“… Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, a worker who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15.

I have found in my Christian walk that when I remain in the Holy Word and Prayer consistently on a daily basis, I am strengthened – empowered by the Holy Spirit to succeed in this life. The world system through all media seeks to pollute our lives with the agenda of the fallen ones and lost people under their invisible control. There is much going wrong on our planet, and yet there is an unfathomable store of spiritual food, treasure to be ‘mined’ daily in the Holy Bible… the Whole Counsel of GOD from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.

I have written about the incredible work that was done during his short life, by our brother David Flynn who is now in the presence of the LORD. I reviewed his monumental work in Temple at the Center of Time and Cydonia: The Secret Chronicles of Mars in my blogpost The Profound Legacy of the Late David Flynn. His Temple study is very deep and rich in its startling implications revealing hidden truths and prophetic fulfillment that no other Biblical Christian researcher had ever touched upon, recognized, or revealed. He agrees with ancient Rabbinical scholars- and even Bible expert and scientist Sir Isaac Newton, that the sacred Temple Mount on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem, Israel is the focal point of space and time, and spiritually the heart of GOD’s Creation in the entire universe! The evidence he shares involves mathematics, history, geography, and other disciplines that add substantial credibility to the Biblical record.

In this essay I turn to the work of Biblical scholar Kevin Connor who through his Divine Habitation Series has opened a wellspring of present truth teaching that will greatly enrich your Christian life, strengthen your faith, and give you substance in the defense of our precious Faith. It is of critical importance in these Last Days, that true believers strive to understand how deeply YHVH GOD loves us! I have chosen to cite Chapter 14: The Divine Purpose For The Temple… may it bless you eternally by His Holy Spirit, in the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Chapter Fourteen – The Divine Purpose For The Temple

The Divine purpose for the existence of the Temple is very specific. GOD wanted to have a place in which to record His Name, a place in which He could dwell among His people in His glory and presence. “The Name” in Scripture always speaks of “the nature” of GOD, the character of GOD, who He is in His own essential Being. GOD has always wanted a place- indeed a PERSON- which He could set His Name and all that is represented in that expression. Let us note the progression, especially in relation to GOD’s dwelling places with Israel, of THE NAME OF THE LORD!

1. The Name in Shiloh

Shiloh became a central city in the time of Joshua, and until the time of Samuel the prophet, it was the place where the Tabernacle of the LORD was settled. The student should read these Scriptures: Joshua 18:1-10; 22:9-13; Judges 18:31. The house of GOD was at this time at Shiloh. Judges 21:12-21; 1 Samuel 1:1-24; 3:21. Here the word of the LORD appeared to Samuel.

It was at Shiloh where the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD was taken captive by the Philistines after the presumptuous act of Eli’s priestly sons (1 Samuel 4:1-12; 14:1-3). It was at Shiloh that the prophet Ahijah dwelt, bringing to GOD’s people the word of the LORD.

Because sin, iniquity and various abominations abounded, the nation of Israel lapsed into the idolatry and apostasy of other heathen nations. GOD “forsook the tabernacle that was in Shiloh”, where His Name had been recorded. Thus Shiloh was desolated by the departure of the presence of GOD. He forsook the tabernacle that was in Shiloh (Psalm 78:60).

The prophet Jeremiah lamented this fact of Israel polluting the Name of the LORD by the way they lived among the heathen. GOD forsook His people for “His Name’s sake”. In Jeremiah 7:1-16; 30 GOD speaks to Judah saying to them, “Go back toShiloh where I set MY NAME at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people Israel…”.

It seems that the name “Shiloh” has prophetic significance also and pointed to the Messiah, who would bring “rest” to the people of GOD. Christ Jesus is indeed “the place of rest” for all who would come to GOD through Him (Matthew 11:28-30). Jacob prophesied, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh come, and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10).

There is therefore a twofold application of “The Name” in Shiloh. First in Christ, who is GOD’s Shiloh, there is the rest of GOD and GOD’s Name is in Him. He is GOD’s Word, GOD’s prophet, GOD’s Tabernacle, GOD’s Ark and GOD’s Name dwells in Him in fullness (Colossians 1:19-29). GOD rests in Christ’s finished work at Calvary. To Him all true believers gather, in His Name and to His word and work.

The other aspect is applicable to the Church, and it is seen in the fact that as GOD forsook Israel because of iniquity, so GOD will forsake any church that becomes idolatrous. When sin and corruption manifests itself in Israel, or the people of GOD, upon whom the Name is called, then GOD permits the Ark of His presence to be taken away. They are judged even by GOD forsaking them as He forsook Shiloh.

