Sharon
DANIEL 8:26D SECOND TEMPLE CLEANSING
Updated: Dec 26, 2022
CHAPTER 26 D
Just as there were two temple cleansings during the ministry of Christ, so there are two temple cleansings at the close of time. Because the buyers and sellers of salvation continue to pollute the house of worship on this earth, God is indignant and will intervene to cast out the money changers at the close of time. Salvation is the gift of the blood of Jesus Christ, given to the whole world! This chapter will discuss the final cleansing of the temple of our hearts at the close of time which returns us to a state of sweet communion with Heaven.
MINISTRY OF CHRIST SECOND TEMPLE CLEANSING
COMPARED WITH PROPHECY
Jesus said the second temple cleansing during His ministry was to return His house to a house of prayer.
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-21/
The Day of Atonement picture is about prayer.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-8/
Revelation 8:3-5 gives us a picture of Christ, our High Priest, as He continually ministers for us before the throne of God. This is the great antitypical Day of Atonement. This cleansing ministry has been going on ever since Christ ascended to heaven.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-9/
On the typical Day of Atonement, there were three things atoned for, found in Leviticus 16.
First atonement or reconciliation was made for the High Priest and for His family. Christ being our High Priest fulfilled this the first time He ascended to the throne of glory when He presented His blood for Himself as a member of the human family and for His human family.
Leviticus 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Leviticus-Chapter-16/
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-2/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-20/
Secondly, atonement was made for the children of God and for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of all their transgressions in all their sins. Christ, as the Son of God or second Adam has been doing this ever since He ascended to heaven.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Leviticus-Chapter-16/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-Chapter-9/
With the two atonements above, the High Priest ministered before the mercy seat only with a cloud of incense just as is pictured in Revelation 8:
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Leviticus-Chapter-16/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-8/
However, there comes a time when Christ must go out from before the throne of God. This time was represented on the typical Day of Atonement when atonement was made for the altar of incense that is before the Lord to cleanse it and hallow it from the uncleaness of the children of Israel. This atonement does not occur until Christ goes out.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Leviticus-Chapter-16/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Leviticus-Chapter-16/
When we look closely at Revelation 8:5, we can learn about the cleansing of the altar of incense as regards the Day of Atonement. The Angel Who holds the censer is Jesus Christ because on the Day of Atonement, only the High Priest could serve at the Mercy Seat. The golden censer is one of the instruments found in the Most Holy Place. Christ is represented as hearing the prayers of the saints which ascend before God and adding the incense of His righteous love with the prayers, or in other words interceding for man, providing for them His grace and righteousness in answer to their prayers. But at some point and time the angel does something with the censer. He takes it, and fills it with fire from the altar of incense, and casts it into the earth. As we shall see, this casting to the earth represents the power of His grace and righteousness leaving or going out of the temple and filling the earth.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-8/
We find this same event happening in Ezekiel 10. The man clothed in linen is wearing the attire of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. When He takes the fire from the altar, He goes out from the Most Holy Place, just like the High Priest did on the Day of Atonement.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-10/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-10/
What happens next is found in Ezekiel 10:4-5. At this time, the court is full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory. Remember we learned earlier that the court represents the area of the temple where the Gentiles were allowed to enter.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-10/
If we follow the glory of the God of Israel, we can see that when this event of Ezekiel 10 happens, another event is happening found in Ezekiel 9. Prophetically these events of Ezekiel 9 and 10 are looking forward to the time that the people of God are being sealed in their foreheads and that judgements fall upon those who pretend to be people of God but are taking His name in vain. These will be smitten by the fury (indignation) of God.
