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Report by Pr Jeremiah Sim

The Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry praise and thank the Lord for His grace and mercy upon its members. As we recollect and commemorate 18 years of God’s goodness, care and faithfulness upon this ministry, we can’t help but to rejoice and be glad, like the psalmist who declared in Psalm 111:1-4, “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.”

It has been almost 4 years of restriction in meeting and travelling, due to the Covid virus forbidding us to travel abroad. Nonetheless, we rejoice and thank the Lord that this year, the restriction has been lifted, which enable us to travel to Malaysia. We are therefore able to hold our second Seniors’ Retreat at Holiday Inn Hotel, JB, Malaysia, in conjunction with the 18th Anniversary Thanksgiving of Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry. (We thank God for 43 participants in all.) Needless to say, the seniors were overwhelmed with joy in their hearts, as they have been earnestly looking forward to this 3 day-2 night retreat. We praise God for the much effort made for the smooth execution of the entire retreat. May God bless all the laborious efforts and logistical arrangements behind the scenes, as well as the labour of love put in by those brethren involved in much planning. We thank the Lord for aiding them in this whole retreat.

On the actual day of departure, we gathered joyfully with excitement at the Eunos open-air carpark near the MRT station at 9.15am, and prayed to the Lord for journey-mercies before we boarded the coach. The coach then proceeded to the second pick-up point at the Kranji MRT station area to fetch the rest of the brethren, before heading to Holiday Inn Hotel, JB, Malaysia. Praise God for His divine aid to bring us safely to the hotel, as well as for our safe return to Singapore after this retreat. Truly, this calls to our remembrance the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6 – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 

Having received our hotel room card-keys, we had some free time till 6pm, when we had a sumptuous dinner. Thereafter, we had our first service at 8pm. It was wonderful to witness not only the elderly, but also the teens who had joined us, raising our voices in one accord to glorify God with our singing. After that, we received our first message from Pastor Koshy, who preached from the Matthew 5:13-16, on the topic: “Salt and Light”. We were taught that as Christians, we are to influence others by our testimonies, and also to live our lives for the edification of the saints. After the service, we proceeded to have our refreshments amid fellowship, whereby we encouraged and exhorted one another in the Lord.

On Day 2 of our retreat, our worship began at 8.45am with singspiration. Throughout the day. Pastor continued to teach us from Matthew 5:13-16. As “salt and light”, we must be prepared always to declare the Gospel and God’s marvellous works to the people of this generation. We truly thank the Lord for the three messages of Day 2, which not only assured and strengthened us, but further reminded us that we have this incomparable privilege (as God’s children) to declare His truths.

On the final day before we make our way back to Singapore, we continued with our worship from 8am onwards, followed by Pastor’s 5th message from Matthew 5:13-16. He taught us that as light of the world, we must be ever ready to shine for the Lord and not shy away from His Gospel truth. We must seek the Lord to help us expose the errors of others and declare His truthful message.

After the 5th message, we had “testimony time”, where several brethren (namely Dns Diana Chan, Sis. Miriam Wong, Bro. Ong Chin, Sis. Kim Lei and Pr Jeremiah Sim) gratefully testified of the Lord’s grace and goodness upon their lives and their loved ones. Their encouraging testimonies have indeed stirred the hearts of many of those present to give glory and honour to God too. After our lunch, we checked out from the hotel at 2pm, and arrived back safe and sound in Singapore around 4pm. 

Throughout these 3 days, the seniors put into practice what they have learned by encouraging one another in the Lord. Many of them have been helpful to care for and help those who were feeble and not so mobile. Certainly, we thank the Lord for His protection throughout in our travelling. All praise be unto God!

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Testimonies

Ng Jui Keng

I am blessed to be one of the 40 plus ‘old folks’ who attended the Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry Retreat (26-28 April 2023), held at the JB Holiday Inn. We were privileged to have a few ‘younger’ members joining us who were very helpful towards those needing assistance. Thank God for these brethren – who indeed proved to be living examples of “salt and light”.

