17 Salvation and Prophecy
16
The Spiritual Temple of God
1I still need to speak to you concerning the Temple. The wretched men, being deceived, put their trust in a building instead of God who created them. 2They began to worship God in His Temple like the Gentiles worship their gods. 3What did the Lord say when He abolished His Temple?
“’Who has meted out heaven with a span, and the earth with his palm? Have not I?’ says the Lord… ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth My footstool: what kind of house will you build for Me, or what is the place of My rest?’” Based on Isaiah 40:12; 66:1
5You can perceive that their hope is vain. Furthermore the Lord said,
“Behold, they who destroy this temple, even they will again build it up once more.”
Based on an unknown reference
7This prophecy was fulfilled because the Jews went to war against their enemy. But even though they are now no more than servants to Rome, they will return and rebuild the Temple. 8It was revealed that the city of Jerusalem, the Temple, and the people of Israel were to be given up. 9For the Scripture said,
“It will come to pass in the last days, that the Lord will deliver up the sheep of His pasture, and their fold and tower, to destruction.”
Based on an unknown reference
10Since exactly what the Lord had prophesied has come to pass, let us inquire whether or not a Temple of God still exists. 11It does exist, for He Himself declared that He would both make and perfect it. 12It is written,
“It shall come to pass, when the week is being completed, the Temple of God shall be built gloriously in the name of the Lord.”
Based on Daniel 9:24,25; Haggai 2:9
13I find then that there is currently a Temple. Understand how it is built in the name of the Lord. 14Before we believed in God, the habitation of our heart was corrupt and weak, like a temple built by pagan hands; a demonic temple full of idolatry and everything contrary to God. 15How is the Temple built in the name of the Lord and for His glory? 16When we received the remission of sins, and put our trust in the Name [HaShem], we became new creatures in Christ, recreated as it were from the beginning. 17Therefore, God truly dwells in us as a habitation. 18We know this by the word of His faith, the calling of His promise, the wisdom of His righteous judgments, and the commands of His teaching. 19He prophesies in us and He dwells in us. He opened the door to the Temple for us who were in bondage to sin and death. 20We become an incorruptible temple by the voice of wisdom granting us repentance. 21Every saved person who listens to a man inspired by the Holy Spirit takes away something different. These people are truly in the spiritual Temple built up by the Lord.
Commentary
Notice verse 6 shows the Jews were the cause of the destruction of the Temple, and upon their return, they will rebuild it. This indicates Barnabas believed in the Micah 5 prophecy and expected the Jews to return and rebuild their Temple before the Second Coming. The Jews returned to their land in AD 1948, took control of the Temple Mount in AD 1967, and to date the Temple has yet to be rebuilt (See Ancient Prophecies Revealed for full details). The comment that the destruction of the Temple has occurred proves this epistle was written after AD 70.
Christians are the currently the Temple in the truest sense of the word. True believers have always been the true Temple. In the midst of Daniel’s 70th week, the Jews will rebuild the Temple. Then all of Israel will accept the Messiah and the Temple will truly receive God’s glory. After its desecration, the Messiah will return and build the Millennial Temple. In both of these cases the true Temple will still be the true worshipers. For example, the two witnesses of Revelation are believers in the Messiah when other priests may not be. The Lord has always had a people.
Believers have always been
the true Temple
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