By Traci Carson
This is probably one of the most delicate subjects in the Corporate Church. And it surely goes beyond the third temple. Gary and I tread lightly in this area, and yet it burns like fire in our hearts. It can no longer be shut up in our bones. May His grace be upon us as we attempt to enlighten an area that has been hidden through types and shadows.
Beloved, there is a spiritual language of God’s Kingdom that requires us to seek Him beyond the known. I am not doing an exhaustive teaching or writing on this subject today, but do hope to stimulate you to study beyond the traditions of men.
There are theologians and various ministries who are excited and support building the third temple mentioned in Revelation 11:1,2. By doing this they believe it will hasten the final events and return of Jesus.
Seriously, the focus of many has been on natural events and signs of times that the antichrist spirit continues to use to sidetrack God’s people. They confuse the spiritual with natural and visa-versa. I agree with a recent article stating that most of the speculation for a rebuilt temple springs from a vague reference in 2 Thessalonians 2, dealing with an anti-christ power. Many believe that for the antichrist to sit in the temple, it will obviously have to be rebuilt.
Do you know who and what the spirit of anti-Christ is?
It is a wicked spirit that continues to distract Christians from apprehending the Temple they are. This spirit is against the anointing of Christ revealed in His people TODAY. Simply put, the anti-Christ are those moved upon by a spirit that opposes the anointing and His anointed ones that experientially know they are His Temple. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 1 John 2:27; ALSO read Hebrews 5:12)
There are a whole lot of intellectually minded Christians that are Anti-Christ while they sit in their temple/flesh. They subconsciously through a religious spirit oppose the building of His Temple that IS NOT made with hands! Acts 7:48; 17:24; 2 John 1:7. Anyone who receives Christ should be taught that He comes into their spirit man, which lives in a physical body, which is His Temple in the earth. By the way, the correct translation here in 1 John 4:2 “ IS” not has. It is a present word, not an has been. (Romans 1:20-24)
The Lord is saying to many, "You claim Christianity and even claim to understand My Temple, but your views and opinions are filtered through the Old Covenant and traditions. Would to speak to you... but you could not bare it.”
In 1 Chronicles 17:11,12 God says that His Son will build Him a house and His throne shall be established forever. He says, “I shall be His Father and He shall be My Son… and I will establish him in My house forever and his throne shall be established forever…”
In Scripture we will often see prophecies that have both a physical and spiritual fulfillment. The above prophecy is speaking of the true “Son of David” who is to build a temple and kingdom that will last forever. Jesus said in Matthew 24:1,2 to the Jewish nation, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He is not speaking of a temple made of stone with hands, but of living stones NOT made with hands!(1 Peter 2:5; John 2:20,21; 1 Cor.3:17; Matthew 27:40).
Not only was Jesus speaking of His death, burial and resurrection, but also of this Third Day reality of His risen life within His people. All over the world there are Master Builders (1 Cor.3:10) equipping the saints for God’s purpose (Ephesians 4:1-16). Apostle Peter said, “Do not forget this one thing, beloved. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.” There are some who believe we have entered into the third day since the Resurrection of Christ. I don’t want to get into a theological ditch here, but there is truth to this belief.
In the first and second day of the birth of the Corporate Body of Christ, there were and continued to be master builders equipping saints who were receptive. They were the first fruits of the Spirit building His Temple not made with hands. We don’t remain there, we build upon what they first started (1 Cor.3:10) ! We are to ‘take heed how we build,’ but build!
THERE'S A DRAWING IN TWO DIRECTIONS
There are theological beliefs that are quite erroneous and grieving. For one is the thought that some New Covenant teachings and its fulfillment in Christ is replacement theology. In fact it can be detrimental to even attempt to address this subject without being branded anti-semitic.
Tragically, the first apostles were imprisoned, chained and beaten for speaking the truth (Acts 3:11-26; 4:1-12). Although in some countries we may not encounter the same assault, we do experience an onslaught of ill-will.
Sadly there are Christian theologians who are strongly anti-semitic in nature. Gary and I are not among them.
We love the Jewish people, the nation of Israel and the whole world. Nevertheless, Christ is the centre both naturally and spiritually, not the nation of Israel. He is the yard stick, not the nation of Israel. We don’t follow, look to or become like the Jewish people, they are to become like us in Christ (Romans 11:11).
How can I make it clear that it is outright blasphemy to approve of something that God has openly disapproved? For 2000 years they have tried to build a temple to no avail. When Jesus was crucified, the veil in the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. God made clear that temple no longer holds His presence. The temple was razed to the ground in 70 AD.
While many wail and throw ashes over rebellion, God made a New Covenant with a people who were once not a people (1 Peter 2:1-10). This includes BOTH Jews and Gentiles who receive Christ the Messiah as Lord and Savior. AND THEN in Him we are a CHOSEN generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation where there is NEITHER Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, low nor high status (Galatians 3:26-29); for we are one and fulfilled to the uttermost within His Body (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Here’s the beautiful truth. In Matthew 2:13-15 we see that Jesus fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy (Hosea 11:1; 2:11-23). Beloved, Jesus is the true and faithful Israel. He came out from Egypt, passed through the water and was tested in the wilderness. He did not fail! In Him alone by His amazing grace we are heirs to the promises (Zephaniah 3:14-20)
Beloved, I will end with this. There is a drawing in two directions.
In one camp are the traditions of man where the ear hears and eyes see Jesus as the son of man from His natural earthly upbringing. In this camp they remain in the Old Covenant from Mount Sinai in Arabia and correspond to earthly Jerusalem which now is. They are in bondage with her children (Gal.4:25; Col.2:16,17). It is here they remain, shield, offend and defend what Christ set them free from. They continue to see types and shadows through the eye of Rabbinical traditions.
In the other camp are those who have come to know Christ as the very soul of Father, the Son of God. He is the first born of MANY brethren (Romans 8:29). They see through the eye of the Spirit and understand who they are! Sons of God walking in the present truth - New Covenant (not renewed, but NEW - Rom.8:14). From glory to glory (Rev.2:26; 2 Cor.3:18)) they are arising into their new birth/new creation through Christ as they collectively become "One New Man" in the earth (Eph.2:12-15).
Let’s build!