“If you build it, he will come.”

For the second consecutive week, the Eye of Prophecy article begins with another legendary citation, ranked number 39 on the 100 most iconic film quotes designated by the American Film Institute.

Do you recognize the line? What was built and who was it that came when it was built? Do you know the name of the movie?

You are correct if you said: Field of Dreams.

This fantasy drama sports film was released in 1989 starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, and Burt Lancaster in his final role before he died. Nominated for three academy awards, including Best Picture, it is one of my two favorite sports movies. The other is The Natural (Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall).

If you watched the movie, then you remember that Kevin Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella, heard a mysterious voice telling him, “If you build it, he will come.” The plot is then shaped around his efforts to identify the voice and the reason for him to build a baseball diamond near a corn field in Dubuque County Iowa. Sure enough, when the baseball field is finished, Shoeless Joe Jackson and some of his teammates from the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox appear. And so does Ray’s deceased father, John Kinsella, who was a devoted baseball fan.

My own take on the underlying theme of the movie is that of redemption; a mysterious restoration from the “unforgivable sin” of the Chicago Black Sox (as they were dubbed), throwing the 1919 World Series. Shoeless Joe Jackson is allowed to return once again to play the game that he loved so dearly, and in some fashion to atone for his misdeeds. And Ray was able to play catch with his dad, who some say was the voice that spoke to him, although it could have been Shoeless Joe Jackson’s voice. Either way, their pain was eased (another well-known quote in the story).

However, any fictional analogy to real-life historical, present, or future events always has its limitations.

Even the title of today’s article needs some up-front clarification. Which is: Messiah Jesus’s physical return to this earth will take place some seven years after he takes his bride (believers who have received him as personal Savior) to heaven. Known as the Rapture, this miraculous event will occur at the exact time appointed by the Lord. That time has already been determined, and many contemporary signs suggest that it is so very close at hand.

Thus, the Day of the Lord beginning with the Rapture and culminating with the glorious return of Messiah to Jerusalem to usher in the Millennium does NOT depend upon the Jewish Temple being rebuilt. Putting it another way: It is not the building of the Temple that will cause Messiah to return (for that reason). However, the sequence of the Last Day’s events is such that the Temple will, in fact, have been rebuilt before Messiah Jesus returns to the earth. See Eye of Prophecy article recently published on 2-25-17, entitled, End of the World Events … In Chronological Order!

Nonetheless, when the Temple is rebuilt (if you build it), it is a sure thing that Messiah will return to earth (he will come). In that regard, the thematic line in Field of Dreams is a dramatic likeness with melodramatic imagery of what will be the supreme building project of the 21^st century. Which, in turn, will be a catalyst to the greatest event since Messiah Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago as the Lamb of God to ransom many by his atoning sacrifice on the cross—the magnificent return of Messiah as King of all kings.

The Significance of a Rebuilt Temple

As written in a few previous Eye of Prophecy articles, a rebuilt Jewish Temple is a passionate prophetic anticipation of the Jews, second only to their longing for the appearance of Messiah. Religious and secular Jews alike yearn for the restoration of the Temple, although most do not understand its ultimate purpose and significance as set forth in Scripture.

For Orthodox Jews a rebuilt Temple will mean renewal of the long-lost Levitical Sacrificial System which ended with the destruction of the 2^nd Temple in 70 AD. Most Orthodox and Conservative Jews believe that Messiah will not come unless the Temple stands again on Temple Mount. A few believe that God will literally send the Temple down from heaven and Messiah will appear soon afterward. Liberal and secular Jews also desire a temple but more as a symbolic confirmation of Israel’s existing and hoped-for perpetual status as a sovereign country in the global family of nations. A rebuilt Temple will solidify their identity and unity as Jews like nothing else since Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948, then reclaimed Jerusalem as their eternal capital in 1967.

(Image of Rebuilt Temple Superimposed on Temple Mount)

Will the 3^rd Jewish Temple be rebuilt? Yes, absolutely it will. Scripture is abundantly clear on this fact. And animal sacrifices will resume, too. (See Eye of Prophecy articles, A Third Jewish Temple, Part I & II, posted 4-26-14 & 5-3-14).

