Temple Template

Posted in Uncategorized

Temple Template

Temple

The temple represents Jesus Christ’s everlasting Kingdom on earth.

verse by verse through Zechariah chapter 4

By Craig C. White

Zechariah chapter 4 is filled with symbolism. It describes the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The rebuilding of the temple began in 535 BC, and was completed nineteen years later in 516 BC. The Jews rebuilt the temple under the direction of the Persian Empire. While the Persian King Cyrus commanded the temple to be rebuilt, many stood in opposition. God told Zechariah the prophet that the temple symbolized Jesus Christ’s everlasting kingdom on earth.

Two people were in charge of managing the rebuilding of the temple; Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. Ezra the scribe wrote a history of its building.

Zerubbabel laid the stones of the foundation. He also finished the temple some years later by placing the head-stone. The head-stone or corner-stone was the last stone that was placed on the very top of the temple. It was somewhat decorated and was the crowning completion of the temple.

The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem was a big deal. The temple was the conduit of Israel’s right relationship with their God. In Ezra 3 below the Jewish people praised God and were moved when the foundation was laid.

Ezr 3:8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

Ezr 3:10-13 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

God told the prophet Zechariah about the significance of the rebuilding of the temple. God explained that the temple represented God’s everlasting kingdom on earth.

In the verses below the “BRANCH” refers to a descendant of King David who will sit on the throne in Jerusalem forever (Jer 23:5, Isa 11:1). In other words the “BRANCH” refers to Jesus Christ. The stone that God laid before Joshua in verse 9 is the actual head-stone of the rebuilt temple. As we will see, the head-stone also represents Jesus.

Zechariah 3:8-10 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

God is saying that he will bring forth Jesus Christ. God will bring forth Jesus on two occasions. First Jesus will come to earth and be killed for the payment of man’s sin; a human life for human sin. That is God’s life as the payment for all sin of every person for all time. Jesus’ death can be seen as the foundation of the temple, and also as the foundation of God’s everlasting kingdom on earth. The second time that Jesus comes to earth, God will place Jesus on his everlasting throne in Jerusalem to rule the world forever. The placement of the temple’s head-stone symbolizes the coronation of Jesus in Jerusalem at his second coming. This is the completion of the temple as well as the completion of God’s kingdom. At Christ’s second coming, Israel will live in peace.

The seven eyes on the head-stone (Zechariah 3:9), and the seven lamps Zechariah 4:2 & 20) are seven special angels of God who travel about the earth doing God’s work (Zechariah 4:10). I think that they are the same seven angels who are mentioned throughout Revelation as the angels of the churches. These angels represent God’s heavenly throne and authority.

Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Zechariah 4:1-2 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

OK now it’s time to explain some symbolism. The temple represents Jesus Christ’s everlasting Kingdom on earth. The laying of the temple head-stone is symbolic of God’s authority. That is to say that by the Spirit, will, and power of God his earthly kingdom will be founded and then established; not by the might of men. The candlestick of Gold is Jesus Christ the Messiah. He supplies the olive oil which represents the Holy Spirit of God.

Zechariah 4:3-5 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

We will discover that the two olive trees and two branches represent two men who are employed by God in the preparation of his temple and again later in establishing his everlasting kingdom headquartered in Jerusalem.

These two olive branches are God’s two servants on earth. Zerubbabel was the head of the tribe of Judah which represents Israel’s royal line of King David, and Joshua the high priest was from the tribe of Levi. The building of this temple is a foretelling of the establishment of Jesus Christ’s everlasting kingdom on earth. Just as Zerubbabel and Joshua were employed by God in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, two other servants will fulfill these roles when Jesus returns and finally takes his place on his throne in Jerusalem. Revelation 11 explains.

Rev 11:3-4 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

We know that one of these witnesses will be the prophet Elijah. Elijah never died, but was taken up into heaven by God (2Kings 2:11). Elijah will return to earth to prepare the way before Jesus Christ at his second coming.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

The prophet Elijah is one of the witnesses. Most people suppose that the other witness may be Moses. Revelation 11:16 below describes several miracles that these two witness will perform.

Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Most people think that Moses will be the second witness because he performed several of these miracles when the Jews were exiting Egypt. Moses and Elijah also appeared together during the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mat 17:1-4).

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Mountains in Bible prophecy represent world empires. In verse 7 above the great mountain represents two world empires. First it represents the Persian Empire that stood against the rebuilding of the temple in Zerubbabel’s day. Second, the great mountain represents the final gentile world empire that will be in place at Jesus’ second coming. In both cases God is showing his higher authority over world powers. In both cases God will establish his earthly kingdom! The great mountain, or empire of men will become a plain. In other words, the Empires of men will be leveled flat!

In Zechariah 4:7 God is declaring that his temple and his earthly kingdom will be completed! Zerubbabel will finish the building by placing the head-stone on the pinnacle of the temple. At the end of verse 7 God declares that there will be praise at the placing of the head-stone. The Jews will shout Grace, grace unto it. The placing of the head-stone represents the coronation of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem at his second coming.

The Jews had some support for rebuilding the temple from the Persian Empire. Cyrus the king of the Persian Empire decreed that the Jews should rebuild the temple.

Ezra 1:2-4 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem was a long hard process. The Jews had an order from Cyrus to rebuild the temple but they also had a lot of resistance.

Ezra 4:1-5 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Zechariah 4:8-10a Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10 For who hath despised the day of small things?

Small things are the same as humble beginnings. The temple ground lay bare. Things looked bad for the Jews and for their God. Even though things looked bad, God declared that the temple would be finished by Zerubbabel.

Remember that the foundation of God’s everlasting kingdom on earth is the crucifixion of Jesus. Things also looked bad on that day. But because Christ died and rose again, all people have hope for reconciliation with God and life everlasting! Do not despise the day of small things!

Zechariah 4:10b for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

The verse above describes Zerubbabel with a plummet in his hand. A plummet is a stone mason’s tool. Zerubbabel is seen rebuilding the temple. The seven eyes are carved into the head-stone. This verse describes God’s servant Zerrubbabel as he completes the building of the temple by placing the head-stone on its pinnacle!

Zechariah 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Remember that the two anointed ones are two men who assist in the building of the temple; namely Joshua the high priest and Zerrubbabel the governor. They are also two witnesses who usher in Jesus Christ’s everlasting earthly kingdom in Jerusalem at Jesus’ second coming (Rev 11:3-4). In verse 14 above the words “stand by” doesn’t mean that these two are standing in heaven, but that they are servants or employed by God on earth.

The laying of the temple foundation and Jesus’ crucifixion represent the beginning of God’s everlasting kingdom on earth. The placing of the head-stone and Jesus’ coronation represents the completion of God’s kingdom. Just as Zerubbabel began and finished the building of the temple in Jerusalem, God by his own power will begin and finish building his kingdom on earth. Jesus Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords on earth!

Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Very interesting to read and hard to stop. – Alexandria

Zechariah 4

Read about Israel during the Tribulation period and the second coming of Jesus in my book Israel’s Beacon of Hope

facebook       YouTube

Published by Craig C. White

Craig C. White is an author and Bible prophecy teacher at hightimetoawake.com. Craig C. White offers verse by verse Bible prophecy teaching with an understanding of our times.

14 thoughts on “Temple Template”

  1. JOSHUA AND ZERUBBABEL

    The prophecy of Joshua and Zerubbabel symbolized two men (two different branches) to come in the future who would fulfill the prophecies spoken of Joshua and Zerubbabel by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Names have meaning just like Immanuel (Emmanuel) means “God is with us.” Let’s look at the names “Joshua” and “Zerubbabel” using Wikipedia as a source:

    The English name Joshua is a rendering of the Hebrew language “Yehoshua”, meaning “Yahweh is salvation”. “Jesus” is the English of the Greek transliteration of “Yehoshua” via Latin. The closest Greek pronunciation of the Aramaic is “Yeshua”.

