Why Measure the Temple?

I want to write about Revelations, but the material is so vast I never know where to start. I asked Paul to begin a dialogue with me; he will ask a question about Revelation and I will try to respond. This is a rewrite of a Dusty Disciple article from July 2009. Hopefully, time has added to the original understanding.

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. (Rev 11:1-2)

QUESTION: Why is John told to measure the temple of God and why is the Court of the Gentiles excluded from this measurement?

DISCUSSION: Before the question posed can be answered, a more basic question must be addressed. Will a third temple be constructed before the return of Jesus Christ? Not only is the answer important in responding to the original question, the answer can give us some insight into the signs that will precede the return of Jesus. If the answer is “yes,” then we can fix the return of Jesus with relative certainty once construction of the temple begins. After we have answered the basic question about the temple, we can answer the original question about the significance of John’s call to measure the temple of God.

A FUTURE TEMPLE: A number of passages in the Bible suggest that a future temple will be constructed. When Paul warned of the coming antichrist, he wrote, “the man of lawlessness…the son of destruction, 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,” (2 Thess 2:3-4). The words of Paul indicate a temple that is required for the man of lawlessness to fulfill the prophecies written about him. Daniel has a similar prophecy that implies the existence of a temple.

“the prince who is to come…will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering,” (Dan 9:26-27).

Sacrifice by itself does not require a temple. After Israel returned from Babylon, Ezra and the priests offered sacrifices on the altar (Ezra 3:3-4), for approximately twenty years before the second temple was completed. From the days of David, sacrifice on the Temple Mount was always associated with the Tabernacle, the Temple, or during the days when the Temple was being constructed as in the days of Solomon and Ezra. Further, with very few exceptions (Elijah), sacrifice and offering can only occur on the Temple Mount. Therefore, if sacrifice and offering are permitted in the prophecy of Daniel, then the Jewish people have access to the Temple Mount. If they have access and control of the Temple Mount to offer sacrifices, a temple will be constructed to fulfill the commandments of the Law given through Moses.

The Book of Ezekiel dedicates five chapters (40-44) to the description of a future temple that has never been constructed. The description was given by God to provide hope for the Jewish people who were about to go into exile for seventy years. If this prophecy is to be fulfilled, sometime in the future the temple described by Ezekiel will be built. The one who is prophesized to build the temple is the Messiah, also referred to in scripture as “the Branch.”

“Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'” (Zech 6:12-13)

“The Branch” is a title of the Messiah who is referred to in scripture as “a righteous Branch sprout(ing) from David's line” (Jer 33:15), “a Branch (that) will bear fruit” (Isa 11:1), and “a shoot…from the stump of Jesse,” (Isa 11:1).

Construction of the third temple will be one of the signs given to demonstrate that an individual is the Messiah. For this reason, the man of lawlessness will not only be compelled to construct the temple, but will use its construction to foster his Messianic claim. To further demonstrate that he is the Messiah, John tells us that he performs “great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heave in the full view of men,” (Rev 13:13). Fire from heaven is the quintessential sign from God who sent fire down from heaven at the dedication of the first temple and the offering of Elijah. The LORD also rained down fire in judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah and in the future will cause fire to come down from heaven and devour the enemies of God, (Rev 20:9).

Jesus warned of a future time when the man of lawlessness would take up residence in the temple.

“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), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.” (Matt 24:15-16)

The phrase “Abomination of Desolation” originates in the Book of Daniel who wrote, “Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation,” (Dan 11:31). This prophecy received partial fulfillment in the days of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-135BC), a ruler of the Seleucid Empire who, “profaned the temple in Jerusalem and dedicated it to Olympian Zeus,” (2 Maccabees 6:2). Antiochus prohibited the keeping of the Sabbath, celebration of the traditional feasts, and even the acknowledgment that a person was a Jew. In addition, he gave himself the name “Ephiphanes,” which means “God Manifest.” The desecration of Antiochus IV Epiphanes lasted approximately 3-1/2 years until his death in 163 BC.

Jesus refers to this history, “let the reader understand,” as a pattern of what will be repeated in the future by the coming antichrist. Like the man of Daniel’s prophecy, John tells us that the beast (the man of lawlessness, the antichrist) will open…

“his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” (Rev 13:6-8).

