Vincent Yeung—Cambridge, UK

A newly engaged couple discuss where they will live after they are married. The bride-to-be asks her fiancé, “What sort of house are you going to buy me?” This is not an unusual question. But what if the bride-to-be is wealthy and already has everything she could want or need? This changes the context of the question completely; the house is no longer a necessity but serves as a token of love.

When God posed this question to His chosen people, there was a similar implication:

“Heaven is My throne,

And earth is My footstool.

Where is the house that you will build Me?

And where is the place of My rest?” (Isa 66:1)

God has everything in His possession; what more can we offer Him?

In recent years, the True Jesus Church has seen many places of worship spring up across the globe, as more congregations have acquired buildings for their worship and evangelism needs. Many see a newly built church as a sign of growth and an expression of the members’ devotion and commitment. However, the splendor of a church building does not directly correlate to the spirituality of its occupants. What matters to God are the hearts of the believers:

“For all those things My hand has made,

And all those things exist,”

Says the LORD.

“But on this one will I look:

On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

And who trembles at My word.” (Isa 66:2)

When God’s nation prospers and the borders of His land expand, He is glorified (Isa 26:15). But is this purely a numbers game, represented by an increase in believers and churches, or is there more to it? Ultimately, in what ways should the church grow to bring glory to God?

AN UNREALIZED PROMISE: THE GLORY OF THE LATTER TEMPLE SHALL BE GREATER

When the exiled Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, they endured much hardship and had meager resources with which to rebuild the temple. On its completion, God asked those who had survived the destruction in 586 B.C. to compare the new temple with Solomon’s temple. His question was rhetorical because the second temple obviously paled in comparison to the original (Hag 2:3). But it set the scene for a prophecy: the glory of the latter temple would be greater than the former. This was the promise of the Almighty God who would fill the temple with glory (Hag 2:5–8).

As we know, the physical temple was eventually destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70, without God’s prophecy coming to pass. Instead, this prophecy was to be fulfilled spiritually in the coming of the church (1 Cor 3:16–17; Eph 2:20–22). But how would the latter temple be greater than the first, and to which epoch of church history does the prophecy refer?

As mentioned above, Isaiah 66:1–2 shows that our hearts matter more to God than physical buildings. The people of God cannot find glory by their own means; God is their glory, just as He is glorified through His people (Isa 60:19, 21). They are the work of His hands, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:8–10). When Jesus accomplished His work of salvation on earth, He was glorified and God was glorified in Him (Jn 13:31; 17:4). In the same vein, those who belong to Jesus bring glory to Him through their actions (Jn 17:10; 2 Thess 1:11–12). If we live a Christ-like life by demonstrating good works and godly nature, we showcase the glory of God. We are glorified in Him, and He in us.

Does the glory of the latter temple refer to the apostolic church? Without a doubt, the apostolic church started with a bang when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost (Acts 2). As Jesus had prophesied, the kingdom of God was established with power (Mk 9:1). However, the church gradually became institutionalized and deviated from the truth as heresies crept in. The Holy Spirit eventually departed and no longer dwelled with the secularized church. Nevertheless, God’s will cannot be thwarted.

The prophets Isaiah and Micah spoke of how the mountain of God’s house would be established and exalted above the hills (Isa 2:2–4; Mic 4:1–3). These prophecies point to the glory of the future church, to which all true believers will stream. This is realized in the True Jesus Church, which was established by the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the time of the latter rain, and is the restored apostolic church.

However, by no stretch of the imagination could we describe the present church as having surpassed the glory of the apostolic church. During a recent spiritual convocation, a preacher cited the example of an exemplary church where brethren and truth-seekers gathered for a whole week to study the truth from morning to midnight. He also testified of a third-generation True Jesus Church member who rejuvenated his faith by joining a missionary trip to Africa. Witnessing God’s work firsthand inspired this brother to truly believe in God for the first time. We view these two examples as rare occurrences today, but such experiences were commonplace in the apostolic time.

A cursory look at the early apostolic church, the model church, reveals what the glory of God looks like (Acts 2:40–47). The members were steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine; they continued daily with one accord and had everything in common so that no one lacked anything; they feared God and possessed gladness and simplicity of heart. As a result, God blessed them with wonders and signs, adding to their numbers daily.

Many in the West, including True Jesus Church members, have never experienced events like those mentioned in the Book of Acts. To them, God is remote, only to be discovered in the distant past or in a far-off land. In the prophet Jeremiah’s time, he had to convince his countrymen that God was not just the God of Israel, but also the all-powerful God of the universe (Jer 23:23). Today, it is the reverse: we need to persuade our members that God is not just the ruler of the heavens far away, but is also nearby and personal. We can experience Him right here and now without the need to go abroad. So what is stopping us from knowing God intimately and being inspired to glorify Him through our actions?

A LACK OF URGENCY

The disciples truly believed that the second coming of Jesus would occur in their lifetime. Before Jesus’ ascension to heaven, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). The imminence of God’s kingdom was never far from the apostles’ minds. Jesus preached that the kingdom of God was at hand and that some of the apostles would witness its arrival (Mk 1:15; 9:1). Paul wrote, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand” (Rom 13:12a), and even encouraged those who had wives to be “as though they had none” because time was short (1 Cor 7:29). Luke notes, before sharing the parable of the minas, that his contemporaries thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately (Lk 19:11). In hindsight, we know that their thinking was incorrect. But today, the pendulum has swung the other way.

A branch of eschatology known as “realized eschatology” holds that the New Testament passages discussing the last days do not refer to the future, but to the rebirth of the world, instituted by Jesus’ ministry, and His lasting legacy. This line of thinking is attractive to liberal Christians who focus only on the love and goodness of God while disregarding His judgment. Such a view is contradictory to the Bible and the beliefs of the true church. However, some True Jesus Church believers behave as though they agree with this type of theology, going about their lives as though Jesus’ second coming will never happen. For them, now is the time to be rooted in the world. God can wait; the church can wait; spiritual cultivation can wait; and Christ’s second coming can wait. Such believers feel no sense of urgency whatsoever.

What about ourselves? We often prioritize our life and work, and allocate any remaining time and energy to church. When our personal schedule clashes with the church timetable, it is usually our service to God that suffers. How many times have we skipped church services or rushed off early because of private or work engagements? Church projects are delayed and deadlines missed. Yet, we defend our actions by stating that we are mostly volunteers, after all. Surely, such delays are inevitable. 

This complacency is not new. When the exiles returned to Jerusalem, they busied themselves with building their own homes and livelihoods, while God’s house lay in ruins (Hag 1:4). Paul reminded the members to set their minds on things above (Col 3:2), knowing that those with families would always put the latter before God (1 Cor 7:33). John likewise exhorted believers, “Do not love the world” (1 Jn 2:15). We need to reset our life’s direction and reignite our zeal for the coming kingdom. Paul’s heavenly hope enabled him to experience the power of renewal (2 Cor 4:16). The early church was devoted to God’s teaching and fellowship (Acts 2:42, 46). Luke used the term προσκαρτερέω (proskartereó), which is translated as “devote, continuing, steadfast, persevere and be constantly diligent.” If we reawaken this desire to draw near to God (Jas 4:8), then God will manifest Himself to us, just as He did in the apostolic church.

A LACK OF LOVE: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

Jesus prophesied that the love of many would grow cold in the last days because of deception, betrayal, hate and the increase of lawlessness (Mt 24:4–12). Today, we constantly hear news of terrorist attacks, scams, social injustice, and allegations of misinformation. We simply do not know what or whom to trust. Individuals take a defensive stance to safeguard their own interests, as well as to protect themselves and their families from harm. In the last two decades, society has been trending towards self-centeredness. Reality television and social media sway the public towards narcissism and exhibitionism, rewarding the individual’s pride and vanity. Paul called these people of the end time “lovers of themselves” and “lovers of money” (2 Tim 3:2).

Though such extreme behavior is rare in the church, an insidious sense of apathy towards the needs of others and the common good of the community can creep into the congregation. This is one of the greatest dangers in the end time—the growing apathy and disinterest towards our brethren. Some members are only interested in their own matters, doing the bare minimum for the church and leaving the “heavy lifting” to the ministers and church board members.

