1019. Israel's Temple and Worship

Israel's Temple and Worship

"For thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this House with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts.

"The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts.

"The glory of this latter House shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts" (Hag_2:6-9)

Israel's Temple and Temple worship is to be restored. Haggai speaks thus of the Temple: "And I will fill this House with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, * * The glory of this latter House shall be greater than of the former, * * and in this place will I give peace."

Ezekiel gives, in chapters 40-43, the detailed account of the rebuilding of the Temple.

Zechariah says, "Behold the Man Whose name is The BRANCH: and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the Temple of the Lord; even He shall build the Temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne." So Christ is to have oversight of this Temple building.

Concerning the Temple sacrifices, Jeremiah 33 has this word: "I will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; * * David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually."

Isaiah gives a similar message, "Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My House of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine House shall be called an house of prayer for all people" (Isa_56:7).

Think you that it is incredible that Israel shall offer sacrifices in her new Temple? Her sacrifices in that day instead of looking forward, as in former times, shall look backward, as a memorable testimony of the slain Lamb, and to the shedding of Blood by which they were saved.

The fact that Israel is to enjoy once again her Temple and her kingdom, is no excuse whatsoever for the Church to be trying to fasten upon its people, Jewish rites and Jewish laws.

The Church is a distinct people, a Heavenly people with a government and ordinances peculiar to itself.

In Paul's day there was a determined effort by many Judaistic teachers to bring the Church under bondage to Jewish law, but Paul, in the Holy Ghost, withstood them to their face.

In our day this method seems to have centered in certain quarters in an effort to bring the Church under bondage to the Jewish Sabbath. The Sabbath has never been changed, but it was given to Israel and only to Israel. The Church keeps the first day of the week as a matter of privilege and custom, in honor of the Lord's resurrection. The Jewish Sabbath will be restored with the return of the Lord and the building of the Temple.

"Thus saith the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

"Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the Lord in the Sabbaths and in the new moons" (Eze_46:1, Eze_46:3).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR