The True Temple

“O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.”

Isaiah 54:11-12

“...in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten...the hand of the LORD was upon me...And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits…” — Ezekiel 40:1-11

Our God, the architect of his temple and the chief corner stone [1]. Far from being a prophecy of a rebuilt physical temple in the middle east some thousands of years after the words of Ezekiel, the Lord told Ezekiel to reveal this vision to his peers in Israel. This vision was part of Israel’s hope and consolation (Isaiah 54:11) amid all of the disasters that befell them by the Babylonians and seventy years of exile.

We may find these chapters of Ezekiel laborious to read through, but there is great encouragement in knowing that the God who has all the hairs of our head numbered [2] has a perfect plan for every single one of His elect. Not a plan of wealth and prosperity in this present world necessarily, but in His eternal plan of redemption according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world… having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself... [3] according to THAT eternal plan each one of us fits together into this grand design for His church. Each stone, each board, each wall and window is lovingly crafted and decorated throughout the pages of scripture. If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her boards of cedar... [4]

New Testament revelation is clear that mysterious temple is comprised of all believers from all ages and nations. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God5. And again, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God6…

"Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established." [7]

This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes... [8]

Amen.

Scriptures:

1 Ps 118:22

2Luke 12:7, Matt 10:30

3Eph 1:4, 9

4Song 8:9

5 2nd Cor 6:16

6 Rev 3:12

7 Ex 15:17

8 Ps 118:23

The Kings of the Earth

“All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they shall hear the words of thy mouth.”

— Psalm 138:4

“And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.” — Revelation 21:24

A few months ago I purposed to memorize Psalm 138 in my devotions and verse four kept standing out to me for reasons I could not put my finger on. I find when this happens there is a lesson the Spirit is prompting me towards and it is worth the time in prayer and study to reap the blessing later on. Who are these kings of the earth? I see two strains throughout scripture:

1.       There are the kings of the earth who ruled foreign nations during Old Covenant times and who witnessed the miracles and blessings of Jehovah upon his people and were forced to admit that the God of the Israelites was real and all-powerful. For example, Pharoah of the Exodus[1], Nebuchadnezzar[2], King Cyrus[3], King Hiram[4], the Queen of Sheba[5], etc..

2.       The royal priesthood[6], the kings and priests which are the elect of God and who have the inheritance of the saints.

The Adoration of the Magi — Albrecht Durer

Of the kings of the earth that explicitly give praise to God in Scripture, the Queen of Sheba is the only one whom Jesus confirms will stand in the judgment[7], because she heard the wisdom of Solomon.[8] Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing, and hearing by the word of God.[9]

We know from the plain words of Exodus and Romans 9 that Pharoah’s heart was hardened to the utmost. The other monarchs fall somewhere in between the extremes of Pharoah and Sheba, and we have no strong evidence that any of them were truly converted. Indeed, scripture everywhere indicates that witnessing miracles never converts a sinner, only hearing the word preached and trembling at it[10] works true repentance. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.[11]

Even today, with the gospel having gone forth over every continent we have a grand history from the first century AD up to now of kings, monarchs, presidents and prime ministers at least paying lip service to Jesus Christ. The Popes of Rome, however corrupt their false religion, at least pretend to reverence Christ as the source and authority of their dominion. We do well to remember that much of Bible prophecy has been fulfilled (“preterism”), and is being fulfilled even now (“historicism”).

However there is another dimension to these psalms that speaks of all the kings of the earth and all lands praising the Lord that I can’t ignore — the ecclesia triumphans, the church victorious!

My kingdom is not of this world[12]said the Lord Jesus to Pilate. At least, not yet. Now is my kingdom not from hence. But after Christ’s ascension we are told that he has been crowned with glory and dominion over all the earth, reigning over the nations with a rod of iron[13]. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth...[14]

Jesus Christ is the true Elect of God.[15] Everything that his sinless life and sacrificial death earned for Him he graciously shares with His people as their covenant head. That is why it says in Revelation 1:5 that Christ who is the faithful witness, and first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God.[16]Peter likewise calls the elect, “a royal priesthood.” This is the purpose of all scripture — revealing God’s nature and identity as well as His plan for the redemption of His people.

King David in Prayer —Pieter de Grebber

We have a types and shadows and partial fulfillments throughout history but there is an end game always in view. By the time we get to Revelation 21:24 whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.[17]Revelation 21 begins with a vision of a new heaven and new earth. These kings of the earth in verse 24 then can only be the elect. Those kings of the earth that committed fornication with the harlot in chapters 17 and 18[18] have been overthrown. The lake of fire is called the second death. It is final and eternal judgement. Therefore these new kings of the earth can only be people redeemed by the blood of Christ!

It would be natural to assume that the kings of this new earth are the apostles and prophets, or martyrs of the faith. That may be the case. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him[19]. But Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 20 suggest as John Calvin eloquently argued, that our rewards in heaven will be reckoned by His grace, not “our” supposed merit. In the parable of the day laborers Jesus ends by saying, Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?[20]And shortly afterwards he says to the disciples, To sit on my right hand, and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father[21]. Likewise the apostle Paul assured young Timothy that a crown, which is a symbol of power and authority, is laid up not just for him, or for elders in the church, or for the super-saints, but unto all them also that love his appearing.[22]

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,  even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” — Revelation 3:21

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” — 1st John 5:4-5

God does not, cannot, and will never owe any of us anything. But in His grace He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.[23]

Thus indeed it must be that "all the kings of the earth (yes all, every last one of them) shall praise the O, LORD, when they shall hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

Praise ye the Lord[24]. Amen.

Scriptures:

[1] Ex 7:3

[2] Dan 4:1-3

[3] Ez 1:2

[4] 1st Kings 5:7

[5] 1st Kings 10:6-10

[6] 1st Peter 2:9, Rev 1:6

[7] Ps 1:5

[8] Matt 12:42/Luke 11:31

[9] Rom 10:17

[10] Is 66:2

[11] Prov 20:12

[12] John 18:36

[13] Ps 2:9

[14] Mat 28:18

[15] Is 42:1

[16] Rev 1:5-6

[17] Rev 20:15

[18] Rev 17:18, 18:3

[19] 2nd Tim 2:12

[20] Mat 20:15

[21] Mat 20:23

[22] 2nd Tim 4:8

[23] Ps 113:7-8

[24] Ps 150:6

We are His People

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

— Psalm 100:3

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

— John 10:14

We did not create this earth or the natural world within it. We did not even create ourselves. A sovereign God placed us here. As God of the whole earth,[1]every person has an obligation to keep his moral law and be thankful to him. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry.[2]

Much more so the blood-bought child of God. Yes, Jesus is Lord of all by virtue of being creator and God. But he is not the Shepherd and Redeemer of all. He only shows that aspect of His character to the elect, the sheep of his pasture. His sheep know that Jesus is Lord, God, prophet king. Wonderful, Counsellor, The might God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace[3].

His sheep are a peculiar people[4] zealous for good works.[5] He did not bring us out of the house of bondage[6] of our sin and misery so that we can continue to serve sin. He also did not redeem us from death so that we can be rich and live a life of ease. He leads us in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake[7].

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

— Psalm 100:4

[1] Is 54:5 [2] Ps 2:12 [3] Is 9:6 [4] 1st Pet 2:9 [5] Titus 2:14 [6] Ex 20:2 [7] Ps 23:3