The Temple, the Altar and the Worshiper

Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

Summary

A great and significant event is ready to take place in the next few years. It is the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. It comes at special and unique time in history, which is the time of the Lord’s return for His people. But just as the temple in Jerusalem is readied, so God is working on His Gentile church for His final work that will bring the Bride into the Rapture.

Main Points

The Rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem

The News: the Jews are ready to build the third temple

In our recent fellowship, we are told that the Jews are in control of the “Temple Site”

Which site, remains to be seen: [SHOW IMAGE NO. 1]

The first site: the so-called “Temple Mount”

The second site: in the area of the “City of David” which is south of the Temple Mount

The Jews are all ready!

a group of orthodox Jews called “Temple Mount Faithful” have been preparing the materials and furnitures of temple worship for many years.

The

The Prophecy: the temple will be built again in Jerusalem

John saw the rebuilding of a future temple in his visions

Revelation 11:1–2 NASB95

This vision confirms the prophecies concerning the temple and the coming of the Messiah

Daniel 9:27 NASB95

“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Daniel 9.27

The Roman army will destroy the city and the sanctuary after the Messiah is cut-off

But in the end, the remaining last week (7 years) of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks will be established as a covenant between Israel and its surrounding enemies, and paves the way for the short restoration of sacrifice and offering in a (rebuilt) temple

The same person breaks the covenant and manifests the role of the Antichrist (abomination of desolation)

These references indicate a restored/rebuilt temple during the Tribulation period

Daniel 12:11 NASB95

“From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Matthew 24:15 NASB95

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

2 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB95

who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

The Significance of the rebuilding of the Temple

For Israel, it is means the full restoration of their national and biblical identity as a people of God.

For Jewish believers of Israel, it means the coming of the Messiah is very near.

For the Church, it means that God’s dealing with the Gentiles is almost finished!

Romans 11.25-2

Romans 11:25–28 NASB95

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

Measuring the Temple, the Altar, and the Worshipers

The Purpose of Measuring

The “temple”

To determine its place or position

The real issue today is the “exact location” of the temple!

God has determined the exact place of the temple.

To count the number

Hosea 1:9–10 NASB95

And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.” Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.”

Hosea 1.

God has knows the exact number of the true worshipers at that time.

To estimate by a fixed standard

God has determined the geographical boundaries of the Promised, the site for the temple, and the exact position of the temple.

God has determined the

God has determined the moral standard for the temple and the worshipers in it.

God has determined the location of the temple to Solomon

Why the Temple, the Altar and the Worshipers?

These Three represent Israel as a people before God.

The temple signifies the Deity; God dwells in His temple

Symbolisms of the Temple, the Altar and the Worshiper

Symbolisms

The “temple”

the temple signifies the Deity; God dwells in His temple

Note: where there is a temple, there is God

Moses’ tabernacle

Solomon’s temple

Jesus Christ, the Temple of God in the flesh

the Church, the Temple of God in the present dispensation

the third temple, where Christ will sit on His throne to rule in the millennium

Israel stands as God’s habitation among all the nations of the world.

the altar signifies the sacrifice, a requirement for those who want to approach the Deity who dwells in the temple

Hebrews 13:10 NASB95

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

in the O.T. the priests partake of the sacrifices and offering

in the N.T. we feed on Christ in the form of the Word!

The Altar represents the soul of the nation Israel. Israel stands a people of the covenant before God. No covenant, no Israel nation.

the worshipers is the person who draws near to worship

Zechariah 1:14–17 NASB95

So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. “But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.” ‘Therefore thus says the Lord, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.” ’ “Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

Zechariah 1.14-1

Zechariah 2:1–5 NASB95

Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, and said to him, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. ‘For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

Zechariah 2.1-4

The worship represents the very life of Israel. Her national life revolves around the worship of God.

Zephaniah 3:8–11 NASB95

“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal. “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder. “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings. “In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain.

Zephaniah 3.8-11

The Three also represent the Gentile people of God.

The “altar”

The Whole Person - these three things symbolise our personal standing before God, under the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, in order that we may become true worshipers of God.

The “worshiper”

The Measuring of Jerusalem

Measuring the Temple, Altar and the Worshipers

the Temple represents our BODY

These three things symbolise our personal standing before God, under the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, in order that we may become true worshipers of God.

the Altar represents our SOUL

the Worshiper represents our SPIRIT

God’s Measuring Rod

How does God measure our lives? There are 3 measuring rods by which God will measure our lives.

Our own standard of measure

surprisingly, God will measure us by our own works

Matthew 7:1–2 NASB95

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

Mark 4:23–24 NASB95

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.

God uses this measurement to reward or punish in this life

Luke 6:38 NASB95

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

The measure of faith

Romans 12:3 NASB95

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

This measurement determines our reward in heaven

Also called the “measure of the gift” of Christ

Ephesians 4:7 NASB95

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

This is also connected with the measure of service

2 Corinthians 10:12–15 NASB95

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,

The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ

Ephesians 4:13 NASB95

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Jesus is the standard of perfection in eyes of God.

We are not finished until we are “like Christ”

This measurement determines our place with Christ.

We cannot attain to this perfection without the work of Christ Himself.

Ephesians 5:25–27 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5.25-27

Christ continues to work in us today so He can present us to Himself as a glorious church!

Conclusion

John was given the measuring rod!

the measuring rod is in the hand of God’s servants today.

God’s counsel is no longer secret to His people: they are already revealed!

God is measuring us today:

our temple

our altar

our worship

ARE WE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TODAY?

DOES OUR LIFE MEASURE UP TO GOD’S STANDARD?

John was told to “leave out the court outside the temple”...

God does not measure our

The focus of the believers’ life today should be “inside” the temple, not outside.

the court outside characterise our life “in this world”

God is NOT CONCERNED with how well we live in this world.

Our remaining time on earth should be used devotedly to worship and the service of God, not in worldly achievements and ambitions!

Song:

Be It Unto Me According To Your Word

SONG:

I Need You Lord Right Now

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