Today’s Scripture Reading (May 4, 2018): Revelation 15
A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a
YouTube video about the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The video
suggests that the Temples of Solomon and Herod were
never built on the Temple Mount. The idea that the Temple may not have
been on built on Temple Mount is significant because it allows for the
rebuilding of the Temple somewhere other than the Islamic controlled hill in
Jerusalem. Temple Mount is historically one of the most fought over pieces of
real estate in human history, and it is held to be important by three world
religions. For the Jews, this is the place where Solomon’s and Herod’s Temples were built, although we have no idea where exactly
on the mountain the Temples existed. Many have held that the Islamic Dome on
the Rock exists in the same place as both of the Temples, but that is just a
guess. Herod’s Temple was leveled so completely by the Romans in 70 C.E. that
there was nothing left to suggest that a building was ever there. All we have
left of the Temple is the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall. But this wall was
not part of the Temple proper; it is
believed to be a wall built around the courtyard of the Temple. The actual
Temple has long disappeared. For Christians, Temple Mount is where Jesus taught
and where many of the significant moments of his life happened. Jesus was circumcised in the Temple, the spoke there,
argued with the religious leaders, and during Passion Week much of his time was
spent on Temple Mount. For Islam, it was from Temple Mount that Mohammad was
taken up into heaven. This hill is a
special place.
To suggest that Temple Mount is misplaced
means that there is another site, maybe not under Islamic control, where the
Temple could be rebuilt and where the attention of Christians looking to walk where
Jesus walked might be drawn. But for a
majority of scholars and believers, there is no question. Both the Temples of
Solomon and Herod were built on Temple
Mount. And maybe even more significantly, according to prophecy it is on Temple
Mount that the third Temple will also be built.
Admittedly, for me, it is a more academic than spiritual discussion. I have to
admit that even after watching the video, I still think that Temple Mount is
likely the right location. It makes sense to me that the Temples were both
built on that spot and the arguments against that idea seem weak. But I also still
question whether either of the Temples was
actually the idea of God.
And John seems to add to the argument against
the legitimacy of the Temples here in his Revelation. He looks up into heaven
and sees God’s version of the Temple, and it is not either of the brick and
mortar Temples were built on earth that is revealed to him, nor was it, and
this is may be a little surprising, the
Temple that Ezekiel saw in a vision and wrote about in his writings. The Temple
that John sees in heaven is a replica of the Tabernacle, the tent that God
instructed Moses to build in the desert and which served as the dwelling place
of God for the generations of Israeli people between the desert wanderings and
the reign of Solomon. It is a version of this tabernacle of Moses that is
revealed to John in heaven. The problem for us as humans is that the tabernacle
is not as substantial as either of the brick and mortar Temples. But then again,
maybe that is okay. After all, we serve a God who extends beyond the building
and will never be contained in single spot. He is a God who dwells within his
people, and so the Tent of Meeting that is not restricted to one spot on the
earth might be the most appropriate dwelling place for this kind of God. And
even in heaven, it appears that it is the tabernacle, and not one of the
Temples, that is the illustration of his presence.
Tomorrow’s Scripture
Reading: Revelation 16
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