The Law And The Temple
Hebrews 10:1
For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.
† The Law was never the final reality. It was a shadow pointing to Christ and the better covenant. (Galatians 3:24-25)
† Animal sacrifices, priesthoods, and temple rituals all pointed to Jesus as the true sacrifice and eternal High Priest. (Hebrews 9:11-12)
† Once Christ fulfilled those shadows, the Old Covenant system was ready to vanish away completely. (Hebrews 8:13)

The Temple Was A Picture Of Christ
John 2:19-21
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking about the temple of His body.
† The physical temple pointed forward to Christ as the true dwelling place of God. (Colossians 2:9)
† After Christ came, the earthly temple system was no longer the center of worship. (John 4:21-24)
† The destruction of the temple in AD 70 publicly confirmed that the Old Covenant system had ended. (Matthew 24:1-2)

Daniel And The End Of The Age
Daniel 9:27
And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate."
† Christ confirmed the covenant through His ministry and sacrifice. His death caused the sacrificial system to lose its purpose. (Matthew 26:28)
† The desolation spoken of by Daniel was connected by Jesus to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in that generation. (Matthew 24:15-34)
† The seventy weeks prophecy was about finishing transgression, making atonement, and bringing everlasting righteousness through Christ. (Daniel 9:24)

Heaven And Earth Language Was Covenantal
Isaiah 51:15-16
For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar (the Lord of armies is His name). And I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"
† God described the establishment of Israel's covenant order as creating heavens and earth. This was covenantal language, not the creation of the physical planet. (Deuteronomy 32:1)
† When Jesus spoke of heaven and earth passing away, He was speaking about the passing of the Old Covenant world centered in Jerusalem and the temple. (Matthew 24:34-35)
† Hebrews says the things that were shaken would be removed so the unshakable kingdom would remain. (Hebrews 12:26-28)

Jesus And The End Of The Age
Matthew 24:34
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
† Jesus placed the fulfillment of His prophecy within the lifetime of His audience. He wasn't speaking about a future generation thousands of years later. (Matthew 23:36)
† The end in Matthew 24 was the end of the Old Covenant age centered around the temple and Jerusalem. (Matthew 24:1-3)
† When the temple fell in AD 70, the Old Covenant world officially came to its complete end. The New Covenant kingdom remained. (Hebrews 12:27-28)

The New Covenant Fully Established
Hebrews 8:13
When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
† The Old Covenant was already growing old in the first century and was about to vanish away completely. (Hebrews 9:8-10)
† The temple standing in Jerusalem proved the Old Covenant system had not yet fully passed away when Hebrews was written. Its destruction completed that transition. (Hebrews 10:25-27)
† Today believers live in the fully established New Covenant kingdom where Christ reigns forever. (Ephesians 1:20-23)

Eden Restored In Christ
Revelation 22:1-2
And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
† Revelation ends where Genesis began, with restored access to the Tree of Life through Christ. (Genesis 3:22-24)
† Eden imagery appears throughout the New Covenant kingdom, including rivers, precious stones, God's presence, and the Tree of Life. (Ezekiel 47:1-12)
† The cherubim once guarded access to God's presence, but through Christ believers now have bold access into the heavenly sanctuary. (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Historical References
† Justin Martyr connected the Passover, sacrifices, and temple to Christ and the New Covenant in Dialogue With Trypho.
† Irenaeus taught that the Law and temple services were shadows preparing Israel for Christ in Against Heresies Book 4.
† Eusebius connected the destruction of Jerusalem with Christ's prophecies concerning that generation in Ecclesiastical History Book 3.
† Clement of Alexandria explained that the Old Covenant symbols pointed spiritually to Christ and the New Covenant kingdom in Stromata.

How It Applies To Us Today
† We don't live waiting for another covenant age because Christ already fulfilled what the Law and Prophets pointed toward. (Luke 21:22)
† Believers now live in the everlasting kingdom that cannot be shaken. (Hebrews 12:28)
† We no longer look to physical temples, sacrifices, or earthly priesthoods because Christ fulfilled those shadows completely. (John 4:21-24)
† Understanding fulfillment strengthens confidence in Scripture because every promise concerning that covenant age came to pass exactly as spoken. (Matthew 5:17-18)
† Seeing the completed transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant helps believers understand the unity and fulfillment of Scripture. (Luke 24:27)

Q & A Appendix
Q: Was the end of the age the end of the physical world?
A: No. The disciples asked about the end of the age connected to the temple buildings standing before them. (Matthew 24:1-3)
Q: Why was AD 70 so important?
A: Because it marked the complete destruction of the Old Covenant temple system exactly as Jesus prophesied. (Matthew 24:2)
Q: What vanished away in Hebrews 8:13?
A: The Old Covenant system centered around the temple, sacrifices, and priesthood. (Hebrews 8:13)
Q: Why does Revelation use Eden imagery?
A: Because Christ restored covenant access to God through the New Covenant kingdom. (Revelation 22:1-5)
Q: Why is understanding covenant fulfillment important?
A: Because it reveals that Christ fulfilled everything written concerning that covenant age exactly as promised. (Luke 24:44)

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index
† Hebrews 10:1; John 2:19-21; Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 51:15-16; Matthew 24:34; Hebrews 8:13; Revelation 22:1-2
† Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book 4; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History Book 3; Clement of Alexandria, Stromata