Creation To New Creation - Temples

Prologue

We talked about “heaven & earth” meaning “sky and land” (not exclusively) in Genesis and through scriptures last week.
Heaven(s), is also used to to refer to God’s transcendent location; the divine space above the sky-dome

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

Creation & Fall (Genesis 1-3)

In Genesis, we see that Eden was a space in which God could dwell with man.

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

Man sinned and was driven out of the garden; out of the presence of God.
Eden, also being an elevated portion of the land (mountain) is presented as a source of a river that broke out into four heads and nourishes the rest of the land outside the garden.

Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. Genesis 2: 10-14

All these (and others which we will examine later) lay the foundation of the theme of God dwelling with man in the temple all through scripture, and God’s ultimate purpose to fill creation with His presence.

The Tabernacle

The theme of God’s presence and communion with man continues through Genesis. God appeared to Abraham multiple times. Jacob, running away from his brother reached a place where he had a dream with seeing a ladder from heaven to earth. God met with Moses on the mountain in the appearance of a burning bush e.t.c.
After the Exodus, the the Israelites’ song describes the promised land as a dwelling place of God.

“You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. Exodus 15:17

As they journeyed through the wilderness, living in portable tents, God asked them to construct a tent (tabernacle), so that He could dwell in their midst. God wanted to inhabit a place with His people.

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8

When God made His covenant with them, He promised to dwell with them

‘Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. ‘I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. Leviticus 26:11-12

The tabernacle was completed, and we see a noteworthy mention of God’s glory filling the tabernacle. This theme will be important for latter discussions.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35

This mention of God’s glory “filling” reminds us of Moses’ encounter on mount Sinai to meet with God

Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. Exodus 24: 15-16

The Temple

After Israel had conquered and settled in the land, we see Solomon taking up the responsibility of building the temple. At the dedication of the temple, we see God take residence there. The temple is also this heaven-earth space, just like the tabernacle.

It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 1 Kings 8:10-11

In other parts of scripture, we also see the temple spoken about as the place of God’s dwelling

Let us go into His dwelling place; Let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Psalm 132: 7-8

The temple was the centre of worship, prayer and sacrifice for the nation of Israel.

Too long, please open your Bible 1 Kings 8: 27-30

Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Isaiah 56:7

Even after the temple was destroyed, people still prayed facing Jerusalem

Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Daniel 6:10

When the temple was going to be destroyed and Israel taken into exile, we are told that God’s glory leaves the temple. in Ezekiel 8-11

Ezekiel 8: Ezekiel is taken in a vision to Jerusalem and shown various abominations being committed in the temple, which are provoking God's anger.
Ezekiel 9: God commands the execution of judgment on the inhabitants of Jerusalem due to their sins.
Ezekiel 10: Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord moving from the cherubim to the threshold of the temple. This signifies the beginning of the departure of God's glory.
Ezekiel 11: The glory of the Lord moves from the threshold of the temple to the east gate of the Lord's house and then finally departs from the city entirely.

After the Babylonian destruction of the temple, there are several scriptures in the Bible that promise the return of God's glory to a rebuilt temple or renewed Jerusalem.

“Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ Zechariah 8:3

Too long, please open your Bible Ezekiel 47: 1-2

Too long, please open your Bible Haggai 2: 6-9

Too long, please open your Bible Ezekiel 37: 26-28

Too long, please open your Bible Isaiah 60:1-3

Too long, please open your Bible Ezekiel 43: 1-5

The prophets also prophesied of God’s glory filling the earth

“For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9

Jesus as the temple

We get introduced to the person of Jesus in John, who was God’s tabernacle, and was full of Glory.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus referred to His own body as a temple

The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 2: 18-21

Jesus also condemned the temple in Jerusalem, and prophesied its destruction (See part 2 of series on faith.
Jesus spoke about being the source of living water (bringing back images of Eden and the vision of Ezekiel, where life-giving water flows out of the temple)

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4: 13-14

Paul says the fullness of God dwelled in Him

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him Colossians 1:19

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form Colossians 2:9

Believers as the temple

Jesus said “out of your belly will flow rivers of water” (bringing back images of Eden and the vision of Ezekiel, where water life-giving water flows out of the temple).

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7: 38-39

Because the Spirit of God lives in believers, they are also called the temple of God. We can also say that since believers will be everywhere across the globe, we have partially realized the prophecy that God’s glory will fill the earth.

Too long, please open your Bible Ephesians 2: 19-22

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3: 19

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2: 4-5

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that 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. 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17

Too long, please open your Bible 2 Corinthians 6: 14-18

The New Heavens & Earth

We see that the new heavens & new earth is the full realization of man & creation’s restoration to the original plan.

Too long, please open your Bible Revelation 21: 1-5, 22-24

Too long, please open your Bible Revelation 22: 1-6