What/Who is the True Temple?

What/Who is a True Temple? Hello, I’m Danny and I was a Latter-day Saint for 60 years. Within less than a mile from me, practically in my back yard is an LDS temple. I see the parking lot full of cars and people walking into the temple dressed in their Sunday best, carrying a bag with their temple clothes in it. They are mostly there to perform ordinances for the dead. For many it is a place of worship. In Mormonism, it is referred to as the “House of the Lord.” I attended the temple often when I was a Latter-day Saint. But now I realize after careful study of the Bible - LDS temples have nothing in common with the true temple of God. I have created here - a concise chronology of the purpose and identity of temples throughout history. One day a week, I intend to sit on a bench in front of the temple for just an hour - in faith, that some truth-seeking temple attendee will strike up a conversation with me. At that time, I will share with them what I’m about to share with you. Again, the following is a chronology of the purpose and identity of temples: Old Testament The original physical temple was called the tabernacle – a portable tent built by Moses in the desert wilderness. Eventually, when the Israelites settled in the Promised Land the first material stone temple was built by King Solomon. 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built?” Soloman’s material temple was built for mainly one purpose – to burn offerings. Solomon said in 2 Chronicles 2:6 “But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? Solomon’s temple was eventually destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC. It was rebuilt 70 years later. That second temple was later renovated and expanded by King Herod in 20 BC. By Jesus’ arrival on the scene, the corrupt priests had allowed the temple to become defiled. New Testament Material religion was now going to be replaced with a New Covenant. God moves from a material building into His Son - Who is the True Temple. John 1:1,14 “In the beginning was the Word (Yeshua), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh (God incarnate), and tabernacled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The Spirit of God moves into Yeshua - becoming the True tabernacle. Matthew 12:6 Yeshua speaking of Himself, said to the Pharisees “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.” Mark 14:58 Yeshua’s enemies profess “We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.” But of course, Yeshua was speaking about His resurrected body. John 2:20-21 “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he (Yeshua) spake of the temple of his body.” John 4:21-24 In speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain (where the Samaritans temple existed then), nor yet at Jerusalem ( Herod’s temple), worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Yeshua was announcing that there wasn’t to be a physical temple anymore. It will all be destroyed in 40 years. No longer to be rebuilt. With temple worship out of the way, those who trust in Yeshua will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Mark 15:37-38 At the end of His ministry as He hung on the cross “And Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” The veil which was the partition or the thick curtain separating everyone from the presence of God – was dramatically ripped completely in half. How symbolic! John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.” What was finished? All the work necessary for the salvation of mankind, including His resurrection. No more need for physical temples, ordinances, or a priesthood. We learn from the first Christian martyr, Stephen and later from Apostle Paul - that God does not dwell in man-made temples. Acts 7:48-49 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?” Acts 17:24 “God who made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” Where did God’s Spirit move once the Jerusalem temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. And now that Christ has ascended into Heaven. Paul makes it clear that Spirit of God dwells in each of us as a temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile, the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hebrews 3:6 “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” With the termination of the brick-and-mortar temple, the ordinances were also abolished through Christ’s atonement. Ephesians 2:13-15 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances” Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Colossians 2:22 “Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?” Hebrews 10:19-20 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.” The temple veil represented Christ’s flesh torn for us, so that we have access directly to God in Heaven without going to a bishop or a prophet. Remember, the resurrected Yeshua is the True Temple of God. Hebrews 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Hebrews 8:1-2 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an, high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 8:13 “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” In other words, the New Covenant has replaced the Old Covenant along with its temple, ordinances, rituals, and priesthood. Hebrews 9:11 “But Christ being come an, high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” Hebrews 9:24 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Collectively, as a body of worldwide believers - we make up the spiritual temple of God in place of the material temple of the past. Matthew 16:18 Yeshua declares, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (referring to Christ Himself) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” In the Greek, “church” is “Ekklesia” meaning the assembly of believers. It’s not referring to a formal religious institution or organization. Romans 12:5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” We are the living stones fitting on top of a permanently laid foundation of apostles and prophets with Christ as the corner stone. 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an, holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an, holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” We are the living stones which form a spiritual house (another reference to a temple). A chosen generation, a royal priesthood. In 70 AD God allowed the Roman army to invade and destroy all of Jerusalem and its temple. At that time, Christ came to take His pure bride (those righteous saints) with Him to the heavenly New Jerusalem. Christians often refer to it as the “rapture.” John was shown in vision the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:1-4 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were, passed away; and there was no more sea. (speaking of the material economy of Judaism along with the law, ordinances, and priesthood) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And what about the temple? Will there be a material temple in the New Jerusalem like Mormonism and most Christianity teach? Absolutely not! In continuing to describe the New Jerusalem, John goes on to say, Revelation 21:21-23 “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God d id lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” God Almighty and the Lamb ARE the Temple of the New Jerusalem. So, from what we have just covered in this video, it is apparent that the Bible is clear on the teaching of how the Spirit of God has moved from a material physical economy and kingdom to now one of a spiritual kingdom. And Scripture proves that the LDS temple system comes directly from the Spirit of man – not of God. Freemasonry influenced temple endowments and ordinances are completely contrary to the biblical gospel of Christ. Thanks for watching. Find more videos like this at TalkingtoMormons.com or on YouTube. God Bless!