The Temple - Part 2
Ephesians 2:21-22 “Habitation”
by Walter Giddings
March 26, 2023
(Hebrews 9:6-8). In our 1st Lesson on The Temple we ended with a question: Is it “manifest” or evident that “the first tabernacle” is not “standing”?
c 6 Now when these things were thus
ordained, the priests went always in-
to the first tabernacle, accomplishing
the service of God.
p 7 But into the second went the high
priest alone once every year, not with-
out blood, which he offered for him-
self, and for the errors of the people:
c 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying,
that the way into the holiest of all
was not yet made manifest, while as
the first tabernacle was yet standing.
Hebrews chapter nine.
Our question: Is it “manifest” that “the first tabernacle” is not “standing”?! Did we answer by showing the destruction of every last Temple was fulfilled in A.D. 70. Our last question is: Is there no New Testament Temple? (Hebrews 9:11). If there is a New Testament Temple, what and where is that building?
11 But Christ being come an high
priest of good things to come, by
a greater and more perfect taber-
nacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building.
Hebrews chapter nine.
“A greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, to say, not of this building.” What is this greater and more complete tabernacle? And how can we say it is “not made with hands”?
(John 2:18-21). Did Jesus, while he tabernacled with the Sons of Adam on earth at His 1st Coming provide the answer to our questions? Jesus, at Passover, in the beginning of His Ministry, found in the temple the sellers of oxen, sheep, and doves and moneychangers sitting. He made a scourge of small cords and drove both men and animals out of the Temple, pouring out the changers’ money, and overthrowing the tables. [stand].
p 18 Then answered the Jews and said
unto him, What sign shewest thou
unto us, seeing that thou doest these
things?
c 19 Jesus answered and said unto
them, Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up.
p 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six
years was this temple in building,
and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
c 21 But he spake of the temple of his
body.
“But he spake of the temple of his body.” Who is the Author of the Gospel of John? This is a trick question!!
Who is the Composer of the Gospel of John? Is it so like our Heavenly Father to involve His children in His Family Business? Was John the Beloved Disciple who reclined upon Jesus’ breast? Do we question John’s closeness as a child of God to God in the flesh? If anyone knew what Jesus spake who could doubt that it was John? “He spake of the temple of his body.” (Next Verse 22).
22 When therefore he was risen from
the dead, his disciples remembered
that he had said this unto them; and
they believed the scripture, and the
word which Jesus had said.
John chapter two.
“His disciples remembered that he had said this unto them” (the Jews). And what result came from their remembrance? “And they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us ... “ (partial quote : John 1:14). Did Peter answer Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Did Martha answer Jesus, “Yea, Lord: I believe thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Do we believe Jesus when he said, “I and my Father are one”? So, with God dwelling with man in the flesh of Abraham, how hard then is it to believe that God dwelt in the Temple of Jesus’ body?
(John 10:17-18). Let the Question be directly asked, When the Revilers destroyed the Body of Jesus, did Jesus “in three days .. raise it up”?
p 17 Therefore doth my Father love
me, because I lay down my life that
I might take it again.
c 18 No man taketh it from me, but I
lay it down of myself. I have power
to lay it down, and I have power to
take it again. This commandment
have I received of my father.
John chapter ten.
“I lay down my life that I might take it again.” To what is Jesus referring with these words? Is this the Greatest Axial Moment in the History of Adam? Is this Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?
All Four Gospels tell us Jesus “yielded up/gave up” “the Ghost/spirit”? Classmates, you recited in unison verse 18! What does the 1st phrase say? “No man taketh it from me”!! What were the consequences of that truth? Did the Revilers who paraded past “The Light of the World” crucified to that beam, and hanged upon the Almond Tree at Calvary, leave at the 6th Hour to prepare The Passover? Did the Revilers destroy the Temple, the body of our LORD? Did they know, or even understand they had been witnesses to The Great Passover and had partaken of sacrificing “The Lamb of God”? Did Jesus pray to The Father to forgive those who knew not what they were doing?
Did Jesus hang upon that Tree in a body that by natural means could no longer house Spirit and Soul, and wait to yield up his Life until the Passover be killed at the 9th hour? What kind of Agony was that? Did He suffer as no man ever suffered?
