‘PA Warns: Israel Planning To Build A Holy Temple’
(Photo by Bob Thiel)
The Temple Institute had the following in its newsletter today:
Tevet 25, 5781/January 8, 2021
PA Warns: Israel Planning To Build A Holy Temple Employing a century old canard, the Palestinian Authority is claiming that “‘settlers’ are calling for the Dome of the Rock to be demolished and replaced by a Holy Temple.” For one hundred years this false accusation has had the intended and sure-fire effect of stirring violence among the Palestinians. As Joe Biden prepares to take office in two weeks and many Arab countries are opening relations with Israel, the PA is trying desperately to recapture the world’s attention through violence.
Yet, it is true that even The Temple Institute believes that it must clear the Temple Mount of Islamic structures. Here is what its official website states in its FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
When will the reconstruction of the Holy Temple Commence?
There are two approaches to answering this question.
One approach is based on the geo-political dynamics of the Temple Mount, and the other approach is based on the desire of the nation of Israel and her fellow nations to rebuild the Holy Temple.
Geo-politically, the Temple Mount has to be cleared of the Dome of the Rock and the mosques which are presently located upon it before the physical rebuilding of the Holy Temple can begin. Many scenarios can be imagined which would accomplish this, the most promising, and not necessarily the most far-fetched, would entail Moslem recognition of the Mount as the intended location for the rebuilt Temple. With the acquiescence of the Moslem world the Moslem structures currently on the Mount would be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere. traditionally, Moslem texts, beginning with the Koran, accept the prophecies of the return of the Jewish nation and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Today, of course, radical Islam holds sway over the Moslem world, and until this phenomenon is defeated, the likelihood of a peaceful preparation for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple remains nil.
More to the point, and more essential to the rebuilding of the Holy Temple is the desire of the nation of Israel to fulfill G-d’s commandment to build the Temple and renew the Divine service. (http://www.templeinstitute.org/frequently-asked-questions.htm viewed 01/08/21)
Of course, the Muslims are not interested in getting their famous Dome of the Rock and their mosques removed. So, that is not likely, even after a war. That is part of why I have long understood that the Jews would be willing to resume animal sacrifices without the rebuilding of a full Jewish Temple–and that is consistent with the Bible (Ezra 3:6) as well as the position of certain Jewish leaders, such as those in the reconstituted Sanhedrin (see Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?) and even some at the Temple Institute.
There is an interesting verse in Malachy that discusses a temple. Notice:
1 Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
Now when Jesus comes again, where does He go? Notice:
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
So, when Jesus returns, He will have His people come to Him. And then, notice where He will come on the earth:
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. (Acts 1:9-13)
3 Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:3-4)
The Mount of Olives should NOT be confused with the Temple Mount as it is a different mountain/hill. The Mount of Olives was never the site of any accepted Jewish temple.
So, it should be clear that the temple being referred to here is not a physical temple but His people. Jesus is going to come to His people and then will end up at the Mount of Olives, not a Jewish temple.
Furthermore, this is not a new understanding. The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
God made a prophecy in the third chapter of Malachy…Continuing, “…shall suddenly come to His temple…” What kind of temple is He coming to? Are the Jews going to tear down the Dome of the Rock and build a new temple? Oh, no!… A holy temple! Christ is coming to His church! Christ is coming to His temple! Do we see that? The church is the temple. “…in whom ye are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Armstrong, Herbert W. Congress of Leading Ministers Hears Defined and Reemphasized Spiritual Organization of Church. Worldwide News, March 6, 1981, p. 10)
Malachy 3 does not mean that a Jewish Temple must be built in Jerusalem before Jesus returns.