    If the name Zerubbabel is Hebrew, it may be a contraction of Zərua‘ Bāvel, meaning “the one sown of Babylon”, and referring to a child conceived and born in Babylon; or perhaps even, Zərûy Bāvel, meaning, “the winnowed of Babylon”, in the sense of being exiled in Babylon. If the name is not Hebrew but Assyrian-Babylonian, it may contract, Zəru Bābel, meaning, “Seed of Babylon”, the one conceived in Babylon.

    The One who fulfilled the prophecy of Joshua is our Lord Jesus Christ who is crowned with majesty, glory, power, and authority and sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting for His enemies to be made into His footstool. He is a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

    Who is it that turns His enemies into His footstool? It is the one who fulfills the prophecy of Zerubbabel, the child born in end-time Babylon, who is appointed as a prophet by God and receives a crown by the Lord Jesus and then given great authority, like God’s signet ring, to subdue the kingdoms by calling down plagues on those kingdoms who refuse to submit their kingdoms to the coming Kingdom of God and its returning King. See! He is the prophet (“chosen man”) spoken of in Jeremiah 50:44-45 who comes from the tribe of Benjamin who is the youngest of Jacob’s sons, the smallest of the tribes of Israel…”the least of the flock”, “least in the Kingdom of God”, “least in the Kingdom of Heaven”. Not only will he fulfill the prophecy of Zerubbabel, he will fulfill the prophecies spoken of Little Benjamin and the ETERNAL COVENANT made between David and Jonathan (form of the Hebrew name John).

    What is this man’s name? SIMPLE…IF YOU ARE WILLING TO RECEIVE IT! The name of the man holding the measuring line for the temple in the Old Testament (Zechariah 4:10) and who is given authority before kings is Zerubbabel. The name of the man holding the measuring line for the temple in the New Testament (Revelation 11:1) and who is given authority before kings is John. So, the name of the child born in end-time Babylon is…JOHN! He knows who end-time Babylon is because he is the prophet to that nation who pronounces judgment to its king and tells God’s people to flee and leads a remnant out of Babylon to Jerusalem for it is written that a people from far away will build the temple.

    So if he is given a crown and given great authority to conquer kingdoms, then he fulfills something in Revelation. Do you know? Revelation 6:1-2 (NKJV):
    “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” This is not the antichrist as some falsely teach. The LORD rebuke them! White represents righteousness. This is he who fulfills the prophecy of Zerubbabel at the opening of the First Seal. He doesn’t need an arrow or man’s weaponry just the Spirit.

    Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) – “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

    Now who is end-time Babylon? John knows!

    Zechariah 4:7 (NKJV):
    ” ‘Who are you, O great mountain?
    Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
    And he shall bring forth the capstone
    With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!’ ”

    The LORD is speaking to a mountain of great significance. John knows that significance. Now read the following of such a mountain:

    ‘For purple mountain majesties
    Above the fruited plain!
    America! America!
    God shed his grace on thee’

    Revelation 14:8 (NKJV):
    “And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” ”

    Why is “grace” repeated twice and then “is fallen” repeated twice? America! America!

    I am John born of a woman named Elizabeth on a road named Whirlwind Road in America. The Lord Jesus appeared to me in a vision and said ‘Arise!” and called me to be His messenger.

    The Seven Thunders spoke, “My patience has died, and the children are far away. Time to gather the grapes for the winepress; time is up. I will not tarry much longer!”

    Isaiah 49:1 (NKJV) – “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.”

    THE NAMES
    Elizabeth as a girl’s name is pronounced “ee-LIZ-a-beth“.
    John as a boy’s name is pronounced “jahn“.
    Elijah as a boy’s name is pronounced “ee-LYE-jah“.

    THE MATRIX
    Eli (first three letters of mother’s Hebrew birth name Elizabeth pronounced “ee-LYE” )
    +

    Joh (first three letters of son’s Hebrew birth name John pronounced “jah“)

    Elijah (name of the spirit of the prophet pronounced “ee-LYE-jah“)

    LET THE WISE HEAR WHAT I SAY!

    Awaken and arise dear children of God! The Day of the LORD is at hand!

    Like

    Reply

  3. Dear Brother Craig,

    According to Jeremiah 50, end-time Babylon has “mixed peoples” in her.