Was He totally disfigured while hanged on that Almond Tree at Calvary? Was any bone of Him broken? What?!! Nobody’s singing today?!! We should hear a chorus on that last question!!! Was any bone of Him broken?!! Did Jesus suffer every soft tissue injury known to man? Could any one of us hang for 3 hours, our flesh in tatters, revealing all our bones to be counted? [Psalm 22:17].
We saw a picture, from the words of Hebrews 9, of two cloth huts, 2 Tabernacles, within the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. (Hebrews 9:8). The Priests ministered within the first Tabernacle. Only the High Priest went into the Second, the Holy of Holies, once a year. And this act was fraught with potential danger.
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying,
that the way into the holiest of all
was not yet made manifest, while
as the first tabernacle was yet
standing.
Hebrews chapter nine.
“While as the first tabernacle was yet standing.” Where is that first tabernacle? Where is that table of shewbread? Did Jesus say, “I am the bread of life”? Where is that incense altar? Was it used to put a cloud into the Holy of holies to shield man from the face of God? Where is the candlestick? Did it foretell The Passion of Christ hanged upon that almond tree between the 2 Thieves? Is it the perfect picture of the axial point of history, greater than the Great Transgression? (Hebrews 10:19-20). Where is the need now for the 1st tabernacle?
p 19 Having therefore, brethren, bold-
ness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus,
c 20 By a new and living way, which
he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Was that Veil rent in twain? Was Jesus’ flesh also rent? (Verses 21-22).
p 21 And having an high priest over
the house of God,
c 22 Let us draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil con-
science, and our bodies washed with
pure water.
Hebrews chapter ten.
John, the Revelator, tells us in the Gospel of John 2:19, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” At Jesus’ trial before the High Priest these words became the subject matter of a charge against Him. (Matthew 26:61). The chief priests, elders, and all the council present were seeking false witnesses to put Jesus to death. But they found none. Many witnesses came. But they found none. “At the last came two false witnesses,”
61 And said, This fellow said, I am
able to destroy the temple of God,
and to build it in three days.
Matthew chapter twenty six.
(Mark 14:56-59). The Gospel of Mark gives us what the other witness said:
c 56 For many bare false witness
against him, but their witness agreed
not together.
p 57 And there arose certain, and bare
false witness against him, saying,
c 58 We heard him say, I will destroy
this temple that is made with hands,
and within three days I will build an-
other made without hands.
p 59 But neither so did their witness
agree together.
Mark chapter fourteen.
(Matthew 27:39-40). The mockers, ridiculers, revilers, scorners, and taunters that paraded before that almond tree at Calvary (what the candlestick pictured) cast the same in his teeth.
p 39 And they that passed by reviled
him, wagging their heads,
c 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest
the temple, and buildest it in three
days, save thyself. If thou be the Son
of God, come down from the cross.
Matthew chapter twenty seven.
(Mark 15:29-30). The Gospel of Mark gives the second witness:
p 29 And they that passed by railed on
him, wagging their heads, and saying,
Ah, thou that destroyest the temple,
and buildest it in three days,
c 30 Save thyself, and come down from
the cross.
Mark chapter fifteen.
“But he spake of the temple of his body.” (John 2:21). During the Jesus ordained ritual of Communion, do our quickened spirits enter the Holy of Holies “by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” [Hebrews 10]??!
(Exodus 25:21-22). Shall we look to the purpose of what was in The Holy of Holies that Moses made “after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” ?
p 21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat
above upon the ark; and in the ark
thou shalt put the testimony that I
shall give thee.
c 22 And there I will meet with thee,
and I will commune with thee from
above the mercy seat, from between
the two cherubims which are upon
the ark of the testimony, of all things
which I will give thee in command-
ment unto the children of Israel.
Exodus chapter twenty five.
(1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Of all the commentaries on the books of The Bible, commonly called the Old Testament, which one is the Best? Shall we consult the books of The Bible, commonly called the New Testament?
c 16 The cup of blessing which we
bless, is it not the communion of
the blood of Christ? The bread
which we break, is it not the com-
munion of the body of Christ?
p 17 For we being many are one
bread, and one body: for we are
all partakers of that one bread.
