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Last Days Prophecy
HIS
SERVANTS' MINISTRY
www.lastdaysprophecy.org
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The Jerusalem Temple
Past,
Present and Future
The ancient Temple was a large and very impressive building, but also
it was the religious, social, political and economic center in Israel.
Three times a year every able bodied man traveled to Jerusalem and presented
himself before the Lord in the Temple. These three times were: the Passover,
the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Tabernacle preceded the Temple. It was the dwelling place for God’s
Divine Presence while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Exodus
25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell
among them. [9] According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern
of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even
so shall ye make it. [KJV] The Tabernacle was actually a tent which
was divided into two areas: the large outer room was called the Holy
Place, and a smaller, inner enclosure was called the Holy of Holies.
The entire structure was surrounded by a large courtyard, with an outside
entrance facing the east.
Inside the Holy Place (the larger room), was the Menorah (a seven branched
candelabrum made from a solid block of gold, the Alter of Incense, and
the Table of Showbread.
Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. The gold-plated
lid of the Ark was known as the Mercy Seat. Over the Mercy Seat were
the figures of two cherubim, with their wings spread.
Inside the Ark
was:
- The two stone tablets
of the Law. Deut. 31:26 Take
this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant
of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
[KJV]
- A golden pot with a
sample of manna. Exodus 16:33 And
Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein,
and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.
[KJV]
- Aaron’s rod that
budded. Numbers 17:10 And the
Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony,
to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take
away their murmurings from me, that they die not. [KJV]
Hebrews 9:4 Which had the golden
censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein
was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the
tables of the covenant; [KJV]
Once the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, they built a permanent
structure in Jerusalem to replace the portable and aging Tabernacle.
King Solomon built the first Temple on the Temple Mount, which was Mount
Moriah. According to tradition, the Ark of the Covenant rested on the
very stone where Abraham had offered his son, Isaac, centuries before
(Gen.22:1-14). According to what I can gather, God considers Jerusalem
the center of the Earth (Eze. 5:5). And the Jews believe this large,
flat stone marks the center of the world.
The First Temple
Solomon’s Temple was the first Temple, built about 966 BC. It
was a magnificent work of art. It took 180,000 workers and artisans
7 years to complete it. The massive structure was on over 37 acres of
land. People came from far and wide to see its beauty. It was destroyed
in 586 BC.
Solomon’s Temple was pillaged many times during the course of
its history, (1) 1 Kings 14:25-26; (2) 2 Kings 14:14; (3) 2 Kings 16:8,
17-18; (4) 2 Kings 18:15-16. At last it was pillaged and completely
destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chron. 36:7). He burned
the temple, and carried all its treasures with him to Babylon (2 Kings
25:9-17; 2 Chron. 36:19; Isaiah 64:11). These sacred vessels were at
the end of the Captivity, restored to the Jews by Cyrus (Ezra 1:7-11).
The Second Temple
The second Temple was built on the foundation of Solomon’s Temple
when the Jewish remnant returned from the 70 year captivity in Babylon
(about 516 BC). When Zerrubbable first rebuilt the Temple, it was small
and unadorned, and when the older Jews saw it they cried, for they remembered
the glory of the first Temple. Ezra 3:12 But many
of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient
men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house
was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted
aloud for joy: [KJV] Haggai 2:3 Who is left
among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see
it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? [KJV]
The temple erected by the exiles on their return from Babylon had stood
for about 500 years, when Herod the Great became king of Judea. The
Temple had suffered considerably from natural decay as well as from
the assaults of hostile armies. Herod, wanted to gain the favor of the
Jews, and proposed to rebuild it. This offer was accepted, and the work
was begun (about 18 BC), and carried out at great labor and expense,
and it rivaled the splendor of Solomon’s Temple over 1000 years
earlier.
This second temple did not have the Ark, the Urim and Thummim, the
holy oil, the sacred fire, the tables of stone, the pot of manna, nor
Aaron's rod. As in the Tabernacle, there was in it only one golden lamp
for the Holy Place, one table of shewbread, and the incense altar, with
golden censers, and many of the vessels of gold that had belonged to
Solomon's temple that had been carried to Babylon but restored by Cyrus
(Ezra 1:7-11). This second Temple also had numerous “trees planted
in the courts of the Lord,” where there were none in the first. Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall
be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this
place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. [KJV] The glory
here predicted is spiritual glory and not material splendor. Christ
Himself, present bodily in the temple on Mount Zion during His life
on Earth, present spiritually now in the Church, present in the Holy
City, the heavenly Jerusalem, of which He is the temple, is the glory
here predicted.
