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November 07
TESTEMUNHO DE CONVERSÃO DE SYLVESTER STALLONE
Famoso por seus filmes de ação, onde “matava” os inimigos, Stallone agora faz parte de outro exército, o do SENHOR JESUS, conforme o texto abaixo. Sylvester Stallone, famoso pelos filmes “Rocky” e “Rambo”, voltou a suas raízes cristãs, numa experiência de conversão que ele diz o libertou das pressões do mundo. “Quanto mais vou à igreja”, disse Stallone, de acordo com o boletim CitizenLink de Focus on the Family, “e quanto mais me entrego ao processo de crer em Jesus e escutar Sua Palavra e deixá-Lo me guiar no que faço, mais sinto como se as pressões sumissem de cima de mim”. No filme de Stallone, Rocky Balboa, o último na série de filmes “Rocky”, ele reflete sobre seguir Cristo e não sobre enfrentar batalhas sozinho. “É como se [Rocky] estivesse sendo escolhido, como se Jesus estivesse sobre ele, e como se ele fosse o cara que viveria sempre o exemplo de Cristo”, Stallone disse numa conferência com pastores e líderes religiosos no ano passado. “[Rocky agora] é muito, muito perdoador. Não há amargura nele. Ele sempre vira a outra face. É como se sua vida inteira fosse sobre servir”. “Fui criado num lar cristão, e aprendi a fé cristã e fui até onde consegui”, disse Stallone. “Até que um dia, sabe, entrei no tão chamado mundo real e conheci a tentação. Praticamente me desviei do caminho e fiz uma porção de escolhas erradas”. Stallone disse que ele quer comunicar para as audiências a importância de freqüentar a igreja e receber apoio no compromisso de viver a fé cristã. “Precisamos ter a experiência e a orientação de outra pessoa”, disse ele. “Não podemos treinar a nós mesmos. Sinto do mesmo jeito acerca do Cristianismo e acerca do que a igreja é: A igreja é a academia de ginástica da alma”. A estória de um Rocky que sente culpa espiritual e lê a Bíblia antes de cada luta foi escrita pela própria experiência de vida do ator, disse Stallone. “A maior parte dos meus filmes anteriores era cheia de sangue”, ele declarou para o jornal San Francisco Chronicle. “Eles eram os resultados criativos de minha juventude, quando meu casamento não estava indo bem e me sentia seduzido pelas tentações de Hollywood”. “Precisei realmente passar por meus testes e tribulações”, ele disse, “antes que eu pudesse ser homem o suficiente para saber escrever o tipo de estória que ‘Rocky Balboa’ é”. Stallone desenvolveu um kit de recursos grátis para líderes, em associação com Motive Entertainment, para ajudar os pastores e líderes de igreja a utilizar a mensagem cristã do filme. O kit inclui um guia de líderes (grátis por download) que lida com as questões de coragem, integridade, fé, vitória e propósito, relatou o jornal Christian Examiner. O guia tem várias abordagens feitas para suprir as várias necessidades dos pastores, líderes de jovem, líderes de ministérios de leigos e pais. Fonte: Lifesite – Via Portal Gospel via blog blogrenatojr
VISITE:http://colunabiblica.blogspot.com/
May 31

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD. "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD. March 12 
Evangelismo Pessoal
Para incentivar a evangelização, veja aqui artigos sobre evangelismo, frases e ilustrações sobre evangelismo, missões e mensagem sobre evangelismo.
Evangelizar o mundo, eis o grande desejo do coração de Deus. A Bíblia diz que Deus não se alegra na morte de pessoas que não tiveram um encontro com Ele. Pois é seu desejo que todos creiam em Jesus e sejam salvos. Quando nos dedicamos à evangelização também estamos apressando a vinda de Jesus para buscar a sua amada igreja. Veja o que Jesus disse, em Mateus 24:14: "E este evangelho do reino será pregado em todo o mundo, em testemunho a todas as gentes, e então virá o fim".
Onde evangelizar
Para saber onde evangelizar, para quem Jesus mandou anunciar o evangelho e como realizar a evangelização em situações especiais.
A indicação mais clara de onde evangelizar foi dada por Jesus, quando disse: "Mas recebereis a virtude do Espírito Santo, que há de vir sobre vós; e ser-me-eis testemunhas tanto em Jerusalém como em toda a Judéia e Samaria e até aos confins da terra" (Atos 1:8).
