The Third Jewish Temple

There have been two temples built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. King Solomon built the first temple nearly 3,000 years ago. The armies of Nebuchadnezzar destroyed that temple in 586 B.C. The second temple, which was built approximately 70 years later, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Along with the destruction of the second temple, the Jewish nation was driven out of their Promised Land. After that, the no-man’s land formerly occupied by the Jews was re-named “Palestine,” for the Philistines who had been Israel’s most bitter enemy. Ironically, the land currently known as the Gaza Strip which is now occupied by the Palestinians is roughly the same strip of land that was occupied by the Philistines which Israel never did acquire the courage to conquer when they were instructed by God to take the land.

Prophecy tells us that the third temple will be built. From a practical stand-point however, it seems to be an impossible objective. After the 1967 Six-Day War, when the Nation of Israel took the City of Jerusalem, they allowed the Muslims to maintain possession and control of the Temple Mount. Today, the Muslims have total control over what can be built on that prized piece of real estate. Before the third temple can be built, there must be a dramatic shift in power regarding the Temple Mount.

We are told that there will some day be a period of peace, and it may be during that period that the third temple will be built. What can bring about that sort of peace? It certainly won’t be the kind of peace that world leaders are trying to negotiate today. An orderly peace conference that is carried out around a negotiating table is nothing but a series of concessions, agreements, promises and money transfers. There is no promise or concession that will ever convince the Muslim world to hand over possession of the Temple Mount to the Nation of Israel.

The only peace agreement that has ever stood the test of time, is one that has been agreed to after one side wins, and another side loses a war. Peace can only achieved through strength. In order for Israel to build the third temple on the Temple Mount, there will have to be a preceding major upheaval and reversing of current situations. At some time or another, Israel will have to make a dramatic statement to the world by subduing the nations in the Middle East.

We all know that the predominant unrest in today’s world is centered in the Middle East. There won’t be any real peace in the world until there is peace in the Middle East; and there won’t be any peace in the Middle East until there is peace in Jerusalem; and there won’t be any peace in Jerusalem until there is peace on the Temple Mount.

How can the tiny nation of Israel bring the whole Middle East into submission? How can Israel tell the whole world that they are a force to be reckoned with? It could very possibly be accomplished by the nuclear destruction of some major city. Will Israel be the only one that delivers that destructive power? Probably not. Most likely, there will be some Western powers that will be working along side of Israel on that mission. It will then be that Israel, backed up by a major world power will be a strong party to some sort of workable peace agreement.

Israel won’t be alone in brokering that peace. Prophecy tells us that there will be one person representing the world powers who will be the key player in negotiating that peace. This one man will at first be viewed as a peace-maker and a problem solver. During that period of time, he will acquire unmatchable international power, allowing him to break the very peace agreement that he brokered.

It may be during that brief period of peace that the third temple will be built. But that period of peace won’t last long. The dark powers of the world know that the third temple plays a key role in the coming of the Messiah. The principalities and powers of darkness will have no intention of permitting Jesus to return and rule the world. But their fate is sealed in prophecy. The temple will be standing; Jesus will return; and evil will be conquered.

The re-building of the Jewish Temple will be accomplished.

Read "The Journey." http://www.thejourneybook.net/