Temple of God

[nebula]

According to one end time theory, the next big event is the building of this new temple. My concern is, what if we are waiting for the wrong thing? What if the temple that Jesus is talking about is not this new temple building that we are waiting for them to build? If He meant spiritual temple, how would this apply? How could this abomination happen in a spiritual temple?

I tkae Jesus' words to mean more along the lines of "be on guard for" then to "set up a vigil for" connotation.

But as far as the spiritual temple is concerned, there is so much corruption among the body of Christ, so many who serve both God and Mammon, so many who chase after the things of this world, so many who do so many unloving things (don't we all?) -

How would you determine what this abomination is above all other abominations that are rampant withing the Body of Christ (Christians/the Church)?

[e lansing]

I tkae Jesus' words to mean more along the lines of "be on guard for" then to "set up a vigil for" connotation.

i suppose that if the words "those who have ears to hear, hear whts the Spirit is saying" were not in there i would not be wondering what He meant.

But as far as the spiritual temple is concerned, there is so much corruption among the body of Christ, so many who serve both God and Mammon, so many who chase after the things of this world, so many who do so many unloving things (don't we all?) -

Right!

How would you determine what this abomination is above all other abominations that are rampant withing the Body of Christ (Christians/the Church)?

Right! For a few years now i have wonderd anout some things. This has caused me to go back and study the Word and to rethink a lot of the doctrines i have been taught. And to a certain degree there is flat out deception happening. I look at the body of Christ and it seems to be weaker then ever! We seem to understand a lot from the Word and yet all this knowledge has not materiallized into a powerful body of Christ. We tend to be so divided over samll things. So i jounery on to get my questions answerd so i wont be decieved and led astrey by lies. As far as this post, i just want to know the truth of this matt 24:15. It could have a duel meeting but does it? And if it does what is it?

[e lansing]

Jesus said to "watch" for the abomination that causes desolationwas referrence to Daniel 9:24

It said that this abomination would happen in the holy place.

This holy place is it man made or not?

In the future the temple will be built and this temple will be built by man as all temples or churches are built by man. The Jews will rebuild on the temple mount a temple that will have the holy of holies and the holy place with in it. This temple built by the Jews own hands will be desecrated by the anti-christ and within this temple the anti-christ will enter into the holy place and desecrate this temple by offering up a sacrifice which is the abomination in the sight of the Lord as it causes "desolation" which means something use to be on a certain site which came to ruin this was the temple during the time of Christ which that temple took the people 42 years to build and if you will remember in scripture where Jesus said, that in three days the temple would be destroyed and then will be rebuilt in three days as the veil of the would be rent from top to bottom but Jesus was speaking of his death, burial, and resurrection that would take 3 days. It was told to Jesus that it took 42 years to build the temple and you say, that you are going to tear it down and rebuild in 3 days for they laughed at what Jesus spoke about. For it is this "DESOLATION" of the temple that the Jews will rebuild on the ruined temple mount that we are to "WATCH" for it is this temple that will be "DESECRATED" by the anti-christ as he seems to openly make a great mockery of the creator of the universe as he desecrates the Holy Place. For Jerusalem has a special place in the heart of God but it would take a very long time to share this but Jerusalem was the place where he chose to put his name. Jerusalem also has a place in the future that God wants to bring about. But again this is what we are to watch for in the rebuilt temple by the Jews.

Does god live in temples that man made today?

The god" within your question should be a capital God as the little "g" is used in reference to pagan gods who are not God. I believe that the Spirit of God does live in temples or churches today even though they have been built by the hands of men. Now that does not take away from the fact in 2 Corinthians that our bodies are the temple of the Lord which is true. I believe that the presence of God does abide in temples as some say, and churches that others say, but the presence of God is everywhere when we gather together to worship in spirit and truth and hear the word of God. But I also acknowlege the fact that not all churches come together for the right motives and are not dedicated to the cause of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit has chosen not to dwell among these kind of people when they gather together to worship but only in vain do they worship God.

God has never "lived" in a Temple. And btw, ALL of the temples that have existed in the Land of Israel were "man-made." When the Bible claims that God does not live temples made by man, the point being made is that he is not like the gods of the pagans who were said to live in those temples. It was a statement made to show that the God of the Bible was far greater than any of the pagan gods. The pagans had no point of reference for an all-powerful God who was omnipresent (everywhere at once).

