The Habitations of God (Part II)

Lesson Content

In the preceding lesson, we have considered all the visible temples or habitations of God in the Old Testament. However, at present God is building up a spiritual habitation. All the former temples are a shadow of this. Christ and the Holy Spirit themselves build up this temple. II Habitation of God in the New Testament:

1. The Spirit -baptized believer — the temple of God: In the New Testament, God does not dwell in temples made with hands. Our body is the temple

of the Holy Ghost (I Cor.3:16,17; 6:19). When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit we become the temple of God. God Who is a Spirit comes and dwells in us.

2. The Church — the habitation of God: God dwells in the New Testament Church, made up of Spirit-baptized believers (Eph.2:22). By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body (I Cor.12:13). That Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and proph ets, Jesus Christ being the corner stone. “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph.2:20,21). The Spirit -baptized people are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. III The literal temples on earth after the rapture of the Church:

1. The temple during the Tribulation: This is the temple built by the Jews during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation. Then the Jews would have made a covenant with the Antichrist. At the end of the first three and a half years, the Antichrist will enter the temple and profane it (II Thess.2:4). It is then that the Jews will realize their error and turn to Jesus. This temple will be destroyed at the end of the seven years of tribulation.

2. The temple during the Millennial Reign: During the Millennial Reign another temple will be built (Isa.2:2,3; Zech.14:16-21; Ezek.37:22-28). All who live through the Millennial Reign will go there from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts (Zech.14:16). After the Millennial Reign, this earth and heaven will pass away and eternity will be ushered in. IV The habitation of God in eternity: New Jerusalem and Zion: The perfected saints who become the Bride of Christ will be New Jerusalem and Zion, the eternal habitation of God in the eternity to come (Rev.21:2,3; Psa.132:13,14).