Why is the Temple so important to God and what is its functions?

Reverence
Daniel 2:20-23 Daniel answered and said, “Let the name of God be blessed for ever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding, It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. To Thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for thou hast given me wisdom and power; even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of thee, for Thou hast made known to us the king’s matter.”

Article 17 August 31st, 2017
Why is the Temple so important to God and what are its functions?

Is there any difference in the tabernacle and the Temple of God. who is it meant for, God or man? Many of us will never get the opportunity to see the earthly temple because of geographical location. The temple we as believers will see is the Temple made without hands where God and Christ are the temple, and its light is God. Actually the Tabernacle was the beginning of saving Israel and introducing Israel to God and His expectations. The Tabernacle was the way to get people to think about God, by always having His presence with Israel.
A little history. God had not spoken to any man of the captivity in Egypt for 400 years, from the time of the death Joseph who held a High possession in Pharaohs court. The the Bible says that a new leader came along that knew not Joseph. And that is where Israel became slave labors. God spoke to Moses, to go to the leaders of Israel in Egypt and tell them God is here to bring you out of the captivity, to take you to a place flowing with milk and honey, you will be His people and He will be your God. A good land that you can work for yourselves and be prosperous. God led them out of Egypt with great miracles and signs, but they chose to complain at every juncture saying, we will be killed by the Egyptians, we have no water, we have no meat, God, you have brought us out of Egypt to kill us in the desert. Should all the signs and wonders be enough for the people to see who was leading them? Then God made it easy for them, giving them two rules to live by. 1. Obedience and I will bless you. 2. Disobedience and I will curse you. Because of their disobedience God told them they were going to wander for forty years until the disobedient people were dead. Now we come to the building of the tabernacle. God says the Tabernacle was a place to bring tithes and offerings as your heart leads you. Come into My house to pray to me, the Priests will sacrifice your animals for the covering of your sin. God wanted to speak to them, for them to listen to Him. They said no thank you. God knew that captivity had brought a hardness of heart. They were skeptical of following the leaders and God Himself. They had no reference point of contact or thought about God. Then, Moses shows up in their camp and says that God has heard their cry. God is a stranger to them. Skeptical people do not like to be tested or follow blindly, but God wanted just that. Even today, He wants us to trust Him, why? Because He is God and Jesus Christ, they know all things and control all things. We can trust Him, we cannot see His moves or His actions, but He wants us to trust and obey just as He did with the Israelite’s.
Hebrews 9:1-10 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lamp stand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place, and behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant. And above it were the Cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Now when these things have been thus prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into the second only the high priest enters, once a year, not without taking blood, which offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which by symbol for the present time, accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.
Israel is awaiting for a new Temple to be built, so they can once again offer sacrifices as they did when the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Since they do not recognize Christ as Messiah, they are waiting to start the sacrificial system once again. The one thing that is stopping this from happening is the Muslim Dome of the Rock, taking the temple mount location. The whole temple mount area is in control of the Muslims. There are temple pillars still standing today.
The difference between the old covenant is, Jesus has taken the place of the temple sacrifice. Jesus took the place of the blood of bulls, sheep, goats, and doves. Jesus came into this world from heaven to offer up himself for the forgiveness of sin, He only had to die once for all of man’s sins. His spilt blood was the single atonement for everybody that wishes to accept Christ as Savior, and ask God for forgiveness of sin. When there was temple sacrifices it was only a covering for sin. When Jesus returns all Israel will see Jesus for who He is, their Messiah.
The temple was never meant to be used as a market place for buying and selling of sacrifices. Jesus says it was to be a place of prayer. The people were supposed to bring their own sacrifice to the temple gate, to the Priests.

In the Exodus when God gave the plans for the Tabernacle, it was intended for Israel as a place they could come and learn from God, look to and come to offer what they had. God offered to talk to Israel directly, but after the congregation was frightened by God with the thunder and lightening and then God talking to them. Israel shrunk back and they told Moses that they would do whatever God tells them to do. After being in Egypt for 400 years, they had complained to Moses about God bringing them into the desert to kill them. Most of the people were dead set against God as leader, and Lord, captivity will do that to you. You are looking back at the time, and looking at what you do not have now. What God was offering them was a direct communication with Him alone, they could come, talk, learn, listen to His teaching and what and when He wanted to do something, there for man to look at and approach. The Tabernacle was not God’s home, but a dwelling place for God so man could have a place to go and to find out about God, to listen to Him, A place to get to know Him, where else could he go to find out. But Israel was not interested in following God. They saw the miracles that God was performing, but at every turn, they wanted to go back to what they knew, not what God was wanting them to wrap their hearts and minds around, freedom to worship Him, have their own land, be able to earn money for themselves. Freedom to govern themselves, they would be able to worship God for what He had done for them. God finally said enough, this generation shall not see the promise land. They will stay here, live and die in the wilderness. From the time Israel left Egypt until the Temple was built in Jerusalem, it was another 400 years. The tabernacle was set up and taken down when the priest said to move it.
1. God’s wisdom and His Holiness, and man’s folly not to recognize God by His miracles.
2. The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve, and strips the forest bare, and in His temple everything says, “Glory!” 3. Hear, O peoples, all of you; listen, O earth and all it contains, and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. For behold the Lord is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.  4. In the year of King Uzziahs death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings, with two covered His face, two covered His feet, and with two He flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory”. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of Him who called out, while the temple was filling with the smoke. 5. The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

