Wouldn't this be the 4th temple? :detective:
Well, Ezekiel 40 onwards is undoubtedly talking about a physical Temple, so it would only be the 3rd physical Temple the Jews have built.
Yes, of course, from a Christian spiritual point of view, Jesus' body is a temple, our bodies our a temple, the Christian body is a temple, etc etc.
But we're talking about the rebuilding of the Jewish central religious building, the Temple.
If it's rebuilt, it would be the 3rd. :D
Hi Lowlee
Hiya all :hibye: :cheekkiss: So, what's New Jerusalem?:dontknow: :read: Sister LOWlee
In my opinion, New Jerusalem IS physical Jerusalem, but restored to holiness in the future.
Keep in mind, it comes down out of heaven, to the earth:
"I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rev 21:2)
Please also notice that the promises in Revelation concerning New Jerusalem were promised by God to physical Jerusalem. For example...
"And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its broad way." (Rev 22:1)
Compare this with God's promise to the city of Jerusalem:
"And it must occur in that day [that] living waters will go forth from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea." (Zechariah 14:8)
So that's why I conclude that New Jerusalem IS Jerusalem, but restored and holy and devoted once again to God, which is not currently the case with the city - but will be, one day... because one day, the tent of God will again reside with mankind. (Rev 21:3)
The reason Christians are confused is because they have spiritualized every reference to Jerusalem... but bear in mind, Jesus himself called Jerusalem "the city of the great King" (Mathew 5:35), and he said that Jerusalem would be trampled for only a period of time (Luke 21:24), not forever.
Yes, there is a "Jerusalem above" (Galatians 4:26), which represents the freedom under Christ through the promise... but keep in mind that this New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, and the tent of God residing with mankind.
So God will once again have a physical presence on the earth, just as He did in the past.