Self-centeredness is the complete opposite to Jesus’ nature. He took the form of a bondservant, the likeness of man, humbling Himself and becoming obedient to the point of death (Phil 2:7–9). He became poor so that we could become rich (2 Cor 8:9). We should emulate this self-sacrifice. We need to progress from being unlike Christ to “Christ-lite,” and, eventually, to Christ-like. Paul exhorted the Ephesian members to transition from merely learning about the theoretical aspects of being like Christ to actually becoming like Him, by putting on the new man in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:20–24). True righteousness is not accomplished through word alone, but also action. And even when we carry out acts of righteousness and love, we do not do it to gain admiration from others (1 Jn 3:18; Rom 12:9). God is love; hence, we should abide in His love (1 Jn 4:16). We imitate His love by loving our brethren and serving the church, both of which often require self-sacrifice (1 Jn 4:20–21). While doing such acts, we do not expect repayment; rather, we love and serve because Jesus did the same. If we manifest His love to others, then He is glorified (Mk 10:45; 1 Pet 4:8–11).

The early apostolic church was blessed by God. He increased their number daily and gave them signs and wonders because they knew how to love, share and give (Acts 2:44–45). Today, we encounter many obstacles to our growth, but often, we set up our own roadblocks. We have insufficient manpower, insufficient funds for church buildings, and insufficient numbers of volunteers dedicating themselves to full-time ministry. These result from self-centeredness, because we care for ourselves and our families more than we do for the body of Christ. We need to learn from the early church’s spirit of offering, trusting that the Lord will provide and will multiply the seeds we sow and the fruits of our righteousness (2 Cor 9:10).

A LACK OF PURITY

The half-hearted efforts of God’s people did not produce a magnificent second temple (Hag 2:3). But God did not associate their failure with a lack of material resources; after all, gold and silver belong to Him. The disappointing outcome was a product of their uncleanness (Hag 2:13). As a result, fifty measures became twenty, and twenty became ten (Hag 2:16). Their effort was ineffective because they did not turn to God and set their heart on Him (Hag 2:17–18).

We can clearly see how God responded to Israel’s uncleanness and half-heartedness. During those times, the Israelites suffered much loss. When the people turned from God, Moses warned them not to fight the Amalekites and the Canaanites because God was not with them. They did not listen and suffered defeat (Num 14:43, 45). Later, they would again be defeated by the men of Ai because of the sin of one person, Achan (Josh 7:5, 11–13).

When a church is not progressing, her members should reflect on why that might be. The church could be lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, like the church in Laodicea. God described the Laodiceans as poor, blind and naked (Rev 3:16–17): poor because they were spiritually impoverished; blind because they could not see their faults (Rev 3:18); and naked because they lacked good deeds and righteousness (Rev 16:15; 19:8). The prosperity of a church does not depend on her material wealth and the grandeur of the building, but on her spiritual vitality. A spiritually vibrant church is able to project her faith within her four walls and beyond, serving as an example for others to follow (1 Thess 1:8). The three greatest Christian attributes are faith, love, and hope (1 Cor 13:13); and these intangible attributes are manifested in the form of work, labor, and patience (1 Thess 1:3).

The author of Hebrews exhorts the believers to regain their spiritual vitality and “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb 12:12–13). The way to do this is to pursue holiness (Heb 12:14). God is holy, so He expects His people to be holy (1 Pet 1:15–17); but when His children are stiff-necked and corrupt, He will not dwell with them, lest He consume them (Ex 33:3–5; 32:7–9). To become holy, we need to control our minds and be obedient (1 Pet 1:13–14). He who sanctifies himself will be considered a “vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim 2:20–21). A sanctified church will be blessed with God’s abidance and power, which bring forth fruits of righteousness, to the glory and praise of God (Phil 1:11).

HOW CAN WE BECOME A GLORIOUS CHURCH?