Notice something else that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about the temple:
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles [New Testament] and prophets [Old Testament], Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy TEMPLE in the Lord” (verses 20-21). So God reveals here that the Church is: 1) the HOUSEHOLD or begotten FAMILY of God; 2) a building—a HOLY TEMPLE—fitly joined together—that is, well organized (and, of course, on GOD’S pattern). As a building—the HOLY TEMPLE to which Christ will come—it is built on a FIRM FOUNDATION: the apostles, chosen by Christ, and the prophets. …
There has been much perplexity and discussion as to when the temple will be built to which Christ shall come. Malachi’s prophecy speaks of Christ’s second coming to His temple (Malachi 3:1-6). In Haggai’s prophecy it is referred to prophetically. Zerubbabel has been sent as governor of a colony to build the second temple 70 years after the destruction of Solomon’s temple. He built the temple to which Jesus came, though it had been enlarged and embellished by the Roman Herod. But speaking of this temple, as a type and forerunner of the temple to which Christ shall come at His second coming , it is written, “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” (Haggai 2:9).
It is inconceivable that the Israelis, in the present international turmoil over their possession of old Jerusalem, could ever demolish the Arab Moslem Dome of the Rock – now on the site of Solomon’s temple-and build a new one there of greater splendor and glory than Solomon’s! However, as the second temple Zerubbabel was building was a typical forerunner of the temple to which Christ shall come, even so Zerubbabel was the typical forerunner of one Christ would use in building the far more glorious temple to, which Christ shall come in His GLORY!
Zechariah 4:9 : “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it . . .. ” And as Zerubbabel’s hands did finish that second temple, so shall the one Christ uses in building the temple to which He shall come in His GLORY!
And the Church of God of the present day shall be a “building fitly framed together [and growing] unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21). (Armstrong HW. 7 Proofs of God’s True Church, Part 6. Plain Truth. August, 1979, p. 38)
Many of us are being tried and tested as NEVER BEFORE–and for our own good! But, verse 11, “from the time the daily sacrifice shall be taken away ….Consider this a moment. This does NOT imply a material temple to be built in our time in Jerusalem. It does seem to imply the Israelis may restore the daily (twice daily) sacrifice–possibly at the wailing wall. (Armstrong HW. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2)
Various ones who profess Christ misunderstand about the temple in the church age. Christians are the temple of God according to the New Testament.
Despite this, various ones who claim to be part of the Church of God have taken a different position. There has been a trend among various groups (e.g. CBCG, RCG, CEG, COGFF, and TPM) to teach that a third temple is required.
In the Protestant world, 2 Thessalonians is often cited as the proof that there must be a Jewish physical temple before certain end-time prophecies can be fulfilled.
Essentially, what some Protestant prophecy writers seem to believe (as well as CBCG and some others in COG groups) is that since sacrifices are mentioned as being stopped (Daniel 9:27) and a temple is mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, that the two MUST be directly connected.
The “temple” Paul referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (a key end-time scripture involving a temple and the one most commonly pointed to as proof that a Jewish temple is required) is also translated from the Greek word naos:
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 worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, KJV)
Since the Greek term naos is used, those who take the Greek literally realize that it is not necessary that it is a “Jewish temple in Israel” that the “man of sin” sits in. (The man of sin could possibly sit on something that has been called “Satan’s throne” if it is relocated to Jerusalem.)
Consider further, that the Jews cannot make a temple of God, only a temple for Jews.
While the audience of 2 Thessalonians may have concluded that Paul was referring to the Jewish temple, I simply do not believe that in the Christian church era that “the temple of God” must be expected to be a Jewish temple. And there are other physical options, like for example, Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill or going into the midst of where some Christians are gathered in the end time.
Before going further, notice also something written by Anglican curate Stephen Sizer:
Even though many Jews and Christians believe the Temple must be rebuilt, there is one small problem. It is essential that any future Temple is built on the same foundations as the previous ones. (Sizer S. Will the Jewish Temple be Rebuilt? http://www.stephensizer.com/2014/02/will-the-jewish-temple-be-rebuilt/ accessed 03/05/19
Curate Sizer does not believe that a future Jewish temple is required by scripture, but it was his comment about the foundation that caused me to post his comments. Various ones have suspected that the large stones (called ashlars) that are the foundation of the ‘Cenacle’ building (originally called Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill), actually came from the Herodian Second Temple. And, if this is so, this is another reason to believe that the Jews would not use the foundation stones for a massive new temple as various ones (like the Church of Rome which wants that building) would not stand for its destruction.
