According to the Bible, a third Jewish temple, often known as the “tribulation temple,” must be built on the 35-acre Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The first Jewish temple was the stunning Solomonic Temple which was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians. The second temple was built by Zerubbabel and greatly embellished by Herod the Great. It was reduced to rubble in AD 70 by the Romans.
The Bible indicates in at least four places that the Jewish people will rebuild a third temple structure on the temple mount in the end times.
Daniel 9:27 “And he [Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.”
Matthew 24:15 “Therefore, when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.”
2 Thessalonians 2:4 “who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
Revelation 11:1-2 “And there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.”
How this temple can be rebuilt is one of the thorniest problems in all of Bible prophecy. How can the Jews rebuild their temple with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque sitting there? Many solutions to this problem have been proposed. But never forget that before 1948 people thought it was impossible for the Jewish people to ever be restored to their ancient homeland. Yet, today almost 40 percent of the Jews in the world now live in Israel, and incredibly almost two-thirds of them now want to see the Temple rebuilt.
Ynet news reported the startling findings of a new poll about the temple on July 30, 2009. The poll asked respondents whether they wanted to see the Temple rebuilt. “Sixty-four percent responded favorably, while 36% said no. An analysis of the answers showed that not only the ultra-Orthodox and the religious look forward to the rebuilding of the Temple (100% and 97% respectively), but also the traditional public (91%) and many seculars – 47%. . . . The Temple was destroyed 1,942 years ago, and almost two-thirds of the population want to see it rebuilt, including 47% of seculars.”
This ground swell of support for a third Jewish temple is a key sign of the times. For years groups like the Temple Mount Faithful and others have championed and even made preparations for the rebuilding of the temple but broad public support seemed woefully lacking. That appears to have drastically changed. The temple must be in place during the tribulation period for the Antichrist to take his seat in it and defile it and for sacrifices to be reinstituted. While no one know when it will be rebuilt or how it will be accomplished, the stage setting for its appearance continues to fall into place.
#1 by Steve Thomas on December 1st, 2009
How long to rebuild? Does construction need to start prior to the Rapture? Also, how does a time of “peace and safety” (1 Thess. 5:3) figure in today’s world events? Does that speak to the time of the Rapture?
#2 by Stephanie on February 2nd, 2010
Hi, Mark
I just read this article on CNN Money. Is there any truth to this?
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0581861.htm
http://kintimining.webs.com/
http://temple-now-project.intuitwebsites.com/about.html
It is about starting plans and going forward to build the Temple.
Thank you!
#3 by George Klassen on February 17th, 2010
Hi Mark
I believe that an agreement will be reached between the nation of Israel and others to permit the rebuilding of the Temple immediately next to the mosque and adjacent to the “wailing wall”. I believe the timing willbe immediately before the tribulation period and will perhaps be an actual part of the agreement the “anti Christ” makes with Israel for peace at the beginning of that 7 year period we call “the tribulation”. What do you think??
#4 by Collin Sadler on February 21st, 2010
(First of all, please all being slight off-topic with my Daniel 9 specific comment as follows:)
Dear Mark,
I noted your appearance in a History Channel interview regarding the 70 shibiym/shabuwa of Daniel. Where the great expositors came up without a fulfillment, for they had not lived in the days approximate to 1948 per the words being shut up and sealed until the time of the end” (12:4 & 9), it’s unfortunate that you promulgated the error of commentators with less integrity.
In addition, please consider that where scripture says “seven”; and “sixty-two”; you repeated the false contortion of ~sixty-nine~, — for which Newton said does “violence” to scripture.
Equally, (per Young), where the feminine gender text is concise, (i.e., 70 sevens = 490), the masculine gender is inconcise, (i.e., 70 shibiym ≠ 490). — Please note the distinction is analogous to a “cool” car, which is NOT a depressed thermal gradient, requiring neither hat, coat, nor gloves.
Please allow me to ask if you’ve considered a fulfillment which meets:
1. the “time of the end”
2. the masculine shibiym/shabuwa
3. an “anointed one” (small “a”) after the seven
4. an “anointed one” (small “a”) after the sixty-two
5. the ~Solomon~ confirmation (biyn) in the “books”, (i.e., per the prophetic Psalms)
6. the “word” as NOT from a man, but rather from GOD.
7. the correct fulfillment per the 9:2 “years” AND the 9:24-27 shibiym/shabuwa
With Best Regards,
#5 by Collin Sadler on February 21st, 2010
(Please forgive this slight off-aspect to the above cited prophecy of Daniel.)
Dear Mark,
I noted your appearance in a History Channel interview regarding the 70 shibiym/shabuwa of Daniel. Where the great expositors came up without a fulfillment, for they had not lived in the days approximate to 1948 per the words being shut up and sealed until the time of the end” (12:4 & 9), it’s unfortunate that you promulgated the error of commentators with less integrity.
In addition, please consider that where scripture says “seven”; and “sixty-two”; you repeated the false contortion of ~sixty-nine~, — for which Newton said does “violence” to scripture.
Equally, (per Young), where the feminine gender text is concise, (i.e., 70 sevens = 490), the masculine gender is inconcise, (i.e., 70 shibiym ≠ 490). — Please note the distinction is analogous to a “cool” car, which is NOT a depressed thermal gradient, requiring neither hat, coat, nor gloves.
Please allow me to ask if you’ve considered a fulfillment which meets:
1. the “time of the end”
2. the masculine shibiym/shabuwa
3. an “anointed one” (small “a”) after the seven
4. an “anointed one” (small “a”) after the sixty-two
5. the ~Solomon~ confirmation (biyn) in the “books”, (i.e., per the prophetic Psalms)
6. the “word” as NOT from a man, but rather from GOD.
7. the correct fulfillment per the 9:2 “years” AND the 9:24-27 shibiym/shabuwa
With Best Regards
#6 by Collin Sadler on February 21st, 2010
Oops, — didn’t see the “moderation” note, and thought the post might have been dropped!
C. Sadler