A Tale of Two Temples
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Life comes in waves. Sometimes leaving us under water. At other times standing on dry ground.
The challenge can come in keeping a clear understanding of ultimate purpose and perspective in the uncertainty.
Kimberly and I had planned a fishing trip off-shore out of Fort Bragg once. But on the morning of the trip, we recieved a call that the trip was canceled because the weather was too rough. So, we found another way to enjoy the ocean that day.
We were sitting looking from a beachside cliff over those too-high-to-fish waves when I notices something I hadn’t seen a moment ago - a fishing boat with more determination than ours! Had I just not noticed it before?
After a moment, that answer came. In the cycle of crest and troff, the ship disappeared and reappeared. Pointing it out to Kimberly, we came to different conclusions as to whether our ships captain made the right decision!
What strikes me about that boat, about seas like that, is that they can’t always see what they are moving towards. They have to have some assistance to bring that ship and crew safely to shore. Now we have GPS and radio that make that technically much easier. Unfortunately, there’s no such easy answer for the sea-sick to make the journey more pleasant.
Today, we will see the disciples marveling at the wrong wonder. Jesus’ answer directs them to a greater temple, and keeps our ships pointed to the right shores.
Pray
1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Temple at the time of the New Testament was a marvelous building. The flat area on which the temple was built was larger than Solomon’s Temple, It had been rebuilt after the Israelites returns form Babylonian captivity. Then, starting in 37 BC a reconstruction project began. This was to be the shortest lived temple building. About 107 years later, Jewish revolts against the Roman Authority would result in the destruction of not only the temple, but of Jerusalem itself.
Jesus hears the disciples express the common Jewish reverence for the temple. The scriptures spoke often of the temple in relation to the time of the end. They would not have been off in current theology to think that if Jesus WAS the Messiah (and they were sure He was) then He would be bringing in this Kingdom of the Messiah here and now - to this temple.
But Jesus gave them a different answer. To Explain, let’s look at
The Two Mountains.
The Two Mountains.
Temple Mount - Prominent point in Jerusalem with the temple.
From the days of Abraham through Jesus’ life and in many end time prophecies, this mountain takes on significance.
It is the the center of the heart of the Promised Land. The spot of God’s connection to man.
The Mount of Olives - a three mile long mountain peak east of Jerusalem. Three distinguishable peaks. The center and tallest one is the Mount of Olives proper.
This mountain plays a much larger role in fulfilling prophecy than it did in history.
Ezekiel speaks of God’s glory departing Jerusalem and resting on the Mount of Olives until the end of the trials. Until the people return to God.
18 And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.” 22 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. 23 And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.
Ezekiel had told how the Glory of The Lord left the temple and went out through the east gate of Jerusalem on His way to the Mount of Olives.
Zechariah seems to speak of the same time...
1 Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.
3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.
But when the people have returned to God and the enemies have been subdued, The Lord Himself will return to the temple, through that same eastern gate.
1 Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
And here are the disciples, sitting with the Messiah, having just left the temple, through the eastern gate of Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives.
I mean, I would be putting the pieces together! “HERE WE GO!!” “It’s happening”
They started out marveling at the glory of this building. And Jesus corrected their focus - This structure is not the Kingdom.
They then recognize that these other things must take place, so they ask when? When will you validate our people?
Potency of the Two Kingdoms.
Potency of the Two Kingdoms.
4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
They were sure they knew what was going to happen. They were certain who was on the right side, and the wrong side.
Jesus had just corrected their focus. He now corrects their priorities. Jesus talks about imposters. About ones who claim to be Jesus. Ya know a word that surprises me? Many. MANY will come claiming to be Jesus! I thought there would be only one Anti-Christ. There is one final, ultimate deceiver. But there shall be MANY who come before. As prophets of sorts. But not of God - against God.
These who come in the spirit of the Anti-Christ certainly represent the Kingdom of this world. They are on the other side! No doubt. This is one of two kingdoms. There are others.
There are only two choices - elegance to God, and rebelion.
Jesus describes the full voice of rebelion. Spiritual, cultural, national, even creation groaning with the tension of rebelion from the sovereign God.
Many will be deceived. -> Don’t be! We hav been given wisdom to know the coming troubles. And the coming deceptions.