First Corinthians chapter ten.
If God sees us as covered “by the blood of Jesus” [Hebrews 10:19] has Christ our High Priest ministered an entrance for us into The Holy of Holies on High? If we have “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,” [Hebrews 10:22], does Our Heavenly Father obtain that which He most desires: intimate fellowship with His Sons and Daughters? Have we finally gained access again to the Tree of Life? (Genesis 3:24).
24 So he drove out the man; and he
placed at the east of the garden of
Eden Cherubims and a flaming sword
which turned every way, to keep the
way of the tree of life.
Genesis chapter three.
The word “keep” is translated from H8104 shamar, shaw-mar’; a primitive root; properly to hedge about .. , that is, guard; generally to protect, .. :- beware, .. preserve, reserve, watch, watchman. Were there 2 Cherubim in the Holy of Holies? Was the Veil of the Holy of Holies facing “east”? Does that give new meaning to the old expression “Go west young man”?
If there is The Temple under the New Covenant, ushered in with the death of the Testator, is the “first tabernacle” no longer standing? Are the Levites no longer entering “the sanctuary” to perform the service of God? Do we have our High Priest Jesus Christ, not after the order of Aaron from the Levites, but rather after the order of Melchizedek? (Hebrews 6:19-20). Are these two verses the fulfillment of the prophecy sworn to by The Great I Am [Psalm 110].
p 19 Which hope we have as an anchor
of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within
the veil;
c 20 Whither the forerunner is for us,
entered, even Jesus, made an high
priest for ever after the order of Mel-
chizedec.
Hebrews chapter six.
“Which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us, entered, even Jesus.”
Is it manifestly apparent that The Holy of Holies on earth is gone with the temples? Is the figure or shadow of The Holy of Holies entirely gone from the
earth? Or is there The Temple under the New Covenant? (Ephesians 2:21-22). Paul in this Epistle identifies “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”:
p 21 In whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto an
holy temple in the Lord:
c 22 In whom ye also are builded to-
gether for an habitation of God
through the Spirit.
Ephesians chapter two.
“An habitation of God through the Spirit.” What does “habitation of God through the Spirit” mean? For those of you following this in your own “Swords” does anyone have in the reference column an alternate translation for “habitation”? Mine has “dwelling place.” Shall we do proof by substitution? Shall we substitute “dwelling place” for “habitation”? Shall we see how it reads? (Verse 22).
22 In whom ye also are builded to-
gether for a dwelling place of God
through the Spirit.
[alternate translation] Ephesians chapter two.
The man after God’s own heart, King David, had a thought occur to him. After he had rest from his enemies and God’s enemies, the thought occurred to him that he lived in a cedar palace, but the ark of God had only a tent. (2 Samuel 7:13). God spoke to Nathan the prophet to tell David that his son would build it:
13 He shall build an house for my
name, and I will stablish the throne
of his kingdom forever.
Second Samuel chapter seven.
Will God build within us a House for His Name? Solomon built that house for God’s Name. (2 Chronicles 6:18). At the dedication of The Temple, the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud. Solomon spoke: “The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.” Before the altar of the LORD the King knelt down and spread forth his hands toward heaven, and prayed. “O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth, which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts.” Solomon put forth this question:
p 18 But will God in very deed dwell
with Adam on the earth? behold,
heaven and the heaven of heavens
cannot contain thee; how much less
this house which I have built!
Second Chronicles chapter six.
Does “God in very deed dwell with Adam on the earth”, under The New Covenant ushered in at the death of the Testator Jesus? Do we remember “habitation” and “dwelling place” in Ephesians 2:22? Why does Paul, in verse 21, call that “an holy temple in the Lord”? Is there really a temple under The New Covenant?
(Colossians 1:27). Is there in truth a temple under The New Covenant?
27 To whom God would make
known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.
Colossians chapter one.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Is Christ really in us? Is God in his holy temple? (Romans 8:10-11). What effect does “Christ in you” have?
p 10 And if Christ be in you, the body
is dead because of sin; but the Spirit
is life because of righteousness.
c 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised
up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies
by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
“If Christ be in you.” “If”! This brings up one of the most terrorizing Scriptures I have ever studied. (Look back to Verse 9).