Here at Shiloh, the glory of GOD departed, it became desolate without His presence and this is seen in the symbolic name “Ichabod”- “the glory is departed”, or “where is the glory?”. Any company of GOD’s people who “pollute the Name of the LORD” by sin and apostasy will lose the presence of the LORD. GOD has to remove the Ark of His presence and judge His people and do to them what He did to Shiloh. He does it “for His Name’s sake”.

Paul stated in Timothy, “Let every one who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). They must depart from iniquity or GOD will depart from them, even as from Shiloh. This is exemplified in the Church of Laodicea where the LORD is outside of His church, desirous of entering in, They are so wrapped up in the externals of religion on the inside, they do not hear His gentle knock outside. Thus Shiloh was a place where the LORD recorded His Name, at the first.

2. The Name in the Tabernacle

Much Scripture is given to the place of GOD’s dwelling, the Tabernacle of the LORD. Generally it is spoken of as the Tabernacle of Moses. Concerning the creation of this vast universe, the Author passes over it in a matter of verses only, for this earth is man’s dwelling place (Genesis chapters 1-2). But concerning the Tabernacle, which occupied a small part of the earth, in the wilderness, GOD gives many chapters and verses, both in the Old and New Testaments, as to its details and construction. The distinctive purpose for its existence was that GOD might have a place wherein His Name could dwell. This is seen in the Scripture relative to the Tabernacle.

“In all places where I record MY NAME, I will come unto thee and bless thee” (Exodus 20:24).

“Let them make Me sanctuary that I may dwell among them…” (Exodus 25:8).

“The LORD thy GOD shall choose a place to put HIS NAME there… choose to cause HIS NAME to dwell there…” (Deuteronomy 12:5-12; 10:8; 14:23-24; 16:1-12; 26:2).

The Tabernacle, which was GOD’s very dwelling place on earth, the very place of His throne in Israel, in all of its furnishings and details was a prophetic structure. It pointed to Christ and His church. It was the one and only place where GOD recorded His Name, and all Israel had to gather to the Tabernacle, where His Name was for all worship, prayer, and other set occasions for the LORD. No other place was acceptable to GOD, but where His Name was recorded. His Name meant His presence. His Name dwelt in the Tabernacle. His Name is Himself.

Here to the Tabernacle, where His Name was recorded, Israel brought their tithes and offerings, their sacrifices, vows and freewill offerings. There they gathered to bless and worship the LORD. It was because His Name was recorded in that place (Ezra 6:12). His Name meant His presence. We are told that GOD SET His Name there. He PLACED it there. He caused it to DWELL there. There He RECORDED His Name. The Feasts of the LORD took place relative to that place. Everything in Israel centered around the Name and this place.

In the New Testament we are told “The WORD was made flesh and dwelt (lit.tabernacled) among us, full of grace and truth, and the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:1-3, 14-18). Jesus Christ is the expressed and complete fulfillment of all that was typified in the Tabernacle of the LORD. GOD dwelt in Christ in His fullness. All the fullness of the Godhead was in Him, in bodily form (Colossians 1:19; 2:9). Therefore the Name of GOD is recorded in Him in fullness. He is the true tabernacle of which the old was but the type and shadow.

It is to HIM that all New Testament believers gather. The church gathers to HIS NAME! In Matthew 18:20, Jesus Himself declares, “Where two or three are gathered together IN MY NAME, there I AM in the midst” (Amplified New Testament). It is to Him all our tithes and offerings, our worship, prayer, praise and spiritual (and material) sacrifices must be brought. The church, as the New Covenant people of GOD, experience festivals in Him. GOD has set, placed, and recorded His Name in the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the only One in whom GOD dwells in absolute fullness. All must come to GOD by Him.

The Tabernacle was positioned “in the midst” of Israel’s camp. GOD has set His Christ ‘in the midst” of His church, the camp of the saints and it is to Him and around Him we gather. No tribe dare place their name on His Tabernacle. Thus believers do not gather in their denominational names, which divide GOD’s people, but all gather in the GOD-revealed Name of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Uniter of His people and the guarantee of GOD’s presence (1 Corinthians 1:10).

3. The Name in the Temple

The Temple of Solomon now confirms the same truth as in the Tabernacle and Shiloh. The Temple replaced the Tabernacle only on a more glorious scale. However, the very purpose of its existence was that GOD might record HIS NAME.

