Stones and the Temple

Will God’s People be in an Organized church when Jesus Returns?

Lorraine Day, M.D.

The Bible uses the word “temple” to refer to several entities:

First, we know that there was a physical Temple in Jerusalem. But there was (is) ALSO a spiritual or symbolic Temple of which Jesus spoke.

A) John 2:12-17 In the episode of Jesus cleansing the temple of animals and money changers, Jesus said “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

John 2:18-21 “Then answered the Jews and said unto Him, What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, 46 years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body.”

** Jesus referred to Himself as “the temple.”

B) 1 Cor 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 destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

** Jesus’ individual followers are referred to as “the temple.”

1 Cor 6:19,20 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

** Jesus’ individual followers are referred to as “the temple.”

C) 2 Cor 6:l, 16: We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in vain. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

** The true worshippers of God are COLLECTIVELY spoken of as “the temple.”

Where will the son of perdition sit?

2 Thess. 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 sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

** The “son of perdition” will sit in the TEMPLE of God, “showing himself that he is God.” Is this particular temple physical - or spiritual?

The Temple in Jerusalem was made of STONES!

Before we continue this study, let us review a very important passage:
1 Cor 15:44-47:

Verse 46: “Howbeit that was NOT first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and AFTERWARD that which is spiritual.”

** The FIRST is ALWAYS physical or natural. The SECOND is ALWAYS Spiritual or symbolic - NOT physical and literal!

This means that the “first” - the physical temple in Jerusalem is “natural.” The second “temple” is “spiritual.” What does that really mean?

Matt: 24:1-14 relates Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem AND the end of the world.

“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple.

“And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.

“And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (eon)?

“And Jesus answered and said unto them. . .

Then Jesus spoke of two events intermingled:

1) the physical destruction of Jerusalem (vs. 16 - “Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains”) as well as,

2) the end of the world, more properly translated “eon.” (vs 13,14 - “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”)

Jesus was giving a DUAL prophecy: He was prophesying regarding the destruction of literal Jerusalem PLUS the situation at the end of the world, right before His return.

** Read again 1 Cor 15:46

STONES: Literal or Symbolic?
If it’s Symbolic, what does it mean?

Let’s look at the number of times the word “stone” is used symbolically in the Scriptures.

1 Peter 2:1-8 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby;

“If so by ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious,

“Ye also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

** Symbolic stones are built into a “spiritual house” - a spiritual temple made of spiritual stones! God’s people are the spiritual stones that form the spiritual temple..

“Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold I lay in Zion a Chief Corner Stone, chosen precious; and He that believeth on Him shall not be put to shame.

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the chief corner stone.

“And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble being disobedient to the word; where unto also they were appointed.

** Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of this Spiritual Temple which is formed by the “living stones” that make up the rest of the “temple” - meaning God’s “called ones”, God’s end-time people.

** Jesus also referred to Himself as the “Rock” on which He would build His “church” (actually “ecclesia” - called ones). (Matt 16:18)

Joshua 24:26,27: “And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great STONE, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.

“And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this STONE shall be a witness unto us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest you deny your God.”

** A “stone” was set up as a witness.

Eph 2:19-22 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief corner stone;

“In whom all the building being joined together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.

“In whom ye also are being built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.”

**** All the stones are joined together to form the holy temple, a dwelling place of God. The “stones” are God’s “called ones,” His people who form His spiritual temple!

Simon the Apostle was spiritually re-named “Stone” by Jesus

John 1:41,42 “He (Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah which is being translated, the Anointed One.

“And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, “Thou art Simon, the son of Jona: thou shall be called Cephas (Peter), which is by interpretation, A stone.”

** Simon, the brother of Andrew, is given a new Spiritual name by Jesus. Simon’s new Spiritual name is Peter, meaning a “stone.” So now Peter, the apostle, a leader of the apostolic church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, is given the name “stone.”

Matt 21:42 “Jesus saith unto them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the chief corner stone; This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes?”

God’s character was written on Tables of STONE - the Ten Commandments! (Ex 24:12)
(Ex 34:1,4)

Jesus said, “On this Rock, (Himself) will I build MY church!

When Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on the colt, multitudes were rejoice and praising God with a loud voice. “Some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

** After the Babylonian exile, the Israelites were allowed to go back to Jerusalem to begin building the wall and then the temple. They were “stonemasons!”

Nehemiah 4:1,2 (Re-building the temple.)“But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was furious and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

Look at Nehemiah Chapter 4: 7,8,14-20 and Chapter 5: This speaks of a small group of faithful Israelites returning to Jerusalem to build the temple. The Israelites had been captives in Babylon, but now they were being allowed to return to their homeland, Israel.