Why and when will it be rebuilt? These are provocative questions, especially in the context of the Lord allowing not only Solomon’s Temple, but also the 2^nd Temple to be destroyed. However, what is the point of another temple, when the New Covenant of Grace produced a brand new (spiritual) Temple for both Jew and Gentile?

What’s the purpose for resumption of animal sacrifices? When, in historical fact, the Ark of the Covenant with its Holy Seat of Atonement disappeared before or during the first exile of the Jews to Babylon. Then the Temple Curtain separating the inner Holy of Holies from the rest of the (2^nd) Temple was torn in half while Messiah Jesus was dying on the Cross for the sins of the whole world. To this day, non-Messianic Jews are still in denial that the Levitical Sacrificial System ended because the purpose for which it served (a pattern and type) was replaced by the once for all redemptive sacrifice of their Messiah. For that matter, most Jews still deny that Jesus is the Messiah or that Messiah’s (next) appearance will be his return. (See Eye of Prophecy articles, The Cross and the Torn Curtain I & II, published 2-6-16 & 2-13-16).

Today’s article will answer these questions.

Since the New Covenant came into existence with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, the Lord through the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in born-again believers, Jew and Gentile alike. Believers are a spiritual temple; in our heart, mind, and body is the Kingdom of Heaven which will soon become the physical Kingdom of God on earth.

Said the Apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth: “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (I Corinthians 3:16).

This verse emphasizes that the entire body of Christ (composed of born-again believers) is the collective spiritual Temple of God on earth, which replaced the Temple of the Old Covenant.

Then Paul declares that the Temple of God is not only the entire body of Christ (all believers together), but also each Christian is a temple of the Lord. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

Indeed, Christ’s death on the cross was the greatest sacrifice ever made by the highest price ever paid. Not only forgiveness of our sin, pardon of the penalty of that sin, everlasting life in heaven, but also the precious privilege of God (The Holy Spirit) residing in every believer.

God’s Amazing Plan to Live Among and Then In His People

Though our Great God dwells in heaven, long ago he chose to live among his chosen people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This began with the Tabernacle built by the Hebrews under the instruction and supervision of Moses.

However, the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant fell into disuse and misuse as it rested in Shiloh for over 360 years. In part this was due to the constant rise and fall of Israel during the time of the Judges. Near the end of his life, King David embraced a passionate purpose: To construct a more permanent building (like the Tabernacle), but greater in size and more beautiful in its splendor in which God would dwell among his people. Although the Lord approved David’s plan, he told him that it would be David’s son, Solomon, who would build the Temple.

King David and King Solomon were the two greatest kings of Israel’s glory days some 3,000 years ago. Most know Solomon as the wisest man who ever lived even though he made several bad decisions, not the least of which was allowing some of his many wives to set up and worship idols in Israel.

Concerning the Temple, Solomon offered a lengthy prayer of praise and gratitude to the God of Israel; indeed, the God of the Universe. Included are these words:

“…O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness” (II Chronicles 6:1).

We’ll stop here for a moment to remember that when God guided his people through the wilderness, his glory was concealed in a dark cloud by day and column of fire by night. When the Lord spoke directly to Moses and whenever his glorious presence filled the Tabernacle, especially in the Holy of Holies over the Ark of the Covenant, he did so through a dark cloud.

This was absolutely necessary to shield the people, Moses, and the High Priest from the (literal and lethal) brilliant light and glory of God’s presence. Though God is Spirit, his very presence consist of and is surrounded by tangible light and pure spiritual holiness that would be the death of anyone looking directly at the Lord. That is one of the reasons that God the Son came to this earth as a man. Not only to bear our sins as one of us (Son of Man), but also to shield us from God the Father’s awesome glory by temporarily giving up the divine glory that also belonged to Jesus, the Son of God.

