Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked
that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When
it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; “and in
the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and
threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you
cannot discern the signs of the times.
Matthew 16:1-3 NKJV
I think most of us who believe in the imminent rapture of
the Church would agree that we are living in what could accurately be called
the times of the signs. As the missile
attacks on Israel this weekend show, there is certainly no peace between Israel and its enemies. A quote I am sure that most of you have heard
concerning the times we are living in goes something like this; “when you see
the Christmas decorations going up, you know that Thanksgiving is near”. So too, we as the Church are seeing the
preparations for the events which we are told will occur during the seven year
period called the tribulation, which follows the removal of the Church to be
with our Father in heaven.
In the passage from the book of Matthew, the religious
leaders were asking for a sign from Jesus.
I have always found this amusing considering Jesus had just fed the four
thousand with seven loaves and fishes.
My question has always been, just what would it take to convince
them? I believe the obvious answer is
that there was nothing Jesus could have done, and Jesus Himself believed it as
well because He told them that the only other sign they would receive was His
resurrection. Just as in Jesus’ day, we
find today that there are many who still are not convinced we are living in
the end times in spite of what we see happening all around us.
While some might wonder about where the actions of our
current government place us in the scheme of end times events, I think it very
telling that the position and support our President has towards the nation of
Israel seems to be so overwhelmingly positive.
One cannot help but wonder just what moves might the nation of Israel make
now that they have such positive support from our administration? If you recall, one of the first things the
reestablished Sanhedrin did after the election of President Trump was to ask
both President elect Trump and Russian President Putin to facilitate the
rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
When I first read that my immediate reaction was to remember the
question from the passage above and wonder, “How’s this for a sign?” Then, this article appears in response to
President Trump recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Christians and Jews Now Compare Trump to Persian King Cyrus
– Will He Build the Third Temple?
Of course, most would hold the opinion that the odds of
rebuilding a temple for the Jews would be astronomical. However, if you know your Bible, then you
know that we are told there will in fact be one in the near future.
“And beside the border of Judah, from the east side to the
west side, shall be the allotment which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits in
width, and in length like one of the portions, from the east side to the west
side; and the sanctuary shall be in the middle of it. “The allotment that you
shall set apart to the LORD shall be 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in
width. “The holy allotment shall be for these, namely for the priests, toward
the north 25,000 cubits in length, toward the west 10,000 in width, toward the
east 10,000 in width, and toward the south 25,000 in length; and the sanctuary
of the LORD shall be in its midst.
Ezekiel 48:8-10 NASB
Could it be that with the support of President Trump and
Putin, the Temple could actually be rebuilt as predicted in the
scriptures? I believe it is entirely
possible, especially if they can come up with a solution which would somehow
mollify the Muslim community with regards to the Temple Mount. Much of the news since President Trump took
office is his stated desire to bring peace to the Middle East. His “peace plan” has been in the works for
quite some time and the latest reports are that he will unveil it after the
current month of Ramadan is completed.
There is great anticipation concerning just what it will entail, and
even more speculation about what it might contain but the specifics are a
closely held secret. Yet the one thing I
can’t seem to get out of my mind is the possibility that it might include a
plan to rebuild the Temple.
The generally accepted school of thought is that this temple
will be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, sharing space with the existing
Muslim shrines. It will be defiled by
the antichrist after three and one half years, and eventually be destroyed at
the end of the Great Tribulation when the Temple Mount is split in two by a great
earthquake.
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in
two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall
move toward the north And half of it toward the south. Zechariah 14:4 NKJV
This destruction would naturally require a fourth temple to
be built, which is the one we find described by Ezekiel in chapters 40-48 which
scholars refer to as the “Millennial Temple”.
It is a massive structure much larger than the original temple, and
according to the description given in the passage above, is located not in
Jerusalem but north of the city “beside the border of Judah”. By studying scripture and comparing the
geographical descriptions of the different areas revealed in this passage, many
believe that the location of the temple will be where the ancient city of
Shiloh was located. There is historical
precedent for this location because this is where the Tabernacle stood for
close to 400 years before the Israelites made Jerusalem their capital.
As I studied the subject of the temple, and began to search
the scripture for passages relating to temples past and present, I noticed a
few things that made me wonder if there was something we might be missing if we
follow the accepted school of thought concerning four temples. First of all, the Bible only speaks of three
temples, not four. Also, nowhere are we
told of a third temple being built on the Temple Mount, rather it has simply
been assumed that one will be. The only
temples revealed in scripture are Solomon’s temple, Zerubbabel or Herod’s
temple, and the Millennial temple.
Now you might think that in itself may not be enough to
cause those who advocate for four temples to rethink their position, and I
would agree. So let’s look at something
else that might be cause to reconsider.
Most understand that the antichrist will defile the temple three and a
half years after the peace agreement which begins the seven year tribulation,
in an event referred to as the “abomination of desolation”.
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But
in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And
on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the
consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:27 NKJV
We also know that this has happened once before in 167 BC by
Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This resulted in
a revolt by the Jews and eventually to a cleansing and rededication of the
temple which is celebrated to this day by the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. So what is my point? There is a saying by biblical scholars which
states; “pattern is prologue”. The study
of typology in the scripture has shown that much of what has happened throughout
the Bible was setting a pattern that would be repeated at a later date. My question is this; if the antichrist
defiling the temple is a repeat of the first “abomination of desolation”,
wouldn’t it be logical to assume that the future temple will be cleansed and
rededicated rather than destroyed?
I want you to look closely at a verse from this same chapter
from Daniel, which contains a phrase that I believe may be overlooked by many.
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your
holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make
atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up
vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. Daniel 9:24 NASB
This verse relates what has come to be known as the prophecy
of Daniel’s seventy weeks. It reveals
God’s plan for the nation of Israel from that time until the end when He will
return to earth. It also lists six
things which will be accomplished at the end of those seventy weeks. Did you catch that last phrase? “and to anoint the most holy place”. This phrase in the Hebrew is “mashach qodesh qodesh” , which is
translated “to Anoint; to smear, anoint,
spread a liquid”. Anoint what? Scholars and commentators agree that the
most holy (place) is the temple. If this
is the case, doesn’t it seem logical to assume that it is not destroyed, but
rather consecrated for millennial worship?
Are we being told here that there are just three temples, not four? This phrase was used in the book of Exodus as
well and was also referring to anointing the Tabernacle.
And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint (mashach)
the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the
vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. Exodus 40:9 KJV
Again, this might not be enough for some to change their belief
in how many temples there will be, but I want to suggest that this scenario is
a very plausible one in light of the current situation that exists between the
Muslims and the Jewish people. It seems
much more believable that the Islamic world would allow a temple to be built in
Shiloh rather than on the Temple Mount.
With the authority of the prophecy of Ezekiel, it seems reasonable that
the Jewish people would agree as well.
As I have studied this subject, I have found that there are others who
have asked this same question and agree that this scenario is a distinct
possibility.
Whatever God’s plans for the temple mount are, it appears
that we might know very, very soon just what they are, especially if rebuilding
the temple is a subject included in President Trump’s peace plan. As the events unfolding this weekend show us,
as over 400 missiles have already rained down on Israel, a peace plan is sorely
needed. Of course, let’s not forget that as believers in Jesus Christ, and
having accepted His sacrifice for our sins, if the Temple is rebuilt during the
first half of the seven year tribulation as many believe we will watch these events
from the comfort of our heavenly home.
If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift
I encourage you to do so today. Simply
ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay
the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him. You can do that right now by praying a prayer
just like this one;
"Dear Lord
Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn
from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal
Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
Keep watching.