Furthermore, because it is commonly believed (Ryrie Study Bible. Moody Press, 1985, pp. 1758, 1784, 1811, 1842) that 2 Thessalonians was written (c. 51 A.D.) BEFORE the letters to the Corinthians (c. 56 & 57 A.D.) and the Ephesians (c. 61 A.D.), this may possibly be part of why the Apostle Paul specified in his later letters that Christians were the temple of God.
But is probable that even those in Thessalonica may have known that Paul was speaking of some type of a future Christian building as Paul had spent time with them (and regularly preached to them, per Acts 17:2) before he wrote his letters to them.
The fact that Paul expected that the Corinthians should have known that they were the “temple of God” before he wrote his letter to them (cf.1 Corinthians 6:19), strongly indicates that he considered this to be a known concept.
Hippolytus of Rome (c. early third century) thought that the man of sin (who he sometimes misidentifies as the final Antichrist) would build the Temple:
And after that he will build the temple in Jerusalem, and will restore it again speedily, and give it over to the Jews. (Hippolytus. On the End of the World, Chapter 25. Translated by J.H. MacMahon. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0504.htm>)
Scriptures also aforetime spoken of Antichrist as a lion, on account of his tyranny and violence. For the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God. Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion…The Saviour raised up and showed His holy flesh like a temple, John 2:19 and he will raise a temple of stone in Jerusalem. (Hippolytus. On Christ and Antichrist, Chapter 6. Translated by J.H. MacMahon. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0516.htm>)
However, the Bible does not teach that nor certain other early supporters of the Greco-Roman churches.
Yet, it should be added that even among earlier professors of Christ there has long been the view that another Temple would NOT be rebuilt.
Catholic Saint Thomas Aquinas (died 1274):…”Others, however, maintain that never will…the temple be rebuilt (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp. 76,78)
Hence, the idea that no temple will need to be rebuilt in Jerusalem is not a new concept, but is consistent with some earlier understandings (it is not totally clear what all the actual sources Thomas Aquinas used for his report).
An altar is all that is needed for sacrifices, though some may wish to put up a tent or build an actual temple in Jerusalem–but such a building is not strictly required. Even some, like Dr. David R Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries, who believe in a third Jewish Temple, accept that a tent would be adequate for the start of sacrifices (see also ‘Jerusalem Third Temple PROPHECY: How Third Temple will trigger END OF THE WORLD’).
Now, as far as a physical building related to 2 Thessalonians 2:4 goes, that is a different matter (see also the article Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill). As far as the identity of the ‘man of sin,’ please check out the article Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? and/or watch the video Who is the Man of Sin?
One of the problems with understanding 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is that some seem to believe that naos refers to Christians when no definite article is next to it in the New Testament, but that when a definite article is with it in the Greek that it is always referring to a Jewish temple.
On the surface, this belief seems to be supported by one of the leading Greek lexicons (Bauer W. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. University Of Chicago Press, 2000, pp. 665-666), which shows the definite article when mentioning the temple of Jerusalem as the definition of naos, but not when naos is defined as related to Christians.
However, this understanding seems lacking for at least two reasons.
The first is that the use of the definite article in koine Greek does not mean that a “Jewish” temple must be referred to in the New Testament when the combination of a definite article and naos appear in scripture.
Because, for one example, that combination occurs in I Corinthians 3:17 where it (τοῦ ναον) is clearly (though metaphorically) referring to Christians.
The second is that the term naos itself was never limited to buildings that were either Jewish or Christian. For proof of the latter, consider that the Book of Acts refers to a silver naos built for Diana (Acts 19:24).
Another respected Greek lexicon (Liddell, p.1160), also makes it clear that naos has historically been used to refer to a variety of religious shrines and buildings. And it would appear that since the definite article would have assuredly been used in combination with naos for them, to believe that in the New Testament that this MUST always be referring to the Jewish temple simply seems to be an unfounded conclusion.
If a Jewish temple is not necessarily being discussed in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, then where else might the “man of sin” sit?
While there may be several explanations, the one that I currently believe makes the most sense is that the “man of sin” (also known as the King of the North in Daniel 11 and “the Beast” in Revelation 13) may be sitting in some type of formerly Christian occupied building for some short while during the Great Tribulation.