David desired to build a house for the Name of the LORD (2 Samuel 7:1-26). GOD declares, “Concerning this house MY NAME SHALL BE THERE… I have hallowed this house… to put My Name there…” (1 Kings 9:1-7). Read also these Scriptures (1 Kings 10:1; 11:36; 2 Kings 21:7; 23:27; 1 Chronicles 22:7-19; 28:3; 29:16; 2 Chronicles 2:1-4; 6:1-28; 7:14-16, 20; 12:13; 20:8-9; 33:4-7).

However, the same tragic thing would happen to the Temple as happened to the Tabernacle at Shiloh. GOD forewarned Israel that this house would become desolate because of their abominations (Nehemiah 9:28-37; Jeremiah 7:10-14, 30; 32:34). It was for this very reason GOD allowed the king of Babylon to destroy the Temple of GOD. Once the presence of GOD departed, then the Temple had no protector (It was the presence of GOD in His Name in the Temple that made it the glory of the whole earth.

Again we see a twofold application of the truth relative to the Temple and the Name of the LORD. Its primary fulfillment is first in GOD’s temple, the LORD Jesus Christ. In John 20:20-21 He declares Himself to be THE TEMPLE of GOD, the one and only temple. His body was the temple of GOD. GOD’s glory dwelt in Him. The Name of GOD was also in Christ. All that applied to the Tabernacle also applies to the Temple. Christ is GOD’s true Tabernacle and true Temple. He taught us to pray “Our Father who art in heaven… hallowed be THY NAME…” (Matthew 6:6-9).

If the Name of GOD was in the Temple of Solomon, how much more should we find it in the true Temple of GOD, in Christ Jesus our LORD. This is what the New Testament teaches. GOD was in Christ. The Name of GOD is in Christ (Philippians 2:9; Colossians 1:19; Acts 2:36-38). The second application is to the church, which is also spoken as the Temple of GOD (2 Corinthians 6:16). GOD has His Temple now in the church. GOD has recorded His Name in the church. It is spoken of as the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). This triune Name is revealed in the interpretation of the triune Name of the LORD Jesus Christ. It is not found in denominational or sectarian church names.

If individual believers, as temples of GOD, temples of the Holy Spirit, dare to live in sin and iniquity, then GOD shall do to them– as temples– what He did to the Temple at Jerusalem, for “His Name’s sake”.

He permitted the Temple, after all the glory it had witnessed, to be desolated, forsaken and destroyed by fire. So the apostle Paul warns, “If any man defile the temple of GOD, him shall GOD destroy.” GOD’s Name is in the believer, both individually and also corporately. As surely as GOD forsook the temple at Jerusalem because they brought in abominations, as Ezekiel Chapters 1-14 reveal, so surely will He forsake those who bring in abominations in their temple-bodies, and defile His Name by not departing from iniquity. The Temple of the LORD must be kept clean for His Name is recorded there (2 Timothy 2:19; James 2:7, Amplified New Testament; Matthew 23:38, 39).

4. The Name in the Ark of the Covenant

The central point and place of GOD’s Name in the Tabernacle and Temple was the article of furniture called THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. This was the actual piece of furniture which GOD chose to dwell and record His Name and His manifest presence. The Ark of the Covenant was the most prominent and most important piece of furniture of all the Tabernacle furnishings. In fact, the whole of the Tabernacle structure, with its furnishings, stood in relationship to this article. Without this article and all it symbolically foreshadowed, the Tabernacle was just a mere tent. This article gave meaning and life to all the structure and its furniture.

It was the first piece of furniture to be made and rightly so, for it was the very throne of GOD in the earth. GOD’s very presence dwelt there. Upon the blood-stained mercy sear the Shekinah Glory of GOD dwelt, between the wings of the Cherubim (Psalm 80:1; 99:1). From this place of glory and atonement, the audible voice of GOD was heard. GOD spoke out of “the glory” through a blood-stained mercy seat (Numbers 7:89).

The Ark itself was made of acacia wood, overlaid within and without with gold. Then upon the Ark was the pure gold mercy seat with the Cherubim. The majestic beauty and truth of this was in the fact that the mercy sear and the Cherubim were all beaten out of one piece of pure gold. The two Cherubs faced each other, yet gazed toward the blood-stained mercy seat. Between this tri-unity (the union of three in one) the very Shekinah Glory of GOD dwelt in brightness, yet in the cloud, and here the audible voice of GOD was heard.