I do not know of any scripture reference that backs up your statement that "God has never "lived" in a Temple." For the Word depicts just the opposite for God did abide in temple made by man such as the tent of meeting the tabernacle or temple God instructed Moses to build. For God "did" live within the tent of meeting. It is recorded that the Spirit of God filled the temple even Moses himself when he came out of the temple had to put a veil over his face so the people couldn't see as the glory of God would fade from his face. Then you have the temple at Shiloh that seem to have up and down times whether they wanted to serve God or not. The sons of Eli were priest in the temple who did wickedly in the sight of God and they took from the offerings whatever they wanted and slept with the women who come to the temple, The Spirit left the temple and God judged the house of Eli as he did not discipline his sons and let the evil continue. But the Spirit of God did return to the temple at Shiloh as there heart did turn back to God though it took years. The temple of Zurubabel the Spirit of God filled that temple when it had been dedicated with his divine presence and glory. The temple of David that Solomon built had been destoyed and at the rebuilding of the temple that followed at the dedication of the temple the old people were there weeping as they "remembered" the first temple that Solomon had built in all of it's splender and the glory how God did dwell at the temple of Solomon. And as the older generation were there weeping as they had actually worshiped and experienced the greatness and glory of the former temple. The younger people who were there rejoicing at the dedication of the temple as they were rejoicing because they never had the knowledge of the former temple they were not born yet during that time so you had the older ones weeping in what they once had in the temple Solomon and you had the younger ones rejoicing because temple worship was the will of God and they would for the first time be able to experience worshipping in the temple.

You say, that all the temples that had been built in the land of Israel were "man-made" Do you really think that the Spirit of God cannot dwell in a man-made temple just because the heathen or pagans dwell in temples? Then you say, that the spirit of the pagan gods fills their temples, How could that be? when idol gods are "DEAD" they have no life whatsoever and again. How can a temple be filled with the life of a "DEAD IDOL god"that can't see, nor hear, or is able to speak? I'm reminded of Elijah and the prophets of Baal how he challenged their idol gods to see if they were true or not and the Baal worshippers lost. The prophets of baal ended up cutting themselves in flustration to the point of bleeding but their dead god did not win any of the events that Elijah put forth. But the God of Elijah showed himself "Alive to Elijah" It may have been said, that the gods of the pagans were in the temples that they had been built. But God did not want to be compared to those "man-made" temples that the pagans had built for themselves to worship their idol gods in. Temple worship was the plan in the OT and still is today for God dwells within our hearts as we worship God in Spirit and in truth. The Spirit of God as I said, dwells in temples today as our bodies are the house where the Spirit of the Lord abides within. There should never be any comparison from temple worship to pagan worship never.

God is omni-present being everywhere at once but the pagans gods can be no-where at once for they are dead.

God, is omnipresent, and so cannot be confined to a single location. He cannot be contained in a temple.

Yes, God is omni-present, You say, at the end of your statement, That God cannot be contained in a temple. What about the temple of the Lord our body the house of God? Who are we to say where God wants his Spirit to dwell at it is his Spirit he can give it and he can take it away? With that question if God can give his Spirit to a person or group of people within a certain measure (I do not know what that measure is) of the Spirit then God has confined his Spirit as God gave it to them. Then if the Lord decides he wants to withdraw from people then no longer is the portion of the Spirit confined for it is taken away.

Even though God is omnipresent and is everywhere at one time but mankind is not everywhere at the sametime. Only one needs to read the history of the Israelites how God brought them out of bondage. Then in Exodus God gave to Moses the plans to build the temple or tent of tabernacle. God dwelt in the holy of holies behind the veil in the ark of God.

For it was God who came down and tabernacled among us for he did confine hiself and yet was everywhere at once. Sure the pagans had temple worship to their idol gods who couldn't see, hear or speak. But in the temple of the Lord that he directed Moses to build. It was in that temple that the only one and true living God came to dwell among his people. A God who did see, hear and speak for he was not dead but alive.

God can abide anywhere he chooses for he lives within the hearts of the believers contained in their hearts but then he is everywhere at the same time. For our body is the temple of the Lord and even though we are the temple of the Lord he still dwells beyond us.