It was a joy and blessing for me to meet and interact with a number of our more aged members over meals, refreshments, chit-chat sessions and short walks (during the afternoon free time). There is nothing like spending a few days together to have several relaxing and heart-to-heart conversations with various brethren at different times.

On a spiritual level, I was particularly struck by Pastor Koshy’s statement that “being ‘salt and light’ to both the Christian and non-Christian communities, is not optional but a command from Jesus”. In Matt 5:3-10, Jesus taught us how we are to live our lives according to the Beatitudes’ instructions. In Matt 5:11-12, Jesus warns us that the world will mock and persecute us as their worldview is contrary to what the Beatitudes teach. In the midst of this, we are commanded in Matt 5:13-16 to be “salt” in our interaction with the world, and to be “light” in pointing to Jesus Christ as well as sharing the Good News. As Jesus has said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

As “salt”, we must exhibit purity in speech and life. Through holy living, we can demonstrate the preservation impact of salt, as the world can receive peace and grace from God through our obedience to His Word. (A direct impact is the reduction of bitterness and moral decay in the community.) “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:2).

Ong Chin (translated from Chinese to English)

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1).

I want to praise God for bringing us to attend this 18th Anniversary Thanksgiving Retreat of the Senior’s Ministry. Praise God for allowing our pastor, Pastor Koshy, to preach God’s Word to us, on the topic: “The Salt of the World and the Light of the World”. This is the duty of all Christians and how all of us must strive to be. I, together with my wife, have learnt much from this retreat. Praise God also for the fellowship we had together with the brothers and sisters in Christ. Praise God! 

Hannah Wong 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 

I would like to thank God for granting me the opportunity to accompany my grandparents to attend the Seniors’ Ministry 18th Anniversary Thanksgiving Retreat. Praise God for the safety He has granted to each and every one of the participants, especially to the elderly folks. Praise God also for the fellowship that we had with one another during the free time. I am thankful to God for Pr Jeremiah, Elder Mah and the rest of the organisers who helped make the retreat a smooth one, especially when there were some problems on the first day. 

Thank God also for the fruitful time of listening to God’s Word, whereby I have learnt much from the preaching by Pastor Koshy on the theme: “Salt and Light”, based on Matthew 5:13-16. As salt and light of the world, Christians must be effective, useful vessels of God, bringing ‘taste’ and ‘light’ to the world around us, so that our testimony may be a blessing to many. We are saved to serve, and not saved to be served. I pray that I will be a shining light to those around me, both in the present and in the future. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Mary Pang

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13).

Because of the lack of refrigeration in the early days, salt was used to preserve food (especially meat), which would quickly spoil in a hot environment. Believers in Christ are like “preservatives” to the world, preserving it from the evil inherent in the society of ungodly men, whose unredeemed nature go hand in hand with corruption by sin. (cf. Psalm 14:3; Romans 8:8).

The analogy of light to the world teaches us that the good works of Christ’s followers are to “shine” for all to see. Matthew 5:14-16 highlight this truth: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The presence of Christians must be like a light in the darkness, bringing light to sinful men and doing good deeds which ought to be evident for all to see. Only by remaining focused on Christ and being obedient to Him, can we expect to remain as “salt and light” in the world.

Kim Lei

I have been truly blessed by fellowshipping with members of our Seniors’ Ministry for the past one decade. The Lord had done great things to our seniors in our midst. They are sober, humble, peaceable, loving and compassionate to one another. May the name of the Lord be magnified. “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head” (Prov 20:29). 

Being directed by the Lord to be involved with the Seniors’ Ministry has helped me to grow spiritually. I learnt how to interact with the elderly, how to comfort them when they are struggling with their health issues, loneliness and distress, how to assure them of the Lord’s comfort and presence in their every situation. Thank God also for the faithful preaching of our leaders (Pr. Jeremiah, Eld Mah and Pr. Daniel), as well as their care and patience towards every one of us in this ministry. 