We see the same thing happening at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, one of the grandest celebrations of all time as described in II Chronicles 5 and I Kings 8.

Before the planned dedication service could be completed, we read what happened:

“The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: ‘He is good! His faithful love endures forever!’

“At that moment, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God” (II Chronicles 5:13-14).

Continuing with Solomon’s Prayer of Praise:

“Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever! … Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father, ‘From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name…’” (II Chronicles 6:2-5).

We see two powerful precedents being set here: (1) God would now dwell among his people in and through a permanent Temple, not a portable Tabernacle that had already served its purpose during the Hebrews’ journey through the wilderness. (2) God had chosen a special city in Israel to dwell with his people: JERUSALEM. Actually, God’s presence is what made Jerusalem special.

Temple Mount was also the ancient site where God spared Isaac’s life. Only to not spare the life of God’s own Son, Messiah Jesus, some 2,000 years later and nearly 2,000 years ago. But praise and glory to God: To not spare his son meant that we could be saved from an eternity in the Lake of Fire separated from God. ALL we need do is believe and receive Jesus as personal Savior (Romans 10:9-10).

Yet our majestic God created the universe, the heavens, the earth, and all living things. Does he really need a Temple in which to dwell on earth, when the entire earth belongs to him, when the entire expanse of heaven is his home?

Listen to Solomon’s wisdom to understand all this:

“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!” (II Chronicles 6:18).

Then at the close of this splendid prayer of praise:

“And now arise, O Lord God, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation; may your loyal servants rejoice in your goodness” (Verse 41).

Why Did The Lord Choose To Live Among His People?

Many people don’t know or have forgotten (including some Christians) that God actually dwelt on this earth in the form of what is called in Hebrew his “Shekinah” glory. Yes, God was present with his people the Jews, and is now present in his people, both Jew and Gentile, who have been redeemed by the Son of God, Messiah Yeshua.

Why on earth (an expression we often use) would God choose to live on earth? God is God no matter where he dwells. Scripture clearly shows us that God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere and all at once if he chooses to be).

Solomon knew that, which is why he was in awe that the Lord would, “really live on earth among people.”

From direct Biblical passages and from inferred reasoning, I believe that Scripture is abundantly clear: the main purpose (above all) that God chose to dwell among his people is to show us (his creation) that he is a PERSONAL GOD. Then he sent his beloved Son, born as both God and man, to show us that he is a PERSONAL SAVIOR. Then he gave the Holy Spirit as a gift to indwell each believer to be our PERSONAL MENTOR.

In Tabernacle and Temple times only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and only one time a year—Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. Under the New Covenant of salvation through grace apprehended by faith in Christ Jesus, each believer is a spiritual temple indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Triune God. As a result:

“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God” (I Peter 2:5).

With this wonderful position in Christ each born-again believer has the awesome privilege to:

“…boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean…” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Praise God, there are tens of thousands of Jews all over the world who have recognized Jesus as Messiah, who have accepted his once for all redemptive sacrifice.

As the Jewish author of the book of Hebrews writes: “…He (Messiah Jesus) cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy (separated from the world) by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time” (Hebrews 10:9-10, parenthesis mine).

Sadly, there are still millions of Jews and billions of Gentiles who do not believe or do not care that the New Covenant prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah has replaced the Old Covenant of the Law with its incessant sacrifice of animals. If they could only see and accept that:

“The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshippers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4).

I would encourage you to read a trilogy of Eye of Prophecy articles entitled, Where Is The Temple, Part I, II, III, published 11-29, 12-6 & 12-13-14. Here is a brief excerpt from Part III (in italics):

The intriguing question posed in this article and the past two Eye of Prophecy articles relating to the fate of the Jewish Temples is designed as a challenge to explain what happened to them and why. To stimulate reflection about the repercussions of such a devastating time of Jewish history. To investigate the staggering impact on the entire Jewish faith WHEN Solomon’s Temple, then (hundreds of years later) Herod’s Temple, was destroyed. But also Gentile participation in this history pertaining mostly to religious systems that, to varying degrees, were patterned after and around the Mosaic Laws.

