The Temple
It is pretty amazing to consider how much of world history revolves around the Temple in Jerusalem. We discussed it this morning in our men's Bible study, as we continued in our study of Luke 21. Jesus used the setting of the widow giving her two mites to teach the disciples a lesson in history. We need to hear what He told them and think about what is happening now.
Jesus told His disciples that the Temple would be destroyed so that not one stone would be left on another. I am quite sure this shocked His followers, because the Temple was the dwelling place of God on earth. They may have been thinking they would sit on thrones to rule with Jesus from the Temple once He led a revolt against Rome. However, the opposite took place. In 70 AD the Temple was completely destroyed by the Roman General Titus. It has never been rebuilt.
This was God's way of showing that the Old Covenant was over, and the New Covenant was about to be instituted in Christ's blood. Less than a week after these remarks Jesus died and rose again. When He arose, the Temple Veil was torn in two pieces from top to bottom to show that God's presence was no longer living in the Holy of Holies. Then, the Temple was destroyed to show the Jewish people the need to accept Christ and His New Covenant. Some of them did believe in Him, but many did not.
However, when the end of the time of the Gentiles comes, all the Jews who are alive will turn to Christ.(Romans 11:25-26) They will rebuild the Temple, but the meaning will be totally different from the previous Temples. All the people will realize the sacrifices of the Old Covenant pointed to Jesus, and the Jewish people should have believed in Him all along. Therefore, the Temple was the center of history for the crucifixion, and it will be the center for the Second Coming of Christ.
Let's keep our eyes on what God is doing in the Holy Land, because therein lies the key to what He is doing in this world to bring about a conclusion to history as we know it.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 27-29.
Jesus told His disciples that the Temple would be destroyed so that not one stone would be left on another. I am quite sure this shocked His followers, because the Temple was the dwelling place of God on earth. They may have been thinking they would sit on thrones to rule with Jesus from the Temple once He led a revolt against Rome. However, the opposite took place. In 70 AD the Temple was completely destroyed by the Roman General Titus. It has never been rebuilt.
This was God's way of showing that the Old Covenant was over, and the New Covenant was about to be instituted in Christ's blood. Less than a week after these remarks Jesus died and rose again. When He arose, the Temple Veil was torn in two pieces from top to bottom to show that God's presence was no longer living in the Holy of Holies. Then, the Temple was destroyed to show the Jewish people the need to accept Christ and His New Covenant. Some of them did believe in Him, but many did not.
However, when the end of the time of the Gentiles comes, all the Jews who are alive will turn to Christ.(Romans 11:25-26) They will rebuild the Temple, but the meaning will be totally different from the previous Temples. All the people will realize the sacrifices of the Old Covenant pointed to Jesus, and the Jewish people should have believed in Him all along. Therefore, the Temple was the center of history for the crucifixion, and it will be the center for the Second Coming of Christ.
Let's keep our eyes on what God is doing in the Holy Land, because therein lies the key to what He is doing in this world to bring about a conclusion to history as we know it.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 27-29.