Praise the Lord for enabling Pastor Koshy to teach us during the retreat on the topic: ‘Salt and Light’, based on Matthew 5:13-16. Thank the Lord for reminding me that the Lord sent light while I was in the valley of darkness. I also learnt that:

We should not be a “hidden” Christian, but be wise to be “light” to help others. “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward” (Isa 58:8).

We should be useful “salt”, to bring flavour to His people. We should live as a peacemaker with a pure heart, by following the example of our Lord Jesus.

May the Lord bless our seniors for many more years, that they may worship Him and serve Him as ‘salt and light’ for His glory.

Yin May Nee

I am very thankful to God that my mother, her caregiver and I could attend the retreat. Truly, thank God that none fell ill or had any accident (like falls) during the retreat, especially since we’re having the retreat amid another Covid infection wave, coupled with occasional heavy rainfall during the afternoon break (when many elderly brethren left the hotel for short walkabouts in the nearby shopping mall). 

The topic of “Salt & Light”, preached by Pastor Koshy, was a timely reminder to all that it’s appointed unto us by Christ to be the “salt of the earth and light of the world”, despite our frailty as we age. To be “salt”, we are to influence quietly through prayers, being self-sacrificial in love, being pure-hearted and useful – much like salt which dissolves in the food, thus making it tasty. Furthermore, there are times when God wants us to shine our “light” through Jesus – by standing up against the darkness of sins in this world, sharing the Gospel and making ourselves a blessing to others. That means we cannot be a dim light, but be shining brightly for Christ when God wants us to do so. We are reminded that we are saved to serve both God and men, as well as to care for others more than ourselves. 

Praise the Lord that the messages were preached in English, and translated to Mandarin by Pr Daniel Lim, so that even our Chinese-speaking seniors could benefit from them. All praise and glory to God!

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:47-58
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 14th May 2023

First, hear the Word with attentiveness. Jesus urged His followers, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15; cf. Matt. 13:9, 43; Mk. 4:9, 23; 7:16; Lk. 8:8; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). 

Second, receive the Word with understanding. The Lord Jesus expects us to receive the Word of God with faith and understanding. He said, “Hear, and understand” (Matt. 15:10; cf. Matt. 13:19). Let us pray, when we hear the Word, that the Lord will open our understanding (cf. Luke 24:45; Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9). In His parable of the seed and the soil, Jesus said of a good hearer of the Word: “…he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matt. 13:23).

Third, abide in the Word with faith.  Jesus said to those who professed to believe in Him, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (Jn. 8:31). Hebrews 4:2 explains why some who heard and understood the preached Word do not enter the eternal rest of heaven – “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (cf. Heb. 4:6). May it be said of us, like it was testified about the Thessalonian believers, that “… when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13; cf. 1 Jn. 2:14).

Fourth, esteem the Word above all necessities. Job said, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Regarding highly the Word of God above the necessary meals of a day is the proper attitude of a believer (cf. Deut 8:3; Matt. 4:4; 1 Pet. 2:2). 

Fifth, love the Word and meditate on it.  In Psalm 119:97, the psalmist expressed his love for the Word, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (cf. Ps. 119:48, 113, 127, 159, 165, 167).

Sixth, obey the Word and be pure. All God’s children who desire to please the LORD by keeping themselves pure will have a commitment to His Word. The psalmist said, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word” (Psalm 119:101). He hastened himself to obey the Word – “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments” (Psalm 119:60). Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23).

Seventh, declare the Word and defend it. Jesus said to a hesitating disciple, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). The apostle Paul reminded the church in Rome concerning its duty to spread the Word – “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:14-15; cf. 2 Tim. 4:2). God also expects us to defend or safeguard the Word committed to us (1 Tim. 1:11; 6:20; cf. 2 Tim. 1:13-14; Rev. 3:3), by not adding or subtracting from it (Deut. 4:2; cf. Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19).

