WHY THE THIRD TEMPLE MUST BE REBUILT
Prophecy seems to be on fast forward. Everything that we as Christians have been taught over the years and centuries seems to be coming to pass in our lifetime. It is amazing how the church does not want to hear the truth. They want to stick their heads in the sand and hope everything works out for the best. I understand that dealing with spiritual things at this level is hard for those who are fleshy. I find it hard myself to figure out what I should really be doing, but one thing for sure, I have to press towards the mark of the high calling in Jesus Christ, as we all should; who profess Christ as Savoir and Lord.
In an associated press article dated August 4, 2000, the following excerpt blew my mind.
” Israel's top rabbis will for the first time give a formal hearing to a potentially explosive proposal to build a synagogue on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, next to Islamic holy sites, a council official said Friday.
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Now for those not familiar with prophecy, you might say, who cares. What does a rebuilt Jewish temple have to do with prophecy (Now a synagogue is a Temple)? Well, it has a LOT to do with prophecy. With this statement alone, we know that we have a very short time, unless we as Christians repent and this thing is postponed.
(2 CHRONICLES 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.)
2 Thessalonians 2:4
2 Thessalonians 2:4 states that the Anti-Christ will sit in the Temple of God claiming to be God “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
At this point, Antichrist will state that he is above all God’s, from Jesus Christ, the true GOD, to Buddha, Krishna, Allah, and all other religions, and in order for the Anti-Christ to sit in the Temple of God and claim to be God, there must be a rebuilt Jewish Temple. Daniel 9:27 states that he, the Anti-Christ will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. For there to be a sacrifice according to Jewish tradition there must be a temple, or at least a tabernacle.
According to the scriptures, the Rebuilt Jewish Temple will be next to the Dome of The Rock. The reason I believe this, is because in the book of Revelation, the Temple will be rebuilt within the outer court , which is left to the gentiles. I believe that where the Dome of the Rock currently resides, is in the court of the gentiles, and is therefore allowable under Jewish tradition to stay.
Revelation 11 1 – 2:
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and
measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Apparently, the temple will be rebuilt, but without an outer court.
The word “tread” in the Greek is the word pateo “pat-eh’-o”. Meaning, “to tread under foot, trample on, i.e. to treat with insult and contempt; to desecrate the holy city by devastation and outrage
In midst of the week, the Anti-Christ will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and the scriptures state that those who are in Judea (West Bank) should flee (Mark 13:14).
Why must they flee?
Today, Palestinians are trying to get control of east Jerusalem, but many scholars do not think they will be successful, because of Zechariah 12:3 , which states: “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
I believe that the Palestinians are going to be successful. The only way Israel will get to rebuild the temple, is if the Palestinians get what they want. There may be a war to allow the UN to intervene, but Palestinians will get what they desire, and that is East Jerusalem. Palestinians will either get East Jerusalem as their capital, or Jerusalem will become an international city shared by everyone. In one form or another, Palestinians will be in Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:3, tells us that anyone who concerns themselves with the issue of Jerusalem will be cut to pieces. However, that does not say that Jerusalem will not be shared. Read my article about Mystery Babylon The Great. I believe that this scenario will be just as I have stated.
In the March/April 1983 issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review, Vol IX, NO 2, Dr Ashur S. Kaufman stated “where the ancient temple of Jerusalem stood; extant ‘Foundation stone for the Ark of The Covenant is identified has proven that the first and second temple sat exactly in line with the Golden Gate: the East Gate.
Dr. Asher S. Kaufman concluded that the original site of the Temple was at the northwest corner of the Temple Mount; north of the Dome of the Rock. He has determined that the east-west line aligning the Mount of Olives with the Eastern Gate and the Temple bisect on a small shrine called the Dome of the Spirits. The Holy of Holies is thought to have been located on the bedrock covered by this small cupola. He noted that the bedrock inside this little domed area is the only such bedrock appearing on the Temple Mount --it sticks up from the surface. The rest of the area around the Dome of the Rock has been paved. This is the "Eben Shetiyyah" (Foundation stone) that was the floor in the ancient Holy of Holies. [Biblical Archeology Review, Vol IX No.2, Mar./Apr. 1983, "Where the Ancient Temple of Jerusalem Stood, Extant "Foundation Stone" for the Ark of the Covenant Is Identified", p. 42-59; See also: Jerusalem: An Archaeological Biography, p. 70-73]
The bottom line is that not only do Christians expect a rebuilt Jewish temple, but so do the Jews themselves, and they have determined this from Ezekiel 40.
Another group of Jews that believe the temple will be rebuilt, is the Templ Mount Faithful, led by Gershon Salomon. However, these Jewsish leaders would like for the gentiles to be removed from the temple mount forever, as opposed to living peaceably side by side as suggested by some others. However, I agree with them. As according to the scriptures, God has put His name in Jerusalem, and the land should never be divided.
Here is an excerpt from their webpage at www.templemountfaithful.org:
. The goal of the Temple Mount Faithful is the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in our lifetime in accordance with the Word of G-d and all the Hebrew prophets and the liberation of the Temple Mount from Arab (Islamic) occupation so that it may be consecrated to the Name of G-d
The TMF are right in that Jerusalem belongs to the Jews only, and those who wish to divide the city of God and the land of Israel should be removed,. We who are born again Christians, believe that we have a right to Jerusalem through the Messiah Jesus the Christ. However, we also know from the scriptures that this will not occur until our King returns. The Temple Mount Faithful states that the Vatican has made a deal with Palestinians to internationalize Jerusalem. As stated by Gershon Salomon,
according to the agreement, Jerusalem should be an international city based on international resolutions and an international guarantee. (The UN has decided that Jerusalem should be an international city.) It also decreed that any steps taken by Israel to change the status of Jerusalem is against the law. The agreement recognizes a "Palestinian" state in the land of Israel and promotes cooperation between the Vatican and the PLO. The Vatican committed itself to assist the so-called "Palestinians.
" Vatican authorities explained, the agreement paves the way for establishment of full diplomatic relations with a Palestinian state when it is founded."
From everything we can see from scripture, and today’s news, the confirming of the covenant by the Anti-Christ is soon to take place, and will probably include an agreement to allow Israel to rebuild her temple. One thing we know for sure, is that the temple will be rebuilt,. What we do not know is how this will take place. Will it be through war, whereby the Anti-Christ under the UN banner brokers a peace deal after many of the Arabs are destroyed, or will it be through diplomacy whereby Israel willingly allows Jerusalem to become an International city, and thus open to all religions, especially the three who claim rights to the city (Judaism,Caholocism,Islam).