The purpose of a temple was to serve as a place of:

1. access to the eternal God for worship,
2. communication with our king, and
3. dedication in service of “our” substance that He had put in our charge as stewards.

Which comes first? Not the building, rather a voluntary offering of our substance (Exod. 35:20-29; 1 Chron. 29; Ezra 1; 2 Cor. 8:2-5)

And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. Exodus 35:20-29 (See also 1 Chronicles 29 and Ezra 1)

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:2-5

Note 3 things that are consistent in the many scriptures in reference:

1. Voluntary offering of substance is proxy for your person being offered to God; always preceded the physical structure
2. No taxation, levy or compulsion, but voluntary offerings
3. Judah had always in the Old Testament been at the centre of coordination in the construction of the place of access

little wonder then the statement made by the Lord Jesus in John 4:21 that made clear that something different from physical structures would be the point of access. Beloved of the Lord, our voluntary submission never changed, but the point of access changed—in that Jesus Christ Himself became our point of access (John 2:19-21; John 14:6; Matt. 27:51-53; 1 Tim. 2:5).

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. John 2:19-21

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Matthew 27:51-53

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

We also individually and collectively united with Him also become the point of access (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 5:10)

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:10

We must note particularly the transition from 1 Peter 2:5 to the gift promised in Revelation 3:12 and ultimately the consummate union, becoming an integral part of Our Great Creator as revealed in Revelation 21:22-23. We came out of Him and those who belong to Him will return into Him.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Revelation 3:12

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Revelation 21:22-23

Shalom.


Pastor Afolabi Oladele