Temple Rebuilt First?

“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; 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.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4

 

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”  Daniel 9:27

 

There a belief out there that such things as described throughout this book regarding the Rapture, Tribulation, etc., can not take place unless there is a Temple rebuilt.  This portion of the book is not going to go in depth about the Millennial Temple (Ezek. 40) that will be rebuilt –AFTER- the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), but rather focusing on the simple argument of waiting to see a temple rebuilt, which if one is, will be the Antichrist temple. 

 

There was a huge influx of teaching from the pulpits and interest in end-times event back particularly in the 1990’s.  While the year 2000 (then 2005, finally 2012) in and of itself certainly would have led to a significant amount of interest in such events, however, the EU formed approximately seven years prior to the year 2000.  Right there set off an avalanche of end times teachings, whether they were correct or not.

 

As addressed, where is the revived Roman Empire?  Certainly there are still those who look towards Europe, but thus far the EU hasn’t produced anything significant to be a world power as a whole.  In fact the United Kingdom never took their Euro and NATO still provides protection for Europe.  One could see the frenzy of Bible scholars getting excited about the formation of the European Union, myself included, but thus far, if we are near, certainly this doesn’t seem plausible.

 

However there are also select amount of people who wait for the Temple to be rebuilt prior to the starting gun of the Rapture.  They study these things and there is no shortage of people who are quick to talk about the red heifer, the Temple Mount Institute of Jerusalem, the potential war to blow the mosque off of the Temple mount…none whatsoever. Yet if we are so certain to see these things prior, let me address two issues with that.  The first a common sense argument, brief, the second looking at the Word of God.

 

You, yes you dear reader, are not guaranteed a breath from the one who are taking right now.  So, for those who look to get ‘serious’ about being a Christian or living right or what-have-you, you are not guaranteed to survive the day. 

 

Now from a biblical perspective, let’s take a look at what Jesus said.

 

“But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  Matthew 12:39-40

 

So what people are looking for are signs.  Well the restoration of Israel as a nation after 1900 years is certainly a sign (Ezek. 37).  Now there is a sign given to the Elect ((Israel) Isa. 45:4):

 

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:28

 

This is spoken to Israel, to the Jewish people, not to the Gentiles, make no mistake about it.  There is nothing else that has to happen prior to the Rapture…NOTHING. 

 

Think of righteous Noah (Gen. 6:9) who did warn people (2 Pet. 2:5) yet they did not listen.  Certainly their ears heard, there were some people who knew that ‘crazy’ who was building the boat really thought God had told him (Gen. 6:17) that a worldwide Flood was coming.

 

So when was it that people took Noah seriously?  Was it when the fountains of the deep opened up (Gen. 7:11), the deluge of rain coming down for 40 days (Gen. 7:12) or just when the sky was starting to turn dark from rain clouds?

 

Were there some who had a bit more time and were a bit higher up, perhaps on a mountain, crying out to God to save them?  Consider and consider well this verse:

 

“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.”  Psalms 32:6

 

So is now the time to seek God or is it when you have proof that He exists?

 

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”… Isaiah 55:6

 

Perhaps what will be the Antichrist temple is built prior to the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation, perhaps it is not?  One assumes that because there will be sacrifices going on in supposedly the beginning of the Seventh Week (Dan. 9:27) that there –must- be a temple in place to do so…not necessarily the case and quite frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if there were not.

 

So the exiles had returned to the land of Israel, offering the morning and evening sacrifice.

 

“And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.”  Ezra 3:3

 

Yet take note, the foundations of the Temple had not yet been laid.

 

“From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.”  Ezra 3:6

 

The Temple is not necessary to begin the sacrifices that will be occurring during the Seventh Week (Dan. 9:27).  Will there even be a temple during that time period (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14), for where does Jesus say Temple?

 

Rather what the Bible teaches us who are Believers is to be watching and ready.

 

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”  Matthew 24:42

 

For this we know:

 

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  1st Corinthians 15:52

 

Eventually the fullness of the truth of these matters will be made known.  Yet, for me, I will be watching and ready, not waiting to see ‘this’ or ‘that’, whatever it may be that I presume –must- happen prior.  For from the Bible standpoint, there is nothing else that needs to happen, except the starting gun be fired, for Israel is already a nation.

 

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:7

 

Amen!