1. Psalm 29:9 2.  Micah 1:2-3 3.  Isaiah 6:1-4   4. Psalm 11:45  5.

God’s purpose for man.

5. Why do you complain against Him, that He does not give a account of all His doings? In deed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, that He may turn man side from his conduct. and keep a man from pride; He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into Sheol. 6. There is a appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven. I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked man,” for every deed is there. I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts”. 7. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, when a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. 8. This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. 9. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those called according to His purpose, for whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He glorified. 10. For though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls. 11. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this purpose I raised you up,to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”

5. Job 33:13,18 6. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 17-18, 7. Ecclesiastes 8:6 8. Isaiah 14:26, 9. Romans 8:28-29. 10. Romans 9:11, 11. Romans 9:17

God rewards and helps those who love and trust Him and His work. The Temple is a place of learning, healing, and restoration.
1. Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to offer sacrifice of fools, for they do not know they are doing evil. 2. A voice of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of the Lord who is rendering recompense to His enemies. 3. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. (v13) The Lord also thundered in the heavens, the Most High uttered His voice, hail stones and coals of fire. 4. And He (Jesus)entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking all around, He departed for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late. (The next day) And they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 5. And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were crying out in the temple saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David, they became indignant, and said to Him, “Do you hear what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, “Yes, have you never read, out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for thyself?” And when He had come into the temple , the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 6. But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, “How has this man become so learned, having never been educated?” Jesus therefore answered them and said, “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me. If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the one who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” 7. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not in this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all,having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, He took the blood of the calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “this is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but in heaven itself, now appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year after year with blood not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once the consummation of all the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after that the judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins for many, shall appear second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. 8. Who appears and exalts himself above every so called god or object of worship that He takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 9. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for the benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1.Ecclesiastes 5:1 2. Isaiah 66:6 3. Psalm 8:6,14 4. Mark 11:11, 16,17 5. Matthew 14:14,15,23 6. John 7:14 7. Hebrews 9:11-28 8. II Thessalonians 2:4 9.Colossians 1:25-27

God’s Purpose of Faith.

1. Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds. 2. So the land quakes and writhes, for the purposes of the Lord against Babylon stand, to make Babylon a desolation without inhabitants. 3. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exorted them all, that with purpose of the heart they would cleave unto the Lord. KJV 4. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. 5. Paul said, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places, this is in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence access through faith in Him. 6. Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but is now revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immorality to light through the gospel. 7. Paul said, “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me! 8. Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning, the Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
The religious leaders were not looking for Christ to come in and tell them what to do and how to do it. They did not want anybody usurping their authority. Christ had the authority. The religious leaders instead of looking at His miracles, of healing, restoration of lives, and looking into the OT and seeing what the Messiah was going to be like, Jesus was an encroachment into their authority and leadership. He was drawing all of the attention away from them and the religious leaders would not let that happen and diminish in any way their dominion in any way.
1. Jeremiah 6:20 2. Jeremiah 26:3 3. Jeremiah 51:29 4. Acts 11:23 5.Ephesians 1:11 6. Ephesians 3:9-12 7. II Timothy 1:9 8. II Timothy 3:10-11 9.I John 7-8

Can we say that the church in this day and age is like the temple for the Jewish people. It is a place of worship, giving, learning, prayer, instruction in righteousness. We take communion and celebrate the work of the cross and our forgiveness of our sins, though our faith in Jesus Christ.

God’s Holy Temple not made of mans hands coming down to believers in Christ.