To once again come to terms with the rolling Premise of these articles: No Temple, no sacrificial offerings. No sacrifices, no atonement forgiveness of sins. No forgiveness, no redemption. No redemption, no right standing with God.

Once again I will pose the question: Will there be a rebuilt Jewish Temple? And yet again, the answer is: Absolutely it will be rebuilt.

But why? And even more so: Why will the Jewish sacrifices be restored, when Scripture clearly tells us that Messiah Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection was and is a sufficient sacrifice for all time?

In the final Revelation of Jesus Christ that completed the Canon of Scripture, we read about the magnificent New Jerusalem that descends directly from heaven to hover over the earth for all eternity. Included in that amazing description is:

“I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:22-23).

(It’s Quite Difficult to Artistically Depict the New Jerusalem)

Yet only believers in Messiah, both Jew and Gentile, will inhabit the New Jerusalem and not until the end of the Millennium.

(Size of the New Jerusalem If Placed Over the Above Land Mass on Earth, Dimensions are 1,400 miles wide, 1,400 miles long, and 1,400 miles high … Revelation 21:16)

However, (Old) Jerusalem—the eternal capital of Israel and the city most loved by God above all other cities—will remain on this earth. There are numerous Old Testament prophecies and promises to validate this statement. During the Millennium, Christ Jesus will rule and reign from Jerusalem, Israel, and believers will go freely to and from Jerusalem … all the while serving him throughout the earth wherever he stations us.

And on Temple Mount in Jerusalem, there will be another Temple.

What a Temple It Will Be!

Ezekiel Chapters 40-47 provide meticulous detail on that temple, which was not the 2^nd Temple built by Zerubbabel (see books of Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah). One of the differences between Ezekiel’s Temple and the 2^nd Jewish Temple was the size (dimensions).

Another remarkable distinction: from Ezekiel’s Temple flowed a river with many trees growing on both sides of its banks.

With the astounding result that: “…This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows” (Ezekiel 47:8-9).

I’ve been to Israel; unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make it to the Dead Sea. But I’ve read much about it and seen many photographs of people floating on the surface, buoyed up by the tremendous amount of minerals including salt. There’s nothing alive in the Dead Sea. All that will change when Messiah returns.

John, the author of the book of Revelation, confirms that the Temple will have been rebuilt before the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation.

“Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, ‘Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshippers. But do not measure the outer courtyard (Court of Gentiles), for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months” (Revelation 11:1-2, parenthesis mine).

As written in several past Eye of Prophecy articles, Antichrist Nero’s seven year treaty with Israel will lead directly to the rebuilding of the 3^rd Temple soon after the treaty goes into effect. Although Nero will desecrate the Temple near the very end of the Tribulation, the Temple will not be destroyed. Instead, it will be made even better and bigger to fit the size of the Temple as given to Ezekiel. Or it’s possible that the Jews who rebuild the Temple soon after the Rapture will follow precisely Ezekiel’s specifications. Either way, half way through the seven-year treaty Nero will bring a screeching halt to sacrifices (Daniel 9:27).

Nevertheless, Temple services will resume when Messiah triumphantly returns to earth to vanquish Israel’s enemies, including Antichrist and the False Prophet. The offerings will then continue into the Millennium. How do we know this? And once again, why?

Not only from Ezekiel, but also from the prophet Zechariah, we read:

“In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (none other than Jesus the Messiah), and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters” (Zechariah 14:16, parenthesis mine).

All seven of the Jewish Festivals ordained by God required sacrifices, including the Festival of Shelters (Feast of Tabernacles) or Sukkot as it is now called by the Jews. Sukkot will be the one Festival in which representatives from all nations will be required to attend.

Continuing in Zechariah:

“On that day, even the harness bells of the horses will be inscribed with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD. And the cooking pots in the Temple of the Lord will be as sacred as the basins used beside the altar. In fact, every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy (consecrated) to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. All who come to worship will be free to use any of these pots to boil their sacrifices. And on that day there will no longer be traders in the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Zechariah 14:20-21, parenthesis mine).