Jerusalém, Judéia e Samaria e confins da terra
Jerusalém pode significar as pessoas que vivem conosco: nossos familiares, vizinhos, colegas de escola e de trabalho. Judéia e Samaria; as pessoas próximas de nós, mas com as quais não temos contato: as pessoas dos bairros e das cidades próximas. Confins da terra representaria as pessoas mais distantes, moradoras de outros estados e países.
O Evangelho para todos
Jesus não despreza qualquer ser humano, mas quer que todos ouçam a mensagem do Evangelho. Assim, a igreja de Jesus deve dedicar atenção a todas as pessoas, dedicando-se a evangelizar em todos os lugares. Jesus também disse: "Ide por todo o mundo, pregai o evangelho a toda criatura" (Marcos 16:15).
Onde evangelizar?
Então, onde evangelizar? Vamos examinar o Novo Testamento. Vamos ver em quais lugares os primeiros evangelizadores, a começar por Jesus, anunciaram o Evangelho. Abra a sua Bíblia em Lucas 8:1 e você verá Jesus pregando o evangelho nas cidades e aldeias. Em Atos 5:42, os discípulos anunciando a Jesus Cristo no templo e nas casas. Em Atos 16:31, Paulo e Silas pregando o Evangelho na prisão. E no mesmo livro de Atos, agora 8:29, o diácono Filipe pregando durante uma viagem. Em II Timóteo 4:2, Paulo recomenda a Timóteo: "que pregues a palavra, que instes a tempo e fora de tempo...". Assim, o plano de evangelização da igreja do Senhor Jesus Cristo deve ser: “todas as pessoas em todos os lugares”
Alguns lugares
Como exemplos, relacionamos alguns lugares onde se pode anunciar o Evangelho. Podendo ser por contato pessoal ou oferecendo literatura evangelística (folhetos evangelisticos, evangelho, revistas bíblicas, Bíblias, etc.):
· nas filas: comércio, ônibus, bancos,
· nas portas: de bancos, de escolas, de feiras, de estádios, de estações,
· nas festas: religiosas, esportivas
Outras maneiras de evangelizar
Você pode evangelizar usando outros meios, como:
· reuniões em casas de família,
· enviando mensagens para amigos pela internet,
· enviando cartas a familiares e pessoas conhecidas,
· emprestando filmes com temas do Evangelho,
· presenteando pessoas com CDs de música evangélica de boa qualidade,
· contribuindo com programas de rádio/tv com objetivos de evangelização,
· ajudando na manutenção de missionários e evangelizadores,
· dedicando-se à oração em favor dos que atuam em missões e evangelização.
Pessoas internadas
A evangelização também pode ser feita usando métodos especiais para alcançar pessoas que estão em regime de internato:
· hospitais,
· casas de recuperação,
· cadeias, presídios,
· asilos, orfanatos e creches.
Não se esqueça de sempre observar as normas do local onde você entrar, assim como a legislação local sobre a distribuição de panfletos.
Eu quero evangelizar, Senhor Jesus!
Você pode acrescentar outros lugares e meios a essa lista. À medida que se dedicar à nobre tarefa de evangelização, o Espírito Santo lhe abrirá novas portas. E lhe conduzirá a lugares onde o Evangelho necessita ser pregado. Para que isso aconteça fique disponível para Deus.
ACESSE: http://kempmissoesdobrasil.blogspot.com August 23
Praticantes da palavra
Saibam isto, irmãos: é melhor ouvir muito e falar pouco. E também ser lento em se irritar.
Porque não é com zanga que se cumpre a justiça de Deus.
Por isso, desembaracem-se de tudo o que é sujo e mau, e recebam com um espírito dócil a palavra que foi semeada nos vossos corações e que pode salvar as vossas almas.
A questão é que cumpram efectivamente o que essa palavra vos diz, e que não se limitem a ouvir. Porque, se não, correm o risco de se iludirem.
Porque quem se contenta com ouvir a palavra de Deus, e não procura pô-la em acção, é como alguém que se observa a um espelho e
logo se afasta, esquecendo-se de como estava.
Aquele, porém, que presta uma atenção cuidadosa à lei perfeita de Deus, que nos torna livres, não sendo ouvinte que facilmente esquece, mas que cumpre o que ela lhe diz, esse tal terá a bênção de Deus em tudo.
Se alguém diz ser religioso e afinal não é capaz de travar a sua língua, engana-se a si mesmo; a sua religião não vale nada.