Right! However, when we read in the old testiment when Gods people would commit the worship of other gods this was useually the reason why God would bring judgement to His people. Why? well God is Holy and at that time the temple was holy and because it was holy, it was an abomination to God when his people would worship other gods in His temple.

Yes, I agree with you for the prophet Ezekiel confirms this in how the worship of idol gods was going on in the temple and they were warned to turn from idol worship back to the worship of God to were the temple would be cleansed.

Ezekiel 3:16-27--(the warning)

Ezekiel 8:1-18--(tells of the worship of idols going on in the temple of God, also shows that judgement was going to come because of this.)

Ezekiel 9:1-11--(vs 1--God called men to come forth with their weapons with them. vs. 2--Six men came out and had their slaughter weapons with them. Among those six men one of the men had a ink-horn by his side. vs. 2-4--And this man went in the temple at the brazen alter and the cherub went over to the threshold and God spoke to the man with the ink-horn and told him to go throughout the city of Jerusalem and to set a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh, and cry because of the abominations that was done in the midst of them. So the man went forth setting a mark on those who mourned over the abomination going on. vs. 5-6-- The Lord told the other 5 men to follow the man with the ink-horn and to smite or kill everyone that didn't have a mark on their forehead and to spare no-one who did not have the mark young or old, maids, little children, women, and the Lord told them to start at his sanctuary. And at the temple they started at the "ancient men" which was before the house--Ezekiel 8:-11-12 )

Today we are in a new covenet with God through Jesus. therefore, i ask the question, what constitutes holy to God today?

Yes, and I thank God because the NT is based on better promises (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6.) Peter told us that we are holy when he quotes (Leviticus 11:44,) which says, "Be holy, because "I" am holy"

(1 Peter 1:16) The "I" refers to God Himself. Be ye holy because God is holy. Being holy to God is to compare our holiness with the holiness of God and seperate from the wickedness in the world by not participating in it as God is our example and this is to be "holy to God". For the Lord has seperated Himself from wickedness and it is said be ye holy for I am holy just as God is set apart from sin and wickedness we also are to seperate ourselves to the work in the service of God. This is what constitutes holy to God today. For it is the blood of Christ that has set us apart from the world unto Himself and unto his divine purpose to be living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1-3).

"holy" means set apart to God's service. Think of Moses back in (Exodus 3:5) When God told Moses to take off his sandals because where he was a standing at was "holy ground" and this was all out in a field surrounding a burning bush.

If he no longer dwells in temples made by man, why shuold we be looking for a new temple made by man if God no longer dwells in temples made by man? How could a building be holy if the people who build it have rejected Christ?

As I mentioned earlier that we are not looking for a new temple that is man-made what we are told is to "Watch" when the temple is being desecrated by the anti-christ this is what we are to be doing and we are not to be looking for a new temple that's man-made Nevertheless a temple will be rebuilt on the temple mount as it will have the holy of holiess with in it and also the holy place will be inside of it. It was in the holy place where we were made righteous a place were the people came in order to draw nigh to God behind the veil inside of the holy of holies. For it was Christ who made away for us to draw nigh to him.

Just because a people builds a temple to God it does not mean that God's Spirit dwells with that people. Even in the temple of Solomon was holy to God (seperated to God or dedicated) but when idol worship came in the temple the Lord said no-more and judgment came upon the people all except those who had the mark.

It is clear that there will be a temple built but just because it is man-made it absolutely does not mean God dwells there nor does it mean that God has no feelings toward what the people has done nor does it mean that he has no feeling toward the holy place where the blood of Jesus Christ made us the righteousness of God so we could draw near to God behind the veil. When you think of what the anti-christ is doing when he desecrates this temple in that he is sacrificing an offering in order to get people to accept his nature and thus draw near unto him instead of Christ. When this happens the Lord will no longer have longsuffering and mercy will be gone judgement will come. So it is not that the Lord is entering into the man-made temple but he will no longer let the wickedness of the anti-christ go on making a mockery of the sacrifice that was made by the blood of Jesus.

There is nothing that you wrote i disagree with. And yor closeing statement clears up a little more for me. Do think that Matthew 24:15 has a duel meaning to it? Or is what Jesus said to be taken at face value? or does this only apply to the Jewish nation?

[nebula]

i suppose that if the words "those who have ears to hear, hear whts the Spirit is saying" were not in there i would not be wondering what He meant.

So that you understand, I am not against seeking and exploring.

But when it comes to prophecies yet to be fulfilled, I have learned to hold on to intepretations loosely. Just read the books from the 1970's on the matter and see how sorely outdated those interpetations are.

For that matter - everything changed interpretation-wise when Israel became a nation once again.

Who knows how events of the next decade will re-shape our understanding of Scirpture (if the End does not come by then)?

In 70AD, the Christians in Jerusalem knew to flee Jerusalem before it's destruction based on these words of Jesus.

Many Christians even today believe that was the fulfillment of the prophecy. Yet many believe it was a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.

But it is interesting that Jesus said these words to "those living in Jerusalem."

[e lansing]

But when it comes to prophecies yet to be fulfilled, I have learned to hold on to intepretations loosely. Just read the books from the 1970's on the matter and see how sorely outdated those interpetations are.

this reminds me of Hal lindsy "88 reasons why Jesus will return in 1988" He would have been stoned back in Jesus time for such a lie.

Many Christians even today believe that was the fulfillment of the prophecy. Yet many believe it was a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.

the reason that teaching is wrong is that Paul still refferenced a temple after the last one was destroyed.

But it is interesting that Jesus said these words to "those living in Jerusalem."

right! so how are we to take it?

[e lansing]

But when it comes to prophecies yet to be fulfilled, I have learned to hold on to intepretations loosely. Just read the books from the 1970's on the matter and see how sorely outdated those interpetations are.

this reminds me of Hal lindsy "88 reasons why Jesus will return in 1988" He would have been stoned back in Jesus time for such a lie.

Many Christians even today believe that was the fulfillment of the prophecy. Yet many believe it was a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.

the reason that teaching is wrong is that Paul still refferenced a temple after the last one was destroyed.

But it is interesting that Jesus said these words to "those living in Jerusalem."

right! so how are we to take it?

[Openly Curious]

I am curious what exactly do you mean when you say, "search the grounds "with my spirit" for the presence of the Lord, to "feel" "IF" it is there strongly?

Have you ever felt the presence of the Lord?

I kow He is everywhere, but there are times and places where there is a much stronger sense of His presence.

If you ever encountered that, you might know what I mean. Otherwise, you probably won't.

Thanks nebula for your reply, I can kind of see what you mean since you have explained. And yes, I have felt the presence of the Lord as I am Spirit filled. I agree with you that there are times and places where the Spirit of God comes upon us in a strong manner and sometimes in a urgent manner. And yes, nebula I have encountered the things spoken by you and understand your reply.

[Rick-Parker]

Parker do you have an answer to these questions, what constititutes holy in Gods eyes and does God live in temples made by man or not?

Holy means the pure, loving nature of God, separate from evil. aggressively seeking to universalize itself: that this character inheres in places, times and institutions intimately associated with worship; and that it is to characterize human beings who have entered into personal relations with God.

To be holy means to be separate from evil. Therefore, we need to separate ourselves from evil, by not associating with evil, being found in a situation where one could get the idea of being evil. That doesn't mean to not have any friends that are not Christians, for even Jesus spent time with the social and religious outcasts of His day. When we associate with those people our behavior needs to demonstrate that we are different from the people or the evil things surrounding us at that given moment.

The holiness of God is directly related to His righteousness, God alone is to be worshiped. He alone is separate from evil, but He tells us to be holy like Him.

God is everywhere, He cannot be confined to any single place. So the answer to your question is that no, He does not live in temples made by man but His Spirit can occupy His Temple, as He did when He came down to the Temple built by Solomon.

So why don't you quit playing and give us the answer that you have already conceived in your own mind. Grown people shouldn't play games with Christian topics. It's really irritating!

Peace to you.

Parker i think you take your self to serious lightin up bra! I may not communicate they way you like but i give it the best i can. If you think you know the answer to the questions i ask, why answer them with questions? Just answer them. It appears to me that you are now playing games

I did answer your question just a few posts up. The abomination of desolation does not occur within the body, but is an actual event which ocurrs within the temple made of rock, brick and mortar. I cannot be any clearer, nor do I believe for one minute that you believe that the event happens within the human soul. You, to me, think you are fooling people about your "lack of knowledge" on this subject so I will leave it at that. If I am wrong, so be it. Be blessed.