The duration of the beast’s authority will be approximately 3-1/2 years (1,290 days, Dan 12:11), from the middle of the seven year covenant to the end of the seven years, (Dan 9:27). Thus, the Gentiles “will trample on the holy city for 42 months,” (Rev 11:2).

In the days of Jesus, Herod the Great became a pattern of the antichrist. In order to win the favor of the Jewish people and solidify his clam as king of the Jews, Herod upgraded the second temple complex into one of the great wonders of the ancient world. He spared neither marble nor gold as his workman decorated the temple. He is reported to have hung a solid gold grapevine with three-inch thick branches from the front of the temple that was subsequently enlarged by wealthy donors. The rabbis referred to this object as the "true vine." Some scholars speculate that Jesus was at this location when he made the proclamation, "I am the true vine," (John 15:1).

Certainly the weight of scripture, including the words of Jesus, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Paul, indicate the existence of a future temple. Now we can return to the original question, “Why is John told to measure the temple of God and why is the court of the Gentiles excluded from this measurement?”

JOHN’S CALL TO MEASURE THE TEMPLE

In the Book of Revelations, we are told that John is given a measuring rod like a stick and instructed to "Go and measure the temple of GOD and the altar, and count the worshipers there." (Rev 11:1). This passage seems to pronounce the existence of the temple, but it is interesting to note that no measurements are recorded by John. The dimensionless measuring by John is contrasted with a story later in Revelations where an angel used a rod to measure Jerusalem and reported its length, width, and height to be 1200 stadia, (Rev 21:16).

Since no measurements are given, the reader must conclude that the act of measuring is the important principle being conveyed. Measuring is sometimes used in scripture to foreshadow the coming judgment of God, such as in the case of Daniel to Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting,” (Dan 5:27). (Other examples include: 2 Kings 21:12-14 and Isaiah 34:11.) However, since the temple is referred to as “the temple of God” and the altar and worshipers are included, it seems unlikely that destruction is being foretold. In scripture, measuring is also used to foreshadow the future movement of God to take possession of what belongs to Him.

The prophet Zechariah recorded the following vision given to him by God, “Then I looked up — and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! I asked, ‘Where are you going?’ He answered me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.’" (Zech 2:1-2). As in the eleventh chapter of Revelations, no subsequent dimensions are given by the angel to Zechariah. The action is symbolic. Zechariah continues,

“Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him and said to him: ‘Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’” (Zech 2:3-5)

The words of Zechariah look forward to the time when the nation of Israel will be placed in the land to dwell with the LORD forever. Further, “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem,” (Zech 2:11-12). The measuring seen by Zechariah is a picture of the LORD taking Jerusalem and Judah to be His own possession. The measuring seen by John may constitute the initial portion of the larger measuring seen by Zechariah.

In scripture, the Temple Mount is a unique and special place to God. According to Hebrew tradition, before a temple ever existed, God placed His name at this location, (Deut 12:5-7). From this passage and several similar, the Hebrews held to a belief that the LORD literally carved His Name into the ground surrounding the Temple Mount. They point to the convergence of the Kidron Valley (east of the temple mount), Tyropean Valley (west of the temple mount), and Hinnom Valley (west of the upper city), which form the Jewish letter “Shin,” ש . Shin is the first letter of the word “Shaddai” (El Shaddai – God Almighty) and “Shem” (HaShem – His Name). So whether or not a temple currently exists in this location, the LORD has, from the time of creation, put His mark, and therefore, His claim on this property. As the LORD told Ezekiel during his discourse on the future temple,

"Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever.” (Ezek 43:7)

The importance of this location is reinforced by the numerous miraculous events that transpire between heaven and earth at this very place. According to the Bible…

• Abraham offered Isaac at the commandment of God on Mount Moriah at the location where the temple was ultimately constructed.
• Jacob saw his vision of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending at this location. He called the place “Bethel” (House of God) and said that it was the “gate of heaven.” (Gen 28:17)
• At the instruction of the LORD, David built an altar on this location.
• The Spirit of God was poured out on this location when the first temple was dedicated by Solomon.
• The Spirit of God was seen leaving this location and ascending east of the temple (Mount of Olives) by Ezekiel.
• Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives just east of the temple.
• The Holy Spirit descended onto the temple and then was given to each and every believer.
• In the future, Jesus will return to stand on the Mount of Olives according to Zechariah.

