QUESTION: What significance would the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem have in Biblical prophecy?MY RESPONSE: The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem is an interesting discussion topic in Bible prophecy. Scripture intentionally doesn't answer all of our question in regards to end time events, so we are "forced" to try to fill in the blanks. Or, at least that what many prophecy teachers seem to do.
The idea of the rebuilding of the temple grows out of a belief that the anti-christ will defile the temple according to Daniel chapter 9. Whether or not that is true depends upon your interpretation of Daniel 9. The common teaching is that the anti-christ will form a peace pact with Israel for the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 year tribulation. At the 3 1/2 year mark, he will break that peace pact by offering an abomination on the altar of the temple. For that to happen, the temple has to be rebuilt.
I honestly do not see that clearly taught in Scripture. I think there are other ways to interpret the eschatological texts that do not require a rebuilt temple. If it were that important, I believe it would be clearly stated.
The purpose of Bible prophecy is preparatory, not predictive. The primary prophetic exhortation is "Watch and be ready," not, "Watch and predict." We have enough biblical information to be ready for Jesus to come, but not enough to know when He will come.
A rebuilt temple? I don't really know. If one is rebuilt, I'll keep watching, so that I will be ready. Jesus really could come at any moment! There is nothing left on the prophetic calendar, that I can see, that needs to be fulfilled before Jesus returns!
Does it have anything to do with God renewing all things back to Himself? I've always been interested in the "end times" subject. mostly cuz i dont know much about that subject in particular.
ReplyDeleteDoes Revelation 11:1-2 imply that the temple will be rebuilt before the tribulation?
ReplyDelete1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court;... do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months
There is a group called the temple institute that if I understand correctly is already preparing the templ just outside the western wall and are ready for the day when the temple mount is no longer under muslim rule.
Norman Delahunt
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone try to rebuild that which God has replaced with something better? Are we not living stones being built into a living temple? Is not our citizenship in Heaven and not of this earth?
Why would Jesus again step foot on this bl...ood-stained earth or take on another body of flesh? Is not Jesus a spirit being like His Father, with a body incomprehensibly superior to a body of flesh?
My hope is in the unimaginably great Kingdom of Heaven, a place beyond the limitations of time and space - with Jesus, our King, who reigns today in His holy temple, who was, and is, and is to come.
If anyone builds a temple of stone and wood in the city of Jerusalem on this earth, it will remain devoid of the Spirit of Life, a smoke-screen, a diversion into fantasy for those who understand the Scriptures only with the mind, and not with the Spirit also.
Well I would have to say a little and perhaps a lot. Most stuff that I have read concerning it revolves around Matthew 24:15 where Jesus is speaking of the "Abomination of Desolation" taken from Daniels prophecy in Daniel 9:27. That was t...hought to have been fulfilled during the days of the Maccabes when Antichus Epiphanes constructed an altar and sacrificed a pig on it. Yet that predates Jesus teaching in Matthew so I guess He wouldn't be referring to that instance. Perhaps Jesus was talking about the Romans destruction of the temple in AD 70. Yet some have also taken it to be a dual fulfillment prophecy in that Jesus was talking about the Romans destruction of the temple and when the anti-Christ will stand in the temple and proclaim himself god. 2 Thes 2:4 the temple of God has been variously interpreted as the church, the heavenly temple, the Jerusalem temple, and a metaphor for supreme blasphemous arrogance. So I guess the more I ramble the more I see there is perhaps no need for the temple to be rebuilt first in order for the rapture to take place (stating this as a pre-tribulation position). I only know enough about end time prophecy to know that I more than likely have no clue. :-)
ReplyDeletehe explanation I mentioned has to do with Cho's teaching on the 2nd, or restored Temple. It's a parallel of the early church, and what was lost by the church in the dark ages, and then restored to the church after the dark ages.
ReplyDeleteThe altar symbolizes "Salvation by faith in the blood of Jesus" which was restored to the church by Martin Luther. The water basin is the "washing of water through the word" which was restored by the Gutenberg press. The bread of presence and Candlestick are side by side and symbolize the presence of the Lord through the power of the Spirit, restored to the church at the great outpourings. The altar of worship was restored in the '70's through worship to the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. The last thing to be restored is the fullness of His glory.
So that's just a brief review of Cho's teaching. I like it - of course I have a personal reason for liking it, but that's sorta beside the point.
For His Kingdom,
Vicki
"Preparatory, not predictive", in YOUR RESPONSE - I like that. Keep your eyes on the skies and your feet on the Word and your heart on fire for love of the brethren.
ReplyDeleteI think that we sometimes look at 'prophecy' and take it to mean a to do list by God and it happen, when all it is, is a projection of what may occur in order to elicit a response in the now. Many of the prophets were weary and tired and longed for the redeemer to come since his coming was foretold, but their message was about the now.
ReplyDeleteLook at it this way. I am teaching my son how to drive and teach how to anticipate the typical reactions of a vehicle and drivers under different conditions. I can also project that if certain things were to occur at the same time there will be an accident. The accident can be avoided if.......! The point of prophecy is to bring direction for the now, hope in the now time of despair, and sometimes redirection with a consequence if one doesn't change.
Daniel saw the future to inspire the people of his day that despite their exiles, God is in charge and all will work out in the end. So they could be encouraged and re-energized. John wrote to a persecuted people who understood all the allusions that he used with numbers, imagery, etc. and that they could take heart as their future is glorious despite the current darkness.
I always think it odd that we take some scripture 'figuratively' and others we take 'literally' and then apply principles to one situation when in context it speaks to something else entirely. We must rightly divide the Word of God. The Word is exactly what it says it is and to fully understand what God is saying to us today - you must understand the timeliness of scripture to understand the timelessness of scripture. The Bible is a collection for all, but within it contains specific letters, poems, songs, etc. to a specific person/people who had a specific culture, a specific set of experiences, and to people struggling to maintain their culture of faith because of non-believing cultures trying to influence them to assimalate by giving their faith up.
We must rightly divide the Word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15