SOLOMON'S TEMPLE
A TYPE OF THE LORD'S CHURCH IN THE MILLENNIUM
 

CHAPTER TWO
THE MATERIAL OF THE TEMPLE
 

As in the Tabernacle, the material used in the building tells us something about that which is prefigured. Let me state this point again and emphasize it; The Tabernacle typified the church during her ministry in this present age, while the Temple showed forth the church as she will be during the millennial reign, as she rules and reigns with Christ.

Perhaps, the best way to approach the subject is to compare the materials of the two structures and note the similarities as well as the differences.

GOLD - There was no change in this substance nor in that which it pictured. There was, however, a large increase in its use. Gold shows forth that which is divine and this never changes in Types. We will note that there was much more of the divine in this building as it pictured a time when the vagaries of the flesh will no longer plague us.

SILVER _ This was the same metal as used in the Tabernacle and still represented redemption. While silver is listed among the things David had provided for the House of the Lord, there was none to be found in the courtyards, nor in the Sanctuary. There is no silver used in the entire house itself. There was only one place; it was used in connection with the Temple. This will be seen as we view the building itself in a later chapter.

BRASS - Judgment, or some aspect of it was still shown in the use of brass. There was an abundance of it to be found in the courtyard, but as in the Tabernacle, the only use in the building itself, was to be found in the entrance. There, it spoke eloquently of the coming of that time being pictured .

WOOD - In the Tabernacle the only wood used was a desert growth of acacia called shittim wood. For the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai, this was the only wood available and served to typify the makeup of the Lord's churches today, being a twisted gnarly, knotted wood. They must build with available material. We may not be much, but God has chosen to use us as He used the boards in the Tabernacle.
1 Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1 Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1 Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

In the Temple, however, the wood was of several kinds, and was imported from other places. The Church which reigns with Christ will not be made up of those he finds present in Jerusalem when He returns, but rather, of that material which is even now being prepared, and which He will bring with Him when He comes to sit upon His throne. The wood used in the Temple came from the far corners of the earth, as will those who make up the Lord's Church in the Millennium.

CEDAR - From the slopes of the mountains of Lebanon, these strong, pest and disease resistant trees, were hewn, cut to the proper dimensions, shaped and brought to the site. This wood pictures humanity, even as did the shittim wood of the Tabernacle. There is something different, however, in that this pleasant smelling, long lasting wood, shows forth the human church member in his redeemed state. There was no shittim (acacia) to be found in this building.1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

FIR - This is generally considered to be a kind of cypress. It was used in the floors and doors. These were places where strength and long wear were desired. Here is another view of our new bodies! They will be tough and beautiful just like that of our Lord.

OLIVE WOOD - The tree, from whence the oil comes, pictures that which is spiritual in the House of God. It was used wherever the human and the spiritual meet. 1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

ALGUM TREES - (also ALMUG) Thought to be the Sandalwood, this tree was found on the coast of India south to Arabia and on the East Coast of Africa. Hiram's ships brought it, with gold from Ophir. We are not sure where Ophir was. We know it was a great distance from which to bring merchandise in those days of slow travel. The wood was extremely hard and aromatic. It is still prized for its use in chests, incense and for the oil obtained by boiling and distilling the pulp. In the Temple, its use is an exciting picture of things to come!

PRECIOUS STONES - 2 Chr 9:10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. The use of these stones is exciting but for the present, we shall only refer to God's message through Malachi; Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

STONES - These were all prepared and brought to the site where they were to be assembled. 1 Ki 5:17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
1 Ki 5:18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
1 Ki 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
1 Pet 2:5 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.
1 Pet 2:6 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.

FINE LINEN - This is a different word from that used in the Tabernacle. There, it is designated 'twined linen' which means 'of twisted straw' or of flax, woven and bleached. Here, the word, 'fine linen' comes from a Hebrew word, 'buwts' (boots) and means another cloth. (Some think it may mean cotton) bleached to an intense white. Indeed, a rock near Michmash was called 'bowtsets' which name derived from buwts and this meant 'shining'.

It is clear that there were two distinct materials under consideration. From the practical viewpoint, it seems reasonable that in the desert wanderings, they most likely did not have the facilities to weave a finer cloth and so the twined or twisted flax would have been practical. It is also likely that if the material in the Temple was indeed cotton, it was not available to them for the Tabernacle. This however, is only surmising. All we know for sure, is that there were different cloths used. That in the Temple being fine and more intense in whiteness than the other.

The meaning is simple and plain. The white linen in both cases typified the righteousness of Christ as imputed to God's people and their righteousness in obedient service to Him. In this present dispensation, this righteousness is a marvelous thing to behold. The rough, sin-cursed sinner is changed, by the grace of God, into a child of God and 'all things become new'. Yet, he is still a sinner and as expressed by Paul, he is still plagued by the pull of the flesh. Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Therefore, the 'twined linen' of the Tabernacle, fitted the situation perfectly; but for the Temple, another material had to be used. It had to be a finer and whiter material. It was picturing a time when those things that plagued Paul and each of us shall be no more. Having been raised in His likeness, we will no longer feel the pull of sin , but will show forth the righteousness of our Lord in a new and a shining way!