GOD RECLAIMING HIS OWN POSSESSION

It should come as no surprise that Satan, the great enemy of God, desires to control this place that has God’s Name written upon it. The antichrist will use the same approach when he requires people to write his name on their hand or forehead, (Rev 13:16).

Measuring is the symbolic act of God reclaiming His own possession, whether the temple exists in John’s vision or is under construction. God is also coming to take possession of true believers, as John was told to “count the worshippers,” before the coming rapture, (Rev 11:12). In this context, measuring the “temple of God,” could also be an allusion to the greater body of believers referred to by Paul as, “the temple of the living God,” (2 Cor 6:16). The altar may refer to deceased believers since John “saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained,” (Rev 6:9).

The rest of the world, “the outer court,…has been given to the Gentiles,” (Rev 11:2). John is told to “Exclude” (NIV) and “Leave out (NAS), but the Greek is more emphatic, “Cast out” the outer court, the same Greek used in “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman,” (Gal 4:30). While a Court of the Gentiles existed for God Fearers during the second temple to fulfill the words of scripture (Mar 11:17), it was not part of the original design given from God. The larger context implies that the majority of Gentiles are not worshiping the true God since “they (Gentiles) will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” This irreverence includes the greater area of Jerusalem that is “figuratively called Sodom and Egypt,” (Rev 11:8). Therefore, the area and the people that are not part of God’s possession are not included in John’s measuring and will be rejected.

Along with Jerusalem, the world’s wickedness will merit the judgments of the two witnesses who, “strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want,” (Rev 11:6). After the death of the two witnesses, the LORD will hand the holy city over to the Gentiles to be trampled upon for 42 months, “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” (Luke 21:24). This period marks the peak of the antichrist’s power that will be exercised over the last 3-1/2 years of the seven year period. The reign of the antichrist will be brought to an end by the return of Jesus who will reign as king and will take back the possession of Israel for the LORD. Never forget, “Whoever touches you (Zion) touches the apple of his (the LORD’S) eye.” (Zech 2:8).

WHAT WILL CAUSE THE TEMPLE TO BE CONSTRUCTED?

The current political environment in the Middle East currently precludes any peaceful attempt to construct a third temple. No secular Jewish government would even attempt to propose such an idea. In 1996, over one hundred people died during Muslim rioting that resulted from the construction of an additional exist to the Hasmonean Tunnel that runs along the inside of the western wall. Even though the archeologists had taken great care to brace the interior of the tunnel to protect surface structures, Muslims saw this as an attempt to undermine the foundations of their sacred structures. Since that time, most Israeli archeologists are relegated to sifting through the debris from the permitted excavations of Muslims on the temple mount.

Further, no one knows for sure where the temple should be located. There are a number of theories, but any theory would have to be supported by archeological evidence. At least two locations have been proposed south of the Dome of the Rock. If one of these locations could be supported by archeology, it opens up the possibility of two temples on the Temple Mount. In that scenario, the outer court of the Gentiles (Rev 11:2), would be a reference to the area containing the Dome of the Rock. A temple for the Jews and one for the Muslims would be somewhat analogous to the time Elijah built an altar to God adjacent to the altar built by the priests of Baal.

All this talk is mere speculation until some catalyst leads to the building of a third temple. Among many, there are three possible catalysts.

(1) A natural phenomenon such as an earthquake could destroy the Dome of the Rock and reveal foundations from the temple of Ezra or possibly even Solomon. Some believe these foundations still exist and were buried by Herod when he enlarged and elevated the Temple Mount. The evidence of the original temple foundations might offer sufficient proof to some and a sign that inspires others to rebuild the temple even in the face of opposition.

In scripture, earthquakes are often associated with the movements of God: (1) When the LORD descended on Mount Sinai, “His voice shook the earth,” (Heb 12:26), (2) When the LORD left the temple in the vision of Ezekiel, there was a great earthquake in the days of King Uzziah, (Zech 14:5), (3) At the crucifixion there was an earthquake, (Matt 27:54), and (4) An earthquake will accompany the return of the Messiah, (Zech 14:5)(Rev 11:13&19), “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (Heb 12:26)(Hag 2:6).

Earthquakes occur with regularity in this part of the world since the Temple Mount lies just 15 miles west of the great Rift Valley where the Arabian and Africa tectonic plates move against one another. Several great earthquakes have happened along this fault including the great earthquake of 749 CE, which destroyed several Decapolis cities in the region east of Jerusalem. An earthquake hit the temple mount as recently as February 18, 2008, causing minimal damage to structures on the Dome of the Rock.

(2) A world leader could use the existing Dome of the Rock as a launching pad for proclaiming himself as a Messiah to the Jews and the Twelfth Imman to the Arabs (the Muslim world’s version of the Messiah). The increasing financial clout of the Arab nations in the face of a world struggling with a continuing financial crisis increase the potential of an Arab world leader. The Arabs have been looking for centuries for one who could unite all the Arab nations and force fundamental laws on the people.

An Arab leader would be rejected by all orthodox and many religious Jews, but some secular Jews might accept him if they thought peace would follow. If he could establish worldwide peace, he would have the foundation to declare himself to be god. He then could solidify that claim by making the Temple Mount his dwelling place.

(3) The Bible and history would lead the believer to consider some terrible confrontation, possible nuclear, between Israel and their Arab neighbors as the catalyst necessary to construct the temple. Israel will most likely be victorious in this war, possibly the battle prophesized in Ezekiel 38-39. Clearly the hand of the LORD will be seen in the victory of Israel (Ezek 39:7), and the nation will rush to bury the bodies of the dead in seven months in order to cleanse the land, (Ezek 39:12). This cleansing is required to prepare the nation and the people for a return to sacrifice and offering. As in the days of Ezra, construction of the temple will begin once the workers are purified by the offerings at the altar.

Construction of the temple could be one provision in a broader seven-year peace covenant referenced by Daniel, (Dan 9:27). As part of the peace agreement, Israel will burn weapons of war for seven years, (Ezek 39:9). In modern terms, this treaty involves a general disarmament of the world. In reality, only Israel will be disarming while the antichrist is rearming. How could Israel, after seeing the hand of God in victory, seek the trust and assurance of other nations? This is unfathomable, but prophecy would seem to indicate this is the case. Like any previous peace accord in history where Israel put their trust in a foreign power, God will not be pleased and will send two witnesses to prophesize against the nation of Israel, its rulers, and the world at large.

The principle architect of the peace agreement that leads to construction of the temple will have claim to the fulfillment of two major Messianic prophecies. Add a few miracles from the Book of Revelations, like causing fire to come down from heaven (Rev 13:13), and the antichrist will take his seat in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God, (2 Thes 2:4).

Scott

Why the Nation Rejected Jesus as Messiah (Part 3 of 3)

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE CONTINUING REJECTION OF JESUS

The LORD foresaw that the Jewish nation would remain “few in number,” (Deut 28:62), because of their disobedience. Among the nations, Israel

“will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. The LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.” (Deut 28:65-66).

The generations testify to the fulfillment of the LORD’s words. Every time in history when the nation came close to assimilating and melting into the culture of another country, persecution arose and the Jews were driven away. This was all part of God’s plan to keep the nation of Israel, the remnant (Rom 11:5), as a separate and distinct people. Although this was part of God’s plan, believers should acknowledge and reject the Church sponsored persecutions of the Jewish people in history by individuals who professed to be believers in Christ and thought they were offering service to God, (John 16:2).

When believers try to assimilate the Jewish people into the Gentile culture, they put up a roadblock to the individual Jew's acceptance of Jesus as Messiah. Even believers who did not support the persecution of the Jewish people have held to the conviction that a Jew accepting Jesus as the Messiah must leave behind his lifestyle and conform to the lifestyle of a Gentile. Every Jew who accepted Jesus is this manner ceased to be a Jew. From the Jewish perspective, the approach of the Gentile Church has been similar to the Greeks of Alexander the Great who were always attempting to assimilate the Jewish faithful into the Greek culture. Had this assimilation occurred with the Greeks, the plan of God to preserve the nation would have faltered. Just as it was necessary for the nation of Israel to survive until the first coming of Jesus (Gal 4:4), the nation must also survive as part of God's greater plan for the return of Jesus.