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. 7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-10/
If we understand the spiritual significance of the fire from the altar, we can understand more about the seal of God at the prophetic close of the Day of Atonement. We can see how the coals of fire cleanse us. We are the temple of God upon this earth. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah has an experience where He sees the Lord high and lifted up sitting upon His throne between the seraphim (cherubim). The seraphim are giving glory to God, crying HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS! The posts of the door, meaning the threshold of the house, moved or were shaken at the voice of the seraphim. The house was filled with smoke and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord of Hosts just like in Ezekiel 10:4. This means that at this time the light of the gospel is already shining upon the Gentile world. But this whole scene regarding the righteousness or holiness of God causes Isaiah to have another experience where he confesses his own woe and undoing because in the experience of seeing the Lord of Hosts on His throne, he finds himself to be a man of unclean lips and living among people of unclean lips. One of the seraphim, who has a live coal in his hand taken with tongs from off the altar of incense, flies to Isaiah and lays the coal upon his mouth. This works to remove Isaiah’s iniquity and to purge him from sin. This is an atoning service or cleansing of the sanctuary, the sanctuary being Isaiah himself. It is only after this experience that Isaiah is ready to go serve the Lord at His call.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-Chapter-6/
COALS OF FIRE / JEALOUS LOVE/ SEAL OF GOD
Remember these coals of fire come from the altar of incense. They are full of the cleansing power of God. Remember during the ministry of Christ and the first cleansing of the sanctuary Jesus performs, we find His motivation is zeal or jealous love. This powerful love is part of His very character and a part of the cleansing of our sanctuary bodies. This cleansing is a sealing of our hearts to Him. These coals of fire from the altar of incense have the odor of love. This jealous love is to fill our hearts, in this way filling the earth with His love for us and our return love for Him. Just like incense fills a house, so the odor of His love will fill the earth with His glory.
John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-2/
Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-Chapter-34/
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-Chapter-12/
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ephesians-Chapter-5/
John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-12/
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-24/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Song-of-Solomon-Chapter-8/
These coals of fire represent the sealing of God’s people that takes place just before the four winds of the earth are unleashed. This seal will make them ready to be servants of God in a broader sense.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-7/
GOING WITH CHRIST BEFORE HAND TO THE THRONE OF GOD IN THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER WILL PREPARE GOD’S PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH THE TIME OF TROUBLE AND STAY FAITHFUL.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-8/
When Christ goes out to the threshold of the temple of God in heaven and casts the coals of fire from the altar of incense to this earth, the Bible says there are voices, thunderings, lightenings, and an earthquake.
Friends, there is a storm approaching. But God still speaks during the storm to those who have not had opportunity to know Him. There will be a shaking of this earth but those who are prepared by a life of communion with God will stand and sound the trumpet during the judgments of God.
One way to prepare is to hear and do the sayings of God.
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-7/
John the Baptist was a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He was sent to prepare a people to meet Jesus before He came the first time. At the close of time, there is a people filled with the Holy Spirit who will be sent to prepare people to meet Christ at His second coming. They are like John the Baptist who in the Bible was compared to Elijah.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Malachi-Chapter-4/
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-1/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-7/
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-17/
But Revelation 8 is about how the messenger’s represented by Elijah and John the Baptist prepare themselves to sound. How did Elijah stand during a time of apostasy? How did He survive during famine? How did he witness to those who were not of his faith? Elijah was a man of prayer! How did John the Baptist prepare a people to meet Christ? How did he stand against the winds of persecution? He was a man of faith in God and not afraid of humility. He cared not about what men thought of him, only what Heaven thought. He depended upon Heaven and not himself. He knew all power comes from God! He too, was a man of prayer.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/James-Chapter-5/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Kings-Chapter-17/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Kings-Chapter-18/
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Kings-Chapter-18/
John 3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-3/
John knew that he could only baptize with water, but that Christ would baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire. This experience, John called a purging. It would be a cleansing experience.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-Chapter-3/
Friends, the preparation of the heart is taking place now, while Jesus is still standing at the altar of incense before the throne of God in heaven. We know the message. The Holy Spirit is ready to work with us. But we must come with Him to the intercessory throne to be made ready or prepared to give the message.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-8/
Jesus still stands before the throne of God today. He is our High Priest Who has sprinkled His blood upon the mercy seat and thrones of our hearts and minds while the fragrant cloud of the incense of His love ascends before God. While we confess our sins and plead the efficacy of His atoning blood, our prayers ascend to God fragrant with the character of Jesus Christ. Seeing the Lord high and lifted up, pouring forth His own blood for us, gives us a sense of our own unworthiness. But the coal from off the altar is placed upon our lips removing or cleansing us from our sin. Then when God calls us, we are ready and prepared to sound the trumpet for Him.
Jesus is getting ready to come out to the threshold of the temple in heaven. At this time this earth will be baptized with the jealous love of God through the sealing of the hearts of God’s true servants. The glory of God will fill the earth when the earth sees a people who stand like Elijah and John the Baptist, and who are prepared to meet their God, and who stand though the winds of persecution and the time of trouble to come. But there is a warning here to those who pretend to follow Christ and are hearers only but are not doers of His word. Will you be a wise man or a foolish man when the storm beats upon your house?