    Jeremiah 50:37 (NKJV) – “A sword is against their horses, Against their chariots, And against all the mixed peoples who are in her midst; And they will become like women. A sword is against her treasures, and they will be robbed.”

    See, Babylon is a codeword referring to the dominant superpower at a specific point in time. It all started in the land of Shinar with the tower of Babel and will end with the final end-time Babylon (which has a tower in it) who is that wicked woman in a basket spoken of in Zechariah 5 who was to end up in the end-time Shinar.

    Let us start with the first Babylon to determine the last Babylon.

    Genesis 11:1-2 (NKJV) – “1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.”

    Genesis 11:6-9 (NKJV) – “6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there
    over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”

    So out of one people, nation, tribe, and tongue, came many peoples, nations, tribes, and tongues. So we can say…”OUT OF ONE, MANY”. Now if we reversed that, we would get “OUT OF MANY, ONE” and get a new Shinar. Where have we heard that phrase? Let me show you.

    Ref: wikipedia — ” “E pluribus unum” is a Latin phrase on the Seal of the United States. It means “Out of many, one” and is sometimes translated as “one out of many” and “One from many”. Originally, the meaning of the phrase was that out of many states (or colonies) emerged a single nation. However, in recent years its meaning has come to suggest that out of many peoples, races, religions, languages, and ancestries has emerged a single people and nation—illustrating the concept of the melting pot.”

    Notice the phrase “melting pot”. Did you know that there was a nation referred to as a “boiling pot” in the Word?

    Jeremiah 1:13 (NKJV) – “13 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.”

    This “boiling pot” signified the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar’s time who the LORD later brought against His people, the Kingdom of Judah, who refused to repent and turn back to the LORD.

    Though Babylon is/was used by the LORD for His sovereign purposes, there comes a time for reckoning for all “Babylons”, including that of Nebuchadnezzar’s and that of end-time Babylon.

    Ref: biblegateway.com — Zechariah 5:5-11 (NKJV) – “5 Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth.” 6 So I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a basket[a] that is going forth.” He also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the earth: 7 Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; 8 then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover[b] over its mouth. 9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?” 11 And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar;[c] when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.” (a) container; (b) stone; (c) Babylon (Ref:
    biblegateway.com)

    America has a woman/goddess set upon her base standing in the harbor of New York where even a small town/village called Babylon resides. She holds a lamp beckoning “mixed peoples” to her light. However, there is only one Light sent by the Father who lights this world of darkness. His Light is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is the Son who sits at the right hand of the Father as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek crowned with majesty, power, and authority…WAITING FOR RESTORATION AND FOR HIS ENEMIES TO BE MADE INTO HIS FOOTSTOOL!

    You now know who she is. That wicked woman. That end-time Babylon. But will you receive it? That is the question.

    Remember! The LORD pleads for His people to leave her before judgment befalls her. Shall not a remnant be saved?

    God Bless,

    John

    Like

    Reply

  4. In response to John.
    He made a pretty strong case for America being Babylon. However because America is a melting pot of civilations full of symbolism brought to us from many countries, one could make good arguments for most Biblical prophecies, including our lovely Lady Liberty. He was also correct to point out that there is a mini Babylon in New York. However this is true for most major cities in America, and these districts are directly tied to the homosexual communities. During the Mardi Gras, the homosexuals in their drunken satanic rituals actually elect leaders to symbolically be the head of the districts that they refer to as Babylons.

    I recall researching this during the early nineties, during which time Sadam in Iraq had a website that was soliciting funds for his failed attempt at building his own Babylon complete with Hanging Gardens. Many Americans who were part of the American-Babylons were sending funds his way.

    I believe it is becoming very evident that there is only one country that could give birth to the harlot Babylon of the Bible and that is Saudi Arabia. They have given birth to the Muslim Caliphate that is rising in the Middle East. They already have the real-estate, one common language, the religion of the Antichrist, and a hatred for Christians and Israel.

    I appreciated John’s comments, and they were thoughtfully written. I know I used to share some of the same views. During the past year, I have read all of your books and most of the writings of those you sponsor. This has given me a new and fresh look at the events that are undeniably close at hand.

