A Rebuilt-temple in Jerusalem.
It’s remarkable to imagine that Jewish believers could someday soon start worshipping, bringing animal sacrifices, and praying once again at a rebuilt-temple in Jerusalem. When I say soon, I’m not referring to any day or any moment. It is probable that a rebuilt-temple in Jerusalem is still years away. Maybe it’s several years, a decade, or more, but it very likely won’t be too much longer than that. My guess is this temple, (actual plans already exist, by the way), will be in operation in the next decade.
Rebuilt-temple: Why?
This important prophetic event is a key timing issue for the return of Christ.
It is hard to believe this could happen, but the Bible does indicate it will. I’m saying the Bible “indicates” because I’m leaving myself a little room for error. That room is needed because of the uncertainty about whether there will be a temple at all.
Some suggest it may only be an altar where the Jewish faithful can restore their practice of animal sacrifices. That’s not likely because the scriptures point to something more substantial than just an altar for sacrifices.
It’s the sacrifice, not the temple
A future rebuilt-temple is important in the chronology of Bible prophecy. But something else is even more important, the animal sacrifices. I’ll get to that in a second.
The Apostle Paul said the Antichrist will sit in the “Temple of God.”
2 Thessalonians 2:4
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.
Judging by this passage and others, I believe there will be a rebuilt-temple. I expect it will be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There are some who teach on this subject who support the idea that a temple isn’t necessary. It could be a tabernacle as in the time of Moses and Joshua and through the time of the Judges.
Other verses suggest something similar.
Daniel 8:11
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him, the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
This verse in Daniel eight points out the importance of animal sacrifices. This addresses one of the most important events in Bible prophecy. The Antichrist will enter a rebuilt-temple and stop the sacrifices. When this happens, all hell breaks loose, literally. The Book of Revelation details the fury of the Antichrist and the wrath of God going head-to-head after this event in the temple.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
This verse tells us something else that’s also important. We again see that the animal sacrifices will get taken away by the Antichrist. But something else is mentioned. The sanctuary is going to get polluted, and “they will place the abomination that makes desolate.”
This, to me, appears to be something that is placed inside a building (rebuilt-temple) which then defiles or pollutes the sanctuary.
The mention of the temple, a sanctuary, and a polluted place that something is placed inside gives me strong reason to believe it will be another temple.
When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Jesus confirmed it
Combined with the other verses, this one clinches the deal for me. Daniel mentions something that gets placed. Jesus, here, says the abomination will stand in the holy place. I lean toward the thinking that something will get put inside the rebuilt-temple that the Jews will consider an abomination. The “placing” will likely be done by the Antichrist or maybe the false prophet who tries to get people to worship the image of the Beast.
The mention of the “holy place,” Indicated only one thing to the Jewish people. The Holy Place was the back end of the Holy Temple. It was a room, separated by a thick veil, that contained the ark of the covenant. God was said to dwell in this “Holy Place.”There was a Holy Place in the tabernacle also. There needs to be a temple or a tabernacle with animal sacrifices recommenced before the Lord returns.
What about a tent instead?
Some believe the tabernacle or tent of worship will fit the requirements to fulfill this prophecy.
One such teaching comes from a very solid Bible teacher, author Alan Kurshner. I respect his research and insight on this issue. In one particular podcast, he looks into the meaning of the word the Apostle Paul uses in the 2 Thessalonians 2:4 passage mentioned earlier.
Here’s a link to his site and podcast.
The ‘Third Temple’ Will Not Require a Large Solomaic-Like Structure…
He thinks it’s possible the rebuilt-temple doesn’t need to be the large expansive structure from the days of Herod and Jesus.
I agree that the scriptures support that view, but I still lean toward a larger structure.
What do you think? Will we see a rebuilt-temple, the return of the tabernacle, or nothing like this at all?
Books from Mr. Kurshner
Antichrist before the day of the Lord
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Let me know what you think.