The Bible teaches that just before the Great Tribulation begins that the most faithful portion of the Church will be protected, but other Christians will not be:
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent…
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:14,17)
Even Catholic scholars have long tended to believe that the woman in Revelation 12:14 represents the true church:
The Church shall flee as to a desert in Antichrist’s time, but not decay or be unknown, no not for so short a time. (Apocalypse, Annotations Chapter 12, Rheim’s New Testament of 1582, p. 556)
Which part of the church?
The same Catholic commentators call them “the faithful elect” (ibid, p. 557).
This would seem to be the most faithful, Philadelphia portion of the Church, which are the “people of God” (Hebrews 4:9) that seems to hold onto some type of “Jewish” characteristics (Revelation 3:7-9).
Why?
Because they are the only ones to whom Jesus promises protection from the period that is apparently the Great Tribulation:
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:7,9-10)
Hence, since it is the most faithful Philadelphia Christians that are protected on the earth during the time of the Great Tribulation that comes upon the whole earth (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra), then perhaps the building that the man of sin sits in will be a building that once was used by of the Continuing Church of God.
On the other hand if Revelation 11:1-2 allows for it (which it may or may not, see below), there is an ancient building, usually now referred to as the “Cenacle” (the word is a derivative of the Latin word “cena,” which means dinner), that may be the possible location. It is believed to have been used by the original Christians in Jerusalem until the Greco-Romans took it through with Imperial support in the fourth century. A better designation than ‘Cenacle’ may be the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill as it was long called the “church of God” and it is located on a western Jerusalem hill that is commonly referred to as Mt. Zion (more information about this location is in the article Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill).
Dr. Michael P. Germano wrote about that building:
In Jerusalem, just outside the Zion Gate of the Old City near the crest of Mount Sion, lie the partial remains of an ancient synagogue consisting of a niche, walls, floors, and foundations, incorporated into a dilapidated building…
Do these ancient ruins belong to the first-century Judeo-Christian synagogue seen by Roman emperor Hadrian on his grand progress? Are these the remnants of the building on Mt. Sion…called the Church of the Apostles and the Holy Church of God? These are the traditions…tradition suggests this is also the site of the Upper Room where Jesus of Nazareth observed his last Passover with his followers and where his disciples resided following his Crucifixion awaiting the Day of Pentecost…
The Cenacle
In this work its identity and title is simply “the ancient synagogue” or the Ancient Church of the Apostles. In the fourth and fifth centuries, however, orthodox…referred to the building in a variety of ways.
For Eusebius it was the “Holy Church of God” (Eusebius, Proof of the Gospel 6.18; Ferrar 1920b:30-31). Cyril said it was the “Upper Church of the Apostles” (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 16.4; Schaff and Wace 1989a:116). Egeria often referred to it as “On Sion” (Wilkinson 1971:294). Epiphanius, alluding to it in its second century context, said when Hadrian visited Aelia Capitolina it was a small “Church of God” (Epiphanius, De Mensuris 14; Koester 1989:93). Theodosius said it was “Holy Sion which is the Mother of all Churches” (Wilkinson 1977:66)…
On July 30, 381, following the First Council of Constantinople, emperor Theodosius I issued an edict authorizing the seizure of the properties of all non-orthodox churches. This resulted in the ancient synagogue, then in possession of Judeo-Christians, passing into Greco-Roman Christian control. The surrender was made to the orthodox bishops. (The AncientChurch of the Apostles. Copyright © 2002 by Michael P. Germano, pp. 1-4).
Even though the original Christians who used that location for around three centuries held to what are most often known as Judeo-Christian (as opposed to Greco-Roman) practices, the Catholics of Rome would like to expand their presence and basically takeover the Cenacle (Owen R. Vatican offers swap deal to regain site of Last Supper. The Times, October 13, 2005). Vatican-Israeli meetings related to this in June 2013 allowed the Catholics to once again hold their mass services there (Sontag R. Upper Room on Mt. Zion To Open for Catholic Worship. Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, June 18, 2013. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/6/prweb10836870.htm viewed 06/22/13). But I did discuss this at the site on October 24, 2013 with a Jewish rabbi named Avraham Goldstein. He said his group once owned this site and only allowed the Israeli government to have it under one condition that it had not (in his view) fully kept. And that condition would not allow the Catholics to have it–though they could share it in his view. There were archealogical items below the building of interest to the Jews that he felt would not be appropriate to leave Israeli hands. But not all agree (see Reform leader calls for Israel to Give ‘Mt. Zion’ to Catholic Church).
