Perspective

By L. Jim Tuck September 12, 2024

The Third Temple in Jerusalem

    It may be shocking to know there has been a movement for some time to build the Third Temple. Some are saying preparations to build it are 90% complete. The priests are training and the blueprints are ready. They were aiming for a 2024 construction, but so far it has not happened. Also, Saudi Arabia is planning to build a high-speed rail to it by 2030. This would promote tourism and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and a way to encourage peace in the Middle East. Interestingly, prophecy indicates a new Temple will have been built in Jerusalem prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Critical end-time events revolve around this iconic place. What should you know about the coming Third Temple?

Destruction of Herod’s Temple

    The Jerusalem Temple was the hub for offering sacrifices every day of the year for centuries. On the three annual pilgrimage festivals — Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot — all Israel was invited to ascend to Jerusalem to offer special sacrifices and celebrate.

    As Jesus’ disciples were speaking of the great beauty of the Temple, He told them what was going to happen: “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ‘These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.’” (Matthew 24:5-6)

    The long hot summer of AD 70 in Israel was filled with the agonies of a nation at war. The Jews fought with valor against the armies of the Roman General, Titus. Finally, in late August, Jerusalem succumbed to his powerful forces. Apparently, Titus hadn’t intended to destroy the Temple at all, but one of his soldiers tossed a piece of burning wood into the sanctuary, setting it on fire. When the destruction was done, just as Jesus had said, not one stone of the temple was left upon another. It is widely believed the gold taken from Herod’s Temple was used to fund the construction of the Colosseum in Rome.

    The Jewish historian, Josephus, gives a description of the great destruction which left the Temple in ruins: "One would have thought that the hill itself, on which the Temple stood, was seething hot, as full of fire on every part of it, that the blood was larger in quantity than the fire, and those that were slain more in number than those that slew them; for the ground did nowhere appear visible, for the dead bodies that lay on it." With the destruction of King Herod’s Temple, Jerusalem would be without a Temple for nearly two thousand years.

Muslims deny the temple was ever on the mount

    Some Jews today acquiesce and accept Muslim control over the Temple Mount; they think the Messiah must come to rebuild the Temple. Others believe a Temple should be built so they can have a more spiritual nation. They desire God to send His “Shekinah,” His Presence, back. It departed from the Temple long ago (Ezekiel 10:18).

    Muslim authorities view the place where the construction would take place on the Temple Mount as being under their control. They advocate Jews have no right to the Temple Mount for prayer. The Jewish Voice states in an article on October 7, 2022, “Update on the Building of the Third Temple”: “the Islamic authorities officially deny that a Temple ever existed at the site. Nevertheless, recent developments have contributed to the Temple Movement’s goals and the realization of the rebuilding of the Temple in our lifetime. Answering the charge of denial a Jewish Temple ever existed on the site, archaeologists discovered in decades-old research that the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which Muslims believe was built by Abraham, was once a place for Jewish ritual preparation for entering the Temple. The evidence for this came from a report filed by British archaeologist Robert Hamilton who had documented excavations of the mosque’s foundations after it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1927. He discovered beneath the floor of the mosque the remains of a Jewish miqveh (ritual pool used for purification). It dated to the time of the Second Temple when Jews immersed at this site before entering the Temple precincts. These findings, hidden deep in the British Mandatory archives department because they embarrassed Muslim officials, now provide evidence that the ancient Temple stood on the modern Temple Mount and was a place of Jewish presence.”

    However, there is some movement towards changing the status quo. Over 20 Knesset members are advocating for Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount; this brings about a mainstream discourse around the Temple's significance and reconstruction efforts. Since the arrival of the red heifers, which are critical for purification ceremonies and other temple rituals, it signifies the advancement of the overall project and has attracted global attention.

    Netanyahu's UN speech hinted at Israel-Saudi peace, impacting Temple construction and geopolitics, with discussions potentially realigning Temple Mount authority and altering geopolitical and religious dynamics. The Dome of the Rock coexistence debate remains central to Third Temple reconstruction discussions. Proposals for coexistence are challenging.

Key end-time prophesies about the temple

    Daniel the prophet was shown an important end-time event which would be similar to the time when Antiochus Epiphanes entered the Temple in 168 BC and set up an idol of Jupiter Olympus and desecrated the altar by offering swine’s blood for 1260 days: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. ‘But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.’” (Daniel 12:11-13)

    So, in the latter days, in some way, sacrifices will be offered for 1290 days. There would not need to be a temple for this to happen, but an altar would be necessary. However, this does not complete the full picture that other prophesies paint for us. In the end time a dark figure will come on the scene who is called the man of sin or iniquity. In II Thessalonians 2:3-4 the Apostle Paul admonishes us: “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This shows there must be some sort of temple. Perhaps, it will be a structure which is constructed in much haste, near the same time when sacrifices begin to be made.

    Daniel 11:40 reveals an important piece of the puzzle to understand this statement about Paul’s teaching to the church and how it will come about. When the king of the South pushes at the king of the North, which will be the seat of the Beast of Revelation, the king of the North will invade Israel: “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind… and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land…”

    The king of the North, or Beast, enters the Glorious Land, meaning Israel and Jerusalem: “And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.” (Daniel 11:45)

    The two seas are the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. The Holy Mountain is the Temple Mount or Mount Zion. The holiest place of all is the Temple Mount. The Beast will sit in the Temple claiming to be God. Instead, he will meet his end. Jesus Christ will arrest him and put the Beast and his cohort, the False Prophet, to death (Revelation 19:20).

When the millenium begins, there most assuredly will be a Temple in Jerusalem, and the Lord will be there: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and…Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:2-3)

    When this happens, the world will have 1000 years of peace. There will be no more fighting or war! May our great God and Father in heaven hasten that great day!

    This is my Perspective!