Since ancient times, temple worship has always foreshadowed the coming
and mission of the Savior. Isaiah, using Eliakim the son of Hilkiah as a
symbol of the Savior, makes this prophecy, approximately six hundred
years before crucifixion was invented and seven hundred years before the
Savior was born:
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. "(Isaiah 22:20-23)
Just as Eliakim was a godly servant in the kingdom of Israel, so would the Savior be a servant in the kingdom of God. Latter-Day Saints recognize Isaiah's use of temple ordinance language and temple clothing as symbols to make clear the connection between temple worship and the coming of One whose destiny it was to be crucified and slain for the sins of the world. Additionally, I can't help but notice a parallel between Eliakim having a key to open and shut, and the Lord giving Peter and the apostles the keys - or sealing power - to loosen and bind, to "gather in one" both on earth and in heaven.
Learn more about Eliakim as a Type of the Lord Jesus Christ
There are other references to the connection between temple worship and prophecy concerning the coming of the Savior. (see Ezra 9:8, Zechariah 10:4) To this day, the Jews still worship at the Wailing Wall, and they place a "nail in a sure place", the original meaning of the practice having been lost millennia ago.
From the stories of Zechariah seeing an angel announcing the coming birth of John the Baptist while he performed his priestly duties in the temple, to the Savior commanding His apostles to remain at Jerusalem until they could be "endued with power", to John reminding members of the Church of their "unction" and of their "knowledge of all things", the New Testament shows us examples of early Christians worshiping and receiving ordinances in the Jewish temple. When the temple of Solomon was destroyed in 70 A.D., temple worship was lost, not just to Judaism, but to Christianity also.
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. "(Isaiah 22:20-23)
Just as Eliakim was a godly servant in the kingdom of Israel, so would the Savior be a servant in the kingdom of God. Latter-Day Saints recognize Isaiah's use of temple ordinance language and temple clothing as symbols to make clear the connection between temple worship and the coming of One whose destiny it was to be crucified and slain for the sins of the world. Additionally, I can't help but notice a parallel between Eliakim having a key to open and shut, and the Lord giving Peter and the apostles the keys - or sealing power - to loosen and bind, to "gather in one" both on earth and in heaven.
Learn more about Eliakim as a Type of the Lord Jesus Christ
There are other references to the connection between temple worship and prophecy concerning the coming of the Savior. (see Ezra 9:8, Zechariah 10:4) To this day, the Jews still worship at the Wailing Wall, and they place a "nail in a sure place", the original meaning of the practice having been lost millennia ago.
From the stories of Zechariah seeing an angel announcing the coming birth of John the Baptist while he performed his priestly duties in the temple, to the Savior commanding His apostles to remain at Jerusalem until they could be "endued with power", to John reminding members of the Church of their "unction" and of their "knowledge of all things", the New Testament shows us examples of early Christians worshiping and receiving ordinances in the Jewish temple. When the temple of Solomon was destroyed in 70 A.D., temple worship was lost, not just to Judaism, but to Christianity also.
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