THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD- ESTABLISHED IN JERUSALEM

The temple of the Lord established in Jerusalem

 

Isaiah 2

New International Version (NIV)

The Mountain of the Lord

2 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

² In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.

³ Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple 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.
⁴ He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.

 

 

If we read the above passage honestly, we can see this scripture has never been fulfilled.  Some important point are:

 

1.             When written, it was not “the last days,” as verse 2 prophesies fulfillment will be.

2.             There has never been a time when all nations streamed to the temple of the God of Jacob.

3.             There has never been a time when law for nations went out from Jerusalem.

4.             There has never been a time “yet” when He, the Lord, judged between nations, although Matthew 25 clearly speaks of a time when the Lord does divide nations and Isaiah in the Old Testament speaks of a time “government” will be upon his shoulders. (Matt 25:31, Isaiah 9:6)

 

Isaiah 9:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ 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.

 

 

In addition, the scripture referring to the son of God, who is also one with God, that holy child Jesus whom we as Christians refer to as all of the wonderful names listed in Isaiah 9.

 

This passage (Isaiah 2,) is not about the body of Christ being the temple of the Lord  but about a physical place the Lord will reign from after his return. All nations will come to him for rule. Bible prophecy teaches the Lord will one day rule the earth from his temple in Jerusalem. That's why it will be a physical place.

 

Although the bible teaches that the Lord does not reside in an earthly temple, that is specifically a scripture about believers in Christ being the habitation of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:10 ) The Lord Jesus does not reside inside those who have not accepted him. For him to rule unbelievers from earth, it will be from a physical place that nations approach.

 

Many try to spiritualize every scripture even though scripture itself instructs us it is not for private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20.)  My acceptance of scripture is to take it literally unless analogies, parables and metaphors are obvious.  In my theology I accept a literal interpretation that compares scripture with scripture in context and uses symbolism when obvious.  I believe it to be dangerous to spiritualize everything. Much of this spiritualizing resulted from the many prophecies speaking of Israel as a nation but if you lived before 1948, it was obvious there was no nation.  It came as a surprise to the Christian world when God fulfilled prophecy exactly as spoken when he gathered Israel from the four corners of the earth and Israel became a nation in 1948.  Suddenly everyone realized the prophecies written were literal and not spiritual.

 

If scripture is taken literally, Jesus will rule for 1,000 years from this place (Revelation 20:4-6.)  While many in the body of Christ are divided on this issue, I accept the physical prophecy. Because we have never seen this take place, it is still yet to be fulfilled. It is widely accepted this is a prophecy to be fulfilled after the return of Christ to earth.  The bible says we do not fully understand bible prophecy which explains the many differing opinions. None of us know exactly what the reign of Christ on the earth will look like but we do know the bible states there will be one and it will take place in Jerusalem! Amen!

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%202&version=NIV