Building the Temple
In the 61st chapter of the prophetic book of Isaiah, the ministry of Jesus Christ is narrated in verses 1-3. In the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus read this Scripture and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21). In verses 4-7, there is a prophecy regarding restoration of the old ruins, and the ruined cities. “And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations” (Vs.4) The prophecy of Isaiah does not refer merely to the restoration of the physical or the dilapidated buildings of the temple in Jerusalem or the ruined cities of Jerusalem. The moment Jesus shed His blood on the Cross, the Jews and the Gentiles were brought together and the moment the Holy Spirit was sent to the world, a new spiritual Jerusalem was born. It is the Church, the body of Christ. Jesus said that His body was the temple (John 2:21). The old ruins of the physical Jerusalem would be restored in the spiritual Jerusalem i.e. the Church. As soon as the Church is restored to its glory, Christ will appear. The Lord will suddenly come to His Temple (Mal.3: 1). Christ is coming for “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph.5: 27).
Christ appointed some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers so that the body of Christ is edified (Eph.4: 11-12). These five types of ministers are building the body of Christ today. These ministers are now rebuilding the old ruins, and raising up the former desolations by building the Kingdom of God. As the Jews dwelt in Jerusalem under the Old Covenant, so the people of God dwell in the Kingdom of God (the spiritual Jerusalem) under the New Covenant.
The temple built by Solomon in its grandeur and majesty was filled with the glory of God when fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, following the prayer of Solomon (2 Chr.7: 1-3).
Though the armies of Titus destroyed the temple built by Solomon in A.D. 70, this temple was symbolically put to desolations by the tearing of the temple’s veil, the moment Jesus yielded up His spirit on the Cross. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matt.27: 51). This showed that that the physical temple was no longer required for the people of God. Though it was physically razed to the ground and was ruined in A.D.70, it was spiritually put to ruins when Jesus died on the Cross.
The ruined cities where the Jews, the chosen people of God had once dwelt are now being restored in the Kingdom of God. The people of God under the New Covenant dwell in the Kingdom of God safely under the shadow of the Almighty. There is security for the people of God in the City of God. The sin cannot have dominion over them because they are under grace. The diseases cannot have dominion over them because Christ has healed them by His stripes. All the children of God redeemed with the precious blood of the Lamb of God are the citizens of this Kingdom. If the Devil touches them in the city of God, they will exercise their God-given authority against the Devil because Christ has given them the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord says, “I will fill this temple with glory”. “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former” (Haggai 2:7-9). As the five types of the New Testament Ministers build and repair the old ruins, the Church is being restored to its glory.
Strangers and alien serving us
“And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers” (Vs.5).
Strangers would feed our flocks i.e. the flocks of the great Shepherd. The financial institutions of this world that do not know Christ and His body would give the finances needed for us. The sons of the foreigner are our plowmen and our vinedressers. They would give us the very resources of this world, which are owned by those who do not know Christ, for rebuilding the ruins. Those who do not know us would supply the manpower needed by us. You have to simply command the doors of these financial institutions to be opened in Jesus’ Name for financial assistance. You have to simply command the resources to be made available to you in Jesus’ Name for building your church buildings or prayer halls. We should now claim the above word of prophecy and appropriate it for ourselves.
It reminds us of the great deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and his army. While delivering them, the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. (Exo.12: 35-36). The children of God received articles of silver, articles of gold and clothing. Dear Minister of God, the institutions of this world or the government of your nation will serve you. Because Jesus has given you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you will loose in earth will be loosed in heaven and whatever you bind in earth will be bound in heaven (Matt.16: 19).
Priests and Ministers of the Lord
“But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord; men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves” (Vs.6).
You would be called the Priests of the Lord. Those who have accepted Christ as their Savior are called the priests. The word “the priests” does not refer to the pastors or any particular minister of God. It is you. You, who read this message, are the priest of God under the New Testament. You would be called the minister of God. All the children of God under the New Testament are the ministers or priests of God, though some of them are specifically called to serve the body of Christ as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. In the spiritual Jerusalem, we are known as the priests or the ministers of God, and not as sinners.
All the children of God who reside in the City of God i.e. the spiritual Jerusalem enjoy the blessings of God but do not realize that they are members of the body of Christ. They are in the spiritual Jerusalem but do not know that they have become priests. As members of the body of Christ, God has assigned them specific duties and responsibilities in His vineyard. They are still under the impression that they are believers likened to the Israelites, who stood in the outer court of the temple and approached the Levitical priests seeking forgiveness of sins through the blood of the animals. They do not still know that the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom when Christ died on the Cross and that they have entered the Most Holy Place in the Temple as His Priests.
You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles. The riches meant for the Gentiles are at your disposal. You shall boast yourselves in the glory of their riches.
Double Portion
“For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them” (Vs.7)
You should now claim and appropriate the above word of prophecy for you. In place of your shame, you shall have double honor. The pain and sufferings being faced by you today will give way to double honor for you. The very people who have persecuted you will honor you.
In place of confusion, the five types of New Testament ministers, shall rejoice in their portion. They will never face confusion in their ministries as they build the Church because they get His revelation. They will rejoice in the portions given to them by God in the body of Christ. They thus shall possess double anointing, double resources in their ministries. The pain and sufferings being undergone by them will give way to everlasting joy. They should now claim and appropriate this word of prophecy for themselves.
- Job Anbalagan