You will remember that in the book of Acts there was great conflict about the Gentiles being converted. The most Jewy of the Jews desired to make Gentiles into cultural Jews before they could come into the Church. The issue is taken to the Apostles in what is referred to as “The Jerusalem Council.” This is all recorded in Acts 15.
There the Apostles welcome the Gentiles and in doing that James quotes from Amos 9:11-12 where Amos prophesies about the restoration of fallen Israel.
11 “On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom,[c]
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”
Says the Lord who does this thing.
James tells those gathered that the conversion and entering of the Gentiles into the Church is the fulfillment of what Amos was speaking of. James gives the gathered council the Holy Spirit inspired conclusion that this coming in of the Gentiles is that fulfillment of the promise in Amos 9:11-12.
Acts 15:16-18
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.
Now lest we miss the point here what Scripture is teaching is that when the Gentiles came in the Church God fulfilled His promise to restore Israel. There is no future promise left that Israel is going to be restored. The Messiah has come. The nations are streaming in. God’s promise is fulfilled. God has no future promises left for Christless Israel.
The language concerning the “fallen tent of Israel” being rebuilt (Acts 15:16) communicates the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom that was at that time now becoming the Israel of God (the Church). With the ingathering of the Nations (Gentiles) David’s Kingdom has been re-established as promised in the book of Amos. The fulfillment then is anchored in Jesus Christ, the promised descendant of David who has ascended to sit on the celestial throne on the right hand of the Father.
The Christless Jews rejected their Messiah and in rejecting their Messiah they rejected any future claim to some kind of claim to a restored land, and to any future hope of being ruled by a Messiah that they still look for. They rejected all the promises of the Old Covenant because all those promises are anchored in Jesus the Christ. If the Jews will not have Christ, they cannot have any of God’s promises for all of God’s promises are only “yea, and Amen in Christ.” The Christ has come. Israel has been restored. The Davidic Kingdom is present in He who rules an eternal Kingdom.
But it is not only the Davidic Kingdom that is rebuilt from a state of despair so that now the Church is the Israel of God and the inheritor of all the promises of the OT, but it is also the case that because Jesus the Christ has provided the restoration of Israel in building up of the Church there is no longer any need for a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem.
In John 2 Jesus refers to Himself as “The Temple,” that if destroyed will be raised again in three days. (An obvious reference to the resurrection.) Hebrews 8 reinforces the truth any anticipation of a future rebuilt Temple in the land of Christless Israel is utter nonsense.
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 8:1–2
Jesus Christ is the rebuilt Temple and is the Great High Priest who alone can save from sin. As such any demand or requirement that a third temple has to be rebuilt on the site were the Dome of the Rock now sits is blasphemy and treason against Jesus the Christ. To look for and support the rebuilding of a Jewish Temple is a lifting of the middle finger to Christ and His work on the Cross.
Keep in mind that the whole purpose of the Temple was to provide a place for God’s presence and where sacrifice for sin could be made. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus the Christ tabernacled among us, communicating that the Lord Christ was and is the presence of God. Scripture makes it clear that with the sacrifice of Christ there is no necessity for the sacrifices that take place in a temple.
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
What’s more, Scripture further teaches that the body of Christ — the Church — is the Temple with Christ as the cornerstone.
Eph. 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
So, we see from this brief overview that God’s Word does not allow for the errant thinking and eisegesis that comes with Christian Zionism and Dispensationalism. Those movements, while perhaps well intended, are anti-Christ. They are in contradiction to the clear teaching of God’s Word. Scripture focuses us on the Lord Jesus Christ who is the fulfillment of all God’s promises. Scripture teaches us that to look for more fulfilled promises for Christless Israel or to look for a future Temple is to war against God.
In the end, Jews may gather back in Israel, and they may yet build a third temple but all that will be is more stink of blasphemy in the nostrils of God. It will not mean a damn thing in terms of fulfilled prophecy.
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I appreciate your commentary. As a layman I find your columns and others very instructive as I try to grow in my knowledge of the scriptures. I often do topical and word searches to see what I can glean from your past columns. However, based on 1 Peter 2:5,6, I have believed that there would be a third temple but that temple is a spiritual one and each believer is a living stone in it. As the scripture says, Christ is the Cornerstone. Are you saying in your commentary that I have this wrong or did I miss something?
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Don… if you are saying that Christ and His Church are the third temple, you are correct. My main point is that any physical temple built in Jerusalem will never be the Temple of God and as such no Christians should support or look forward to the building of such a Temple.
Thanks for the question and thanks for reading along.
The Blessings of Christ be upon you and your Kin,
Bret