[Rick-Parker]

Jesus said to "watch" for the abomination that causes desolationwas referrence to Daniel 9:24

It said that this abomination would happen in the holy place.

This holy place is it man made or not?

In the future the temple will be built and this temple will be built by man as all temples or churches are built by man. The Jews will rebuild on the temple mount a temple that will have the holy of holies and the holy place with in it. This temple built by the Jews own hands will be desecrated by the anti-christ and within this temple the anti-christ will enter into the holy place and desecrate this temple by offering up a sacrifice which is the abomination in the sight of the Lord as it causes "desolation" which means something use to be on a certain site which came to ruin this was the temple during the time of Christ which that temple took the people 46 years to build and if you will remember in scripture where Jesus said, that in three days the temple would be destroyed and then will be rebuilt in three days as the veil of the would be rent from top to bottom but Jesus was speaking of his death, burial, and resurrection that would take 3 days. It was told to Jesus that it took 46 years to build the temple and you say, that you are going to tear it down and rebuild in 3 days for they laughed at what Jesus spoke about. For it is this "DESOLATION" of the temple that the Jews will rebuild on the ruined temple mount that we are to "WATCH" for it is this temple that will be "DESECRATED" by the anti-christ as he seems to openly make a great mockery of the creator of the universe as he desecrates the Holy Place. For Jerusalem has a special place in the heart of God but it would take a very long time to share this but Jerusalem was the place where he chose to put his name. Jerusalem also has a place in the future that God wants to bring about. But again this is what we are to watch for in the rebuilt temple by the Jews.

Does god live in temples that man made today?

The god" within your question should be a capital God as the little "g" is used in reference to pagan gods who are not God. I believe that the Spirit of God does live in temples or churches today even though they have been built by the hands of men. Now that does not take away from the fact in 2 Corinthians that our bodies are the temple of the Lord which is true. I believe that the presence of God does abide in temples as some say, and churches that others say, but the presence of God is everywhere when we gather together to worship in spirit and truth and hear the word of God. But I also acknowlege the fact that not all churches come together for the right motives and are not dedicated to the cause of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit has chosen not to dwell among these kind of people when they gather together to worship but only in vain do they worship God.

God has never "lived" in a Temple. And btw, ALL of the temples that have existed in the Land of Israel were "man-made." When the Bible claims that God does not live temples made by man, the point being made is that he is not like the gods of the pagans who were said to live in those temples. It was a statement made to show that the God of the Bible was far greater than any of the pagan gods. The pagans had no point of reference for an all-powerful God who was omnipresent (everywhere at once).

I do not know of any scripture reference that backs up your statement that "God has never "lived" in a Temple." For the Word depicts just the opposite for God did abide in temple made by man such as the tent of meeting the tabernacle or temple God instructed Moses to build. For God "did" live within the tent of meeting. It is recorded that the Spirit of God filled the temple even Moses himself when he came out of the temple had to put a veil over his face so the people couldn't see as the glory of God would fade from his face. Then you have the temple at Shiloh that seem to have up and down times whether they wanted to serve God or not. The sons of Eli were priest in the temple who did wickedly in the sight of God and they took from the offerings whatever they wanted and slept with the women who come to the temple, The Spirit left the temple and God judged the house of Eli as he did not discipline his sons and let the evil continue. But the Spirit of God did return to the temple at Shiloh as there heart did turn back to God though it took years. The temple of Zurubabel the Spirit of God filled that temple when it had been dedicated with his divine presence and glory. The temple of David that Solomon built had been destoyed and at the rebuilding of the temple that followed at the dedication of the temple the old people were there weeping as they "remembered" the first temple that Solomon had built in all of it's splender and the glory how God did dwell at the temple of Solomon. And as the older generation were there weeping as they had actually worshiped and experienced the greatness and glory of the former temple. The younger people who were there rejoicing at the dedication of the temple as they were rejoicing because they never had the knowledge of the former temple they were not born yet during that time so you had the older ones weeping in what they once had in the temple Solomon and you had the younger ones rejoicing because temple worship was the will of God and they would for the first time be able to experience worshipping in the temple.

