Previously it was noted that dispensationalism, that odious theology arising in the mid 1800’s, sought to separate the people of God and hold tenaciously to a land promise for ethnic Israel.
This land promise is essential for this erroneous system because of the idea that Israel should rebuild the temple. YES, rebuild the temple. The very temple Jesus prophesied would be destroyed. The temple that he used in reference to Himself saying he would tear it down and rebuild it in three days.
Christ was making specific application of the purpose of the temple to Himself as the dwelling place of God His Father.
This statement of Christ was quite boldly misunderstood on one level and yet quite clearly understood by the Pharisees of that day and it factored greatly into their charges against Jesus and were principally their grounds for seeking his death.
These misunderstood who Christ is – Son of God. They understood He was claiming that God’s dwelling was in Him. This is precisely where Dispensationalism’s hopeful expectation that the temple be rebuilt leads to all sorts of ridiculous implications and error.
The apostle Paul in Romans 10 and 11 clearly indicates the purpose of the gentile church is to make the unbelieving Jewish nation jealous. Paul quotes Moses. Jealous for what is to be gained in Christ not to follow them in their error of expecting a rebuilt temple.
Rom 10:19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”
The nation without understanding is the gentile nation. The church of Jesus. The elect of God of both Jew and gentile. Read Romans 9 and 11 for more on this.
Along history’s timeline comes 70 AD. The temple is dramatically destroyed. Destroyed just as Jesus said it would be.
Mt 24:1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.
The church has endured enough nonsense under dispensational error. It’s time to be bold about our job of making the Jewish people jealous for Christ.
The temple became the idol of Israel. They clung to it and sacrificed the Son instead.
The Father took it out of the picture for the sake of His Son who alone is the place of God’s dwelling with mankind – Immanuel, God with us. The temple served its purpose and foreshadowed Christ very well. It had to go and will not return.
We (Jews and Gentiles) have Christ.
We who know the true substance (Christ) behind the imagery of the temple ought not to encourage this idea that God is planning to return to the shadows once again. It’s an error to expect it and be hopeful for it’s rebuilding.
Be about making Israel jealous for Christ Alone. Don’t encourage, support and align yourself in the error of taking Israel back to her idol, the temple.
Seeking the temple be rebuilt is the equivalent of improving your marriage through adultery. In Paul’s method of response, May it never be.
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