Bible Study Seattle

“Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.”  1 Kings 6:1

“In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.”  1 Kings 6:37-38

Notice that it took 7.5 years to build the temple.

“The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.”  2 Samuel 2:11

Isn’t that interesting?  David goes on to rule all Israel for 33 years after this.  Is it possible that it will take 7.5 years out of 40 to build the spiritual Temple in heaven?  Could it take the same relative amount of time out of 1,000 years for Jesus to build the heavenly Temple?

“The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”  Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”  But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”  John 2:18-21

Jesus is really saying it will take 3,000 years to complete the heavenly temple.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”  1 Corinthians 6:19

“For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  2 Corinthians 6:16

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”  Revelation 3:12

Different verses also say the temple took seven years:

“In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.”  1 Kings 6:38

“The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.”  1 Kings 2:11

Seven years is a ‘week’ of years.  There’s a possible connection:

“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.”  Daniel 9:24

Notice that the seventy weeks will conclude with the annointing of the most holy place – that is the most inner sacred part of the temple.  The last week is specified:

“ Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.  And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”  Daniel 9:26-27

This is a complicated, multifaceted prophecy (YHWH is concise with words), but the last week involves sacrifices.  These can only happen properly in a temple, whether that temple is a stone structure or a person’s body or Messiah’s body.  “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”  Romans 12:5