You say, that all the temples that had been built in the land of Israel were "man-made" Do you really think that the Spirit of God cannot dwell in a man-made temple just because the heathen or pagans dwell in temples? Then you say, that the spirit of the pagan gods fills their temples, How could that be? when idol gods are "DEAD" they have no life whatsoever and again. How can a temple be filled with the life of a "DEAD IDOL god"that can't see, nor hear, or is able to speak? I'm reminded of Elijah and the prophets of Baal how he challenged their idol gods to see if they were true or not and the Baal worshippers lost. The prophets of baal ended up cutting themselves in flustration to the point of bleeding but their dead god did not win any of the events that Elijah put forth. But the God of Elijah showed himself "Alive to Elijah" It may have been said, that the gods of the pagans were in the temples that they had been built. But God did not want to be compared to those "man-made" temples that the pagans had built for themselves to worship their idol gods in. Temple worship was the plan in the OT and still is today for God dwells within our hearts as we worship God in Spirit and in truth. The Spirit of God as I said, dwells in temples today as our bodies are the house where the Spirit of the Lord abides within. There should never be any comparison from temple worship to pagan worship never.

God is omni-present being everywhere at once but the pagans gods can be no-where at once for they are dead.

God, is omnipresent, and so cannot be confined to a single location. He cannot be contained in a temple.

Yes, God is omni-present, You say, at the end of your statement, That God cannot be contained in a temple. What about the temple of the Lord our body the house of God? Who are we to say where God wants his Spirit to dwell at it is his Spirit he can give it and he can take it away? With that question if God can give his Spirit to a person or group of people within a certain measure (I do not know what that measure is) of the Spirit then God has confined his Spirit as God gave it to them. Then if the Lord decides he wants to withdraw from people then no longer is the portion of the Spirit confined for it is taken away.

Even though God is omnipresent and is everywhere at one time but mankind is not everywhere at the sametime. Only one needs to read the history of the Israelites how God brought them out of bondage. Then in Exodus God gave to Moses the plans to build the temple or tent of tabernacle. God dwelt in the holy of holies behind the veil in the ark of God.

For it was God who came down and tabernacled among us for he did confine hiself and yet was everywhere at once. Sure the pagans had temple worship to their idol gods who couldn't see, hear or speak. But in the temple of the Lord that he directed Moses to build. It was in that temple that the only one and true living God came to dwell among his people. A God who did see, hear and speak for he was not dead but alive.

God can abide anywhere he chooses for he lives within the hearts of the believers contained in their hearts but then he is everywhere at the same time. For our body is the temple of the Lord and even though we are the temple of the Lord he still dwells beyond us.

Right! However, when we read in the old testiment when Gods people would commit the worship of other gods this was useually the reason why God would bring judgement to His people. Why? well God is Holy and at that time the temple was holy and because it was holy, it was an abomination to God when his people would worship other gods in His temple.

Yes, I agree with you for the prophet Ezekiel confirms this in how the worship of idol gods was going on in the temple and they were warned to turn from idol worship back to the worship of God to were the temple would be cleansed.

Ezekiel 3:16-27--(the warning)

Ezekiel 8:1-18--(tells of the worship of idols going on in the temple of God, also shows that judgement was going to come because of this.)

Ezekiel 9:1-11--(vs 1--God called men to come forth with their weapons with them. vs. 2--Six men came out and had their slaughter weapons with them. Among those six men one of the men had a ink-horn by his side. vs. 2-4--And this man went in the temple at the brazen alter and the cherub went over to the threshold and God spoke to the man with the ink-horn and told him to go throughout the city of Jerusalem and to set a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh, and cry because of the abominations that was done in the midst of them. So the man went forth setting a mark on those who mourned over the abomination going on. vs. 5-6-- The Lord told the other 5 men to follow the man with the ink-horn and to smite or kill everyone that didn't have a mark on their forehead and to spare no-one who did not have the mark young or old, maids, little children, women, and the Lord told them to start at his sanctuary. And at the temple they started at the "ancient men" which was before the house--Ezekiel 8:-11-12 )

Today we are in a new covenet with God through Jesus. therefore, i ask the question, what constitutes holy to God today?

