The Topic Of Rebuilding The Jewish Temple In Jerusalem – The Third Temple
The topic of rebuilding the Jewish temple in Jerusalem has been a subject of interest and debate for many people. The idea of constructing a third temple raises questions about its necessity and whether it would still qualify as God’s temple. In order to fully understand this topic, it is important to explore the concept of the abomination that causes desolation, as mentioned in the Bible.
The abomination of desolation is a complex topic, but it is not beyond our understanding. The Bible, acknowledging its difficulty, prompts readers to comprehend its meaning in Matthew chapter 24 and Mark chapter 13. The abomination of desolation refers to any act or something that causes rejection, abandonment, or destruction. It is an act or entity that leads to the rejection or destruction of something significant.
References to the abomination of desolation can be found in various biblical passages, including Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11, Matthew 24:15, and Mark 13:14. These passages shed light on the significance and implications of this abomination.
Many biblical prophecies have both short-term and long-term fulfillments, known as prophetic duality or dual fulfillment. While the prophecy in Daniel 9:27 has a single fulfillment, the abomination of desolation mentioned by Jesus Christ in the Gospels has both a past and a future fulfillment. The fulfillment by Antiochus IV Epiphanes serves as a historical precedent, while the future fulfillment is associated with the Antichrist.
Daniel 9:27 Explained
The single fulfillment of Daniel 9:27 refers to the destruction of the city and the sanctuary by the Roman general Titus and his troops in AD 70. The pronoun “he” in this verse, often interpreted as the Antichrist, actually refers to the Anointed One, Jesus Christ. Jesus confirmed the New Covenant through His sacrifice, which put an end to the need for animal sacrifices and offerings. By doing so, He rendered all other redemptive sacrifices and offerings as abominations that cause desolation.
Regarding the phrase “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him,” the correct translation suggests that the end is decreed against the city of Jerusalem and the temple, not the Anointed One or the ruler who will come. The ruler who will come is not the Antichrist but General Titus, whose troops destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.
The second fulfillment of the abomination of desolation mentioned by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 refers to the Antichrist. The first fulfillment of this prophecy was carried out by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who desecrated the Jewish temple by erecting an image and altar of the Greek god Zeus and sacrificing a pig on the altar.
The question of whether a third Jewish temple will be rebuilt is often debated. However, the argument about rebuilding a physical temple is irrelevant when considering the second fulfillment of the abomination of desolation. The significance of the temple changed with the advent of the New Covenant. Jesus referred to His own body as the temple, indicating that believers themselves are now considered the temple of God.
The physical temple’s purpose was fulfilled, and its destruction in AD 70 confirmed that God’s presence had already departed from it. God does not dwell in temples made by human hands, as stated in Acts 7:48. Animal sacrifices, Levitical priests, and the Ark of the Covenant are no longer necessary under the new covenant established by Jesus Christ.
The Bible does not explicitly mention the rebuilding of the temple, and it emphasizes that believers are the temple of God. The focus should be on the spiritual aspect rather than the physical
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ADDITIONAL READING
The Man of Lawlessness Or Sin Sitting In The Temple Of God Proclaiming Himself To Be God
How Sodom And Gomorrah Suffered Vengeance Of Eternal Fire In Jude 1:7