Mas a verdadeira religião, aos olhos de Deus, pura e sem falhas, consiste em amparar os órfãos e as viúvas nas suas tribulações. Consiste também em não se deixar influenciar pela corrupção do mundo.
April 12
Highlights in the History of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount |
Dates: Jewish / Common Era
| Key People
| City of Jerusalem
| Temple Mount
|
c. 1760/ c. 2000 BCE
| Abraham
| Abraham visits Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest of El Elyon ("God Most High") (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 6:20-7:22)
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c. 1760/ c. 2000 BCE
| Abraham Isaac Jacob/Israel Joseph
| Abraham journeys three days from Beershiva or Garet to Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice in obedience to God's command. God provides a substitute. (Genesis 22, Hebrews 11:8-19)
| Mt. Moriah is the site of the Temple Mount.
|
c. 2360/ c. 1400 BCE
| Joshua
| After setting up the Ark at Shiloh near Shechem (Nablus), Joshua launches foray into Jerusalem. (Joshua 10:23, 15:63)
|
|
c. 2760/ c. 1000 BCE
| David
| David conquers Jebosite stronghold of Zion, builds city f David south of Temple Mount, reigns 33 years in Jerusalem after 7-year reign at Hebron. (2 Samuel 5:1-15)
| David returns Ark to Jerusalem and places it in Tabernacle of Moses erected there. (2 Samuel 6:1-18, 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:43). David plans First Temple, but not permitted to build it. (2 Samuel 7:1-17)
David purchases Threshing Floor of Araunah, site of First Temple and erects altar of sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. (2 Samuel 24:1-25 1 Chronicles 21:1-22:5)
|
c. 2810/ c. 950 BCE
| Solomon
| Solomon builds Royal Palace and enlarges city, 13-year period. (I Kings 7:1-12)
| Solomon, with help of Hiram of Tyre and 183,600 workers, builds the First Temple and Royal Palace using local limestone, cedar from Lebanon and great amounts of gold and silver. (Temple built in seven years.) (1 Kings 5-9, 2 Chronicles 2)
|
c. 2850/ c. 910 BCE
| Rehoboam Elijah Elisha Obadiah Jonah
| Kingdom divided, 10 northern tribes, 2 southern tribes.
| Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt plunders temple carrying off much gold and silver. (1 Kings 14:25-28, 2 Chronicles 12:1-11)
|
c. 2925/ c. 835 BCE
| Joash Amos Hosea
| Joash, King of Judah
| Joash repairs temple, establishes maintenance fund, and brings period of revival and reforms to southern kingdom. (2 Kings 12:5ff).
|
c. 3040/ c. 720 BCE
| Ahaz Micah
| Ahaz, King of Judah
| Dismantles Solomon's bronze vessels and places private Syrian altar in the temple. (2 Kings 16:1-20, 2 Chronicles 28ff)
|
c. 3044/ c. 716 BCE
| Hezekiah Isaiah
| Hezekiah, King in Jerusalem, with help of God and the prophet Isaiah resists Assyrian attempt to capture Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32). Wells and springs stopped up.
| Restore. Temple and brings period of national reform and revival (2 Chronicles 29-31). Later strips gold to pay tribute to Sennacherib. (2 Kings 18-16)
|
c. 3120/ c. 640 BCE
| Josiah Nahum Zephaniah Habakkuk
|
| Josiah repairs the Temple and brings about national religious reforms. (2 Chronicles 34-35).
|
c. 3174/ Sunday, 9th of Av, 587 BCE
| Jehoichin Zedekiah Gedaliah Jeremiah
| Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, burning the city, murdering inhabitants, and carrying a remnant into captivity. (2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36, Josephus)
| Temple destroyed and sacred vessels carried off to Babylon. These vessels desecrated in Babylon by Belshazzar. (Daniel 5)
|
c. 3187/ c. 573 BCE
| Ezekiel Daniel
| Jeremiah prophesies a 70-year captivity in Babylon. (Jeremiah 29:1-14)
| Ezekiel receives a vision from God describing in detail the great Temple to be built during the reign of the Messiah in an age which is yet to come. (Ezekiel 40-48)
|
c. 3219/ c. 541 BCE
| Zerubbabel Ezra Nehemiah Haggai Zechariah Malachi (Esther)
| First Jews return from Babylon in small numbers to rebuild the city and its walls. 70 years of exile terminated. (Daniel 9, Haggai 2:18-19)
| Second Temple built despite fierce opposition and delays, beginning with erection of an altar of sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. Temple completed after 15-year delay in 515 BCE.