At the beginning of the marvelous Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus, the Temple will once again be purified … to be what Jesus said (quoting the prophet) it was intended to be from the beginning.

Soon after Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem when he was hailed as the Messiah, the Son of David, we read:

“When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.’ When the leading priests and the teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching” (Mark 11:15-18).

(Depiction of Solomon’s Temple)

This wasn’t the first time that God’s chosen people had defiled their own Temple. Listen to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah concerning the people and Solomon’s Temple:

“Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, ‘We are safe!’—only to go right back to all those evils again? Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 7:8-11).

Read with me one of the many end times prophecies concerning the return of the Jews from exile to the four corners of the earth, which is being fulfilled before our 20^th and 21^st century eyes:

“I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says, I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel” (Isaiah 56:7-8).

What God says will happen, always happens. What he says he will do, he always does. Hundreds of fulfilled Biblical prophecies attest to the indisputable fact that there is one and only one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Yes, Jesus of Nazareth will return as King of all kings.

“On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshipped” (Zechariah 14:8-9).

There is no doubt whatsoever: The Temple will be rebuilt and will once again be filled with God’s glory. But there’s more this time: The Son of God who was the first to be raised from the dead with an everlasting spiritual body will return to rule the nations with truth, justice, righteousness, and peace. And we, who will be given these same wonderful spiritual bodies at the Rapture, will reign with him … as we have been destined to share his inheritance.

Among many other glorious experiences (soon to come):

“In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’

For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear” (Micah 4:1-4).

Summary

The two-day Jewish Festival of Purim begins tomorrow. Jews will celebrate Queen Esther’s bold, but uninvited entrance to King Xerxes’ presence to save her people from genocide. Bold, because Esther didn’t know if the king would accept her or reject her (under penalty of death). For Messianic Jews and Christians the world over, we also honor the story of Esther. And in our remembrance, we can be thankful for another miracle: the miracle of God’s grace that (through redemption in Messiah) grants us unlimited access to the very presence of God.

In fact, the King, God’s Royal Son, has already extended his standing invitation:

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Things to Ponder

If you build it, he will come.

And, if you build it, they will come.

This was an intriguing invitation from a fantasy filled story that even the authors and actors didn’t fully understand what they were saying, or what it meant, or how it would work… not in the context of today’s realty and things to come. Yet, the Bible—the Word of God—tells us so much of what has happened, what will happen, and how and why. Scripture presents God’s remarkable plan of redemption for the human race and the fascinating finish of our salvation including, but not limited to, Messiah’s ultimate victory over evil and death itself.

In summary answer to the questions of why a rebuilt Temple and resumption of offerings:

Solomon’s Temple was built so that God’s glory (his very presence) would be personally with the people. But God’s people couldn’t and wouldn’t keep the Lord’s commandments nor trust in him as their God, the only God. Thus, the Lord abandoned them and withdrew his presence and protection, allowing their enemies to completely conquer them (not once but twice) and exile them throughout the earth. The Lord departed from Solomon’s Temple and his glory did not return to Herod’s Temple. Both of these temples were destroyed.

Thus, the Lord implemented his New Covenant with the Jews, to this time include the Gentiles. The physical temples of stone and wood and the sacrificial offerings were but a pattern, a prelude pointing to something, someone far greater and much better. They gave way to the spiritual temple of the believer’s body, soul, and spirit.

When Christ Jesus returns, he will be forever Immanuel … God with us. As will the Father. But this time the Temple and the Temple offerings will point back as a solemn and also joyful reminder of so great a salvation purchased by the life blood of so great a Savior.

It will be a graphic illustration and meaningful reminder of the timeless sacrifice of the Jewish Messiah for his people, which is the culmination of Israel’s destiny from the beginning—to be a light to the Gentiles.

And while we wait, may we always remember:

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14).

Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!

Everlasting praise to the Lion from the Tribe of Judah