An challenging look at understanding Prophecy
Will the 3rd Temple ever be rebuilt?
• Where oh where is the Dome of the Rock? You ask. Not a trace remains. And now in its place stands this proud new temple. Could this ever happen? Does the Bible provide any answers about this?
Blaspheming His Tabernacle
Revelation 13 warns that the mouth of the beast will blaspheme everything about God.
5. And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was granted authority to continue for 42 months.
6. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
Blasphemy. The greek definition is “evil speaking" however we know that Jesus was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the son of god or forgave sins. Matt 12:32 describes blaspheming the holy spirit as giving satan credit for that which the Holy Spirit had done. Looking at the context of this verse, it seems very likely that blasphemy in this case refers satan claiming to be God, having His name, and counterfeiting His angels, and His tabernacle.
So the big question is, how to you take credit for, or counterfeit God's tabernacle? Well most likely you would recreate it, claiming yours to be the real one.
Sitting in the Temple of God
In 2Thes, we are warned about a man of sin working in accordance with satan, who performs signs and lying wonders. Now whats interesting is that he actually sits in the temple of God showing that he is God.
2Thes 2:3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the tem
ple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10. and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12. that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
- So again we have a big question. Will a throne in just any pagan tabernacle do? Or Does this passage specifically warn that about the actual tabernacle of God being desicrated by Satan's prophet.
IS THERE ALSO A DISTINCTION FOR "PROPHETS"?
Luk 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- Luke and Revelation almost sound like they are quoting eachother here. Although the passage in Luke was fulfilled in A.D 70 as the Romans destroyed the 2nd sanctuary, the prophetic passage in Revelation has certainly not been fulfilled.
1. (2 Witnesses) Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
2. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentile. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.(2 Witnesses) 11:3. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
4. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
6. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
7. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
8. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
10. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11. Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
12. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. Rev 11
The most profound indication of modern Jerusalem being a significant place during end times comes in verse 8. Read it very closely. What you see is that Jerusalem is being described as "spiritually Sodom and Egypt." Perhaps because it has adapted pagan sunworship of Egypt and the immorality and pride of Sodom.
Defiling the Sanctuary Fortress, entering the Glorious Land and Holy Mountian
Daniel 11 offers more support for a literal fulfillment of Jerusalem...
31. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
41. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.
45. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him. Dan 11
Conclusion
• Considering many reports that the entire preistly staff has already been selected, their robes already fitted, and all the temple furniture completed, it seems very possible that a literal temple in Jerusalem could play right into end time results. For now, we will just have to wait and see.
Revelation Main Page
The 7 Trumpets herald the beginning of the last days. Some claim they are symbolic while some argue literal.
The 7 Seals of Revelation parallel the gospel prophecies of Matthew Mark and Luke.
The 7 head 10 horned beast rises to power and rules the whole world militarily and spiritually, and makes war with the saints.
The 2nd beast of Revelation exists at the same time as the 1st. some believe its the antichrist while other say it is America.
The 144,000 described in Revelation have a very inspiring message for those who live through the time of the end.
Jerusalem, the highly debated city. Some say it will be the center of end time events, while others claim its merely symbolic.
The Abomination of Desolation is mentioned as happening in the early days of the new testament. Some verses point to end times.
The 2 Witnesses of Revelation. Not everything about them is revealed, but many clues are evident.
The Close of Judgment which precedes the 7 last plagues is clearly described in 2 different chapters of revelation.
Special Resurrection. Jesus returns to resurrect the saved and some of the lost.
The spirit of prophesy.