Updated March 4, 2021.
Español
The first parable of the vineyard appears on (Mat 20:1-16), verse 1 clearly explains it is about the kingdom of GOD. “[1] For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.” KJV. But the vineyard is not the kingdom of GOD, the man seems to be GOD and the household, where the vineyard is, is the Kingdom.
The first laborers called were the sons of Israel, and they agreed to do the work for a penny a day. “[2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.” KJV.
From verses 3 to 7 the man hires more laborers at different hours of the day to tend to his vineyard. “[3] And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,… [7] They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” KJV. These late laborers kept coming in almost until the end of the day, and fair payment was offered to all of them.
Verse 8 is very interesting, “[8] So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.” KJV. The steward was in charge of paying the laborers what they deserved for their work starting from the one hired last. This steward is obviously JESUS, and the laborers hired after the job started are the Christians.
Verses 9 and 10 record the payment given to all the laborers. “[9] And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. [10] But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.” KJV. All of them received the same payment, and those who came to work first were paid last.
Verses 11 and 12 show how the Jews reacted to the steward paying the same to all of them. “[11] And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, [12] Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.” KJV. But they complained against GOD for they did not understand that what the Messiah (steward) was bringing them was the Gospel and the promise of the HOLY SPIRIT.
If you accept JESUS you will receive the HOLY SPIRIT. (John 7:38-39), “[38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” KJV.
from verses 13 to 16 GOD explains why HE gave the same payment to all. “[13] But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? [14] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. [15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? [16] So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” KJV. GOD pays all the same amount, for that is all that he who works for HIM in HIS vineyard would ever need, the Gospel and the promise of the HOLY SPIRIT. But those who were called first do not understand HIM for they have rejected the SPIRIT of the LORD with their talmudic traditions. They feel cheated for their payment wasn’t what they were expecting specially if anyone can get the same by doing the work for a shorter time. They want something more, even though the SPIRIT of GOD is all you need to get to the Kingdom. They want something that is not from the Kingdom but from this world. For the Kingdom of GOD is not what they seek.
OK, now that we have identified the characters and their intentions lets identify the times of this parable.
The man going early in the morning to find laborers can be compared to the time when GOD finds Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to work for HIM. Then after a while the sons of Jacob inherit the job.
At the third, sixth even unto the eleventh hour more people is added to the job. Who are this people and why are they being called?
We know that GOD gave instructions to Moses to build the Tabernacle of GOD and the Arc of the Covenant. And the Levites were charged with the caring of the Tabernacle and the carrying of the Arc of the Covenant.
The sons of Levi were also instructed not to mix their seed with the peoples of the land, they had to remain pure to be able to tend for the Tabernacle and the Arc. But they disobeyed during their captivity in Babylon. (Ezr 9:1-2), “[1] Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. [2] For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.” KJV.
These people rebuilt the Temple but the Arc of the Covenant did not returned to the second Temple. It remained hidden. Were any of those levites that returned from Babylon fit to carry the Arc? Not according to the word of GOD for they had corrupted their seed. It is very probable that had they tried to carry the Arc they might have fallen dead in the spot.
Then those in charge of the Temple after their return to the land, were not fit to properly do that job. But the Temple had to be rebuilt for the Messiah to come bringing the new covenant to the world.
Coming back to our last two questions, those hired at the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hour were called to do what those who were in charge of the Temple were not capable of doing, and that was to recognize and accept the Messiah, for the pharisees were blind.
As the day ends the steward is in charge of paying all the laborers. The end of the day can be easily understood with the following verses, (John 12:35-36), “[35] Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. [36] While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” KJV. The day ends when the pharisees crucify the LORD. Their job is over, they are no longer needed in the Temple. As JESUS dies, the veil is torn and the SPIRIT of GOD leaves the Temple. Never again will miracles happen in that Temple, ever.
As GOD says to the pharisees, take your money an go, HE is saying the same to the Jewish Christians hired late to do the job. The difference between them is what they will do with their earnings. We know the Christians will receive the HOLY SPIRIT in Pentecost, but the pharisees won’t. At least not too many of them. So, for the pharisees those earnings will be lost while the Christians will bring much fruit to the LORD for to the HOLY SPIRIT is in them.
The next parable gives a couple more insides about how the pharisees were. (Mat 21:28-31), “[28] But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. [29] He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. [30] And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. [31] Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” KJV.
Here JESUS compares the pharisees to the other laborers of the vineyard. The pharisees with their mouths say they will follow the desires of GOD but they won’t, while the rest, even though sinners, repent and adjust their actions to the will of GOD.