Jesus And The
Second Temple
During His three year ministry, Jesus spent much time in the second
Temple. He cleansed the Temple, turning over the tables of the crooked
money changers (John 2:14-15). He celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles
in the Temple (John 7:14). He went to the Temple during the winter Feast
of Dedication, which is today known as Hanukkah (John 10:22). Religious
leaders were surprised when Jesus was not in the Temple during Passover
(John 11:56).
Jesus’
Prophecy of the Second Temple
Matthew 24:1-2 And Jesus went out, and departed
from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings
of the temple. [2] And Jesus said unto them, See
ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left
here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. [KJV] No one really knows exactly what this temple looked like, but
it must have been beautiful. Next to the inner temple, where the sacred
objects were kept and the sacrifices were offered, there was a large
area called the court of the Gentiles. This was where the money changers
and merchants had their booths. Outside these courts were long porches.
Solomon’s porch was 1,562 feet long; the royal portico was decorated
with 160 columns stretching along its 921-foot length. Gazing at this
glorious and massive structure, the disciples found Jesus’ words
about its destruction hard to believe. But the temple was indeed destroyed
only 40 years later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.
Jesus’
Prophecy on Yet Another Temple
Matthew 24:15-16 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:)
[16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [KJV] What was this “abomination of desolation”
mentioned by both Daniel and Jesus? It actually is any deliberate
attempt to mock and deny the reality of God’s Presence. Daniel’s prediction came true in 168 BC when Antiochus Epiphanes
sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the sacred temple altar (Daniel 9:27; 11:30-31).
Jesus’ words were remembered in AD 70 when Titus placed an idol
on the site of the burned temple after destroying Jerusalem. In the
end times (the Tribulation) the Antichrist will set up an image of himself
and order everyone to worship it (2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-15). These
all are “abominations” that mock God.
Will The Temple
Be Rebuilt Again?
Yes. It is necessary in order to fulfill prophecy. 2 Thes.
2:4 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. [KJV] As God was
in the Temple of old, and was worshipped there, and is in and with His
church now; so the Antichrist that will come, will attempt to seize
God’s authority in the Tribulation.
Rev. 13:14-15 And deceiveth them that dwell on
the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in
the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that
they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword,
and did live. [15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the
beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that
as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
[KJV] Antichrist will have an image placed in the Temple. This will
be the abomination of desolation of which Jesus spoke in Mat.24:15.
This prophecy cannot be fulfilled without a Temple.
The Third Temple
From my understanding, the third Temple will most likely be built just
before the Tribulation period, or during the first 3 1/2 years of the
Tribulation. Rev. 11:1-2 And there was given me
a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure
the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. [2]
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it
not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they
tread under foot forty and two months. [KJV] This verse tells me
that this will be mid-way during the Tribulation period. The Temple
will be taken over by the Antichrist and he will install his image in
the Holy Place. He will “tread underfoot forty and two months”
(3 1/2 years) the Holy Temple of God. Daniel 9:27 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. [KJV] This verse confirms the time frame. One week
= 7 years. Antichrist will arrange a peace treaty with Israel for 7
years. In the middle of the 7 years, he will turn on Israel, breaking
the peace treaty, and setting up that dreadful image in God’s
Holy Temple.
There is a Temple implied in both the above Passages. There
has to be a Temple, and as of today, there is none. There are
plans for the rebuilding of the Temple. So, this Temple could start
at any time. There is however, a Muslim mosque on the Temple Mount.
As stated in Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will put an end to Israel
making sacrifices and offerings in the Temple. The Jews will not be
able to worship in the Temple. It will be then, that he will set up
the abomination of desolation.
There are organizations in Israel today who are devoted and dedicated
to rebuilding the Temple. Two of the larger ones can be found on the
internet.
These groups are even training priests to serve in the future Temple.
