By Kyereh Kwaku (WhatsApp: +233 245465429) | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | PROPHECY TODAY

GH.

03: THE TWO TEMPLES

WHAT IS A TEMPLE?
“A building hallowed by the special presence of God, and consecrated to his worship
(Gen. 28:18 – 22). The distinctive idea of a temple, contrasted with all other buildings, is
that it is the dwelling-place of a deity; and every heathen temple had its idol, but the true
and living God dwelt "between the cherubim" in the Holy of Holies at Jerusalem.”
American Tract Society Dictionary

It is figuratively applied to symbolize

1. the church of Yahshua (John 2:20 – 21, 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 3:12)
2. heaven (Ps. 11:4; Rev. 7:15)
3. the body or soul of the believer, in which the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16,17;
6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16).

THE TABERNACLE
A tent, booth, pavilion, or temporary dwelling.
Yahweh Commanded Moses to build a tabernacle for Him.

Exd. 25:1 - 9 … let them make me a sanctuary (Exd. 29:45)

Exd. 36:1 – 4 … they used the best of everything for the tabernacle construction

As Israel settled permanently, they also exchange their movable sanctuary or

tabernacle for a temple.

THE FIRST TEMPLE

1. David plans to build a temple: 2 Samuel 7:1 – 2, 12 – 13
2. David and Israel prepared for building the temple: 1 Chron. 22:1 – 8; 29:1 – 9
3. The Temple was built on Mount Moriah: 2 Chron. 3:1, (Abraham was about to offer
up Isaac, Gen. 22:1 – 2 and David interceded for Israel, 2 Sam. 24:16 – 25)
4. Everything was made of pure gold: 2 Chron. 4:19 – 20

DESCRIPTION:
2 Chron. 3:1 – 17 to 2 Chron. 4:1 – 22
The Temple itself was seventy cubits long; the Porch being ten cubits (17.5ft), 1 Kings 6:3,
the Holy place forty cubits (70ft), 1 Kings 6:17, and the Most Holy place, twenty cubits
(35ft), 2 Chron. 3:8. The width of the Porch, Holy, and Most Holy places was thirty cubits, 1
Kings 6:2; but the height of the porch was much greater, being no less than one hundred and
twenty cubits, 2 Chron. 3:4, or four times the height of the rest of the building. The Most
Holy place was separated from the Sanctuary by an impervious veil, Luke 23:45, and was
perhaps wholly dark, 1 King 8:12, but for the glory of the Lord which filled it.

1
 By Kyereh Kwaku (WhatsApp: +233 245465429) | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | PROPHECY TODAY
GH.

DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE

2 Kings 24:13 – 14 … he carried away all Jerusalem
2 Chron. 36:7 … Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels
Dan. 1:1 – 2; 5:2 … he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

THE SECOND TEMPLE

2 CHRON. 36:22 – 23
1. In the year B.C. 536 Cyrus permitted the Israelites to rebuild the Temple led by under
Zerubbabel and Joshua.
2. Cyrus also returned all the vessels seized by Nebuchadnezzar: Ezra 5:14; 6:5
3. The old men who had seen the first Temple were moved to tears on beholding the
second, which appeared like nothing in comparison with the first (Ezra 3:12; Hag 2:3
sq.).

THE DESCTRUCTION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE

Ezra 1: 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chron. 36:7;
1. Antiochus Epiphanes pillaged and desecrated the Temple, and subdued and plundered
Jerusalem, June, B.C. 168. He also ordered the discontinuance of the daily sacrifice.
2. The Temple at Jerusalem became so desolate that it was overgrown with vegetation (1
Macc 4:38; 2 Macc. 6:4).
3. Judas Maccabseus cleansed the Temple, and again commenced using the temple. He
repaired the building, furnished new utensils, and erected fortifications against future
attacks (1 Macc. 4:43-60; 6:7; 13:53; 2 Macc. 1:1,18; .10, 3).
4. Pompey attacked the temple from the north side, caused a great massacre in its courts,
but abstained from plundering the treasury, although he even entered the holy of holies,
B.C. 63 (Josephus, Ant. 14, 4).
5. Herod the Great, with the assistance of Roman troops, stormed the Temple, B.C. 37; on
which occasion some of the surrounding halls were destroyed or damaged.

REBUILDING OF THE SECOND TEMPLE BY HEROD THE GREAT

1. Herod, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Church-and-State party, rebuilt the Second
Temple
2. The main work of the temple took nine years and a half, yet some additional buildings or
repairs were constantly carried on for several years. (Jos. Ant. b. xv. c. 11, s. 1; and xx. c.
9, s. 5, 7.)
3. John 2:20: Herod began the work in the 18th year of his reign and continued for 16
years before the birth of Yahshua and until Yahshua was 30 years (See John 2:20)

YAHSHUA IS THE BUILDER OF THE ETERNAL TEMPLE

2 Sam. 7:10 – 14 … I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Heb. 1:5 …. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
Heb. 5:5 – 10 …. Called of God an high priest
Acts 13:33 – 34 … in that he hath raised up Yahshua again;
John 2:20 – 22 … will You raise it up in three days?"
Heb. 8:2 …. A Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle

2
 By Kyereh Kwaku (WhatsApp: +233 245465429) | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | PROPHECY TODAY
GH.

Heb. 9:8, 11 – 12, 24 … by a greater and more perfect tabernacle

Heb. 10:1 – 10 … through the offering of the body of Yahshua once for all.
Matt. 27:51 … the veil of the temple was rent in twain (Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45, Exd.
26:31; 2 Chron. 3:14;)
Acts 7:44 – 50 … the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24)