1. Then say to him (Josiah) :thus says the Lord of hosts, behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the Temple of the Lord. 2. Daniel 5:3-6 Then the king Belshazzar, brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. Then the king’s face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; and his hip joints went slack, and his knees began knocking together.
He died, they praised it because of Gold and silver god. The king of Babylon was using what God had made holy, this king thought they had little value but the gold content. They learned that even the unknowing people are to have respect for the holy things God has made for serving in His holy temple. The king knew where these utensils had come from, yet he had no respect for them. But God still had His eyes on what belonged to Him and used in His temple for His purpose
3. Men were bearing false witness. one said, “This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.” (Christ was talking of His body as the temple) 4. And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His Spirit.” Just as Christ yielded His Spirit back to God, our Spirit goes back to God until the time of the second coming, when Christ returns in the air to gather all those that have believed in Jesus Christ. Then our Spirit, God will put back into our new body that cannot be corrupted or go into decay any more, because we have been changed in the twinkling of an eye. We shall be rewarded for our faith in Christ, and be with Him for all eternity. 5. We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. Christ body became the Temple of God on earth. 6. And he (Simeon) came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God , and said “Now Lord,thou dost let thy bond servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the gentiles, and the glory of Israel.” (Deity of Christ). 7. But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 8. Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “you both know Me and know where I am from, and I have not come of myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him; because I am from Him and He sent me. 9. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 10. I am He who bears witness of myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of me. And so they were saying to Him, where is your father? Jesus answered, you know neither Me, nor My Father: If you knew Me, you would know My Father also. These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one sized Him, because His hour had not yet come. 12. Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: Therefore glorify God in your body. I Corinthians 6:19-22 Or do you not know that your body a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you. 13. Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you,and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. II Corinthian 6:16 The Temple is just a building of stone. Jesus is the Temple of the Church. It is His whole body, mind, soul that He gave for man kind. It is this that makes believers different than any other person on earth. They have read or heard of Jesus and what He has down for them, and what He will do for them in the future in eternal life. It is the laying down of self. Just as Christ prayed to God, not my will, but your will be done.
People need to remember that, not my will, but God’s will. Give up always of trying to strive for more and more, but seek Christ humility, Jesus said He did not come to be served, but to serve. Were are we today, do we have the attitude of serving today. Serving or ourselves, serving ourselves does not count. Without saying anything to anybody, if you see somebody struggling with a load or a problem, go up and pick up part of that load to help, When you’re done, leave. Christ says do not blow your own horn. If you have a kind word for somebody, tell them, if someone has a great smile, tell them. Try greeting another person on the street with a smile and a nod of the head or a simple hello., do not seek recognition for a little help, you will be amazed and the thanks you will receive for the help. Authority, the temple rulers thought they had authority over everything, and here is an outsider, that was a man born of a woman, doing all these miracles, and they did not recognize God in the flesh because of their greed of control.

1. Zechariah 6:12 2. Daniel 5:3-6 3. Matthew24:61 4. Matthew 27:20-51 5. Luke 13:58 6. Luke 27:27-32 7. John 2:21 8. John 14:28-29 9. John 8:2 10. John 18:18-20 12. I Corinthians 3:16-17 13. II Corinthians 6:16

The next time Christ came to Jerusalem He cast out all those that were buying and selling in the temple. Christ would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. Christ said that this is a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a robbers den.

Life after death, Christ and God as light and temple

1. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens, but fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into the holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into the dwelling of God in the Spirit. 2. He who overcomes, I will make Him a pillar in the temple of My God, and He will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 3. And the temple of God which is in heaven opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. 4. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. 5. And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, go pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. 6. And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying “it is done,” 7. And I saw no temple in it(the new city), for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. They are dwelling with there own chosen people that has accepted Christ as Savior, to live with and dwell with for all eternity.
1. Ephesians 2:19-22 2. Revelation 3:12 3. Revelation 11:19 4. Revelation 15:8 5. Revelation 16:1 6. Revelation 16:17 7. Revelation 21:22

The purpose of God is for man to see His holiness, love, His Spirit that He sent to us through Christ, and then Jesus Christ to pay for our sin on the cross, that on that day, the resurrection, He became the Temple of God and the mystery is, that Christ, for those who believe in Him, He lives in us, guides us, protects us, and through Jesus, we become holy, righteous and clean, because of Christ.
What God has purposed, it will never fail, but come to pass in His good time. Whatever He has said will not fail to happen. Whatever the ebb and flows of mans life are, His purpose never changes. Nations have come and gone over the millennial, His word is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. His purpose is the same as the beginning of time. Man, God wants man to come to Him to get to know God and man to learn from Him. It is man to recognize that only man is sinful, but God is holy and righteous, that is the difference between man and God.