The Temple

The Tribulation Temple

By John Henry

The Jewish Temple will one day be rebuilt on the Temple Mount on or near it's old site along side of the Islamic Dome of the Rock. Both Daniel (around 500 BC) and the Lord Jesus (about 33 AD) tell us about the destruction of the Temple of Christ's day and the rebuilt Temple the last days.

The Prophet Daniel wrote: "... [T]he people [from the Roman Empire] of the prince [Antichrist] that shall come shall destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [Temple in 70 AD]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant [to renew Temple sacrifices] with many for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week [after 3 and 1/2 years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. ... 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. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." (Daniel 9:26-27, 11:31-33)

The Lord Jesus Christ said: "Behold, your [Jewish] house [Temple] is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus went out, and departed from the Temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the Temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, ... 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:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." (Matthew 23:38-39, 24:1-4, 15-16)

It is at this mid point of the 7 year period of "the wrath of God" (Eph 5:6; Col 3:6; Rev 6:15-17; 1 Thess 1:9-10, 5:9-10), the Tribulation, that "arms shall stand on [Antichrist's] part" (Dan 11:31) and he who is also called "the son of perdition" (2 Thess 2:3) will set himself up as God in the Tribulation Temple in Jerusalem and set up his computerized "image of the beast" (Rev 13:14-15, 14:9, 11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4), "and for the overspreading [over the Internet] of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation" (Dan 9:27). These two things, the false god and his image, constitute "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" which will "stand in the holy place" (Matt 24:15). Both the apostles Paul and John also speak of "the son of perdition" and the Tribulation Temple:

The Apostle Paul had this to say about the abomination of desolation: "... [T]he son of perdition [Antichrist]; 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." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

The Apostle John wrote this concerning the Tribulation Temple:

"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. 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." (Revelation 11:1-2)

Scripturally, true Christians, that is to say those who have repented and believed on the Lord Jesus alone for their salvation, have never laid any claim to Jerusalem or the Temple Mount in Israel. However, the Roman and Greek Catholic churches, and Islam all by their actions curse Israel by claiming the city as their own. The whole land is Israel's alone (Ps 105:8-12). These false religions have defiled the city with their filthy doctrine and works. This is the reason that God calls Jerusalem, "the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" (Rev 11:8) The area on the Temple Mount outside of the temple area itself will be "given unto the Gentiles [for false religious worship]: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months [3 and 1/2 years]" (Rev 11:2). The Gentile Catholic and Islamic worshipers, and Jewish worshipers alike will all have their parts on the Temple Mount during the first half of the Tribulation, but all will be required to worship the Antichrist during the last half of the Tribulation.

After the Rapture 2 Jewish witnesses and 144,000 other Hebrews from the tribes of Israel who "know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many" (Dan 11:32-33). Revelation 11:1-2 speaks of the first 3 and 1/2 years of the Tribulation when these Jews and those who believe their testimony for Jesus will still be able to witness. Only these believers who will be saved by grace through faith will measure up to God's standard.

The Lord's two witnesses will have a world wide ministry from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem via TV and / or the Internet during that first 3 and 1/3 years of the Tribulation. Most of the people of the world will hate them and there will be attempts of their lives (Rev 11:5) at that time, but some Gentiles will receive Christ because of their testimony (Dan 11:32-33). Some, both Jew and Gentile, who "flee into the mountains" (Matt 24:16) will "endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matt 24:13) to enter the Millennium in normal physically bodies like our now.

But before all this the Tribulation Temple must be built. Today Jews from the priestly tribe of Levi have been identified by DNA testing and have already been trained in the duties of the Temple service including the sacrificial offerings. The items of furniture for the Temple are being sought and there are plans to rebuild the Temple already underway.


Feb. 9, 2007


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