Herod, was completely destroyed by the Romans. The millennial temple, as described in the final chapters of Ezekiel here, will not be built until Christ actually returns. And there is a greater glory to this temple, too, than the earlier ones. Let's notice just a few verses from Ezekiel 43, because these are quite significant, beginning in verse 1. Because returning to the east gate, Ezekiel is given a glimpse of the awesome and thrilling arrival of Jesus Christ, identified here as the coming of the glory of the Lord. And Christ comes to this newly completed temple, a scene that reminded him of the visions he had recorded earlier in his book. And in Ezekiel chapter 10, if you go back and read it, Ezekiel prophesied and talks about how God left the temple of their day. Ezekiel 10 talks about God leaving the temple. He was gone.

This was after it was destroyed. But here we have God returning to the temple again. So this was to encourage those who were in captivity. Ezekiel 43 verse 1, Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east, and behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Kebah, and I fell on my face. Verse 4, And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. So this is upon Christ's return, coming to this new temple. Verse 5, The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and behold, the glory of the Lord once again filled the temple. God's presence is back. In verse 12, this is the law of the temple. The whole area surrounding the mountain top is most holy. God is back.

That's the millennial temple, and just a picture there, a glimpse of Christ returning to it. What about the fifth temple? The fifth temple is the New Jerusalem temple, which happens after the millennium. The New Jerusalem, the city of God, will contain temple pillars of the faithful. Revelation 3 verse 12. Let's read a couple of final scriptures here. Revelation 3 and verse 12. Revelation 3 and verse 12.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

And what is this temple being talked about?

He shall go out no more, and I will write on him the name of my God, in 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.

So in the New Jerusalem, the faithful will be pillars in the temple of God that comes down from heaven. This is not the same as the one during the millennium. This is later. Look at Revelation chapter 21. Revelation 21 verse 1.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea than I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Now look at verse 22.

As New Jerusalem comes down, with pillars in it that are the faithful of God, John records, but I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. It's like the ultimate fulfillment of the temple. Now it is actually God and the Lamb with the faithful as pillars that are the temple. So what is the New Jerusalem temple? It's the Lord God and the Lamb, the focal point of the new city of God, the holy city, and we can be pillars in that temple. That's where we're headed. This is after the physical creation has been completed. This is after the millennium. This is when there's no more death. This is when there's no more crying or sorrow or sin. That's where we're headed, as pillars in that temple, and that temple is God. So to summarize, we have five temples, Solomon's temples, the Rabbibald's temple, you and me, the millennial temple, and then the New Jerusalem temple, which is the God family itself.

Let's turn to Acts chapter 20 as we wrap things up.

I want to conclude this day of Pentecost message by reading two more passages of Scripture.

I thought it was interesting that Mr. McNeely dwelt on this thought this morning as well, and I had it in my notes too. God has given us a job to do in this age as Spirit-led members of his New Testament church and temple. As the temple of God, what should we be about?

What should we be working to accomplish? Well, the book of Acts of the Apostles gives us a very good clue. Let's see what the Apostles did in Acts chapter 20. I'd like to begin in Acts 20 verse 16.

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. So Paul is skipping a few cities along the way in order to make it to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. So this story here is a Pentecost theme, shall we say. Verse 17, from my leaders he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, you know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you. Verse 19, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews, how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly from house to house. Paul was on a mission here. Verse 21, testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. So as Paul is heading towards Jerusalem for Pentecost, he's reminding them that he never let up in teaching them the truth of the Gospel. Verse 22, and see now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there. Except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. Paul knew things didn't look too good on the horizon. Verse 24, but none of these things move me nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus himself to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God. So here as Paul is heading to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, he's reminding them that he never let up in preaching to them the Gospel of the Kingdom. Christ said to the apostles earlier, in fact pretty much his last words to them, he said, go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. And it says they went out and they preached everywhere. Christ didn't tell his disciples and apostles, preach the Gospel to every creature if you have lots of money to do so. Paul didn't have much in the way of resources. Christ didn't guarantee a budget of 250 million dollars a year or even 25 million dollars a year. It's a mandatory mission no matter what your resources are, no matter what funds are available. And Paul was on his way basically to prison in Acts 20, testifying of the Gospel as he went. And ours is a mission that comes from another world. Ours is a mission for the New Testament church, the Temple of God, you and me to accomplish. Ours is a mission from another dimension. Let's conclude with John 17. Read a couple of verses in John 17. Something that we often read once again at Passover service.

John 17 verse 14. Jesus prays to the Father and says, I've given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. See, the temple that we're a part of is from another dimension, from another world. Verse 15. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. So we have to live in the world, but we're not of it. Verse 17. Sanctify them by your truth, because your word is truth. And you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. What does it mean to be sent into the world? It means to go testifying of the gospel of the kingdom like Paul was doing, like the other apostles and early church members did. Verse 24. Father, I desire that they also, whom you gave me, may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I've known you, and these have known that you sent me.

And I have declared to them your name, and I will declare it, that the love with which you love me may be in them, and I in them. And so therefore, as followers of Jesus Christ, as the descendants of the beginning of the New Testament church, which we trace our roots right back to, we must live our lives in a worthy manner about going about the work that God has given us to do, but all the while respecting the vessel that we are, the temple of God. For on this day of Pentecost, this very day of Pentecost, you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you.