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Testimonies of Youths from Calvary Kuching B-P Church (II)

Testimony of Salvation of Daniel Teo

I was born in a Christian family on September 5th, 2002, in Kuching. I was baptized on Christmas Day that year in a local Methodist church. As a young boy, I attended Sunday School in the Methodist church, but did not pay much attention to the message. Sometimes, I even questioned myself, “Why do we have to go to church every Sunday?” And also, “Why do we have to pray all the time before every meal?” I felt like I was lost in a maze without direction. 

Then, my life changed in 2014, when my father introduced me to Pastor Koshy from Gethsemane B-P Church. Pastor Koshy’s sermons moved my heart, and they made me want to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But after a few months, I began to question myself regarding whether I was really a born-again Christian. Then in 2017, when I was reading some Gospel tracts, some of the stories I read touched my heart, and they caused me to fear God. At that moment, I cried to the Lord, “Dear God, I admit that I am a lost sinner. Please save me!” And I felt the burden in my heart being completely lifted, and being “rolled down the hill”, just like the experience of the character of John Bunyan in “The Pilgrim’s Progress” story. 

Today, I serve the Lord in church as a pianist. I thank the Lord for giving me the gift in music. I pray that I will use this gift faithfully for His glory.

Testimony of Salvation of Samuel Teo

By God’s grace, I was born into a Christian family. From young, I have been taught about Jesus Christ and how He came down from heaven to die for helpless sinners. 

My family and I used to worship at a Methodist church before coming to know of Calvary Kuching B-P Church (CKBPC) in 2011, where we started attending the Evening Chinese Worship Service there. In 2014, it became clear to us that it was God’s will for us to leave the Methodist church after they introduced the idea of letting children partake the Lord’s Supper. By God’s providence, we came to know of the livestreaming of Gethsemane B-P Church’s Lord’s Day service, and started “attending” the English service from home. In due course, the English service of CKBPC was started (August 2015), and we have frequent visiting preachers from Gethsemane to minister to us. We also started to have Youth Fellowship meetings, mainly led by Pr Samson.

During my younger days, I was simply a professing Christian without giving much thought about sin and how it affected my testimony for Christ (even though I’ve said the sinner’s prayer). I was very hot-tempered and unable to control my emotions, often bursting out amongst my peers, not realising how much it had undermined my testimony for Christ. At one point, I even blurted words out of anger in front of my peers, only to realise how severe a damage it had done to my Christian testimony afterwards. Being ashamed of my sinful thoughts and actions, I submitted myself to the Lord by praying the sinner’s prayer once again in 2019.

By God’s gracious guidance, my attitude slowly changed, and God has helped me to become more patient and courteous towards others. I started to consider whether my actions are glorifying to God. During the Covid lockdown period, when our family spent more time together in devotion, I’ve also grown deeper in the faith, and in the love for Christ and His Word. There were still times when I sinned and returned to my old ways, but unlike my younger days, I would feel remorseful and that God being far from me. But I thank God that He is ever forgiving, gracious, and merciful in guiding me in my Christian walk, no matter how many times I’ve failed Him. 

I am thankful to the Lord for the reaffirmation of my faith. I pray that the Lord will continue to guide me to grow in my Christian faith, by prayer and meditation of His Word daily, as well as by bringing the Gospel message to those around me. May the name of Jesus be greatly praised!

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 7th May 2023

Jesus repeatedly forewarned about a fiery hell, which the just wrath of God against the unrepentant sinners has prepared. 

Jesus used the Greek word Gehenna more than ten times, to refer to the unquenchable fire of hell (Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mk. 9:43, 45, 47; Lk. 12:5; cf. James 3:6). He never used gehenna to merely indicate the realm of the dead, which is identified by a different Greek word, hades. 