When we reflect on our spiritual state and that of the church, it can seem a long way off from the glorious latter temple that God foresaw. We want to dedicate our life to God, but we are easily distracted. We want to believe, but our faith is insufficient. We want to love, but we only love those who love us (Mt 5:46). We proclaim that we uphold the truth, but we tread the same path as the Jews, who prided themselves on knowing the Law but failed to instruct themselves in it (Rom 2:20–24). Love, hope, faith and purity are the key building blocks of our belief. But the greatest danger for believers today is not practicing what they preach, and know, to be the truth. Belief is tainted with disbelief (Mk 9:24), actions are inhibited by procrastination, and our desire to draw near to God is hindered by our love of this world (Mt 13:22).

We need to overcome this inertia by not just knowing or doing God’s will, but by transforming and renewing our minds (Rom 12:2). Knowing the truth is important, but we focus more on knowledge at the expense of action. Doing good is important, but we do it inconsistently, sometimes reluctantly. This attitude can only get us so far.

The Bible prophesied that in God’s holy mountain, the church, there would be no pain. The wolf, bear, lion and leopard will become harmless—not because they are tamed, but because they are transformed (Isa 11:6–10). In the same vein, Paul exhorts the believers to be renewed in spirit, to put off the old man and put on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:22–24). But where do we get the motivation to transform? We are motivated by God’s love.

Paul was deeply touched by God’s love, as he viewed Christ’s death from a personal perspective: “[Christ] loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). Again, he writes:

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2 Cor 5:14–15)

Paul’s love for God is demonstrated by his “earnest desire” and “groan[ing]” to be with Christ (Phil 1:23; 2 Cor 5:2; Rom 8:23). We need to have this same desire in order to be transformed by the love of Christ.

Can we experience the same love that transformed Paul? Absolutely! God has given us His Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who transformed Paul. By this Spirit, the love of God has been poured out in our hearts (Rom 5:5). We simply need to open our hearts and allow God’s love to be poured in and to overflow. The Holy Spirit has not only allowed us to imbibe God’s love, but His transforming power has also set us free from sin (Rom 8:1–2). The word of God can sanctify us, but we need God’s power to carry out the word and to obey the truth by which our souls are purified (Jn 17:17; 1 Pet 1:22). With this transformation, God’s law is imprinted on our hearts and minds (Jer 31:33). With our fleshly heart sensitive to God’s love, we will be saved from defilement (Ezek 36:26–27, 29). If we fulfill His goodness and the work of faith with power (2 Thess 1:11–12), practicing brotherly love with purity and sincerity, then Jesus will be glorified in us, and us in Him.

CONCLUSION

When the first temple was completed, God made His presence felt by filling the temple with His glory (1 Kgs 8:11). In the apostolic church, God’s glory was manifested inwardly in the unity of the believers, their fellowship, gladness, simplicity of heart, and their steadfast adherence to the apostles’ teachings. Outwardly, God’s glory was manifested in selfless sacrifice, signs and miracles, praises to God, and the steady increase of believers (Acts 2:40–47).

When many accept the grace of the gospel, their thanksgiving abounds to the glory of God (2 Cor 4:15). If we wish to see Haggai’s prophecy realized, then we need to have the same conviction as Paul, who, quoting Psalm 116:10, writes: “I believed and therefore I spoke” (2 Cor 4:13). The early church flourished not because the members were eloquent or well-versed in the Scriptures, but because they played their part in propagating the gospel. Ordinary believers took the initiative to spread the word without waiting for instruction. They took up the ministry to preach to the Greeks and the hand of God was with them, bringing many to believe (Acts 11:19–21). Their devotion, obedience, liberal sharing and selfless service did not go unnoticed, so God was glorified in all things (Acts 2:46; 2 Cor 9:13; 1 Pet 4:11).

Jesus promised His believers that they would go on to do greater works than He has done (Jn 14:12). The prophecy of the Bible is not a futile hope; the glory of the latter temple will surely surpass that of the first temple, but only when we revive the zeal for God’s coming. We should “groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting” for it, with perseverance (Rom 8:23, 25). With this renewed focus and transformed mind and heart, we shall willingly dedicate our life to God (Rom 12:1–2). If we can lead this holy and selfless life, steadfast in the teaching of the Bible, God will manifest His glory in our life and in the church.