Clothing for the priests are carefully being woven to the strict requirements
of the Law. The thread in these robes has been fashioned from strands
of flax (linen), just as they were 2000 years ago. They even believe
that they have found the secret and rare formula of the blue dye used
in the priest’s garments, which comes from a small snail-like
sea creature.
The Red Heifer
Numbers 19:2 This is the ordinance of the law
which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,
that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish,
and upon which never came yoke: [KJV] The heifer was to be totally
burned. This typified the painful sufferings of our Lord Jesus, both
in soul and body, as a sacrifice made by fire, to satisfy God’s
justice for man’s sin. These ashes were to be laid up as a purification
for sin. They were only to purify from ceremonial uncleanness, yet they
were a type of that purification for sin which our Lord Jesus made by
His death. The Blood of Christ is laid up for us in the Word and sacraments,
and is our only Fountain of merit. By our faith we may have constant
access for cleansing our consciences. Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by
a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and
calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of
bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God? [KJV] The red heifer looked forward to Christ.
Numbers 19:6 And the priest shall take cedar wood,
and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of
the heifer. [KJV] The priest was to sprinkle the blood of the heifer
“seven times” (verse 4) before the tabernacle.
Every part of the heifer then was consumed by fire except the blood
used in sprinkling. The ingredients mixed with the ashes were the same
as those used in the sprinkling of lepers (Lev.14:4-7). It was a water
of separation . . . that is, of “sanctification” for the
people of Israel.
Each time a red heifer was sacrificed in ancient times, the ashes were
kept in a special clay container, in three different locations in the
Temple. These ashes were used to make a water of separation (Num.19:9)
used in purification. These special ashes were used very sparingly and
often lasted 100 years. According to Jewish tradition there have been
only nine of these perfect red heifers in Israel’s history. Each
heifer had to be sacrificed while there were still some ashes from the
previous heifer still available because the alter and the priests had
to be purified before they could sacrifice another. If the ashes were
completely deleted, there would be no way to purify the alter and priests
so they could sacrifice the next animal.
Orthodox Jews believe that the Messiah’s coming will be preceded
by finding the 10th red heifer. She will have to be perfect and completely
red in color. She cannot have any blemish whatsoever, and she cannot
have any different colored hairs anywhere on her body.
Where are the
Ashes of the Red Heifer?
Where is the
Ark of the Covenant?
According to traditional sources, King Josiah ordered the Ark and other
holy items to be hidden in an underground vault for safe keeping. It
is supposed that this underground hiding place was constructed for King
Solomon. Some think it is underneath the Temple Mount. There are rumors
that two rabbis were digging and they supposedly found the Ark of the
covenant. Both men denied seeing it. Read “The Coming Last Days
Temple” by Dr. Randall Price for more information.
The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most important of all the Temple
items. There are many theories about what happened and where it is.
Some believe that the Vatican has it. Titus took several Temple artifacts
back to Rome with him. The Temple Institute wrote a letter to the Vatican
in 2002, demanding that the golden menorah be returned to them. The
Vatican claims it has no Temple treasures. There are many authentic,
historical records and popular legends that affirm that there were many
sacred Temple objects taken to Rome by Titus when he destroyed Jerusalem
and the Temple. This would not include the Ark of the first Temple.
Some claim that the Ark is in Ethiopia. Tradition records say that
King Solomon, being the wisest of all men, knew that the Temple would
be destroyed, and he built a vast system of mazes, chambers and corridors
underneath the Temple Mount and that is where the Ark is. Today, the
Temple Mount is under control of the Palestinians.
It is said that the Jews know exactly where the Ark of the Covenant
is. The Palestinians claim there never was a Holy Temple. To find and
reveal the Ark would prove them wrong, thus proving the Jews have the
right to claim the Temple Mount. As it stands today, the Muslims state
the Jews have NO right to the Temple Mount.
Where to Build
the Third Temple
Jewish authorities agree that the Third temple has to be built over
the foundation of the first and second Temples. There are three views
on where the second Temple was located and therefore where the third
Temple must be built:
- The Muslim Dome of the Rock sits on
the location of the second Temple.
- The second Temple was located to the
north of the Dome of the Rock.
- Radar and infrared studies seem to
indicate the previous Temples were located south of the Dome of the
Rock, near the El Kas Fountain. The vast majority of Jewish scholars
and archaeologists think it is the first view, that the Dome of the
Rock is the correct location.
