Worship Buildings, 3of3

~ The Synagogue ~

Key Elements  ~  Jewish synagogues are centers of learning which arose during the Babylonian captivity—when the Jews had neither a tabernacle nor a temple. 

Key Purpose  ~  The Jewish people gathered on the Sabbath to read the law and to pray.  Out of this practice came the synagogue (the “house of assembly”). 

Key Results  ~   Whenever the Jewish people were scattered throughout the world they built synagogues to help them worship, preserve their heritage, and practice their religion. 

Switching back now to the Temple from the Synagogue.

Key Belief  ~  The Jewish nation believes that Mt. Moriah is the only place the temple can be built and the only place where sacrifices can be offered.

Key Reality  ~  Today a Moslem mosque (the “Mosque of Omah” / “Dome of the Rock” / “Al-Aqsa Mosque”) is built on the Mt. Moriah site where the temple stood—and where the Jews believe the temple must be built again. 

Key Anticipation  ~  1. Many Jewish religious leaders are convinced the existing mosque on Mt. Moriah will be supernaturally destroyed.  2. Many Christian scholars believe that the temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and sacrifices once again will be offered before, or at least during, the Great Tribulation. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Worship Buildings, 2of3

~ The Temple ~

Key Passages  ~  The temple was modeled after the tabernacle, however it was much more elaborate contained numerous rooms and porches (1 Kings 6-8). 

Key Purpose  ~  The temple was the Jewish center of worship for about 350 years. 

Key Results  ~  1) It was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar when Judah was taken into captivity (2 Chronicles 36:14-21).   2) After Israel returned from captivity a smaller temple was built on Mt. Moriah (Ezra 6:13-22).   3) Later King Herod developed an extensive building program to enlarge and enhance the temple (John 2:20). 

Key Application  ~  Jesus Christ purifying the temple (John 2) is a clear picture of how He is purifying the human temples of His followers through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Key Prophecy  ~  Jesus Christ prophesied that the existing elaborate temple would be destroyed (Matthew 24:1-2).  The Messiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by Titus in a.d. 70.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Worship Buildings, 1of3

~ The Tabernacle ~

Key Passages  ~  Shortly after God gave Moses the law on Mt. Sinai He told him to build a tabernacle for national worship.  He gave Moses specific instructions for the tabernacle (see Exodus 25-30) and he also described the actual building in detail (Exodus 35-40). 

Key Elements  ~  1) The tabernacle was a small portable center of worship build of wood overlaid with gold and covered with four curtains.  2) The tabernacle was portable—capable of being dismantled and carried from location to location during the wilderness wanderings. 

Key Purpose  ~  The tabernacle served as Israel’s center of worship until the reign of King Solomon some 400 years after its construction.  King David expressed a desire to build a more permanent place of worship but it he was told that his son Solomon was the one God had chosen to construct the more permanent building of worship (1 Kings 8:17-21). 

Key Results  ~   A lavish temple was built on a high place in Jerusalem (Mt. Moriah), the place where Abraham went to offer his only son Isaac (Genesis 22).  It was David who purchased the site to build an altar, but it was Solomon who constructed the temple on that location. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .