The Glorious Temple

 

The Glorious Temple - Dr. Leonard Hoffman, Time Line New Testament Bible  

Roughly 520 BC, the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah wanted to inspire the Israelites. Despite the devastation of the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC, the temple lay in ruins while the people focused on their own homes. Although decades had passed since their return from exile, the temple remained unfinished. Haggai conveyed the Lord's message, urging them to rebuild the temple for His glory. 

“Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.” Haggai 1:8 NIV

However, the newly reconstructed temple looked much smaller than Solomon's majestic structure. Some of the people were reminded of the former glory of Solomon's temple, leaving them disheartened by the current situation.

The current situation was not permanent. God promised to fill the Temple with His glory, reminiscent of past instances where His presence filled the Tabernacle and Solomon's temple. At its greatest moment, the Temple on earth was only a shadow, a copy, of the beauty and glory of the true Temple that was in Jesus before time began. God assured of a future glory surpassing even Solomon's Temple.

‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place, I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:9 NIV

This prophecy hints at glimpses that the prophets were getting of a greater glory that existed in heavenly realms and was to be seen on earth in some future day.  That Glory was far surpassing the glory of the present Temple and even Solomon's. Some may interpret this as referring to a future physical temple, but a look into the New Testament will unveil insights into God's much greater plan and Kingdom.

Here is God’s plan and kingdom:

Jesus answered them,” Destroy this sanctuary and I will raise it in three days!”  John 2:19 TLNT.

Listeners were not able to grasp the possibility of what Jesus said. They were looking at huge, massive stones that were part of the rebuilding that Harod began 46 years before and would continue for some 36 more years. Yet Jesus was referring to an even greater supernatural raising. He was referring to his own body. His purpose was to fulfill the roles of the Old Testament tabernacle and temple. The embodiment, described as the dwelling of the Son of God among humanity had been echoed in the concept of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament.

So the Word became human and lived a little while among us, and we actually saw His glory, the glory of the One who is an only Son from His Father and He was full of spiritual blessing and truth. John 1:14 TLNT

Jesus, dwelling among sinners, displayed the glory of God, much like the tabernacle and temple. When discussing the latter glory, it implies there was a former glory. God promised to restore the glory of the remnant of Judah, assuring them that the latter glory would surpass the former.

 

This latter glory is Jesus Christ living in us.

“But I tell you, there is something greater than the Temple here!” Matt. 12:6 TLNT

In the Old Testament, the Temple symbolized God's presence and glory, yet in Christ, something even more magnificent had arrived. Despite the splendor of Solomon's Temple, a surpassing glory now emanated from Jesus Himself. The shadow was shown to us in the flesh, so we are inspired to open spiritual eyes to see and experience the greater glory. This glory, spoken of by Jesus, reflects His divine majesty and splendor, offering a profound glimpse into the nature of God. Here, Jesus is making it clear that God remembered His covenant, restoring the kingdom of God to all who wish to enter through Jesus Christ. All of the wonders and promises once seen in the land, the Temple, are now found in Jesus, God’s Son. When you experience the presence of God's glory, it can transform lives forever!

Through faith in Christ, believers are likened to a temple. Christ's presence within us establishes our identity as vessels of the Holy Spirit. Peter emphasizes this concept, comparing believers to living stones forming a spiritual structure and not a physical temple anymore. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that we belong to God and are indwelt by His Spirit. It is through this powerful impartation and transformation of our natural bodies now made into God’s holy temple, where we can now serve as a holy priesthood offering acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. These passages highlight the importance of recognizing our spiritual identity and the need for transformation. To experience the fullness of God's glory, we must acknowledge our dissatisfaction with our current state (temporal dwelling) and seek a deeper connection with Him (divine holy presence within us).

To sum it up another way, the "latter glory" finds its fulfillment in Christ and His church. Christ is the perfect copy of the Temple; He is the image of God, completely. Christ's sacrifice on the cross and resurrection changed everything. He became an eternal temple, never to be destroyed. As believers in Christ, we become temples of the Holy Spirit, united with Him. Jesus, often referred to as the Son of David, declared His intention to build His church a spiritual temple filled with the Holy Spirit. This is portrayed when Jesus is talking to Peter.

“And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.” Matt. 16:18 TLNT

 Believers are part of this temple built by Christ. The promised temple isn't merely about a physical temple in the future; it speaks of what Christ accomplishes in Himself and through His church.

Jesus declared Himself greater than the temple, emphasizing the spiritual nature of His presence. God no longer dwells in manmade structures but within us, making our bodies His temple. He promises to shake the heavens and the earth to fill our lives with His treasures. We shouldn't long for the past but trust in God's promises for our future, just as the Old Testament Saints did. The more we walk in His presence, the more God's glory manifests in our lives.