Yes, and I thank God because the NT is based on better promises (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6.) Peter told us that we are holy when he quotes (Leviticus 11:44,) which says, "Be holy, because "I" am holy"

(1 Peter 1:16) The "I" refers to God Himself. Be ye holy because God is holy. Being holy to God is to compare our holiness with the holiness of God and seperate from the wickedness in the world by not participating in it as God is our example and this is to be "holy to God". For the Lord has seperated Himself from wickedness and it is said be ye holy for I am holy just as God is set apart from sin and wickedness we also are to seperate ourselves to the work in the service of God. This is what constitutes holy to God today. For it is the blood of Christ that has set us apart from the world unto Himself and unto his divine purpose to be living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1-3).

"holy" means set apart to God's service. Think of Moses back in (Exodus 3:5) When God told Moses to take off his sandals because where he was a standing at was "holy ground" and this was all out in a field surrounding a burning bush.

If he no longer dwells in temples made by man, why shuold we be looking for a new temple made by man if God no longer dwells in temples made by man? How could a building be holy if the people who build it have rejected Christ?

As I mentioned earlier that we are not looking for a new temple that is man-made what we are told is to "Watch" when the temple is being desecrated by the anti-christ this is what we are to be doing and we are not to be looking for a new temple that's man-made Nevertheless a temple will be rebuilt on the temple mount as it will have the holy of holiess with in it and also the holy place will be inside of it. It was in the holy place where we were made righteous a place were the people came in order to draw nigh to God behind the veil inside of the holy of holies. For it was Christ who made away for us to draw nigh to him.

Just because a people builds a temple to God it does not mean that God's Spirit dwells with that people. Even in the temple of Solomon was holy to God (seperated to God or dedicated) but when idol worship came in the temple the Lord said no-more and judgment came upon the people all except those who had the mark.

It is clear that there will be a temple built but just because it is man-made it absolutely does not mean God dwells there nor does it mean that God has no feelings toward what the people has done nor does it mean that he has no feeling toward the holy place where the blood of Jesus Christ made us the righteousness of God so we could draw near to God behind the veil. When you think of what the anti-christ is doing when he desecrates this temple in that he is sacrificing an offering in order to get people to accept his nature and thus draw near unto him instead of Christ. When this happens the Lord will no longer have longsuffering and mercy will be gone judgement will come. So it is not that the Lord is entering into the man-made temple but he will no longer let the wickedness of the anti-christ go on making a mockery of the sacrifice that was made by the blood of Jesus.

Great, great post!!

[Openly Curious]

'e lansing' date='Jan 23 2010,

there is nothing that you wrote i disagree with. And yor closeing statement clears up a little more for me. Do you think that Matthew 24:15 has a dual meaning to it? Or is what Jesus said to be taken at face value? Or does this only apply to the Jewish nation?

Hey, Well I personally don't believe that Matthew 24 holds any dual meaning and any fulfillment. However Matthew 24 does hold components or parts that are being related to the destruction of Jerusalem. In the scripture you mentioned in Matthew 24:15,16 I will add verse # 16 also. These verses tells us whenever we see standing in the holy place the "abomination that causes desolation," spoken of through the prophet Daniel then "LET" the reader understand and "THEN" let those who are in Judae flee to the mountains.

There are also parts that relate "to the end of the world. You can see this in Matthew 24:21-23 that tells us that "there will be a great distress, that will be unequaled from the beginning of the world up until now" and that the great distress will never at anytime be equaled again. Then it goes on to say, If those days hadn't been cut short, that no-one would survive but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Scripture says, At that time if anybody says, to us "Look, here is the Christ!" or, There he is "DO NOT BELIEVE IT"

The parts in Matthew 24 seperate as well as distinct. Everything Jesus foretold was all dealing with the destruction of Jerusalem which has already been fulfilled. Jesus "also" foretold about the end of the world also be fulfilled. You could say, it another way like, it is that the abomination that causes desolation is not going to stand in the holy place a "second" time (Praise the Lord). They is another point that relates to Matthew 24:37 where Jesus told us, that in the days of Noah so it would be at the coming of the "Son of man"

Now if you was to ask if there was a dual meaning or fulfillment. Then we have to look for another flood to come upon the earth well we know that isn't ever going to happen again. A fulfillment of a prophecy has to meet the requirements that has been foretold in the scripture. For if there is anything that doesn't match up perfectly to the prophecy then it has to be disregarded as being fulfilled.

As for me personally I do not agree with the dual arguments that are out there as I've tried to explain.