TEMPLE WORSHIPERS
(letter in Saints Herald, 1975, October)
Several recent books by Protestants
predict a temple and altar will be built in
Jerusalem on the plan of Ezekiel 40-48.
Their proof-text is Revelation 11:1-2. But
Ezekiel 40-48 was revoked because of
disobedience (Ezekiel 43:10-11 with
Doctrine and Covenants 56:2a) and after
the sacrifice of Christ cannot be instituted
(Hebrews 10:10-18). When Jesus visited
his other sheep (John 10:16) he asked
them to offer him the sacrifice of a
broken heart and a contrite spirit (III Nephi
4:49). This kind of sacrifice was what
Jesus had in mind when he gave John
Revelation 11:1-2, which was expounded
by James Usher (1581-1656): "... Look
you be not found in the Outward Court, but
a worshipper in the Temple before the
Altar, for Christ will measure all those that
profess his Name, and call themselves his
People; and the Outward worshippers he
will leave out, to be trodden down by the
Gentiles. The Outward Court is the formal
Christian, whose Religion lies in performing
the out side duties of Christianity, without
having an inward Life and Power of Faith
and love, uniting them to Christ, and these
God will leave to be trodden down, and
swept away by the Gentiles; But the
worshippers within the Temple and before
the Altar, are those who do indeed
worship God in spirit and in Truth, whose
Souls are made his Temples, and he is
honoured and adored in the most inward
thoughts of their hearts, and they
Sacrifice their Lusts and vile affections,
yea, and their own wills to him; and these
God will hide in the hollow of his Hand, and
under the shadow of his wings ..." (Strange
and Remarkable Prophesies and Predictions
Of the Holy, Learned, and excellent James
Usher, London, 1678).
John McDonnell
Gladstone, Missouri
|
|
Revelation 11:1-2:
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the
angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of
God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But
the court which is without the temple, leave out, and
measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles; and the
holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Ezekiel 43:10-11:
Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel,
that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let
them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of
all that they have done, shew them the form of the house,
and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and
the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all
the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all
the laws thereof; and write it in their sight, that they may
keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances
thereof, and do them.
Doctrine and Covenants 56:2a:
Behold, I the Lord commandeth, and he that will not obey
shall be cut off in mine own due time; and after that I have
commanded and the commandment is broken, wherefore
I the Lord command and revoke, as it seemeth me good,
and all this to be answered upon the heads of the
rebellious, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 10:10-18:
By which will we are sanctified through the offering once
of the body of Jesus Christ. And every priest standeth
daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
down on the right hand of God; from henthforth to reign
until his enemies be made his footstool. For by one
offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us; for after
that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will
make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put
my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write
them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no
more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin.
John 10:16:
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
|