For over 1800 years, believers thought it was necessary for every Jew to become a Gentile reasoning, “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile,” (Rom 10:12). Standing alone this statement lends support to the proposition that Gentiles and Jews in Christ should possess uniformity in beliefs and actions. However, this verse is preceded by one that qualifies how a Jewish believer and Gentile believer are equal, “through faith in Jesus Christ” (Rom 10:11).

Paul told the Galatians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Gal 3:28). Does this statement of Paul mandate equality of belief and action among Jew and Gentile who believe in the same Messiah? Certainly, not! For the statement itself contains examples that are known in the physical world to not be equal. Slave is not the equal of free and man is not the same as woman. Equality does not mean uniformity. The Jew and Greek, slave and free, and man and woman are equal only in the aspects of “faith in Christ Jesus,” (Gal 3:26).

Therefore, a Jewish believer who acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah is not obligated to act as a Gentile believer. Only if a slave can act as one who is free and a man can become a woman (Gal 3:26) would a Jew be obligated to act as a Gentile. “Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him,” (1 Cor 7:20-24). And why remain as called, because “the body is not made up of one part, but of many…(whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free),” (1 Cor 12:13-14). God needs witnesses for Jesus everywhere in the world among all peoples, whether they are Jews/Greeks, slaves/free, or men/women. Even God, who is one, chooses to function in three forms, Father, Son, and Spirit, to accomplish His Will in the creation.

The Bible supports a continuing distinction between Jews and Gentiles who profess Jesus as the Messiah. We remember that Gentile believers became known as “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26), but what escapes our notice, Hebrew believers were separately called “Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5), because they maintained the traditions of the patriarchs. Even Paul maintained his heritage as “a Hebrew of Hebrews,” (Phil 3:5). He prayed at the Temple (Acts 22:17), participated in Jewish ritual purification (Acts 21:24), and sought to celebrate the annual feasts when the opportunity permitted, (Acts 20:16). Upon his arrival in Rome before the Jewish leaders, Paul testified, “I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors,” (Acts 28:17). The word “customs” even goes so far as to imply that Paul followed aspects of the Oral Law, the traditions of the fathers, in addition to the written word.

The same freedom which allows the Gentile believer to participate or not, in the things which are considered “Jewish” cannot prohibit the Jewish believer from participating in that which uniquely identifies him with the covenant promises given by God to the Jewish people. How did Gentiles ever conceive that a Jew, who accepted Jesus as Messiah, was mandated to give up the unique nature in which God created and called him? Or as one member of my local church has said, “Spanish believers celebrate Cinco de Mayo and are never required to give up their cultural or their foods. Why are Jews held to a different standard, required to give up all of their festivals, kosher foods, wine, and the Sabbath to become ‘one of us’? My brothers, this should not be.”

THE PROMISED ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS AS MESSIAH

Despite the current rejection of Jesus as Messiah by the Jewish nation, scripture tells of a future time when the nation will turn to and acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. The most familiar passage used by believers comes from John, who twice quotes the prophet Zechariah,

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son”. (Zech 12:10)(John 19:37)(Rev 1:7)

Zechariah goes on to tell us,

“On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives. 13:1 "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” (Zech 12:11-13:1)

Looking on Jesus and mourning all appear to be responses associated with the return of Jesus and the rapture of the Church. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory,” (Matt 24:30).

The events foretold by Zechariah, Matthew, and John appear to culminate in the eleventh chapter of Revelations at the resurrection of the two witnesses, an event witnessed by the people of the earth, (Rev 11:12). Many people were hardened by these events, but some “gave glory to the God of heaven,” (Rev 11:13). The twelfth chapter of Revelations continues with the story of a woman (Israel) who conceives and delivers a child (Jesus), “who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter,” (Rev 12:5). The child is then snatched up to God and to his throne for 1,260 days.