Gehenna originates from the valley of Hinnom, located just south of Jerusalem (Josh. 15:8; 18:16; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6; Neh. 11:30; Jer. 7:31-32; 19:2, 6; 32:35), which was associated with the wicked practices of infant sacrifice to Molech, a pagan deity of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:7). There they would sacrifice the children by burning them to death (2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; Jer. 32:35). Such heinous, abominable practice of the apostate Jews was prohibited by the LORD (Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5) and strongly condemned (Jer. 7:31-32; 32:35)! Certain wicked kings, like Ahaz (cf. 2 Chron. 28:3) and Manasseh (before he repented; cf. 2 Chron. 33:6), sacrificed their children in the valley of Hinnom. During the reformation of the godly king Josiah, the place of sacrifice in the valley of Hinnom was destroyed, and it was turned into a garbage dump, where a fire constantly burned to incinerate rubbish. It thus became a graphic illustration of eternal hell, a place where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched!

Hell is indeed a place of fire and torment! Revelation 20:14-15 describes hell as “the lake of fire”. The phrase “lake of fire” occurs in Revelation a total of six times (19:20; 20:10, 14 [twice], 15; 21:8). The lake of fire is the place where the wicked will suffer the torments of hell eternally. It is the place in which the wicked spend eternity in torment. John the Baptizer referred to hell as “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12; cf. Luke 3:17). Jesus referred to hell as “everlasting fire” (Matthew 18:8), and “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). He also described hell as “the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43-44; cf. 9:48).

Gehenna, or hell, is where Satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet will be cast into forever. Revelation 20:10 says, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” The Epistle of Jude also testifies to the eternality of hell fire, which is reserved for the wicked. Jude refers to hell’s torment as “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7)!

In Revelation 20:14-15, casting the wicked dead into the lake of fire is called “the second death”. It does not denote, as some say, annihilation or complete destruction of a person. According to their false teaching, the soul and body of the wicked will be completely destroyed, such that they will not suffer eternal torment in hell or the lake of fire. Such a teaching of annihilation is unscriptural.

Jesus challenged everyone to deal radically with sin, or be cast into the eternal garbage pit of hell, or the “furnace of fire” (Matt. 13:42; cf. Mk 9:43-44), where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:13). Those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ do not have to fear eternal hell. In Revelation 20:6, it is said, concerning the believers, that “on such the second death hath no power”. This is also affirmed in Rev. 20:15, which declares that “whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” He will never blot out the names of those who have trusted in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. The comfort of the believers is that their names are recorded in the Book of Life, and that they shall remain secure in the possession of the Lamb who was slain for them.

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Testimonies of Youths from Calvary Kuching B-P Church

Testimony of Salvation of Dominic Chung

At a young age, I was taught by my Christian parents about the truths of God’s Word. I thank the Lord for blessing me with parents who guided me through many obstructions to my spiritual growth and my faith in God. When we moved to Kuching, we went to a Methodist church. The teachings in the church were not in depth. That was not ideal for my family, so we would often search for other churches that were more sound in the teaching of the Bible. During this “spiritually dry” period of my life, I was close to many non-Christian friends, who greatly influenced my thinking and my actions. Just as I thought there was no hope for my spiritual well-being, my mother “chanced upon” Calvary Kuching BP Church. At first, I was not used to its lengthy service and would find it tiring, but gradually I adapted to it, learning many new things about the truths of the Bible.

I want to thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to listen to all the sermons throughout the years. I also want to thank the Lord for Pastor Koshy and the preachers who have come to Kuching just to preach God’s Word. I have been reminded that I am solely a sinner – and how much God loved us that He sent His only Son to die for us and save us from our sins. Through the many messages, I have learned to trust and obey, as it is said in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  I have also been exhorted to beware of getting tempted by the world, knowing that its temptation is only temporary while believing in God will bring eternal life. I pray that in my Christian walk, I may continue to serve the Lord and live according to His will. I pray that I may be able to bear a good testimony to be “salt and light” of the world.

Testimony of Salvation of Gabriel Teo

I was born in a Christian family. My dad and mum are Christians, and they are the ones who brought me to know the Lord Jesus Christ since I was young. I was taught that Christ is our only Saviour, and that we should believe in Him to have eternal life. After knowing that I cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven without our sins forgiven by Him, I, being a sinner, was worried that I would not be able to be in heaven with my loved ones. And that was the time I confessed to the Lord that I am a sinner, and I need Him to be my Saviour, that I may have eternal life. 

After believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, I found that my life has changed a lot, compared to the people in the world. I find joy in Christ as He has helped me, and has also been so gracious and merciful to me in my life. As a Christian, I need to meditate on God’s Word each day, that I may be more spiritually mature. My prayer is that the Lord will guide me each day, so that I will not be influenced by the world, but to be a good witness for Him.

Sermon Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 30th April 2023

There will be a temple during the millennial reign of Christ. We read in Zechariah 6:12–13, “Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” 

The temple mentioned in the above prophetical revelation is not yet built. It is clearly stated that the temple of this prophecy is to be built by none other than “The BRANCH”, who is Jesus Christ Himself. In several prophetical passages, Christ is referred to as “the Branch” who will sit on the throne of David to rule the world. “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isa. 11:1). “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jer. 23:5; cf. Luke 1:32–33). 

We know that the Branch, the Lord Jesus Christ, built none of the two temples of the past. Nor would he be implicated in the erecting of the tribulation temple. Therefore, we can expect a fourth temple to be built when Christ returns.

Ezekiel’s Prophecy of the Millennial Temple

The fourth temple that will be built – during the millennial rule of Christ – is also known as “Ezekiel’s Temple”, for the temple and its system of worship are described in great detail by Ezekiel the prophet (Ezek 40–46). Some interpreters reject the literal meaning of Ezekiel 40–48, and view the description as figurative of the New Testament Church. They go to great lengths to explain away the measurements and specifications of the temple building. Such a symbolic view seems forced. A natural reading of the text points to a literal physical temple. The golden rule of interpretation is: “When the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense.”

Some suggest that the plans were for a temple to replace the first temple which the Babylonians had destroyed. But the structure of the second temple did not match the one described in Ezekiel 40–46. The natural conclusion is that Ezekiel’s record of the temple is prophetic. Since this prophecy of the temple is set in the context of Israel’s national and spiritual restoration at the beginning of the millennium, we conclude that it is a millennial temple. Moreover, other prophetical books also reveal facts about the millennial temple and the offering of sacrifices.

Besides Ezekiel 40–46, other prophecies in the Bible talk about a millennial temple. Consider the following:

“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him” (Isa 56:6–8).

“In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually” (Jer 33:15–18).

“For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen” (Ezek 20:40-41).

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (Zech 14:16).

What Will the Future Millennial Temple Be Like?

The final eight chapters of the Book prophesy the future millennial temple that will be built. Israel does not have a temple now. But when Christ returns to reign from Jerusalem, there shall be a glorious temple. Here are some of its major aspects:

It will be a temple like no other. No building has ever been built like the one described in Ezekiel 40:1–46:24. This fact proves that it still has to be in the future.

The temple will be filled with the LORD’s glory. Ezekiel describes a picture of the “glory of the LORD” entering into His temple, which he had previously seen as departing from the temple of his day (Ezek 43:1–5; cf. 11:23).

The temple will be the place of the LORD’s throne. Ezekiel also wrote about the voice of God that declared that this temple will be “the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever ...” (Ezek 43:7).

There will be feasts and sacrifices. In Ezekiel 40, burnt offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings are mentioned (40:39). The bullock, the he-goat, and the ram are to be offered (43:19–25). The blood is to be sprinkled on the altar (43:18). The meat offering is also incorporated (42:13). Morning sacrifices will be offered daily (46:13). The priests who are Levites are to officiate (43:19). Moreover, several feasts will also be instituted. The Passover feast will be observed again (45:21–25), and annually the feast of tabernacles will be commemorated (45:25). The year of Jubilee will be observed too (43:4–5).

The millennial sacrificial order appears very similar to the Aaronic sacrificial order. However, there are many significant differences between them. In the new millennial order, some of the significant features of the old sacrificial system will be changed or deleted. Not only has the temple’s measurements changed, but also the holy places have hardly anything like the furniture that had stood in the Tabernacle of Moses or the Temple of Solomon. We also observe that not all Levites will serve as priests, but only the sons of Zadok. (Zadok was a priest loyal to David and Solomon in times of rebellion against their rule. Zadok thus stands representative of the priesthood in association with the king of God’s choice and with the millennial kingdom as established by Him in David’s seed.) The Zadokian priesthood in the millennium thus differs significantly from the Aaronic priesthood.

