Tribulation: Temple or Tabernacle Tent, Part 2
Is a “temple” necessary for the tribulation? Would a tent of meeting structure or tabernacle work? After all, the antichrist needs something to defile.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 …who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Daniel 11:31 Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.
See also Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-16, Mark 13:14.
There are two Greek words in the New Testament used for the term “temple”. The meanings of the two terms are distinct and different from each other. The two Greek words are hieron and naos.
The focus of this post is the Greek term naos.
Naos: Used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice or sanctuary itself; consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies (in classical Greek it is used of the sanctuary or cell of the temple). Where the image of gold (Ark of the Covenant) was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure. Strong’s Concordance
Naos designates the sacred edifice consisting of two parts. The first is the sanctuary or Holy Place. Only priests were allowed to enter this area. The second is Holy of Holies or the most holy place. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter on the Day of Atonement.
http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=2411
Naos: a shrine or sanctuary. Naos among the Jews was the sanctuary in the Temple or hieron.
Examples of a priest entering the temple (naos in the Greek) are Luke 1:9, 21-22…according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. Zacharias was the high priest. This would be in accordance with the Law.
Jesus did not enter the temple or naos. His teaching was in the court of the temple or hieron. It would have been illegal for Jesus to enter the naos. If He would have, He would have been a sinner. Jesus is of the line of Judah. Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
The Greek word naos is used in two other contexts in the New Testament. One is for the Heavenly Temple. The second is for our physical body.
Revelation 11:19a And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple…
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
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