Israelites from Dan to Beersheba stand in awe at the most beautiful structure they have ever seen: the new Temple of God. What was once Araunah's rough threshing floor has been transformed into a glorious Temple Mount, with the Temple glistening in the early sunshine, surrounded by magnificent courtyards and ornate walls. Solomon's building was the Temple of God because of God's presence, and so it is today. God now lives in us by His Holy Spirit, making us living stones and part of His spiritual Temple. The spiritual Temple of God is a work in progress, with God building us as living stones on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. Just as the Temple had many types of stones forming its foundation, walls, and pillars, so will God's spiritual Temple. The foundation of this spiritual Temple has been laid and cannot be changed, with Jesus Christ as the Rock upon which He builds His church. A fascinating aspect of Solomon's Temple is that it rose in a peaceful, quiet environment, built with stone finished at the quarry so that no hammer or chisel was heard during its construction. God is absolutely confident He will have a holy, spiritual Temple in the end, which will surpass the glory of the former Temple. He is so sure of finishing this task that He speaks of it as already accomplished. After God has planned, selected, hewn out, polished, and finished every piece, the Temple comes together quietly, with all parts conveyed to one place and assembled in peace. When Jesus Christ returns, He will gather the living stones to Him in the air, and upon Him they assemble as God's Temple, each fitting into a preordained position. Realizing the Temple's significance, Solomon dedicated it with dignity, pomp, and a worshipful prayer, followed by a fourteen-day feast and lavish sacrifices. God showed His pleasure by filling His House with a cloud so profound that the priests had to leave the building. When Jesus returns with His Bride, who will also be the living Temple of God, He will host a marriage supper, setting the tone for His new order. Solomon's dedication is but a type of the most glorious dedication ever witnessed, when the true House of God assembles. We are handpicked stones, chosen by God the Father Himself, and though the construction may be painful, the result will be worth it as we take our places in this glorious new Temple.