The Temple - Things You Did Not Know

The Temple - Things You Did Not Know

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els delves into the significance and often overlooked aspects of the temple in biblical history. The core message emphasizes that understanding the temple is crucial for a deeper comprehension of God's relationship with humanity and the person of Jesus Christ.

The Purpose and Glory of Solomon's Temple

The speaker begins by highlighting that one of the fundamental functions of the temple was to reunite all of mankind back to God. This was its ultimate purpose. God granted Solomon the wisdom necessary to secure peace treaties, ensuring stable borders and allowing the temple's construction as prophesied in Deuteronomy. However, the building of this magnificent structure was not solely an Israelite endeavor. Kings and queens from other nations also contributed, such as King Attar, who sent various materials, and the Queen of Sheba, who made a long journey to witness its glory.

Solomon's temple stood as a powerful symbol of unity, bringing all nations and people back to God, effectively reversing the division caused by the Tower of Babel. It was envisioned as the very place where heaven and earth intersected, a recurring theme throughout the teaching. The speaker emphasizes the incredible nature and glory of Solomon's temple, contrasting it with later depictions of the Beit HaMikdash of the first century, which was largely the Herodian temple, a significant retrofitting and expansion. The speaker believes that it was Solomon's temple that was truly filled with the glory of God in the Holiest of Holies. He describes some of its features, including the sea, the laver, and numerous basins for washing burnt offerings, along with the iconic two pillars.

Inside the Holy Place

Moving to the interior, the teaching provides a glimpse into the holy place of Solomon's temple. Beyond the veil lay the Holiest of Holies, containing exceptionally large cherubim, bigger than those atop the Ark of the Covenant. Within the holy place itself were the altar of incense, the table of showbread, and multiple menorahs. Contrary to the single menorah commanded by God for the Tabernacle, Solomon made ten lampstands to be placed in the holy place. This addition, along with ten basins on wheels outside and ten tables inside, raises questions about Solomon's authority and intention. Rabbinic commentary suggests that the ten lampstands, with a total of seventy individual lamps (10 x 7), might have represented the seventy nations of the world, all within God's house, symbolizing the temple's purpose of reunification. While this interpretation is debated, it aligns with the overarching theme. The speaker also points out the significant size of the altar in Solomon's temple compared to the one Moses was commanded to build.

The Debate Over Temple Location

The teaching briefly touches upon the ongoing debate regarding the precise location of the temple on or off the Temple Mount. Four main theories are presented:

• The Northern Theory (Asher Kaufman): Places the temple on the northern side of the Temple Mount, north of the Dome of the Rock, with the Holiest of Holies on the Dome of Spirits.
• The Central Theory: Locates the Holiest of Holies directly over the Dome of the Rock, suggesting the temple was in the center of the 500 by 500 cubit Temple Mount. The speaker leans towards this theory.
• The Southern Theory (Tuvia Sagiev): Positions the temple lower on the Temple Mount, with the Holiest of Holies above a spring outside the current mosque.
• Ernest Martin's Theory: Proposes that the temple was not on the Temple Mount at all but down in the City of David, near the Gihon Spring. This theory suggests a much smaller temple size, contingent on a very short cubit length. The speaker dismisses this theory, citing Josephus' account of Titus observing the battle for the temple from the Antonia Fortress, which was adjacent to the Temple Mount. The Gihon Spring being half a mile away makes it highly improbable that Titus could have recognized individual soldiers' faces from such a distance.

The speaker emphasizes the significance of archaeological evidence found on the Temple Mount and recommends the work of Eilat Mazar, a leading expert in Temple Mount archaeology.

Authority and the Divine Blueprint

The teaching addresses the question of Solomon's authority to enlarge the altar and add lampstands, deviating from God's instructions to Moses. The answer lies in 1 Chronicles 28:11, which states that David gave Solomon the pattern (Hebrew: tavneet) for the temple, including its porch, houses, treasuries, inner chambers, and the house of the Ark. This tavneet, or blueprint, was received by David by the Spirit, just as God gave Moses the blueprints for the Mishkan in the Torah. This indicates that God provided a new set of blueprints for His house, allowing for changes like a larger altar and additional menorahs. This can be seen as an upgrade, reflecting a new stage in God's dwelling with humanity.

The Temple as the Meeting Place of Heaven and Earth

The speaker shifts the focus to the deeper spiritual significance of the temple. It was not merely a historical or archaeological site but the place where heaven met earth. Holiness, defined by restriction, was concentrated in the temple. Following the creation account, where God brought order to chaos and rested on His throne, the temple represented a place on earth where God's order remained and chaos could not enter. This is why death, the "mascot of chaos and sin," and anything associated with uncleanness (like leprosy or contact with a corpse) were banned from the temple.

Jesus as the Spiritual Temple and Our Role

In this context, Jesus' words in John 2:18-21, where he speaks of destroying the temple and raising it in three days, take on a profound meaning. While the Jewish leaders understood him to be referring to the physical temple, John's Gospel clarifies that Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body. The speaker clarifies that Jesus did not immediately replace the physical temple, as early believers, as recorded in Acts 21:21-26, continued to worship and offer sacrifices there. However, Jesus stood as the spiritual embodiment of what the temple represented: the place where God meets with man.

Application for Everyday Life

• Embrace Your Role as an Ambassador: Recognize that your words and actions reflect Jesus to the world. Strive to represent Him with kindness, compassion, and a message of forgiveness.
• Live as the Temple of the Holy Spirit: Be mindful that God's Spirit dwells within you. Honor this indwelling by living in a way that reflects His holiness.
• Participate in the Ministry of Reconciliation: Actively seek to bring reconciliation between people and God, and between individuals, embodying the core message of the Gospel.
• Seek God's Kingdom on Earth: Pray and work towards God's will being done in your life and in the world around you, just as Jesus taught in the Lord's Prayer.
• Go Beyond Minimum Requirements: While keeping God's commandments is important, strive for a deeper relationship with God and a more profound expression of your faith.

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