The present time is referred to in scripture as the “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24), which will continue until the full number of Gentiles has come in, (Rom 11:25). The days leading up to the appearing of the Messiah are known in scripture as the “birth pains,” (Matt 24:8). “Therefore Israel will be abandoned until when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace,” (Mic 5:3-5).

“And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’” (Rom 11:26-27). The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob in a single day, (Zech 3:9). “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem,” (Isa 4:3). On that day, even the bells on the horses in Jerusalem will be inscribed with the words, "HOLY TO THE LORD," (Zech 14:20). Thus, every person and everything in Jerusalem will be HOLY, even the horses.

In many ways, the biblical story of Joseph foreshadowed the story of Jesus and his future acceptance by the nation. Sent by the father to check on the welfare of his brothers (Gen 37:13), Joseph was unjustly persecuted and rejected by his brothers. Joseph was sent to a foreign land to prepare a place of salvation for the family of Jacob. When Joseph’s brothers again saw him they did not recognize him, as he was now ruler in Egypt second only to Pharaoh. Joseph maintained no animosity toward his brothers but tested them to see if their hearts were repentant. After his brothers demonstrated that their hearts were repentant, Joseph revealed himself. The suffering of Joseph is seen by many Jews to be a picture of the suffering servant of Isaiah chapter 53. For the believer, the story of Joseph foreshadows the coming days of the return of Jesus.

In the story of Joseph, the nation of Egypt can be seen as Gentiles already receiving blessings through their relationship with Joseph. When Pharaoh hears that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials rejoiced, just as there will be much rejoicing among the Gentiles when the Messiah is revealed and the nation of Israel accepts Him and enters into a relationship with Him. Joseph does not reveal himself to his brothers until he first cleared all the Egyptian attendants from his presence, (Gen 45:1), just as Gentile believers may be removed from the earth at the revealing of Jesus to the people of Israel.

When news reached the Patriarch that Joseph is alive, he is referred to as “Jacob”. Upon hearing the news, the spirit of Jacob is revived as disbelief is turned into faith. He is now called “Israel”, as it is written, “Israel said, ‘I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive” (Gen 45:28). In a similar manner, the nation will be revived at the appearing of Jesus. Paul prophesized of a future time of national revival when, “all Israel will be saved, as it is written ‘The deliver will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob,” (Rom 11:26).

After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers feared that Joseph would retaliate against them for their sins against him. However, Joseph understood the greater plan of God that had delivered him as a slave into Egypt.

"Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." (Gen 50:19-21)

In the same way, believers look toward the forgiveness of the Hebrew people. We pray that the nation will have the heart of Joseph and tell us, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Scott

Why the Nation Rejected Jesus as Messiah (Part 2 of 3)

THE REJECTION OF JESUS AS PART OF GOD’S GREATER PLAN

“Did they (Israel) stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to Gentiles…But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!” (Rom 11:11-12)

"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; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

'THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." 27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.'" (Rom 11:25-27)

Although there are understandable reasons for the rejection of Jesus by the broader Jewish nation, scripture acknowledges the hand of providence in working out the plan of God. According to Paul, it was necessary for the Jewish nation to stumble so that riches might come to the rest of the world. This stumbling was caused by the hardness of men’s hearts, which God permitted as part of his greater plan, (Rom 11:25). We are living in the days of the Gentiles, but a time is coming when the physical nation of Israel will take on a more prominent role in the world after “the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” (Luke 21:24). The branches representing the nation were broken off (Rom 11:17), but this does not preclude the certainty that these branches will be grafted back into the original root “if they do not persist in unbelief” and “how much greater riches will their fullness bring!”

There are some prophesies that remain unfulfilled and cannot be fulfilled apart from the physical nation of Israel, which Ezekiel prophesized to return (Ezek 38-39). Among them are the four unfilled prophecies cited by Maimonides. Jesus will…

• Build the Temple,
• Gather the Exiles,
• Restore the kingship of David by Reigning on the throne of David in Israel, and
• Send forth the word of the LORD from Israel (Restore the commandments of the Torah).