Now in addition to meeting Avraham Goldstein when I was in Jerusalem, he and I have also spoken several times over the telephone in regards to this location. In 2013/2014 I repeatedly warned Avraham Goldstein that the Vatican wanted this location and would attempt to gain control of it. When I first told him that, he dismissed it as he felt his group had an arrangement with the Israeli government that would prevent this. I told him that this would not stop the Vatican and that more steps were being taken. He looked more into it and then realized that some really do wish to turn the site over to the Vatican. He even led a protest against Rome attaining the building in May 2014 (see 200+ Jews protest the idea of the Tomb of David and ‘Mt. Zion’ Church to be given to the Vatican). The next time I am able to go to Jerusalem, I hope to meet with him.
Even though the nation of Israel has not agreed to allowing the Catholics of Rome to once again regain ownership of the “Cenacle” site, it certainly would seem possible as part of the peace deal of Daniel 9:27 (which most Bible-believing theologians seem to believe will be between the nation of Israel and the one who will be the Beast of Revelation 13), if it does not for other reasons possibly happen sooner.
It may be that what was possibly the first and original church building location of the early Christians could appear to be a potential location of the “temple of God.” Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill is believed to have been at least partially made up of stones that came from the temple in Jerusalem that was taken apart brick by brick from 70-73 A.D. Thus, from a Christian perspective, and possibly God’s perspective, it may very well be that this is truly considered the physical remnant of the Temple of God. And although the original building has been mainly destroyed, a corner wall exists as most likely parts of the building’s foundation. Hence, since it seems that the wall and foundation contain stones from the last Jewish Temple that the area around this building may also meet the requirements to be what the man of sin will want to sit in. More information about this location is in the article Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill.
However, because of Revelation 11:1-2 and the persecution of Christians during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 12:17), it may be that a building more recently used by the faithful Christians might be better used for political purposes by “the man of sin,” than the remains of this ancient one in Jerusalem. However, there may also be ‘political reasons’ that site of the original Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill may be better choice for him, including possibly also the fact that the Continuing Church of God has referred to it often, has it on its letterhead, and even the front cover of its first magazine. I believe that the Continuing Church of God will be leading the final phase of the work, and this would include publicly identifying this ‘man of sin’ before many others do. And he may wish to demonstrate that he is above the faithful church, by placing something and sitting in the area of the original Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill.
Furthermore, since the Bible shows plans for Jerusalem apparently for eternity (cf. Revelation 21:2-3), perhaps it may be that the ancient location of where the apostles themselves (who became part of “the temple of God”) may possibly be what God had in mind when He inspired Paul’s writings.
But irrespective of which building is referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, it would not seem to be possible for it to be a Jewish, non-Christian, temple in Jerusalem.
A former (or at least temporary) Christian building would seem to be much more likely.
Revelation 11:1-2 is the other place in the New Testament, not previously quoted herein, which uses the naos temple of God expression related to the earth that should be discussed.
Although this is a potentially tricky passage, carefully notice what it does and does not say:
1 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. (Revelation 11:1-2)
While at first read, the above may suggest that a physical Jewish temple is being referred to, the fact is that the above passages do not state that a Jewish temple will be built (like some Protestants claim) or that the Jewish temple will be “the temple of God,” even though a “temple of God” and a reference to Jerusalem are both referred to in them.
