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The
Temple Rebuilt |
Christians
are divided as to whether or not The Temple will
be rebuilt sometime in the future in Jerusalem.
Even among the Jews there are differences of opinion
regarding this matter. At the present time the
Temple Mount in Jerusalem is under the control
of the Muslims. It is the site of the Dome of
the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque. It also appears
that another mosque is being built on this plot
of sacred ground but still no Temple.
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Though
some orthodox Jews have sought and continue to seek
to gain or regain control of this prized piece of ground
the secular Israeli government has stood opposed to
the efforts of these zealous Jews. Someone has said
that the Temple Mount is “the most disputed
35 acres on the planet.” It is believed that
upon this spot of land Abraham offered his son Isaac,
i.e., Mount Moriah. Observant Jews pray three times
each day this prayer, “May it be Thy will
that the Temple be speedily rebuilt in our days.”
And at the conclusion of every Seder it is said, “Next
year in Jerusalem!”
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Those
Christian denominations who believe that the Church
is the New Israel are convinced that God is through
with His Ancient Covenant People. These Christian
groups teach that God has cast aside His Chosen
People because of their rejection of Messiah at
the time of His crucifixion. We reject this teaching
as false and not in accord with the prophetic
Scriptures. We do not believe that God is through
with His Covenant People the Jews. The covenant
that God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is
unconditional. It remains in force and will remain
in force until it is fulfilled during the Kingdom
reign of our Lord.
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The
Jews continue to be God’s special people. They
figure prominently into future prophetic events. Therefore,
we believe that the day is coming when the Temple will
be rebuilt in Jerusalem. As to when this will come about
no one this side of heaven can know.
The following article
by Leland M. Haines is taken from his book, Redemption
Realized Through Christ, offered from Biblical Viewpoints:
“Historically
the temple held a central place in the Jewish religion.
After the children of Israel settled in the Promised
Land, they built a temple to replace the tabernacle.
There have been three temples, and all three have been
destroyed. Solomon built the first one (1 Kings 6: 2
Chronicles 3-5). His father David wanted to build it.
God forbade him to do so, however, because he was a
man of war; so his son built it (1 Chronicles 22:3).
The
second temple was built by Zerubbabel after the return
from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 3-6).
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The
third one was built by Herod the Great. It was
started sometime before Jesus’ birth and
completed only a few years before it was destroyed
by the Romans in A.D.70. During His last week
on earth, Jesus predicted its destruction (Matthew
24:2; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6)."
“There
has not been a Jewish temple in Jerusalem for
over 1900 years, but a temple will play a part
in latter-day events. It apparently will be rebuilt
and sacrifices will be reestablished. There are
several Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures
predicting this.
“In
Daniel’s prophecies we have seen that a
coming king would cause sacrifices to cease (Daniel
9:27). Daniel also wrote that some ‘shall
pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take
away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place
the abomination that maketh desolate”
(11:31). The length of time of this is ‘a
thousand two hundred and ninety days,’
or the last half of the seventieth week of years
(12:11).
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“Jesus
spoke of this period of desolation: ‘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)’ (Matthew
24:15). Paul also wrote of this period and the temple.
‘The son of perdition; 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). John also wrote about the temple. In a vision
he was told to measure the temple except for the court.
The court was not included in the temple measurements
since at that time it was ‘given unto the
Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot
forty and two months’ (Revelation 11:2).
Notice that this time period is the same as that
given by Daniel” “Happy are those who
persevere and attain the thousand three hundred thirty-five
days.” (Daniel 12:11)
From the Scriptural passages quoted in the above article
it is evident that the Temple will be rebuilt.
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When
Will The Temple be Rebuilt?
As
mentioned earlier in this article as to the exact
time frame we do not know. Other than the fact
that it will be rebuilt the Scriptures are silent.
Knowing the day and time is secondary. However,
many Bible scholars are convinced that the beginning
of the rebuilding will occur shortly, possibly
in our lifetime. Whether this is true or not is
speculation. What is important is to know that
it will happen. We do know that the coming Antichrist
will seek to establish himself in the rebuilt
temple. God will intervene.
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When
the temple is rebuilt orthodox Jews will once again
renew their ancient sacrificial worship practices.
At the present time there are a number of the descendants
of Levi (the priestly tribe) preparing themselves
for the time when the priesthood of Israel will resume
their duties in the new Temple. A number of Jewish
seminaries in Jerusalem are currently teaching their
students the priestly rituals that will include the
restoration of animal sacrifices. Animal sacrifices
were abandoned when the Temple was destroyed in A.D.
70 by the Roman army.
We
are living in an exciting day as we see activity taking
place that has not been happening for 2,000 years.
Our Lord exhorted His followers thusly: “. .
. look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption
draweth nigh.”[1] |
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The
rebuilt temple will be desecrated when Antichrist, energized
by Satan and the false prophet, sets himself up as Christ
in it. Some believe that there will actually be two
temples built. The first one being destroyed during
the Tribulation with a Millennial Temple being built
during the Kingdom Reign of our Lord. This is speculation
and we cannot be dogmatic on this.
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What
About Israel's Secular Government?
Though the present government of Israel is largely
secular and humanistic, yet God is still in control.
Observant Jews desperately long for the rebuilding
of the Temple. The “Western Wall”
is not a substitute for the God’s Temple.
Without the Temple many biblical observances of
Judaism cannot be properly observed. Local synagogues
can never take the place of Temple worship. Synagogues,
like New Testament churches, are places of study,
teaching and prayer. They are meeting places, but
cannot be equated with the Temple.
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To
refer to a meeting place where Christians assemble as
“the house of God” or “the
sanctuary” in the strictest sense is a misnomer.
In this dispensation God does not dwell in buildings,
rather God’s Spirit resides in the body of each
believer.
The
Prophetic Scriptures promise that the coming reign of
Yeshua (Jesus) will occur when He takes His rightful
place upon the presently unoccupied throne of David.
At the conclusion of the Tribulation when our Lord returns
to earth He will then reign as Israel’s rightful
and only legitimate King. Israel will once again return
to being a monarchy with Christ reigning as King of
kings and Lord of lords. See - Revelation 17:14; 19:16.
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Contrary
to what some theologians believe and teach “The
Tribulation” did not take place during
the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. We believe
that a literal Tribulation is on the horizon. It
will be a period of seven years duration. See -
Revelation 14.
As
the Day of the Return of Christ for His Body, the
believing Church, is approaching it is imperative
that authentic believers be sharing the Good News
of the Gospel with the lost. We dare not keep silent.
Those around us; our families, fellow church members,
neighbors, business and work associates, in fact
everyone needs to hear the Gospel of God’s
grace. We, Christians, have been commissioned to
witness. If you are a believer, are you obeying
Christ?
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