|
c. 3428/ c. 332 BCE
| Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:21-23, 11:2-4)
| Priests from Jerusalem meet invading army of Alexander and dissuade him from destroying Jerusalem by showing him Scriptures that predict his rise to power. After the death of Alexander a series of wars between Syria and Egypt subject the Holy Land to multiple distresses. (Daniel 9:24-27, 11:1-35; Zechariah 9:1-10; Josephus)
|
|
c. 3585-3597/ c. 175-163 BCE
| Antiochus Ephiphanes IV
| The "little horn" of Daniel 8:9, a cruel Syrian (Selicid) king plunders Jerusalem, murdering many Jews. (Daniel 11:21-35)
| Antiochus desecrates the temple, offers a sow upon the altar and carries off temple treasuries. Worship and sacrifices haIted, 15 December 167 BCE.
|
c. 3570/ 170 BCE
| Maccabees
| Godly Jews under Mattathias begin revolt culminating in repossession of Jerusalem. (1 Maccabees)
| Temple purified and worship and sacrifices restored in 165 BCE.
|
c. 3615/ c. 141 BCE
|
| The Roman Akva Fortress is conquered by the Maccabees, thus freeing the Temple from alien supervision.
|
|
c. 3697/ c. 63 BCE
| Pompey
| Roman conquest of the Holy Land. (Daniel 2:40-43)
| Pompey brazenly enters Holy of Holies, disappointed to find it empty.
|
c. 3720/ c. 40 BCE
| Herod the Great (d. 4 BCE)
| Cruel, despotic Roman ruler, an. Idumean, (who murdered the infants in Bethlehem). Building projects at Jericho, Hebron, and Caesarea to placate the Jews.
| Temple Mount vastly enlarged and leveled. Second Temple rebuilt and enlarged, 10,000 workers, 100 priests, 1000 wagons. Temple and courts rebuilt until 63 BCE. City and walls under construction 46 years.
|
c. 3837/ c. 3 BCE to c. 3822/ 62 CE
| Early Christian Era Highlights Located Below in Separate Section
|
c. 3831/ 9th of Av,70 CE
|
| Roman General Titus besieges Jerusalem destroying city and murdering inhabitants, terrible suffering and destruction. (Josephus)
| Temple set afire, soldiers tear every stone apart to get melted gold. Menorah and vessels carried to Rome. Treasury robbed.
|
3896/ c. 136 CE
| Hadrian
| Undertakes rebuilding of Jerusalem as "Aelia Capitolina" provoking unsuccessful Bar Kochba revolt in 135 by devout Jews.
| Hadrian erects Temple of Jupiter on Temple Mount and statue of himself facing east in front. Jewish attempt to build Third Temple fails.
|
c. 4093/ c. 333 CE
|
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| "Traveller of Bordeaux" visits Jerusalem and relates Jews praying on Temple Mount.
|
c. 4090-4400/ c. 330-640 CE
| Constantine
| Byzantine Period. Christianity made official religion of Roman Empire. Church of the Holy Sepulchre built. Persian conquest in 614 CE. 37,000 Christians exiled to Persia, Jews later banished from Jerusalem also. Byzantine Emperor Herodius recaptures Jerusalem, 629 CE.
| Temple Mount neglected, becomes refuse heap. Herodius proposes building near temple.
|
c. 4122/ c. 362 CE
| Julian
|
| Authorizes Jews to rebuild Temple. Work stopped by fire or earthquake.
|
c. 4160/ c. 400 CE
|
|
| Heronymus describes Jews mourning onTemple Mount.
|
c. 4398/ c. 638 CE
|
| Moslem conquest.
|
|
c. 4445-4465/ c. 685-705 CE
| Abd el-Malik
| Extension of the city and rebuilding of walls and roads.
| Islamic tradition alleges that Caliph Omar clears rubbish from temple Mount and prays there in 638 CE. Old wooden El Aksa Mosque constructed, 700 CE, and Dome of the Rock by Abd el-Malik, 684-690 CE.
|
c. 420-4510/ c. 660-750 CE
| Umyyads Abbasids
| Power struggles, revolts and persecutions of Jews and Christians causes Jerusalem to deteriorate.
