The stones of the Temple of God

II Th 2:1-4

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (KJV)

Where is this Temple?

Rev 11:19

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (KJV)

Is this temple to be physically built by man?

2 Sam 7:5-7

5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

Continuing:

11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

The Son of David, Christ, told us:

John 2:19-21

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

21 But he spake of the temple of his body. (KJV)

So, is it being built now?

1 Cor 3:16-17

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (KJV)

So how can the beast sit there, if it is not a physical temple for the Jews to offer sacrifice?

The cornerstone of the Temple is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the chief cornerstone which was rejected by the builders.

Isa 28:14-16

14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

(KJV)

We Christians are the lively stones, which He longs to use to build upon the Rock which is Himself.

1 Pet 2:3-8

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (KJV)

And in regard to this, we must see that if the mind of man refuses to change opinion, knowledge cannot be gained on any subject, from math even to the scriptures.

All Christians were at one time, ignorant of Christ's plan of Salvation. It was only by changing our minds that we were able to partake of His Glory in our own Salvation.

This knowledge of Salvation is what we care most about. It is contained in our minds, which is the Temple of God, as the Word so says.

Unfortunately, within the mind is also hatched and harbored all thoughts, many of which are evil, and not acceptable to the Kingdom of God.

It needs to be amplified that the teaching in the Word is on three levels. These are the physical, the spiritual and the prophetic. If this is obscure, perhaps you are still seeing with flesh eyes, even after many years of study.

All who will, understand this. It is our mind which causes our flesh to sin. It is the mind which causes our hands to do good or evil, our mind which controls our 'walk', and our mind which causes our tongue to wag, and our fingers to type on the keyboard. The thoughts of the mind are expressed in our actions, most especially Christian love, which we must radiate brightly if we wish to be a permanent part of this Temple.

James wrote to us chapters 3 and 4 about this subject. He says, more specifically:

James 3:8-11
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (KJV)

James 4:11-17
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (KJV)

What means the word 'knoweth'? Where do we 'know'? Is it not within our mind that we know?

The following parable, also has the warning about the mind of man as its subject. Like everything Christ did, He tried to show the spiritually blind the seat of the Kingdom of God, our mind.

Matt 15:7-20
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (KJV)

So all should realize that we flesh are both body and spirit. It is not the flesh that overcomes, we are all dust and shall return there. It is not the flesh body which will inherit the Kingdom of God, which is why some current teaching of 'rapture' is such a trap.

You see, the 'paperback' prophecies appeal to the 'saving' of someone's flesh, which tickles the ears of men, but are anathema to the Word of God, for it is written that flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. To that end, these words are written, and they will surely be fulfilled.

Matt 7:15-23
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV)

Thus many will have to learn this lesson in the millenium.

It is the mind, or intellect, by which we recognize falsehood. We must use only the Word to decide the difference.

It is the mind, or intellect by which we show either anger or love.

It is the mind, or intellect, the knowlege which inhabits our spirit which will indwell the new body. All else will perish.

For there are many Christians who limit themselves to flesh thoughts, and in so doing will look for flesh interpretations, and accept them as the end of the matter. It is because of the love God has for His sheep that the millenium is decreed. It is only during this time of teaching that most will understand, for as it is written<Rev 20>, satan and his evil spirit will be removed and locked away for 1000 years, so that the Word can be fulfilled that "All shall Hear".

Acts 28:26-28
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (KJV)

The end of this flesh is before all mankind. No flesh will enter the Kingdom of God.

The millenium, an acceptable time given by God's love will be used so that:

Heb 8:10-13
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (KJV)

Many cannot or will not see this truth yet, because spiritual things cannot be discerned with flesh senses. This was amply proven when the prophets spake and were ridiculed and rejected by 'religion', and when Father Himself came in the flesh to be rejected and crucified for our sakes.

Finally, as to the "mark" of the beast, Paul speaks:

1 Tim 4:1-2
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (KJV)

Do you see what will be seared in the end times? the conscience, or MIND.

2743 kausteriazo (kows-tay-ree-ad'-zo) or kauteriazo (kow-tay-ree-ad'-zo);

from a derivative of 2545; to brand ("cauterize"), i.e. (by implication) to render unsensitive (figuratively): KJV-- sear with a hot iron.

Thayers has more detail.

2743 kauteriazo-

1) to mark by branding, to brand, branded with their own consciences
a) whose souls are branded with the marks of sin
b) who carry about with them the perpetual consciousness of sin
2) seared
3) in a medical sense, to cauterize, to remove by cautery

If the mind is thus corrupted, it becomes not the 'seat' of God, but the 'seat' of Evil. The mixture will not be allowed to inhabit the eternal body. The final purging is left to the millenium.

So the 'mark' of the beast defiles because it is spiritually accepted in our intellect. One has to willingly accept false teaching in order for it to have effect. If one has the ability to test with the Word in their mind, it is rejected and does no damage to the spirit.

For those who will understand, there is a job to do yet for Father. Satan will attack your mind, just as he has always done. Do not corrupt the Temple of God with thoughts hatched in the mind of man.