Puzzle Pieces 1

Puzzle Pieces

Does Paul speak of two different "Temples of God"?

 

If it is one temple, is this temple a brick & mortar building?

 

I ask because it's clear what Matthew meant when he wrote Matthew 21:12

 

"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves"

 

Jesus went into the "Brick & Mortar" Temple complex.

 

This next verse is also believed; by some, to be referring to a brick & mortar building.

 

2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4

 

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, declaring himself that he is God.

 

Paul uses "temple of God" in several other verses:

 

1st Corinthians 3:16 Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

 

1st Corinthians 3:17 If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

 

2nd Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you 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.

 

These 3 can't possibly be referring to brick & mortar buildings.

 

We have 3 example of Paul saying believers ARE the temple of God.

 

Take a closer look at this

 

For you 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.

 

That sounds an awful lot like Revelation 21:3

 

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.

 

This isn't a coincidence.

 

You can make excuses so you can refuse to accept what's plainly stated, but you cannot truthfully separate these as different references to 2 events separated by 2,000+/- years, and counting.

 

Why would Paul call a Future temple: 2nd Thessalonians 2:4, the temple of God when he told the Corinthians: 1st Corinthians 3:16, 17, 2nd Corinthians 6:16, that believers are the Temple of God?

 

That would spread all kinds of confusion.

 

Imagine the Thessalonians and Corinthians getting together to discuss the Temple of God.

 

They'd be arguing, fighting, and demonizing each other as ignorant, unstudied, heretics, blasphemers, and the one who is wrong.

 

Wow, that sounds like Facebook.

 

In 2nd Thessalonians 2:4, Paul spoke of the then existent temple in Jerusalem, that was destroyed in 70 AD.

 

2nd Thessalonians 2:4 is not in our future, but it was in Paul's future and is in our past.

 

We are the temple of God, and no future brick & mortar temple in Jerusalem is prophesied. This can only be deduced through eisegesis, and that's forcing it where it doesn't belong.

 

These are only a couple pieces of the puzzle, but they fit perfectly.

 

All Eschatology scriptures MUST corroborate, and all earthly end-time events were prophesied to occur in their/that 1st-century generation.

 

 

© 2021 J.W. Bowers Jr.