It cannot but be recognized that the truth veiled in the symbol and type here finds its rich fulfillment in the LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is now THE ARK OF GOD’S COVENANT– The New and Everlasting Covenant as revealed in His Son (Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 13:20). The incorruptible blood speaks to GOD. The incorruptible wood speaks of the perfect, sinless, and incorruptible humanity of Jesus Christ. Overlaid within and without with gold speaks of Christ’s Divinity. He is the GOD-Man, the union of GOD and Man is seen in Him. In the mercy seat is the blood of atonement which brings us nigh to GOD (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20).

But the glorious truth of His union with the Father and with the Holy Spirit is revealed in the three-in-one Cherubimed mercy seat. The triunity of GOD, the fullness of the Godhead bodily in Jesus is symbolically seen in the Ark of the Tabernacle. One Cherub points to the Father GOD. The other Cherub speaks of the blessed Holy Spirit. The mercy seat speaks of the Son of GOD. Three parts, yet one piece of gold. Three Divine Persons, yet One GOD, the eternal Godhead. The Godhead is involved in the atonement. As the Cherubs gazed upon the blood-stained mercy seat, so the Father and Spirit gaze with satisfaction upon the blood-stained Son of GOD. These three are One (1 John 5:8-10); three Divine persons, yet one in redemptive plan and ministry. Jesus Christ, as the mercy seat, is very part of the Godhead, as seen in the mercy seat being absolutely one with the two Cherubs.

This forever settles the Divinity of the Son, and His co-equality with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the work of redemption. This also declares that [these] Cherubim are not angelic creatures for [angels] are not one with, nor part of, the mercy seat that is Jesus Christ, in redemptive plan. In Jesus Christ we behold the express brightness of the Father’s glory (John 1:14-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 17:1-9). He Tabernacled with us. We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father (John 17:1-4). It is eternal glory. It is glory greater than the sun (Revelation 1:12-20; John 14:11; Colossians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:6). And yet again, in Him we see the Name of GOD as seen dwelling in and upon the Ark of the LORD.

In 2 Samuel 6:2 (Margin), and 1 Chronicles 13:6 we are told, “The Ark of GOD,whose Name is called by THE NAME of Jehovah of Hosts, that dwelleth between the Cherubim”. … And yet again, “To bring up thence the Ark of GOD the LORD, that dwelleth between the Cherubim, whose NAME is upon it“. These Scriptures plainly show that it was actually the ARK of the Covenant upon which the unutterable Name of YAHWEH (or Jehovah) was called. This was without doubt in Exodus 40 when the Shekinah Glory filled the Tabernacle after the Ark had been placed in the Holiest of All, in its appointed place.

The Tabernacle, in this type, becomes a wonderful shadow of the church, the body of Christ, the habitation of GOD by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:20-22). The Ark becomes a magnificent representation of the LORD Jesus Christ, the head of the church, “in the midst” of His redeemed people. And then again, the Name in and upon this Ark becomes a marvelous prophecy of Him who is THE ARK of the New Covenant, and in whom , the Name of GOD– the redemptive Name of Deity– dwells. This Name dwells in a triune form in Him. It is the one and only triune Name revealed in the whole Bible, even the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ, truly symbolized in the triune piece of gold… To call upon His Name is to trust in His redeeming blood…

…This revelation of GOD’s Name in the Ark of the Covenant is the very same revelation as seen in the revelation of the Name declared in the burning bush to Moses. In the bush it was a burning blaze of Divine glory-fire. The voice of Elohim spoke from out of that bush. GOD in tri-unity spoke. Then the Name of GOD was revealed, even the redemptive Name “I AM WHO I AM”. This became YHVH(JEHOVAH… THE LORD) [Who Was, and Is, and Is To Come], and became spoken of by the Jews as the unutterable and incomprehensible Name. This was the foundation of Moses’ ministry.

Here in the Tabernacle, or more particularly the Temple, the deliverance for Israel from Egypt and from the Wilderness is complete. The glory that had been on Mt. Sinai, and then in the Tabernacle of the LORD, would soon re-enter into the Temple of GOD; no longer in the burning bush, nor Mt. Sinai, nor a Tabernacle but a Temple. However, it would still be manifested in the Ark of GOD. The voice would speak… from the mercy seat sprinkled with sacrificial and atoning blood. The revelation is the same. It is GOD and His Name!

Thus Jesus Christ, the Ark of the New Covenant, is the I AM, part of the Elohim (the Godhead) and thus bears the Name of GOD in and upon Him, in the midst of the church. The church also bears “His Name” as a witness in the earth, even as He did (Acts 9:14-16; 15:14-17; Ephesians 3:15; James 2:7). We are one with the Father, one with the Son, and one with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:10).

5. The Name in the City of Jerusalem

The Name of GOD was also vitally linked with the city of GOD, Jerusalem. GOD dwelt in the Tabernacle at Gilgal in the original entrance to the land of promise. Then later on the Tabernacle was taken to Shiloh (Joshua 18:1; 8-10). When the Temple replaced the Tabernacle, it was built in the city of Jerusalem, the city of peace, the holy city. It can readily be seen what joy and glory was in the city of Jerusalem, because THE TEMPLE of GOD was in that city. It became the joy of the whole earth. The Temple made the city the glory of all the kingdoms of this earth.

It is also in this city that GOD says His Name was recorded. It was recorded not only in the Temple but also in the city. The city and the temple were therefore united on the one Name of Jehovah. 2 Chronicles 33:4 says, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name…” GOD finally had to judge the city with destruction along with the Temple because of the corruptions and iniquity of the chosen nation. The visions of the prophet Ezekiel reveal how various abominations were brought into the Temple of GOD and caused the glory of GOD to depart from the Temple and from the city (Ezekiel chapters 8-10).

However, in the closing chapters of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-48), GOD gave Ezekiel a vision of a new Temple, and a new city. Here the Shekinah Glory returns and His Name is placed in that city– FOREVER! It is in the Temple and the city as described in the closing chapters of Ezekiel that we have a final note concerning GOD’s Name. The redemptive Name revealed therein is “Jehovah Shammah- The LORD is there, the LORD ever-present. All of this finds its ultimate fulfillment in Revelation chapters 21-22 and Hebrews 11:10-16; Galatians 4:26 and Psalm 46:4-5. The city here is NEW Jerusalem. The OLD city is past (Revelation 11:8). The New Jerusalem is the city of the Living GOD. It is a heavenly city, with foundations in it, whose Builder and Maker is GOD. The old Jerusalem was corrupted by the people who had the Name of GOD called upon them (2 Chronicles 7:14). They had failed through iniquity. The heavenly city of Jerusalem is the holy city, the righteous city, the city of GOD.

In this city there is THE TEMPLE. “The LORD GOD (the Father), and the Lamb (the Son, the Sacrifice) are THE TEMPLE thereof.” And His Name is there– in the Temple, in the Lamb, in the city. His Name is also in the foreheads of all who enter into the city of GOD. His Name is His nature. “His Name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4; 14:1-4). “I will write upon him the Name of the city of My GOD which is New Jerusalem, and I will write upon him My new Name…” (Revelation 3:12). This is the promise to the overcomer… The light and the glory of GOD fills the city of the redeemed. This city will never be polluted by sin or corrupted by iniquity, for in it shall reign everlasting righteousness.

Thus we have the Divine purpose for the building of the Temple. GOD wanted to have a place in which He could dwell, a place for His presence, a place for His Name. All the glory of His redemptive Name would be made manifest amongst His redeemed as they honoured and hallowed it among the nations. The Scripture says, “And Solomon determined to build an house for THE NAME of the LORD…” (2 Chronicles 2:1). The church is now GOD’s house. It is to be built for the Name of the LORD in the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ. ALL the redemptive Names of the LORD are comprehended in this all-inclusive redemptive Name. The church must live and minister to the lost in the power of that Name unto the glory of the Father.

The progressive unfolding of the Name of the LORD in regard to dwelling places shows that the LORD set His Name in a place, on an article of furniture, in a habitation and in a city, as well as upon His people. The ultimate revelation is that GOD sets His Name no longer in A PLACE but in A PERSON, even the LORD Jesus Christ. And from Him His Name is placed upon His people. It is of Him “…the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:14, 15). The church is GOD’s Temple in which the Name of the LORD dwells– FOREVER! [end of citation]

 

“Run to You”- Leann Squier from the Worship Album ‘Letting Go’

Filmed at the Global Spheres Center (gloryofzion.org) Corinth, Texas

in the ‘Prayer for All Nations’ Garden

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Materials used by kind permission of author Santos Garcia
of
Zion’s Gate – Advancing Christ’s Kingdom