You need to repent of your sins to accept the Gospel and receive the HOLY SPIRIT.
The next parable of the vineyard adds a fig tree. (Luk 13:6-9), “[6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” KJV.
The fig tree has been used to represent Israel. In (Hosea 9:10), ” I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.” KJV.
This passage also remind us how wicked the sons of Israel would become. Wicked people do not produce good fruit acceptable to the LORD.
Coming back to the parable, we have a fig tree (Israel) inside the vineyard, that is not producing fruit. So the owner asks the dresser to cut it out, but the dresser suggest to the owner to let him try to fix it up to see if it would produce fruit.
The owner is GOD, the dresser is JESUS. JESUS tends to the fig tree and it produces fruit. Not to much but even today it still trickles. So the fig tree is not taken down.
The fruit is common Jewish people, mostly the sinners, the sick, and the daemon possessed. Barely any from the pharisees, the saducees, or the elders. These last three controlled the people and the Temple at the time of JESUS.
I have to point out that the fruits of the fig tree do not come from the Temple. The pharisees the saducees and the elders (Sanhedrin) are controlling the Temple and they are not producing any fruit, but under the care of JESUS, the fig tree produces, the apostles, and the followers of JESUS, even a few gentile believers.
But with the last parable, JESUS clears everything up. (Mat 21:33-44), “[33] Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:“ KJV. The householder that planted the vineyard and prepared it to be leased was GOD. The vineyard had everything needed to produce fruit and as such it was given to the husbandmen.
According to (Isa 5:7), ” For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” KJV.
Because the vineyard is Israel, the husbandmen have to be the leadership of Israel. The Pharisees in charge of the Temple, the Elders of the Sanhedrin, the King and the Saducees.
Let’s continue with the parable. “[34] And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.” KJV. GOD sends prophets to bring the fruit of the Temple to HIM.
But the leadership of Israel do not hearken to the prophets and beat some and kill some. “[35] And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. ” KJV.
Let’s remember that the last prophet GOD sends was John the Baptist, who announced the Messiah was coming. So the pharisees were forewarned. [37] But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. [38] But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. [39] And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.” KJV. The pharisees knew JESUS was the son of GOD. They caught HIM, separated HIM from the Temple, and rejected HIS authority as son of GOD, and killed HIM.
After the events of this parable there could be only one conclusion, obvious even to the pharisees themselves. “[40] When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? [41] They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” KJV. How do you remove the people of Israel from the leadership of Israel? You take the Temple away from those who killed the son of GOD.
These are revealed in (Mat 27:20, 24-25), “[20] But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus… [24] When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. [25] Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” KJV. These are the chief priests, the elders, and the people of judah that did no accepted JESUS as the son of GOD, and even their descendants, forever.
Continuing with the parable, “[42] Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” KJV. JESUS becomes the key stone of the New Temple when HE is killed after HE is rejected (crucified by the pharisees), and HIS resurrection three days after completes the New Temple in the hearts of HIS followers, as HE said it would in (John 2:19), “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” KJV.
And so HE did, as written in (John 20:8), “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.” KJV.
John sees the tomb empty and believes; HE is risen. The New Temple was built right that moment in his heart.
Now, this last paragraph confirms the New Temple was raised by JESUS’ resurrection, but was the second Temple destroyed?, “[43] Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” KJV. This verse confirms the Temple, which is the conection Israel had with the Kingdom of GOD, was gonna be taken away from them. For the vineyard was built in the Kingdom of GOD, but the Temple was the only connection the Jews had to the Kingdom. The Temple is now given to a new nation, which is the people of Israel with the ecception of its leadership, the husbandmen are expelled. The Temple was given to the believers only. He who believes in JESUS has the New Temple built inside of him. It also confirms the mission the believers have, evangelization, to bring the fruits to the LORD.
The second Temple was not destroyed but emptied as it is written in (Mat 27:50-51), “[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” KJV. As JESUS died, the HOLY SPIRIT that left HIS dead body, also left the Temple of the LORD tearing apart the veil, that covered the Holy of Holies, from top to bottom. There is no connection anymore between the Kingdom and the Temple as the veil breaks in two, so the need to prevent the human eye from accidentally seeing WHAT was in there disappears for now there is nothing there. The Temple became and empty building, never to be graced with the presence of the LORD again.
