Chapter Five

The Coming of Christ

It was David that subdued all Israel’s enemies, bringing peace to Israel. Then David made preparation for the building of the Temple, although he was not allowed to actually build it. So today the preparation for the “appearing “ of the Lord in his temple is this work of reconciliation. Jesus said to the disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also.” The place He is preparing is not up in the sky, but IN YOU. Paul says, “Don’t you know your body is the temple of God.” The word used here for temple in the New Testament is the Greek word “Naos” which refers only to the Most Holy Place. So the place being prepared is the Most Holy Place which is in you, for this is God’s dwelling place. Having now dealt with our Adamic consciousness the consciousness of sin has been removed, so this removes the veil and allows us access into Father’s house.

However Paul tells us that in the preparation of God’s dwelling place some changes must take place. He says that the “Man of Sin” must be revealed first. This term refers to Adam, as he was the one who brought sin into the world, and perpetuates it by his presence in mankind. Where can we find this impostor? Paul explains about this Adam, “ 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.”

How many Christians sing with great gusto, “He is Lord, He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!” But the truth is that in their life Jesus Christ has very little say about how life is lived. If we were honest many of us would have to admit that we decide what we will do and where we will go, and make great plans about the future, all without even a thought about what the Christ may desire. So we have to admit there is someone who occupies the “Throne” in the Temple of God, and it is not Jesus Christ.

We are back again with Paul in Romans 7 battling with a desire to do good but finding another authority, refusing to allow us to have our way. This is Adam, not just content with being a part of our life but insisting on being the royal presence within, sitting in the place of authority. Now it is obvious there will be no appearing of Christ in his Holy Temple while Adam is still there. Many Christians wonder why they do not have a real sense of the divine presence within, even after praying and fasting for it.

The reason is clear, for if Christ is not LORD OF ALL He will not be LORD AT ALL. There is no way He will appear in His Holy Temple until the Throne has been vacated and we are ready to conduct a coronation service for His Royal Majesty. We will soon know if the cross has been effective in releasing us from the law of sin and death, because if we are indeed free, the Christ will appear in his Holy Temple and we will crown him King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It will be, “Not MY WILL but THINE be done O Lord.”

However do not despair, for the battle is not just up to us, but God has made provision to clean out His temple when we decide that Christ is King. Often we have not realised the subtlety of our enemy, who deceives us into believing He does not really exist, and that what we do we do out of our own volition. Paul said in 2 Thess. 2:3,

“Then shall that wicked one shall be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his appearing.”

The Spirit of his mouth speaks of the Power of his Word. But Paul says in 2 Tim. 1:8-10,

“But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ⁹who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

So when we believe the Word God has spoken to us, that word will set us free by destroying the lie that has bound us. For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. Now we are coming to that place where we no longer live out of a duality of being, but we can say with Jesus, “I and my Father are One.” The truth being that, “As He is so am I in this world.”