The Daily Word of Righteousness

Rivers of Life, #11

But Solomon built him n house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? (Acts 7:47-50)

It never was the Lord's intention to remain in a temple in the spirit realm.

God knew from the beginning of the creation He would create a living temple, a body, a chariot in which He would dwell for eternity. The living Temple of God can be everywhere in the creation, preventing another rebellion, enabling the Lord to be Present among His creatures in a manner that permits perfect communication between Him and them.

The chariot is the Church, the holy city, the new Jerusalem.

The Presence of God no longer will be over the Ark of the Covenant or in Heaven above. The Presence, the Throne of God will be located for eternity in the new Jerusalem, that is, in the hearts of God's elect.

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)

"They shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord." No longer will the Throne of God be located up somewhere in the spirit heavens. Jerusalem, the Church, the holy city, will be the throne of God.

The nations of the saved will not look to Heaven for the answers to their prayers but to the living Temple of God, the holy Jerusalem.

Solomon had prophetic insight into the role of the Temple in men's prayers.

That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. (II Chronicles 6:20)

"Prayeth toward this place." A prayer offered, not toward God in Heaven but toward God in this place.

This may be a new thought to us—that there is a day coming when the Lord God of Heaven will be dwelling on earth in a city composed of His elect, and the nations of saved peoples of the earth will look toward the holy Jerusalem rather than toward Heaven for the answers to their prayers.

Heaven, the place of God's throne, is being joined to the earth, God's footstool.

Heaven is joined to the earth in Christ and in the Body of Christ; for the Body of Christ is the fullness of Christ.

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of [maturity as measured by] the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13)

Christ is the ladder that reaches from earth to Heaven (John 1:51).

We are destined to become rivers of eternal life, trees of life, so people never again will be denied the drink and the food they must have if they are to possess the Life of God and possess it more abundantly.

To be continued.