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in
the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
Romans chapter eight.
“None of his”!! The composer of Hebrews, speaking of falling away after being “made partakers of the Holy Ghost” says, in the Power of the Holy Ghost, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” [Hebrews 6:9].
What does all this mean? Have we found The Temple under The New Covenant? If our living bodies in “the image of the earthy” have become temples wherein the Holy Spirit dwells, does this mean there are miracles under the New Covenant? We have heard the claim that the consumption of swine’s flesh trains us for the taste of the flesh of man, as in Cannibal. Cannibal seems to be a compound word, consisting of Cain and Baal. Does this mean The Holy Spirit, indwelling our mortal bodies, indwells us who resemble pig flesh? That has got to be a miracle!!!
If we wish to “walk before” the Great I Am God of our Fathers with all our heart, as Solomon prayed at the Dedication of the Temple, how should we care for these temples? When you and I came of age did we inherit responsibility for the care of these Temples? If our parents failed to train us completely in caring for this flesh, is it too late now? Do the decisions we make concerning the care of these houses for the indwelling of The Holy Spirit belong to nobody but us, including doctors?!!
Are our decisions final until we repent? Are we feeding our lawful lusts? Or, are we feeding our unlawful Lusts? Who can police what we put into our mouths? How difficult is it for even parents to do that with infants and children? Only God can watch us all the time! And he keeps better records than imitation doctors on earth! Is Jesus the real doctor? Or do we still worship at the wrong altar? Who else but us can truly care for these temples?
Are God’s Commandments burdensome? [Did Brother Garry already pose that question before us?] Who among us has no unlawful Lusts? Is God’s Law the Law of Love: Love God; love your neighbour?
What is the most direct way to show God we love Him for everything He has done for us, for everything He is doing for us, and for everything He will do for us?
Is it all about what we like? Or, is it all about what God likes? Who here, hands up please, already knows the worst thing we do to ourselves? Who among these raised hands is already counting 21 days substituting what will bless us the best in place of, or instead of what has been cursing us the worst? We are not quitting, we are substituting! Does that constitute a complete cycle of repentance? Does substituting a blessing in place of a cursing sound like repentance? Does God promise to bless repentance? Is the God of our Fathers the original Promise Keeper? Is there any more direct way we can show God we love Him? Does taking better care of these temples reduce the burden we inflict upon our families? The Family of families, the Church Body? Do we really want to be the addicts or slaves to anybody or anything other than the Only Righteous Master Jesus Christ? Does enforcing God’s Law start at our house? Could Law Enforcement spread from our households to our immediate neighborhoods, to our communities, to our precincts, to our towns, to our counties?
Is the only choice I can make for you, the choice to take better care of me? Is this The Pandemic the Wicked fear? To be continued, God willing, among ourselves!
Bibliography
Hebrews 9:6-8. “the first tabernacle was yet standing.”
Hebrews 9:11. “not of this building.”
John 2:18-21. “Destroy this temple.”
John 2:22. “they believed the scripture.”
John 10:17-18. “I lay down my life.”
Hebrews 9:8. “the way .. not yet made.”: 19-20. “enter into the holiest.”
Hebrews 10:21-22. “an high priest over the house of God.”
Matthew 26:61. “destroy this temple.”
Mark 14:56-59. “within three days I will build another.”
Matthew 27:39-40. “save thyself.”
Mark 15:29-30. “thou that destroyest the temple.”
Exodus 25:21-22. “there .. I will commune with thee.”
1 Corinthians 10:16-17. “the communion.”
Genesis 3:24. “to keep the way.”
Hebrews 6:19-20. “which entereth into that within the veil.”
Ephesians 2:21-22. “an holy temple in the Lord.”
Verse 22. [proof by substitution : “dwelling place”].
2 Samuel 7:13. “build an house for my name.”
2 Chronicles 6:18. “will God .. dwell with Adam on the earth ?”
Colossians 1:27. “Christ in you.”
Romans 8:10-11. “if Christ be in you.”
Romans 8:9. “none of his.”
[Hebrews 6:9. “persuaded better things of you”].