Yet MOST of the Jews chose to stay in Babylon because they were happy among the pagans of that nation, they chose to stay with their captors (they learned to LOVE Big Brother - George Orwell’s “1984”) and chose NOT to return to their homeland.

See Zechariah 4:6-14:

Vs 9: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house (literal: The temple); his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you.”

“Zechariah’s pictorial message (vs 6-9) to the returning Israelites from the Babylonian exile was clear: God would provide His Spirit to Israel’s religious and political leadership, so that they could complete the building of His temple.” LaRondelle, pg 226.

The church, as the royal priests (Rev 1:6; 5:10) must go forward in the power of the Holy Spirit to complete building the spiritual temple of God’s people on earth, in spite of fierce opposition.

Conclusion:

“…not one stone will be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matt 24:2) spiritually means that there will be NO organized church (that truly belongs to God), that will “go through to the end” as an organization.

Every church is a 501 C-3 charitable corporation that operates ONLY with government approval. In the document an organization signs to become a 501 C-3 (so they can receive tax-deductible donations), it says that everything that the organization teaches or preaches is subject to government approval. If the government disapproves, the organization is NOT allowed to teach or preach it. That is why nearly all the charitable organizations are admitting homosexuals to their organizations. The government demands it.

When the Sunday law is passed, how will ANY church continue as an organization unless they obey it and teach it as doctrine? The government will demand it!

In the last days, the end times, which is the times we are living in NOW, everyone of God’s true followers will be individually in direct relationship with the Lord, each will be “one with the Lord.” Therefore ALL will believe the same way and ALL will be walking in the same light, because they’re ALL connected to the same God. Each one must learn to stand alone.

God’s people will NOT be members of, nor led by, a human organization. God has always said, “You just be My people, and I will be your God.”

God is our ONLY leader!

Does Satan have a COUNTERFEIT “Temple”
built with COUNTERFEIT “Stones”?

You bet he has!

FREEMASONRY

FREEMASONRY as a COUNTERFEIT of God’s Plan of Salvation!

FREEMASONRY (From the book: Masonry, Beyond the Light, by William Schnoebelen, 1991, Emissary Publications 92205 SE Clackamas Rd., #1776, Clackamas, OR 97015 published by Chick Publications, P.O. Box 662, Chino, CA 91708-0662 Tel 909-987-0771: Fax 909-941-8128

God has HIS Temple made with His stone (His people), and Satan has his stone masons, the “Freemasons” and his temple. Satan has a counterfeit for everything!

“The original “Free Masons” were just plain stone masons who formed a guild to serve as a form of trade union. The increase in building cathedrals in Europe by the church in the Middle Ages created a real market for skilled stoneworkers.

“The guilds provided assurance that its craftsmen were qualified. In those days, virtually everyone was illiterate, so “union cards” would have been worthless. However, since many masons traveled from city to city to work on cathedrals, it is speculated that the tokens or levels of Masonry were used as ways of determining the level of the proficiency of a craftsman.

“There is nothing very ominous in all this. However some odd ideas began to be reflected in the work of the craftsmen -- distinctly occult in nature. Look at any of the great cathedrals from the Middle Ages like Chartres or Notre Dame, and you will find masterpieces of their art. They are filled with occult symbols -- demonic gargoyles, unicorns and other things which defy description. Why is this?

“Although medieval Europe was Catholic, a large percentage of the common people were pagans, in practice if not in theory. Many of the feasts, saints, and even cathedral sites of the medieval church were actually pagan feasts, gods and worship sites.” (Valiente, Dorreen, An ABC of Witchcraft, Phoenix, Custer, WA, 1988, p 91) Notre Dame cathedral in Paris was bult on the site of an important temple to the Horned God of Witchcraft, Cernunnos. ( Ibid 1988, p. 181)

Probably the majority of stone masons were pagans! They may have resented the intrusion of cathedrals onto their sacred sites. These masons could well have been “guerilla artisans.” They were holders of the old religion and felt it was one fine joke to be paid by the bishops to build cathedrals that they (the masons) would then encrust with Witchcraft symbols! This is not speculation, for the results can be seen etched in stone! Pages 180 - 181

“Notre Dame is noteworthy for another reason. High Masons realize that much of the symbolism in its ornamentation is actually a code that Masons used to pass on alchemical mysteries to their successors. These secrets are actually the very essence of modern Masonry! (Canseliet, Eugene, Fulcanelli: Master Alchemist, ‘Le Mystere des Cathedrales,’ Neville Spearman, London, 1971)

The secrets could never be written, partly because they were “sacred” and were communicated only from mouth to ear, and because hardly anyone in the guilds could read. Much of what appears, especially on the central porch of Notre Dame, are actually memory aids which the elder Masters used to illustrate their secrets to the younger craftsmen.

