Donna Danna (15 Nov 2004)
""WILL THERE BE A TRIBULATION TEMPLE?" - REPLY TO SHERRY"


Sherry,
 
  In regards to the son of perdition, 2Thessalonians 2:4 says, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."  This verse clearly states "SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD," and not CAN STAND IN THE MIDST as you stated.  The word "SITTETH" in Greek is Kathizo which means "sit down."  The word "STAND" or "STANDETH" are completely different words in Greek if you check out Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
 
  As for the Bible verses 1 Corinthians 3:16-17,  "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are," I think the apostle Paul was speaking about a Christian defiling the temple of God, the Christian's own body, through sin.  In 1 Corinthians 5 there is an account of a Christian who commits fornication with his father's wife, and this Christian in 1 Corinthians 5:5 is to be delivered to Satan for destruction of the flesh, that the spirit maybe saved in the day of the Lord.  In other words the Lord allows Satan to bring some kind of physical illness on this Christian's body for destruction of the flesh. I would assume it would be to get the Christian to repent of their sins. Paul in 1 Timothy 1:19-20 also refers to Hymeenaeus and Alexander who have shipwrecked their faith whom Paul delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.  And if you also read 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 about any Christian unworthily eating and drinking the bread and the wine that symbolizes the body and bread of our Lord Jesus Christ which was a pure sacrifice for our sins, verses 28:30 say, "But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." So I can certainly see the Lord allowing Satan to destroy a Christian's flesh through sickness if they defile their body through sin, and don't repent of it.  In any case, according to 2 Thess. 2:4 the son of perdition sitteth in the temple of God and doesn't stand in the midst of as you stated.
 
  As for Rev.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," this may very well symbolize that the Christian believers in the temple of God up in heaven have been measured and judged, and the Gentiles have yet to receive God's measure of judgment during the 42 months that they trample the holy city.