My answer: The Bible gives indication that Moses, while in the presence of God, was shown heavenly items to which he was to use as the pattern for their earthly counterparts. I believe that John measured the "true Temple in heaven" (Ex. 25:8-9; Heb. 8:5); he was told not to measure the outer court, because that area represented the control of Jerusalem by the Gentiles (Rev. 11:1-2). In addition, Rev. 11:19 in the very same chapter, says: "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."
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Brian Tibbs suggested that I was wrong about my theory, because of 2 Th. 2:3-4, which state that Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation in the "TEMPLE."
2 Th. 2:3, 4 - "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; 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."
My response: At the time Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians (c. A.D. 51), the Temple still existed (it would be destroyed by Rome in A.D. 70). Because Paul believed that the Church would be "caught up" at any moment, the Abomination of Desolation would have to take place in the Temple. Paul clearly indicated this based upon 1 Th. 4:15-17, which says:
"For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
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Also, nearly every reference to the Temple in the Book of Revelation, refers to it being in heaven.
* Rev. 3:12 - "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name."
* Rev. 7:15 - "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."
* Rev. 14:15, 17 - "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle."
* Rev. 15:5, 6, 8 - "And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."
* Rev. 16:1, 17 - "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done."
All born again believers can look forward to eternity in God's presence! Rev. 21:22 -
"And I saw no temple therein:
for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."
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