They were riddles, etched in stone and intended to last for centuries! Most of these riddles cannot be deciphered without the keys that were provided in the ultimate secrets of Masonry, the so-called “Royal Secret” contained in alchemical formulae.

An example is the Rose window in Notre Dame (Rosicrucian symbolism!). Even to this day, we have the expression “Sub rosa,” meaning “under the rose.” Something communicated “under the rose” was totally secret and could never be revealed.

“The irony of this is that today, in America, if you were to ask a 32nd degree Mason, (whose title is “The Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret”) what the Royal Secret is, you would be greeted by a blank stare nine times out of ten.” Ibid. Pg 181, 182

(Pg 182) “Until the 17th century, there were only “operative Masons.” However in c. 1600, Masonry evidently began initiating non-stonemasons into its ranks. (Waite, Arthur Edward, A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Weathervane Books, New York, 1970, p. 326) This formed the final catalyst that brought modern Masonry into being. Most Masons trace their founding to the first “Mother” Lodge which met in a tavern in London in 1717.” (Coil, Henry Wilson, Freemasonry through Six Centuries, Macoy Publishing, Richmond, VA 1967 p. 131)

In keeping with their Templar ties, these first Masons gathered on June 14, 1717, the feast of Saint John, a day held most sacred by the Knights Templar, which is also a high satanic holiday! In 1726 this lodge became “Grand Lodge of all England.” This was followed by schisms between other “Grand Lodges,” both in England and on the continent. In 1773, the second most influential Grand Lodge, the Grand Orient was formed in France. ( pgs 181, 182

This brings us to a most significant date in modern Freemasonry -- May 1, 1776! On that date the final element in the evil equation of Freemasonry was introduced. We have already seen how strains of fertility cults, Islamic mysticism, alchemy, Templary and Rosicrucianism combined with the mason guilds of Europe.

Think of all these things as stones in an arch -- a doorway into Witchcraft. These archstones needed a keystone to secure them. Satan had just the man for the job, and he would change the face of Masonry forever. The changes would be subtle, almost unseen, but they would harness together these exotic and ancient philosophies into a spiritual engine of enormous destructive power.

The keystone on the arch was provided by an obscure Jesuit-trained professor of canon law at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Adam Weishaupt, a Catholic Jesuit Jew! May 1, another high witch holiday, (Farrar, Janet: Farrar, Stewart, Eight Sabbats for Witches, pp 80-81) was the date selected for the foundation of his secret society called the Ancient and Illuminated Seers of Bavaria (AISB for short).

It was founded on a mixture of Masonic secrets, Islamic mysticism and Jesuit mental discipline. The element which made it even more unique and dangerous was its scientific use of the drug, Alamout Hashish, to produce an “illuminated” state of mind. This was the drug of the Assassins.

Illumination had long been a cherished component of Masonry and other occult groups. The Masonic candidate requests, and is promised “light in Masonry.” As he goes up the ladder of initiation, he receives “more light.” It is because of this society’s emphasis on illumination that the AISB became known by its more common title, the Illuminati.” Pg 183,184.

Pg 184 “Technically, an Illuminatus is a Master Mason who has received all the “light” Masonry can bestow. He is beyond 32nd degree and even beyond 33rd! Such people are known as Masters or Masters of the Temple, and collectively they are known by several names other than the Illuminati. Sometimes they are called the Great White Brotherhood or the Argentinium Astrum (Silver Star).

According to the third degree of Masonry, the first Freemason was Tubal Cain. In the Bible, we find that Tubal Cain is descended from the accursed line of Cain (Gen 4:17-22). Tubal Cain’s father, Lamech, is the first person to boast about murder
Gen 4:23-24), what an abhorrent beginning for the organization.

Another Masonic “saint” is Nimrod, who is described as “one of the founders of Masonry.” Nimrod is generally identified as the founder of Babylon, and architect of the Tower of Babel. That certainly qualifies him as a Mason.

The religion that sprang up around Nimrod and his queen, Semiramis, became the prototype for virtually all cults. Nimrod is probably one of the two or three most evil men in the entire Old Testament, yet he is identified as a Masonic leader which does little to enhance the spiritual wholesomeness of the Lodge.

In the future we will study more about Freemasonry as it is an important part of the “End times.” Freemasonry will be the ultimate religion of the world, because Freemasons at levels above 32nd degree, knowingly worship Lucifer. Satan will not be satisfied until he is openly worshiped by the entire world. The worship of Satan will be worldwide and enforced by law.