Moses foreshadowed the coming of Jesus and told the people, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers,” (Deut 18:15). As a pattern of the two appearing of Jesus, Moses twice descended off Mount Sinai. The first time he came and delivered the Torah to a rebellious people who were in the mist of making a golden calf. The second time he descended with a new copy of the commandments, a set of instructions on how to build the tabernacle after a pattern he had seen of the heavenly reality, and a reminder from the LORD to “observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you” (Ex 31:14).

Build the Temple: In scripture the Messiah is referred to as “a righteous Branch sprout(ing) from David's line” (Jer 33:15), “a Branch (that) will bear fruit” (Isa 11:1), and “a shoot…from the stump of Jesse“ (Isa 11:1).. The prophecy, "He will be called a Nazarene" (Matt 2:23), is not literally in scripture, but derives from the Hebrew root word for shoot, “natzer.” According to Zechariah, the Messiah, as the Branch, will construct the temple.

“Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'” (Zech 6:12-13)

The temple Jesus will build is the temple described by Ezekiel in chapters 40-44. This temple is implied by the future celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech 14:16) and the keeping of the law which will go forth from Zion, (Isa 2:3).

The statement of Jesus, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19), was of special interest to those who heard because it was seen as a declaration that Jesus was the Messiah, (Matt 26:61). Many believers read the words of John as prohibiting a temple anytime in the future “because the LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple,” (Rev 21:22). However, in this passage John is speaking of the new heavens and the new earth (Rev 21:1), referred to in scripture as “the world to come,” (Heb 2:5). This world will appear after the 1000 year reign of Jesus on the earth.

Gather the Exiles: Shortly before his death, Moses spoke these words to the people of Israel.

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. (Deut 30:1-5)

The gathering of the people back to the land of Israel is one of the great expectations of the Jewish people as reflected in the daily Amidah prayer, “Sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise the ensign to gather our exiles, and gather us from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of his people Israel.” The gathering is also one of the great expectations of scripture.

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 'They will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.'" (Ezek 28:25-26, 11:17, 20:23, 36:24)

'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.' (Jer 29:14)

The concept of gathering is expressed in scripture as a shepherd gathers his lambs.

“For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.’ As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep…I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land,’” (Ezek 34:11-13)

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isa 40:11).

The gathering of the people into the land of Israel remains an everlasting promise from God to the nation, a promise Jesus alluded to when he said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling,” (Matt 23:37). Scripture tells us of a future time when Jesus will “send forth the angels and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven,” (Mark 13:27). As a result of this gathering, “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God,” (Luke 13:29).

Reign on the Throne of David: When the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about the child he said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end,” (Luke 1:32). There are thrones in heaven and there are earthly thrones; David’s throne existed on the earth and the promise of the prophets was for one who would sit on the throne of David forever, as long as this present earth endures. “David…was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne,” (Acts 2:30). There are many prophecies in the Hebrew text relating to the Messiah sitting on the throne of David. Here are just two…

"For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel’" (Jer 33:17-18). And the passage we all learned as children…

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isa 9:6-7)

Send Forth the Word of the LORD from Israel: The days are coming when the people of the world will stream to Israel to hear the word of the LORD spoken by the Messiah sitting on the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah said it best…

"In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isa 2:2-4)(Micah 4:1-2)

Although believers have already received a partial fulfillment, the coming days of Jesus’ earthly reign as king will be the greatest fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah.

“No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Jer 31:34)

“All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.”
(Isa 54:13)

The LORD preserved the Jewish nation as a separate and distinct people to accomplish His plan in the last days. Had the LORD allowed the nation to assimilate with the Gentile world, Israel would have ceased to be a separate and distinct people, (Isa 1:9). From the days of Egypt, every time the nation began to dissolve into another group of people, the LORD brought persecution upon the Jewish nation. The Holocaust may have been the most recent example of a history marked with persecutions and inquisitions against the Jews in foreign lands including England and Spain. Six million Jews died in the Holocaust, one-third of the entire world Jewish population, but out of that lost the physical nation reappeared, a sign that the plan of God is moving toward its conclusion. (to be continued...)

Scott