It is also significant to note that many things that were part of the earlier temples are not mentioned as being part of the future. For example, there is no ark of the covenant, no pot of manna, no rod of Aaron, no tables of the Law, no cherubim, no mercy-seat, no golden candlestick, no shewbread, no veil, no unapproachable Holy of Holies where the high priest alone might enter, no high priest, no evening sacrifice, etc.

Although those things are absent, there are new things added to the millennial temple and its order. They are the glory of the Lord entering and abiding forever, the living waters that flow from beneath the altar, wonderful trees of healing, new distribution of land according to the 12 tribes, etc.

How can a sacrificial system exist when Christ has already died to atone for sins? There are those who object to a sacrificial system in the millennium. Their argument is that the idea of a sacrificial system in the millennium would mean that Christ’s atoning death was insufficient. It would be a reinstatement of a system that was abolished by Christ’s death. In answer to this, it must be made clear that animal sacrifices are not necessary for salvation. In the Old Testament, none was saved by trusting in animal sacrifices. The sacrifices served only as types and symbols. They point to Christ and His death. Similarly, in the millennium, none would be trusting in animal sacrifices for atonement. Scripture clearly teaches that it is only when the Jews repent and look to Jesus as the only Redeemer that they are delivered from all their sins and tribulations. The millennial sacrifices do not save. They function as reminders. They remind people of what Christ had already done on the cross.

Those who object to a millennial temple believe that the Old Testament sacrifices, which have been abrogated in the church age, would never be reinstated. But, as we noted earlier, it is incorrect to say that the millennial sacrificial system is exactly the same as that of the Old Testament. There are similarities and differences. The marked differences show us that the millennial sacrifices will be unique and distinct in their features (see Ezek 40:1–46:24; Isa 56:7; 66:20–23; Jer 33:18; Zech 14:16–21; Mal 3:3–4). However, the purpose is the same—not to offer a means of salvation, but to serve as a memorial of Christ’s death. Therefore, the millennial sacrifices will not minimise but maximise the importance and necessity of the cross-work of Christ.

There is another objection to a literal millennial temple in Jerusalem. The question is raised: Is it not impossible to build a temple of Ezekiel’s description at the ancient site? The temple area described by Ezekiel is larger than that of the ancient temple. However, Scripture records that the topography of Jerusalem will change when Christ returns. For instance, Mount Olives will split open, making a valley that runs through the land from east to west (Zech 14:4). Ezekiel’s description of the renewed city of the millennium portrays vast changes to it, including a river running out of it to the east and west (Ezek. 47:1–12). This surely would provide the space necessary for the millennial temple.

God’s Word shall be utterly fulfilled. The Lord told Ezekiel to pay attention to and declare all that was shown to him. “Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel” (Ezek. 40:4). 

The prophecy was to encourage the Jewish people with the promise of Jerusalem’s restoration and glory under the Messiah’s reign. It also educates us about our Lord’s omniscience, omnipotence and faithfulness that will cause all His words to be fulfilled.

Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 23rd April 2023

Gethsemane Bible Institute (GBI) classes on Ezekiel just ended last week. We thank God for all who attended it. The climax of the study of the Book was its prophetical description of a future temple, which we refer to as the Millennial Temple. Here is an overview of the Temples of Israel. 

Temples of the Past

There were two temples in the past. Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem, which was eventually destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 BC. Some 70 years later, Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, built the second temple and the walls of the city. This second temple was greatly enlarged and expanded by Herod the Great who recruited about 10,000 labourers to work on the second temple. It was in this latter temple that Jesus was dedicated. There He taught the Jews many a time, and cast out the money-changers on two occasions. 

