(31 AD – 70 AD)
“Now as He drew near, He saw the city (Jerusalem) and wept over it,
For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,
and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.””
Luke 19:41, 43-44 NKJV (prophesied AD 31)
In the year 70 AD, terrible were the calamities that fell upon Jerusalem as Roman Emperor Titus led his troops to lay siege on the city. The city was besieged at the time of the Passover, when millions of Jews were assembled within its walls. The temple was utterly destroyed.
(History – Encyclopaedia Britannica)
THE FIRST TEMPLE (Built and later destroyed.)
Late last year, I decided to read the Bible from the beginning. I read of a Creator who loves His creation, who gifted mankind with the power of free will. With this power of choice, some chose to trust and others chose to despise our Source of life. In the midst of all these, God chose to call unto Himself a man, then a people that would represent Him to the world. This was not because Abraham the patriarch was particularly special but because Abraham was a willing vessel. He trusted God.
- Abraham
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Judah
- Perez
- Hezron
- Ram
- Amminadab
- Nahshon
- Salmon (married Rahab)
- Boaz (married Ruth)
- Obed (son of Boaz & Ruth)
- Jesse (father of David)
- David
Fourteen generations later and preparations for the first temple began. God is not limited by space or time yet He chose to interact with these people through the sanctuary services. Through the temple He sought to teach them His way of salvation so they could teach the world. Every furniture piece and practice pointed to the Messiah.
King Solomon built this magnificent edifice. Precious stones formed the structure. King David had made sure to prepare the best for God. (1 Chronicles 28:10,11)
Yet, the people resisted God.
““But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” ’ ””
Jeremiah 17:27 NKJV
“And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”
II Chronicles 36:15-16 NKJV
Did God love His people? Yes
Did He warn them many times? Yes
Even when we claim to be God’s people, going against His directives is choosing to reject His covering. That was the fate of the Israelites, they forsook God by their actions and that led to the Destruction of the first temple and the captivity of God’s people.
“And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon.
Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.”
II Chronicles 36:18-19 NKJV
LESS MAGNIFICENT SECOND
After 430 years of Babylonian captivity, under the reign of King Cyrus, using Zerubabbel and Jeshua, a second temple was built which spanned many years and was further embellished by Herod before Jesus was born.
“Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’”
Isaiah 44:28 NKJV
God promised that the glory of the second temple shall be greater than the first.
“‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.””
Haggai 2:9 NKJV
Was it greater?
“But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy,”
Ezra 3:12 NKJV
Was the second temple as magnificent as the first temple, with arrays of precious jewels?
NO
Did the second temple have manifestation of supernatural power ( Shekinah glory between cherubim in the most holy place, fire from heaven, voice of heaven to priest) like first temple?
NO
The second temple didn’t even have the Ark of God in the most holy place.
Why then did the prophet prophesy that it would be of greater glory?
“and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Haggai 2:7 NKJV
The second temple was of greater glory because God was present bodily.
“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV
We do not glory in the gifts God gives but in God Himself, for to have God is of much greater value than to have any glam, riches or appearances.
THE EVIL OF JERUSALEM
God sends warnings, He delays before withdrawing His protection, before sending judgment upon the wicked.
“Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity,
Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity:
Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.””
Micah 3:9-11 NKJV
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.
If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.””
John 11:47-48 NKJV
A people that were called to show forth God to the whole world became the ones who detested Him. They didn’t claim disbelief in the existence of God. They were not ignorant of the plan of salvation. God’s laws were not hidden from them. With their lips, they claimed to serve God. In their hearts, they claimed they were blessed of God. The second temple was not as arrayed as the first but it was a beauty to behold. They gloried in the beauty but God was not glorified.
A question for us all today- who is your god today? Do you serve the abundance from God or God Himself. God has offered salvation freely, would you accept it today, would you surrender your heart to God? A life without God is wicked for we can do no good without God.
God has a warning for our time too, for individuals and for us as a people. Would you take heed today?
Little Tittles 
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