The last verse of this parable is the promise of destruction given to those who will kill the Messiah, by the Messiah himself at the end times during HIS second coming. “[44] And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” KJV. They will be utterly destroyed for challenging the authority of JESUS as son of GOD.
Recapitulating:
- The vineyard represents the House of Israel.
- The Temple was not taken away from the Jews, was taken away only from their leadership, those who killed JESUS.
- Those who killed JESUS were the Chief Priests, the Elders (Sanhedrin) and those who did not accepted HIS authority, including their descendants in perpetuity.
- Those who killed JESUS will be destroyed by HIM at HIS second coming
- Israel has not been replaced by the Christian believers, they themselves produce the fruit of the vine bringing it to GOD through the Gospel of JESUSCHRIST and the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, fulfilling the prophecy of (Eze 11:29), “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:” KJV. In which the stony heart was the second Temple.
The third Temple
There is a prophecy for the end times written in (Dan 8:11), “Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.” KJV.
Let’s focus on “by him the daily sacrifice was taken away.” Him in this sentence means the Antichrist. He is going to stop the daily sacrifice in the Temple of GOD.
In the times of Daniel, the second Temple wasn’t built yet. But this verse implies there was a Temple and that Temple was sacrificing daily.
We don’t know what exactly Daniel saw in his vision, the second temple, the third Temple or what, but what we know is that he understood there was a Temple sacrificing daily, that was stopped by the Antichrist.
Because Christians believers do not sacrifice animals to the LORD, it is common believe that this Temple where the Antichrist stop the daily sacrifice has to be the third Jewish Temple.
But there is another prophecy in (Dan 9:27), “And he 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.” KJV.
Here also, the Antichrist confirms a pact or alliance for seven years, and after three and a half years the sacrificing and the offering is stopped by him. From this we know that at the middle of the tribulation the sacrificing and the offering will end.
We also know that at mid-tribulation the two witnesses will die, and after their death no one else will repent. This has been explained in the post the last chance: the two witnesses, please read it now if you haven’t yet.
We also know that as Christians we repent very often, even daily because of our sinful nature. We need the Grace of the LORD, and HIS Mercy to forgive us so we can be found wordy and stand in front of HIM at the end times. For us Christians, this is our daily living sacrifice, an offering of repentance. (Rom 12:1), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” KJV.
After all that you have read, in the parables and here, do you think it is possible that GOD will go into the third Jewish temple, that will be built by the sons of those who rejected and killed JESUS, as if nothing happened?
Was the second Temple built while the first Temple was still standing? No, the second was built as a necessity for there was no place for the offerings and sacrifices.
Had they built the second Temple while the first was still standing, would GOD had moved to the second Temple just because Israel built it? No, the first Temple would have prevailed as the house of GOD because the Arc of the Covenant was in it, the Tables of the Law, etc. The second Temple would have been nothing more than an empty building.
I would only consider the third Jewish temple as Holy if they can get the one and only true Arc of the Covenant inside that temple without dying. Of course they would have to carry it with their bare hands, no machinery allowed. Follow this link to see where the Arc is been hidden: Arc of the Covenant
The third Temple was built in the hearts of men when JESUSCHRIST resurrected. The HOLY SPIRIT moved into the hearts of men on the day of Pentecost after JESUS’ resurrection starting the Church Age.
The hearts of men who believe in JESUSCHRIST are the third Temple.
The descendants of the pharisees can built whatever they want, they cursed themselves till their last generation and GOD will not accept them unless they say: blessed is HE who comes in the name of the LORD. (Luk 13:35), “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” KJV.
So, what the Antichrist is going to stop is the offering and sacrificing in the Christian heart, that is the Temple he seeks because the second Temple was conquered when the pharisees killed JESUS.
There is nothing he wants from the Jewish temple, he wants to stand in rebellion against GOD in the hearts of the Christian men, and once he’s done it no one else will repent.
If you read the post The antichrist and the false prophet part 2, you will understand that when the antichrist will declare himself god, he will do it after all the Tribulation Saints have been already killed. Those left behind christians who will take the mark of the beast, would have lost their seal of GOD during the first half of the tribulation. So, actually it is imposible for the antichrist to stand in the Temple of the Christian heart to fulfill Daniel’s prophecies.
This shows that the only possible solution is that the Antichrist declares himself god in a jewish temple, and for that the third jewish temple has to be built.
This final part of the post is added after posting the antichrist and the false prophet part 2.
Even though it is imposible for the antichrist to stand in the Christian heart where the Christian Temple is, researching this possibility has been worthwhile.
GOD bless you and keep you.
