Should We Look for a New Temple?
Posted by BryanSep 3
Brent Thomas (Holiday at the Sea) shares his thoughts.
Brent says:
“While I am glad that people are studying Scripture and prophecy in particular, and I am glad that people are looking for Jesus to come again, I worry that what many people are looking for is actually unbiblical…”
9 comments
Comment by brian on September 3, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I tend to think Stephen’s comment in Acts 7 is significant in this regard – that God no longer resides in buildings – he now resides in the human heart and in his people, the church so in a sense the people of God are the Temple – and Jesus us the ultimate sense of that – so no, I don’t think we should really be looking for a new Temple.
Comment by Bryan on September 3, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Brian,
I agree wholeheartedly… I think that Jesus is making that point in the Gospel of John when he says that He is the temple, then it is the church as the ones who house the presence of God via the Holy Spirit. In terms of Biblical Theology, which I’m not going to defend in the comments, I think that it is ultimately also in the New Creation, which is the far better eden–Eden itself being a cosmic temple–primarily because of the presence of God.
Comment by Jason on September 3, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Brian L: Have you read Beale’s works that deal with Eden and the temple? Good stuff.
Comment by Bryan on September 3, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Jason :
It’s sitting on my “to read” shelf. I might be writing a paper on Eden as a cosmic temple for my Biblical Theology of Worship class, so I’m sure it will get some use then before i get to just sit down and read it
Comment by Jason on September 4, 2009 at 8:59 am
I wish I had known about these works years ago! Speaking of biblical theology and worship, have you read Allen Ross’s Recalling the Hope of Glory? It looks like a promising read and is on my list.
Comment by Bryan on September 4, 2009 at 9:04 am
Jason :
I’m in the middle of reading it now… it’s very good, and very thorough
Comment by Jason on September 4, 2009 at 10:17 am
I’ve had it in hand several times at the bookstore, but for reasons unknown, kept putting it back. I will get it someday!
Comment by brian on September 4, 2009 at 10:32 am
Ross’ book sounds pretty interesting.
Comment by Puritan lad on September 8, 2009 at 10:31 am
In addition to a future Jewish Temple, many are looking for a return to the “weak and beggarly elements” of the Jewish sacrificial system, including circumcision “in heart and flesh” (Ezekiel 44:7-9), use of ancient Jewish currency (Ezekiel 45:10-16), as well as “burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the Sabbaths, all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel… sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings” in order “to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 45:17).
So much for the work of Christ in Hebrews 9:12.