[Strongs Greek Dictionary] 02411 (English: Temple)
ἱερόν hierón, hee-er-on' neuter of 2413; a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts, whereas 3485 [naós] denotes the central sanctuary itself (of the Temple in Jerusalem, or elsewhere).
The Biblical authors did not read what we wrote, nor interpret what we said. The Bible does not use our own personal choices of terminology.
The Bible's authors chose the words they would use in reference to the physical temple structure in Jerusalem, as well as in reference to the holy place or actual Tabernacle of God where the Spirit of God is present.
Christian Bible-teachers can - and many do - ignore the Biblical terminology used by the authors of the Bible when they interpret the Bible the way they choose to, turning what is written about the assembled body of Christ and the assemblies of Christ into a reference to something else.
However, the Bible does not use our terminology. It uses its own. We can either align our interpretation with Biblical terminology, or continue to misconstrue what is written.
EVERY reference to Jesus entering the temple in the gospels uses the word hieron (without exception). Jesus was not a priest according to Mosaic law and was not allowed into the holy place (naos). This is a clear indication that naos refers only to the holy place|actual sanctuary of God in the temple.
The New Testament makes a distinction between a made-with-human hands building (G2411 hieron) on one hand, and the (G3485 naos) sanctuary of God on the other hand, where God's Spirit dwells:
* Only once in the New Testament is naós NOT referring to the sanctuary of God: Acts 19:24.
Jesus said,
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." (Matthew 18:20).
What the Greek calls naós in the above verses (the New Testament Temple) is the living stones (1 Peter 2:5) that make up the temple: In the New Testament Temple, any church building, including its seats or pews, its platform and its pulpit, is the equivalent of the Greek word hierón (the temple complex).
Regarding Jesus in the Temple
In the Old Testament Temple, the naós was separated from the rest of the temple complex by a wall. Only the priests were permitted in the naós (holy place & sanctuary), and only the High Priest was allowed access once a year into the "holy of holies".
Jesus was not a priest in terms of Moses' law and was not allowed into the naós (the holy places, where only the priests were allowed). Therefore it would be inconsistent if any verse in the gospels telling about Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem, used the word naós. However, the Greek never does. Whenever you read of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem, the Greek word employed for "temple", is hierón.
Likewise it would be inconsistent if, where we read that Jesus told the Jews that His body is the Temple of God, the Greek word used was hierón, which refers to the made-with-human-hands temple complex in Jerusalem. However, where you read that Jesus told the Jews that His body is the Temple of God, the Greek word employed for "temple", is naós.
Hierón is always used in reference to the made-with-human-hands temple complex in Jerusalem, and naós is always used in reference to:-
(a) the holy place/most holy place that was inside the temple complex (i.e the place where the presence of God dwelt); or
(b) to the body of Christ (the place where the presence of God dwells); or
(c) to the bodies of individual saints (the place where the presence of God dwells); or
(d) to the congregations of the saints (the place where the presence of God dwells); or
(e) to the temple in heaven (in the Revelation).
None of the verses referring to the temple of God found in (a), (b), ( c ), (d) and (e) use the word hierón. Not even once - and the very last time that naós is used in reference to the temple in Jerusalem, is in the verses telling about the tearing of the veil in the naós.
Regarding 2 Thessalonians 2:4
When Paul wrote his letters to the churches at Corinth, Ephesus and Thessaloniki, he used the word hierón in reference to the temple in Jerusalem (which was still standing) in 1 Corinthians 9:13.
However Paul consistently used the word naós when speaking about the bodies of individual Christians, and the congregations of Christians as the tabernacle (temple) of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 & 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; and Ephesians 2:21-22).
Regarding the temple in Revelation 11:1-2
The following are the only places in the New Testament where a reference is made to "the holy city":-
then in the Revelation:
The "cities" mentioned in the Revelation are:-
- 1. "Babylon the Great".
- 2. The city "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt".
- 3. The cities of the nations which fell when the 7th bowl of wrath was poured out.
- 4. "New Jerusalem".
There are no verses in the Revelation where "Babylon the Great", or the city "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt", or the cities of the nations which fell when the 7th bowl of wrath was poured out, are called "the holy city",
but the Revelation calls New Jerusalem "the holy city" three times:
- Revelation 11:2 is talking about the holy city. The temple that Revelation 11:1 is referring to is the naós - it uses the word naós for "temple".
- The other city referred to in Revelation chapter 11, is referred to as a city that is "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." (Revelation 11:8).
THE HOLY CITY
But you have come to Mount Zion
and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to an innumerable company of angels,
to the general assembly and church of the first-born
who are written in Heaven,
and to God the judge of all,
and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
(Hebrews 12:22-24)
"For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem from above is free, who is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4:25-26).
- Revelation 21:2 & 9-10 tell us that New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, the Lamb's wife (so it's referring to persons).
- In Ephesians 2:19-22 the apostles are called "the foundation" of the church, i.e the bride of Christ.
- Revelation 21:14 tells us that New Jerusalem has twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- The sardius, topaz, emerald, sapphire, amethyst, beryl, onyx, and jasper which are named as the stones of the foundations of New Jerusalem, are the exact same stones contained in the high priest's breastplate in Exodus 28:17-21, where each stone represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Revelation 21:19-20 they represent the twelve apostles of the Lamb. No doubt all twelve stones are the same type of stone, though different words are used between Exodus 28:17-21 and Revelation 21:19-20 for four of the stones.
- Christians are told that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (compare Ephesians 1:20 with Ephesians 2:6).
- We are told Christ entered into the heavenly temple on our behalf (Hebrews 8:1-2; Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:24), and we are told He IS the temple (Revelation 21:22), and we are told Christ is in us and we are in Him (John 14:20).
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There is also no biblical reason for us to assume that those who rose again from the dead when Jesus rose (Matthew 27:53) entered into the city Paul said was in bondage with her children, rather than into New Jerusalem. There is no historical record of anyone in Jerusalem seeing resurrected saints appear to them.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in a sanctuary (naos) made with hands."
Revelation 11:1-3
"And a reed like a rod was given to me. And the angel stood, saying, Rise up and measure the sanctuary (naós) of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. But leave out the court which is outside the sanctuary (naós), and do not measure it, for it was given to the nations. And they will trample the holy city forty-two months.
And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Revelation 13:5-7
"And a mouth speaking great things was given to the beast, and blasphemies. And authority was given to him to continue forty-two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those dwelling in Heaven.
And it was given to him to war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and tongue and nation.".
Just like the apostasy that took place in the days of Antiochus IV Epiphanes when they worshiped the idol in the Holy Place, there will be a falling away:
"Let not anyone deceive you by any means with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him:
That Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the sanctuary (naós) of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.
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