If this is the case, then the Dome of the Rock must be destroyed or
moved before a Jewish Temple can be built there. Jewish scholars and
rabbis seem to think that the Messiah will come soon. It seems strange
that these Orthodox Jews and also the Christian Evangelists (opposites)
agree that Christ will indeed come soon. May our Lord give us wisdom
to discern the signs of the times (Mat.16:3), so we will not be caught
off guard or sleeping when He sounds the trumpet (1 Thes.4:13-17).
The Millennial
Temple
The fourth Temple, the Millennial Temple is described in detail by
Ezekiel (40-48). It will be the largest and most elaborate Temple of
all.
Reinstitution
of the Ancient Sacrificial System
Some people think it is sacrilegious to even think of such a thing.
They say there is only ONE Sacrifice that is capable of cleansing the
soul from sin . . . . and that is Jesus! And they are correct. But,
the Bible clearly states that there will be sacrifices offered in the
Millennial Temple which will most likely be built and supervised by
Jesus Himself. If it is wrong to offer sacrifices, why would Jesus permit
it?
Ezekiel 40:38-43 And the chambers and the entries
thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt
offering. [39] And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this
side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering
and the sin offering and the trespass offering. [40] And at the side
without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables;
and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two
tables. [41] Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that
side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their
sacrifices. [42] And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt
offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad,
and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith
they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice. [43] And within were
hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was
the flesh of the offering. [KJV] This will be an actual Temple
to be rebuilt during the millennial reign of Christ. If the sacrifices
are to be reinstituted in the last days, then would Christ’s final
sacrifice not have been final? The New Testament makes it clear that Christ died once and for all (Rom.6:10; Heb.9:12; 10:10,
18). Our sins have been removed; no further sacrifice is needed. In
Ezekiel’s day, however, the only kind of worship the people knew
was the kind that revolved around the sacrifices and ceremonies described
in Exodus through Deuteronomy.
But, let’s consider this. When Jesus was resurrected, did He
warn His disciples to stop following Temple practices? No. If He did,
I don’t know where it is. If animal sacrifices had become sinful
and wrong with the event of His death and resurrection, don’t
you think He would have told the disciples . . . . and us? Temple sacrifices
never did remove sin in the Old Testament, and they will not remove
sin when they are resumed in the end times. Ezekiel 43:13-27 clearly
states that there shall be a reinstituted sacrificial system that will
include burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Paul, the other apostles, and others offered sacrifices to God. Several
verses speak of this. Luke 2:24; Acts 24:17; Mat.21:12; Mk.11:15; Rom.15:16;
John 2:15, etc. If it were wrong, Jesus would have corrected them.
What the Bible condemns is putting our faith in legalistic works such
as animal sacrifices, instead of Jesus’ once and for all Sacrifice
on the cross. Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man
is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified
by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [KJV] Jews, just
like Gentiles, become right with God, not by doing what the law commands,
but by faith in Jesus Christ. All people must believe in Christ Jesus,
that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ . .
. and not because we have obeyed the law. NO one will ever be
saved by obeying the law.
Christianity started with Jews. Jews were the first Christians. Some
say there is no such thing as a Christian Jew. They are wrong. There
are many. I personally believe that a Christian Jew is doubly blessed.
I have had the privilege of knowing one, Charles Halff, founder of the
Christian Jew Foundation in San Antonio, Texas. He was a dear man who
is with the Lord Jesus now. He greatly encouraged me in our ministry.
He was interested only in reaching lost souls, Jews or Gentiles.
The Fourth Temple
There will be a fourth Temple one day. It is described in Ezekiel 40-48.
It will be constructed by the Messiah Himself on His return after the
Great Tribulation period.
It will be the Millennial Temple. There will be no Temple in Heaven
(New Jerusalem). Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple
therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
[KJV]
Do NOT Mess With Israel!
ISRAEL
Israel, Things About
Israel, Beginning of
Israel, God's Chosen People
Israel, Hatred of Israel is a Sin
Israel, These Bones Shall Live
Israel, Hosea Prophecies
Israel, Joel Prophecies
Israel, Obadiah Prophecies
Israel's Promised Land
Israel's Tribes
Jerusalem's Temples
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Also see: ?Will Israel Sruvive?
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