What Mr. Armstrong Taught About Yet Another Temple
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But there is still another temple—a fifth temple, and also called the ;House of the Lord”—which is described in the New Testament. This one is more important than all of the previous temples discussed put together. Before examining what the Bible says about it more closely, let’s look at what Mr. Armstrong understood and taught regarding the Church of God and its relationship to the New Testament Temple of God. Here is what he wrote to the Church in 1979. It lays the foundation for the rest of this chapter. (All emphasis, including underlining, is Mr. Armstrong’s.):
I know I have been chosen to carry the true Gospel around the world as a witness before Christ returns. BUT HE ALSO HAS COMMISSIONED ME WITH SOMETHING MORE—and VITALLY—IMPORTANT.
Let me explain. When I was in England a few years ago, some of us were wondering how the temple was to be built in Jerusalem to which Christ shall come at His imminent SECOND COMING in supreme POWER and GLORY. Would the Israelis dare to demolish the Islamic ‘Dome of the Rock’ that now stands on the site of the temple to which Christ came over 1900 years ago? Would they build a new temple on that spot?
But since then God has revealed additional prophecies. Let’s begin in the Book of Haggai. In Ezra 1:1-2, you’ll read of how God influenced King Cyrus to issue a proclamation sending a colony of Jews back to Jerusalem to build the second temple—70 years after the destruction of Solomon’s temple.
The Governor and head of this colony was Zerubbabel, who was sent as the builder of this second temple to which Christ came at His first coming, more than 1900 years ago.
You read of this in Haggai 2 ALL . In reference to the temple, God said through Haggai, ‘For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come [till the treasures of all nations are brought hither (Moffat translation)]: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts’ (Haggai 2:6-9).
Notice! This is a PROPHECY—for the future. The TIME? The present and immediate future.
The theme at the beginning of chapter 1 has been the building of the second temple. Then, in the verses above quoted, it becomes a PROPHECY—no longer a history of Zerubbabel building the temple over 500 years before Jesus came, yet the same temple to which He came at His first coming. But suddenly the HISTORY changes to PROPHECY of our time now, and it speaks of the temple—this ‘latter-house’—having glory far greater than that of Solomon’s temple. Now what temple is it talking about? The one Zerubbabel built was no where near as glorious as Solomon’s temple!
But THIS IS NOW PROPHECY—no longer HISTORY! It is speaking of OUR TIME, late in the 20th century! This ‘latter house’ is the temple to which the GLORIFIED CHRIST shall come at His second coming—soon now, in our lifetime. It is speaking about the temple to which the GLORIFIED Christ shall come in our day!
But this time Christ is not coming as a human, to die and give His life for us! This time He is coming IN SUPREME POWER AND GLORY to RULE ALL NATIONS! He is coming as the all-SPIRITUAL GOD! And He is not coming to a physical people who, 1900 years ago, rejected Him—or to a temple of stone, gold, silver, and wood. You find the temple to which He will come this time described in the NEW Testament:
‘Now therefore ye are…fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household [family] of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto AN HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD’ (Eph. 2:19-21).
Brethren in Christ, WE ARE THAT TEMPLE!”
Co-Worker Letter, July 24, 1979
This is a very plain statement—and final scripture—and it is absolutely filled with meaning. It introduces one of the most astonishing truths in the entire Bible. You will discover that it becomes the path to understanding Revelation 11:1-2. In fact, without it we have no basis for knowing what John was told to measure, and also, you will see, for learning how the measuring would be accomplished.
Now it should be obvious why the instruction to John involved a temple of greater glory than any of the first three described. The period referred to in context by Haggai is obviously the Day of the Lord—when all nations will be shaken!—and the time of the returning Jesus Christ, Who will be coming to the Church, now grow[ing] unto an holy temple in the Lord.”
So, the New Testament Church of God—the same as the biblical Body of Christ—is here described as the ;temple of the Lord,” and it still means the place where God dwells. But are there other New Testament passages that amplify what Mr. Armstrong recognized?
There are several, and they are crucial to understand.
The New Testament Temple
The term ;temple” is used in a host of contexts throughout the New Testament. This word appears literally scores of times through the gospels and epistles of Paul, as well as in various places in the book of Revelation, usually there referring to the Temple of God around God’s throne in the third heaven.
The English word ;temple” generally derives from three separate Greek words that can correctly be translated as ;temple.” These are oikos (oy’ kos): ;a dwelling, by implication a family home, household or temple”—hieron(hee-er-on’): ;a sacred place, that is, the entire precincts of the temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere)”—and naos(nah-os’): ;a feign shrined temple—the central sanctuary itself.”
Let’s examine a few additional verses that remove all doubt about what—who—is the Temple of God today.
John 2:19-21 is the place to start. It offers important proof that the Body of Christ is the same as the Temple of God. As you read, realize that Christ’s words are the Bible interpreting the Bible, and they provide the best introduction to the subject of the New Testament Temple. Note especially the final part: Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building [Herod’s renovation], and will you rear it up in three days? But He spoke of thetemple of His body.”
If you understand that Christ’s ;body” is also His ;temple”—and that the ;temple” is His body”—obviously the same as the term ;Body of Christ”—you cannot get confused. All you must do is take Christ’s words at face value. The Bible has here interpreted itself.
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