DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY... part 2

The Islamic abomination, the “Dome of the Rock”, will not be removed from the holy temple mount, therefore, there will NOT be a third temple built in Jerusalem… EVER!

The primary OT passages used to try to establish some sort of proof for a third temple in Jerusalem is (Dan. 9:27, 11:31 &12:11) and (Ezk 45). The problem is… Ezekiel and the book of Daniel were written after Solomon’s temple had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 600 BC (2 Kings 25:8–9) (Dan 1:1–2) and before the temple had been rebuilt by the returning exiles (Ezra 6:13–15). It was this post-exile rebuilt temple that was desecrated by the pig-sacrificing Antiochus Epiphanes around 170 BC. After a period of neglect, the temple was in need of repair. Herod the Great restored and enlarged this rebuilt second temple, a project that started around 20 B.C. and was completed just a few years before it was destroyed in AD 70.

It is this SECOND temple that Jesus cursed and declared that it would be under a permanent desolation. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!” (Mt 23:37-39) Exactly what about “ LEFT DESOLATE” do these third temple preachers not understand?

Is there any indication, from Ezekiel or Daniel, that we are supposed to skip over the next temple that was rebuilt, and was still standing in Jesus’ day, and jump to some future post-rapture great tribulation third temple? The answer is… NO!

(2Thessalonians 2:1-12) is the primary NT passage to try to convince us that a third temple will be built. It is also one of the most miss-interpreted passages in today's Christian Church. In all of his writings, Paul only uses the term "Temple of God" five times, and all five times, it is used to describe the CHURCH, or INDIVIDUALS within the Church. Paul clearly has one theme in mind here... THE APOSTASY OF THE CHURCH, and WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE. This passage has absolutely no relevance to a third Jewish temple. The person who takes his seat in the Church (Temple of God) and proclaims himself equal in holiness to Christ… is not Antichrist alone, but also the apostate Christian who believes the same lie.

Finally, the temple that John is told to measure, while he is in Heaven, is also in HEAVEN. (Re 11:1-2 & 19) (Re 15:5-8)

Please don't wait for a third Jewish temple to be built... it won't happen!