Jesus also predicted its destruction: “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew 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” (Matt 24:1–2). As prophesied, the second temple was destroyed in AD 70 by the Roman general Titus.

The Temple Mount of the Present

Since AD 70, the Jews have no temple. This situation was predicted by Hosea the prophet in 746 BC: “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:4-5).

In AD 634, the temple mount was taken over by the Muslims. In 1099, the Crusaders captured it and turned the mosques into churches. Saladin returned it to Arab rule in 1187. The Jews liberated the temple mount from Jordanian control in the Six-Day War of 1967, but later returned it to the custody of the Muslim Waqf (Jordan). Today, the “Dome of the Rock” is situated near the centre of the temple mount, with the Al Aqsa Mosque built at its southern end.

Temples of the Future

There will be two temples in Jerusalem. The first will exist in the seven-year tribulation period, and the second in the millennial period.

The Tribulation Temple

During the tribulation period, there will be a place of sacrifice for the Jews, which the Antichrist will eventually desecrate. In Daniel 9:27, we read that the Antichrist (“the prince”) “shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”. The word “week” literally means “seven”. In the context of this verse, it refers to a seven-year period which will begin when Antichrist makes a covenant with the Jews. But in the middle of that period (i.e. after three and a half years), he will break his covenant with the Jews by ending their sacrifices and desecrating their place of worship. Though the word “temple” does not appear in Daniel 9:27, other Scripture portions that deal with the last days indicate the presence of a “temple” in Jerusalem. Jesus, in His message on the end times, foretold that the “abomination of desolation”, already mentioned in Daniel 9:27, shall desecrate “the holy place” (Matt 24:15).

What could Jesus have meant by the phrase “the holy place”? In the only other New Testament passage where the phrase is used, it plainly refers to the temple itself (Acts 21:28). David also referred to the temple as the Lord’s holy place (Ps 24:3). Moreover, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, Paul said that the Antichrist will desecrate the temple: “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 sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Therefore, we conclude that there will be a temple in Jerusalem during the tribulation period – just as Daniel, Jesus and Paul had predicted.

(Next week, more on the future millennial temple.) 

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Update from Vizag, India

Dear Pastor,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

By God’s grace, we have some brethren regularly coming for our worship services. It has been our prayer and desire to teach them basic Bible doctrines, and add them to the communicant membership of the church. We managed to conduct two batches of “Basic Bible Knowledge” catechism class thus far. Those who finished these lessons have been given membership in our church on last Lord’s Day. All in, nine members who are part of the English services in City and Kotapadu have been given membership. We look forward to conducting catechism classes for Telugu worshippers in their local language, and issuing membership for them too. In the early church, members who became part of the church continued gathering even daily in houses for worship. They remained in fellowship with the church “with gladness and singleness of heart”. The Lord also added more members to the church (Acts 2:46-47). Please pray that all of us who become part of the church here, will also grow in the Lord and in the fellowship of the church.

We are coming to the end of another semester in the Gethsemane Bible Institute (GBI). Three students (Palivela Bujjibabu, Anand Taneti and Doddi Chinnarao), who have just finished their courses, will be graduating this year. We are planning for the Graduation and Thanksgiving Service on 3rd May 2023.  Thank you for confirming your availability to visit us and preach during this service. We look forward to the reopening of the college in July 2023. We do have some new enquiries (for admission to GBI) from other states like Odisha and Meghalaya. Hope that these students will be able to seek enrolment soon, and join us for the upcoming semester. 

Incidentally, the owner of the premises, which we currently use for GBI in Kotapadu, is preparing to sell the school and land. I heard from him that he is in the final stages of documentation work to take advance and sell it. It seems that he will officially finish the sale within four or five months. Please do pray for the provision of a new place for the college. I will be looking for suitable places available for rental during this term break.

We are grateful for the prayers and support of the church for the ministry here. May the Lord continue to bless the ministries of the church in Singapore and in other parts of the world. 

In Christ,
Sujith Samuel

Sermon Text: Psalm 41
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 16th April 2023