|
|
c. 4496/ c. 746 CE
|
|
| Earthquake destroys El Aksa Mosque.
|
c. 4628/ c. 868 CE
| Ahmed ibn Tulun
| Palestine annexed to Egypt.
| 831 CE Caliph al-Mamun orders restoration work on the Dome of the Rock.
|
c. 4700/ c. 940 CE
|
| Fatimid Caliphs role from Egypt, 969 CE, El-Hakem orders destruction of churches and synagogues, 1010 CE.
| Karaite scribe Salomon ben Yerucham writes of synagogues within Temple Mount courtyard.
|
c. 4776/ c. 1016 CE
|
|
| Earthquake causes structural damage on Temple Mount.
|
| c. 4790/c. 1030 CE
|
|
| Rabbi Shlomo ben Yehuda describes Jewish custom of encircling Temple Mount.
|
c. 4859-4947/ c. 1099-1187 CE
| Crusaders
| Violent conquest of Holy Land in the name of Christianity. Many Jews and Moslems murdered. Jews sold into slavery and banished from Jerusalem.
| Dome of the Rock reconsecrated as "Temple Domini" and El Aksa as "Temple Salomonis."
|
c. 4793/ 1033 CE
|
|
| Earthquake damages El Aksa Mosque.
|
c. 4860/ 1100 CE
|
|
| Rabbi Avraham bar Chaya writes of synagogues on Temple Mount.
|
c. 4926/ 1165 CE
|
|
| Maimonides visits Jerusalem and prays on Temple Mount.
|
c. 4947/ 1187 CE
| Saladin
| Jerusalem recaptured for Islam. Crusaders defeated.
| Dome of the Rock and El Aksa restored to Islam. Icons removed. 1190, walls overlaid with marble inscriptions added in Arabic.
|
c. 4989/ c. 1229 CE
| Frederick II
| Al-Malik Al-Kamil of Egypt cedes Jerusalem to Frederick II.
|
|
c. 5004-5277/ c. 1244-1517 CE
|
| Rule by Tartars, Mongols, Ayybids and Mamelukes.
| Moslem control of the holy places 1270-1290 CE. Moslem restoration work on Dome. Brass doors added in 1467. Persian tiles added by Suleiman. Lead sheathing to Dome, 1735 CE. Mosaic removed 1835, 1874 CE.
|
c. 5277/ c. 1517 CE
| Ottoman Period
| Turkish rule
|
|
| 5206/c. 1546 CE
|
|
| Earthquake causes serious damage in Jerusalem.
|
c. 5592-5600/ c. 1832-1840 CE
|
| Turkish conquest by Sellim I. Suleiman the Magnificent builds walls and improves the city and aqueducts. Jews tolerated, but heavily taxed and property confiscated. Egyptian governorship under Mohamed Ali and Ibrahim Pasha. (1831 CE)
|
|
5615/ 1855 CE
|
|
| First acknowledged non-Moslem visitor permitted to enter Temple Mount since 1187 CE.
|
5626/ 1866 CE
|
|
| Jews become majority in Jerusalem.
|
5678/ December 1917 CE
|
| British capture of Jerusalem from the Turks.
| Temple Mount first opened to Europeans.
|
5861-5707/ 1921-1947 CE
|
| Rule under British Mandate. UN participation in November 1947. Deterioration of British rule. Waves of immigration by Jews under very adverse conditions.
|
|
5687/ 1927 CE
|
|
| Earthquake weakens El Aksa Mosque foundations.
|
5708/ June 1948 CE
|
| Rebirth of the State of Israel. December 1949 Jerusalem made capital city. Kenesset built.
|
|
5711/ 1951 CE
|
|
| July 20, King Abdullah assassinated at entrance to El Aksa Mosque.
|
5715-5725/ 1955-1965 CE
|
| Jerusalem divided. Jordanian rule over old city.
| Dome foundations strengthened by Jordanians, 1955-1965 CE. Electric lights added.
|
5727/ June 1967 CE
|
| Jerusalem reunited in 6-day war.
| Israeli flag flies temporarily over Temple Mount. Control and stewardship of Temple Mount returned to Moslems. Fire in 1968 destroys pulpit and Mihrab in El Aksa.
|
5742/ Spring 1982 CE
|
|
| Union of Third Temple Groups, "To the Mountain of the Lord," "The Faithful of the Temple Mount," and the "Jerusalem Temple Foundation." Planning for the Third Temple.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Early Christian Era Highlights
|
c. 3757/ c. 3 BCE
| Jesus Simeon Anna
| Herod the Great crowned king, 40 BCE.