Know the Kingdom of heaven - know the Lord. By receiving His offer of salvation. By being in the Bible. By time in prayer. Be fellowship with other believers. When we spend time knowing His Kingdom, we wont be deceived by the imposter.
God’s Kingdom promises life; hope; and love. It’s authority and dominion are as infinite as God.
The kingdom of rebelion promises the same things. But it’s authority and dominion are defined, confined, and temporary.
The kingdom of rebelion will gain even more influence than it has today. It will draw some away, will promise peace but deliver death. Will promise unity and deliver strife. Will promise stability but deliver upheaval. Will promise live and deliver famine.
The kingdom of rebelion will fail in everything it promises. But will be sadly successful in everything it intends. It promise is Heaven without God. It will deliver a Godless world. It will be potent in accomplishing it’s purpose. But It will not be successful in completing it.
God’s Kingdom might at times seem impotent in the face of the powers and principalities of this world. But it’s strength is not built in legislators or courtrooms. It’s power is not derived from consent of the governed or ranks of armies. It’s purpose is to gain ground in the hearts of people - to grow by grassroots evangelism. For it’s seeds to take root and be developed into disciples - sold our followers of Jesus.
The Kingdom of God might seem insufficient at times. It might feel smaller that the need and insufficient for the task. But it’s potency is in delivering all that it promises to those who believe.
It calls us home to it. To God’s presence and purpose in our lives. To His good will made living inside us.
Permanency of Eternal Shores.
Permanency of Eternal Shores.
Jesus took His disciples from the temple to the Mount of Olives for the context of the message Hw was giving. And that message was a call to Be on guard, to tell others about the good news of God’s Kingdom, and to be willing to take part in bringing that good news to every part of the earth. His promise - “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”
That thing they put so much faith in - the temple - would let them down. Their nation and people would let them down. For everything they had given up to follow Jesus - the repayment was trial, betrayal, opposition. But Jesus was calling them, encouraging them through this not to this suffering. The location of the Mount of Olives was to remind them of those Old Testament prophecies about the return of the Messiah, His conquering and giving live. He said this temple will fall, all the things you hope in will set you down, But My word’s will not fail!
This endurance and promise of salvation, oh such an encouragement! Did you read that first part? I need encouragement to hold strong with what’s going on right now! And we’ll all need encouragement for what will come before the end.
That encouragement is this. It is not a call to just try harder, hope better, struggle through more. It’s not a call to earn your spot in Heaven. It is a call to board the Good Ship Spirit and ride on His protection, strength, and guidance.
Are family ties permanent? They should be. But for the hatred of God by the kingdom of rebelion will drive even those relationships apart. I don’t know if christ will return before I die. But if I die or He comes first, He will call us home who love Him and set our hope in Him.
Heaven seems like a distant land sometimes. So far away and impossible to find. But let me tell you, it is only one breath away. Our lives will land on some shore when we die. Either on the shores of Heaven, or a land desolate and despised. For it shall be with God, or without Him.
And for all the infinite choice of today’s life, the most important, the most permanent is choosing God. His Kingdom is not far away, but it’s also alive in the lives of those who love Him and follow Him.
We can know that God’s good will is certain in heaven. But here, there is so much opposed to Him. As we strain towards His presence, Jesus was giving both a real picture of the road ahead for the disciples, and an encouragement in three commands. These He gave them and us so that we can be assured of the certainty of Christ’s ultimate victory, that we can stand firm in the troubled times, and that we can be witnesses to the world of the love and purpose of God - to reveal Himself and restore His relationship with broken people.
Do not be alarmed. v.7
There will be imposters.
Look for the genuine
Be on guard. v.9
There will be a price to pay for following Jesus
But our defense will be to tell about Jesus
Do not be anxious. v. 11
The gospel will spread to all nations
We will provide the Holy Spirit - the indwelling presence of God
Jesus gave a purpose, a perspective, an image of victory. ‘The one who endures to the end will be saved.’
But He did not leave us powerless or defenseless or uninformed about what was to come. Let uf follow Jesus, have confidence in Jesus, and proclaim Jesus. For all these things are but for a brief time, but His love and His Kingdom will last forever.
Pray