    David

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks David. I would like to point out that Mystery Babylon is a city and not a country. Persia and the Mede’s conquered the ancient city of Babylon. Today those nations are represented by Iran and the Kurds. I think that they will destroy Mystery Babylon in the future. Ask yourself who is Iran’s biggest enemy? It is Saudi Arabia. Dubai is only a few miles across the Persian Gulf from Iran. https://hightimetoawake.com/mystery-babylon-party-till-you-perish/

      Like

      Reply

  5. Craig,

    How does Mecca compare to Dubai within the realm of the future Babylon?
    Walid has quite a bit to say about this subject as of late. I still have a lot of trouble trying to understand all of the divisions in the modern day Muslim states.

    David

    Like

    Reply

  6. As a student of the Bible, I have often heard and said that prophecy is good for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I have noticed that you are guided by the principle that history and prophecy repeat itself. In my 40 + years of being a Bible student, I have observed how the newest discoveries whether they be scientific, historical, or archeological are always interpreted by two arenas of thought. The first are those who are looking for some smoking gun to disprove God’s Word or excuse their sinful behavior, and second being those who have an unwavering faith in the Bible. It has always been my experience that all new discoveries within the science disciplines are very friendly to the Bible.

    To be honest, with so many teachers of the Bible missing the mark in these latter years, I find myself struggling to just believe that prophecy does repeat in future generations.

    I makes perfect sense to me that God would and does make his messages very relevant and understandable to those who will just take time to read the Bible and pay attention to its contemporary value.

    Like

    Reply

  7. Good sermon.
    My thoughts:
    1.The seven eyes on the head-stone- Church of Christ
    2.The plummet in hand Tserubabe – Bible (Word of God)
            a) Moses – The Old Testament
            b) Eliyahu – New Testament
    3.The placing of the head-stone and Jesus’ koronation – Coming of Jesus Christ with the church to the ground.

    Like

    Reply

  8. Craig,

    Recently, I read a piece setting forth the idea that the abomination of desolation spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians does not have to take place in the future Jewish Temple. The basic premise was that it could be an act of forbidding the orthodoxical Eucharist (putting an end to the daily sacrifices) by the antichrist in another temple. I believe that Daniel was speaking about the daily sacrifices in the literal Jewish Temple. Daniel would not have been familiar with the Eucharist, and Paul was speaking to pre-Catholic believers who were very familiar with the Jerusalem Temple. Those early believers had no concept of the orthodoxical Eucharist, and would be very alarmed by the defilement of the Temple in Jerusalem. Also Jesus was not adamant about communion being practiced daily, but rather remembering his sacrifice as “often as you partake.”
    I have to admit that this idea made me rethink what Paul and Daniel were saying, but my red flags are raised.

    David

    Like

    Reply

    1. The Antichrist will definitely stop the sacrifices. Every temple so far has been in Jerusalem.

      Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

      Like

      Reply

  9. Craig,

    The bombings in Saudi Arabia this past week seem to be a precursor to prophecies concerning Mystery Babylon. Also, when the Jews rebuild the Temple (Post rapture), do you think this new Temple will be part of the Temple set forth by Christ, or will it be destroyed as was the last Temple and a brand new Temple built. In Revelation, it seems that the Temple described at the end is not built by human hands.

    David

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi David. When Jesus returns Mt Zion will become a high mountain. A river will flow from Christ’s throne. There will also be rivers in the desert. Yes I think that there will be a new millennial temple.

      Like

      Reply

  10. Awesome Craig, you made me research further into a different topic…

    because you mentioned of 7 Lamps being angels , this came into my mind
    Revelation 8:10 what if the “burning as it were a lamp”, (trying to look like “the light”), is Satan..Wormwood. What if a bit before mid-trib that satan falls and enters anti-Christ.

    What if Exodus 32 is patterned for us, a great falling away right before Moses (Jesus) cames down with the 2 tablets (2 witnesses), same will happen to us? Hebrews 6:4-6 uses the same wording “fall away”

    Let me know what you think. If this makes some sense, I have more verses that might make you look further into it.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.