Jesus and the Temple

Jesus stated that His kingdom was not of this world and that He fulfilled and thereby put away the Old Covenant types and shadows. For example, in John 7:37-39 He stated that He is the fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Old Testament temple imagery. John 7:38 refers back to Ezekiel’s temple in Ezekiel 47, out of which flowed rivers of living water. Jesus’ interpretation of Ezekiel’s temple was not a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, but the church.

Nowhere in the Gospels did Jesus interpret this in any other way, nor speak of any kingdom or temple in Israel to come. Jesus did not prophesy of a national kingdom of God in Israel during or after the church era on earth.

Jesus said to the Jews, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19). The temple He spoke of was His body. Jesus put Himself forward as the fulfilment of all Old Testament shadows and types. It is clear in scripture that He fulfilled:

1. The Old Covenant priesthood (Heb 8:1).
2. The promises to David that a king would not fail to sit on his throne forever (Zech 6:3).
3. The Sabbath.
4. All the feasts (festivals).
5. The Jubilee.
6. The tabernacle and temple.
7. The Old Covenant sacrifices.
8. Israel.
9. The Promised Land.

Jesus fulfilled all Old Covenant types and shadows, not some of them. The whole testimony of scripture is concerning Jesus Christ. He is the spirit of prophecy, meaning the whole word of God points to Him (Rev 19:10).

…I come, in the volume of the book it is written of Me, to do Your will, O God…He takes away the first that He may establish the second. (Heb 10:7, 9).

The first that He took away was the Old Covenant and all its imagery and types. He came to fulfil all. He is the will of God. The shadow is not the will of God and has been taken away by the reality of Jesus Christ.