| Jesus presented at the temple and dedicated to God by his parents, doves offered in sacrifice. (Luke 2:21-24)
|
c. 3768/ c. 8 CE
| Jesus Mary Joseph John the Baptist
|
| Jesus at age 12 talks to priests and teachers in the Second Temple while his parents are in Jerusalem for Passover. Family home at Nazareth (Luke 2:41-50)
|
c. 3790-3793/ c. 30-33 CE
| Jesus
| Pilate, 26-36 CE Herod Antippas, exiled 39 CE Herod Agrippa, died 44 CE
| Jesus tempted by the devil on the pinnacle of the temple, (Luke 4:1-12). Jesus casts out money changers from the temple early in his ministry (John 2:13-16), and again three years later. During his final week of life before the resurrection, he taught in the temple courts and confronted the crowds and Pharisees there. Jesus predicts destruction of the Second Temple. (Matthew 21ff, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12)
|
c. 3793-3795/ c. 33-35 CE
| Peter John
| Jesus leaves his disciples 40 days after the resurrection, ascending from the Mount of Olives. (Acts 1:1-6, John 20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
| Followers of Jesus gathered in Temple Courts 10 days later on Pentecost Sunday, experience coming of the Spirit of God to give birth to the Church of Jesus Christ. Peter preaches to the crowds and many are healed. (Acts 1ff)
|
c. 3793-3795/ c. 33-35 CE
| Stephen
|
| Martyrdom of Stephen on the Temple Mount, Saul of Tarsus consenting. (Acts 6-7).
|
c. 3822/ c. 62 CE
| James the Just John (d. 100 CE)
| Christians driven from Jerusalem by persecution.
| James, brother of Jesus and leader of the Church in Jerusalem, martyred by being thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple Mount.
|
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|
|
Based upon document prepared by: Lambert Dolphin, for the Jerusalem Temple Foundation. February 1983 |
A Brief History of the Jewish Templeby Randall Price
The history of the Jewish Temple begins and ends in prophecy. The Sanctuary (a term inclusive of God's dwelling in all its forms) was proleptically revealed to Abraham in its sacrificial service and permanent location on Mount Moriah (Gen. 22:2, 14). Enlarging the Abrahamic revelation in similar terms, Moses receives prophetic instructions at the time of the Exodus for Israel's relationship to the Sanctuary (Ex. 15:17). Later on Mount Sinai, he receives the heavenly blueprint for the Sanctuary and its vessels (Ex. 25:8-9, 40). This verse is important in that it shows that the divine ideal for the Sanctuary is God's manifest Presence on earth among His people (vs. 8; cf. its Millennial expression - Zech. 2:10-12), and that the same celestial pattern (vss. 9, 40) was used for both the Tabernacle and the Temple (cf. 1 Chron. 28:11-19; cf. Rev. 15:5). The Tabernacle is distinguished from the Temple in that it was a portable and temporary dwelling place for God's Presence (Ex. 40:36-38; cf. 2 Sam. 7:6) whereas the Temple was to be a permanent and eternal habitation (2 Chron. 7:16; Ezek. 37:26-28). In token of their mutually prophetic purpose, when the First Temple was built, the Tabernacle/Tent of Meeting was apparently included within it (1 Kgs. 8:4; 2 Chron. 5:5).
It is King David who, meditating on the divine ideal (cf. Psa. 132) is moved to begin the process of building the First Temple (2 Sam. 7:2; 1 Chron. 17:1). However, since the Temple was designed to regulate the universal peace brought by God's Presence on earth during the Millennium (David only understands the restricted concept, cf. 2 Sam. 7:1), it could only be completed by one who was a fitting representative of God's peaceful program (1 Kgs. 3:3-14; 5:3). Yet David was in prophetic succession to those to whom God had previously revealed the Temple's program. This is seen in God's reminding David of the Abrahamic promise (2 Sam. 7:10), and repeating to him the Mosaic revelation (1 Chron. 28:11, 19). On this basis (as a founder, not a builder), David was qualified to make financial and material preparations for the Temple (1 Chron. 29). Solomon ("His peace") however, was to construct the Temple based on the terms of his father's covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-13;1 Kgs. 5:5; 6:12-13). In his prayer of dedication (1 Kgs. 8) is revealed both the Temple's divine ideal as the place of God's Presence (vss. 27-34) and its universal (Millennial) function (vss. 41-43, 56-60).
The Davidic Covenant which provided for a permanent Temple in Jerusalem was nonetheless conditioned upon the Nation's obedience. This meant that throughout Israel's future history the Temple could be removed and returned as often as Israel was fickle or faithful to the covenant. As history unfolded, the First Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C. as a direct result of covenantal violations. The downward slide began already in the time of Solomon (1 Kgs. 11:1-13) and culminated with king Manasseh (2 Kgs. 21:7-14), and were especially prolonged with respect to violations of the Sabbath (2 Chron. 36:21).
Restoration began with the return and rebuilding of the Second Temple under Zerubbabel in 515 B.C. (Ezra 1-6), but because of continued covenant violations (cf. Ezra 9; Neh. 13; Mal. 1-4) the Millennial restoration envisioned by the Prophets (cf. Ezek. 40-48) was postponed (cf. Hag. 2:1-9). Half a millennia later, perhaps a decade before Jesus was born in Judea, the Second Temple was in such severe need of repairs that the reigning king Herod the Great refurbished it completely, even expanding its size. Although newly restored, it was still subject to the old terms of the covenantal contract, and with the Nation's rejection of Jesus as Messiah the Temple was again doomed to desolation. All of Jesus pronouncements of the Temple's destruction (Matt. 24:2/Mk. 13:2; Lk. 21:6, 20-24) must be viewed in this light, and not as a rejection or replacement of the Temple as a legitimate institution. In fact joined immediately to Jesus' own pronouncement of the Temple's desolation (Matt. 21:38) is His promise (in the word "until") of Israel (and the Temple's) restoration (Matt. 23:39). This and Jesus' positive statements concerning the Temple elsewhere (Matt. 12: 4; 17:24-27; 23:16-21; Jn. 2:16-17) and especially in His Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14) hold out the prophetic promise that the history of the Temple would be continued in the future.
Bibliography
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews; Jewish Wars; Mina C. Klein & H. Arthur Klein, Temple Beyond Time: The Story of the Site of Solomon's Temple (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1970 [general Jewish perspective], Joan Comay, The Temple of Jerusalem (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1975) [general Jewish perspective], Benjamin Mazar, The Mountain of the Lord (New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1975) [Conservative Jewish perspective], Rabbi Shaul Schaffer & Asher Joseph. Engl. ed. Rabbi Asher Feuchtwanger, Israel's Temple Mount: The Jews' Magnificent Sanctuary (Jerusalem: Achva Press, 1975) [Orthodox Jewish perspective], Meir Ben-Dov, In the Shadow of the Temple: The Discovery of Ancient Jerusalem. Trans. Ina Friedman (San Francisco: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1982) [secular Jewish perspective], Menahem Haran, Temples and Temple Service in Ancient Israel (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1985) [Jewish, higher critical, perspective], Rabbi Leibel Reznick, The Holy Temple Revisited (New Jersey: Jason Aronson Inc., 1993) [Orthodox Jewish perspective], Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services [updated edition] (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1994) [Evangelical, Jewish-Christian perspective]. March 04
Bendito o que vem em nome do Senhor, com todos os anjos cantando para Si! Glórias ao Rei que breve vem! Seja notório em todo o mundo acerca da Tua vinda, Senhor Jesus, e que eu também faça parte desse exército que anuncia as Boas-Novas da salvação em Ti e também a vida eterna Contigo. Usa meus lábios, minhas mãos e pés, para compartilhar dessa maravilhosa Graça! E que ela alcance até os confins da terra. Não se cale a voz dos Teus atalaias e não falem ceifeiros na Tua grande seara. Para honra e glória do Teu nome. Amém.
Eis-me aqui, querido Senhor, para ser Tua morada. Quantos sentimentos maus, quanta coisa perversa eu poderia guardar dentro de mim! Mas prefiro a Tua presença, que me enche de paz, de alegria, de graça. Por favor, receba meu pobre coração como Tua morada e faze dele segundo o Teu querer perfeito e santo. No nome de Jesus, encontre também tantas vidas que Te desejam mas não sabem como Te encontrar. Encontre-as primeiro, por amor ao Teu nome, e tire-as da prateleira do mundo para levá-las para o Céu. Com amor eu oro. Amém.
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