Interestingly, although he insists that a Jewish temple must be at least partially rebuilt, David Pack of RCG wrote:
It does need to be at least briefly stated, however, that the “temple” being measured in Revelation 11 is not the physical one that the Jews will rebuild. It is speaking of the New Testament Church (or Body of Christ), which is referred to in numerous places by the apostle Paul as the “Temple of the Lord” (I Cor. 3:17; Eph. 2:20-22). The more-than-curious reader will want to at least read these verses for proof of understanding how the true Church and the (spiritual) Temple of the Lord are synonymous terms in the New Testament. (Pack, David C. What Is the “Abomination of Desolation”? https://rcg.org/articles/witaod.html viewed 07/16/16)
Also, although some have suggested that the use of a measuring rod requires that a physical Jewish temple is required, it should be stressed that the Bible shows that Christians are measured (2 Corinthians 10:12-18) and hence this appears to be a scripturally valid way of viewing Revelation 11:2.
Revelation 11:2 specifically seems to contrast, or separate, what happens to the “temple of God” (which the Gentiles DO NOT tread upon) to what happens in Jerusalem (where the Gentiles do tread upon).
Notice the following:
Revelation … 11:1-13 describes symbolically the mission and fate of the Church during the present inter-advent age, culminating in the final period of opposition and persecution by the Beast. On this view, the temple or sanctuary, together with the altar and the worshipers, stands for the church as God’s people (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5). The Greek word translated “temple” is naos which without exception in Revelation refers to the present heavenly temple (7:15; 11:19; 14:15,17; 15:5-6,8; 16:1,17) or to the temple of God’s presence in the age to come (3:12; 7:15 ?; 21:22). Thus “the people of God, the members of God’s temple in heaven, are referred to in their existence on earth as ‘the temple of God.’ Indeed, the only other use of the phrase ‘temple of God’ in Revelation (11:19) refers to the end-time heavenly temple, which is the same reality that protects believers during their sojourn on earth” (Beale, 562). …
The measuring of the temple speaks of spiritual preservation from God’s wrath, but not from physical persecution and martyrdom. The people of God are sustained and protected in their faith while suffering greatly at the hands of the Beast. Thus this “measuring” is equivalent to the “sealing” of chapter seven and the “worshipers” in 11:1 are the same as the “144,000” in 7:4 (see 2 Sam. 8:2b; Isa. 28:16-17; Jer. 31:38-40; Ezek. 40:1-6; 42:20; Zech. 1:16; for OT examples of “measuring” as “protection”; for the notion of destruction see 2 Sam. 8:2a; 2 Kings 21:13; Amos 7:7-9; Isa. 34:11; Lam. 2:8). (Storms C. Revelation 11:1-13 – Part I. https://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/revelation-11:1-13—part-i accessed 06/07/19
(see also Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by s G. K. Beale, David Campbell. Edition reprint Publisher Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2015, p. 217 https://books.google.com/books?id=f5MfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA217&lpg=PA217&dq=The+Greek+word+translated+%E2%80%98temple%E2%80%99+is+naos+which+without+exception+in+Revelation+refers+to+the+present+heavenly+temple+(7:15;+11:19;+14:15,17;+15:5-6,8;+16:1,17)+or+to+the+temple+of+God%E2%80%99s+presence+in+the+age+to+come+(3:12;+7:15;+21:22).&source=bl&ots=adez3MJovX&sig=ACfU3U0pXUWb6fp2myPl6dS2LaEmljGXtg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjet4n3tNjiAhXfHjQIHWpwBeEQ6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=The%20Greek%20word%20translated%20%E2%80%98temple%E2%80%99%20is%20naos%20which%20without%20exception%20in%20Revelation%20refers%20to%20the%20present%20heavenly%20temple%20(7%3A15%3B%2011%3A19%3B%2014%3A15%2C17%3B%2015%3A5-6%2C8%3B%2016%3A1%2C17)%20or%20to%20the%20temple%20of%20God%E2%80%99s%20presence%20in%20the%20age%20to%20come%20(3%3A12%3B%207%3A15%3B%2021%3A22).&f=false)
Yes, Revelation 11:1-2 is not referring to the old or a future Jewish temple.
Protestant prophecy scholar Dr. J.F. Walvoord wrote the following comments, after he quoted Revelation 11:1-2:
No explanation is given of this command … In the Great Tribulation the temple has already been desecrated … (Dan. 9:27; 12:11-12; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-15) … The Holy City, Jerusalem according to the Scripture, will be trampled under foot of Gentiles for the final forty-two months preceding the Second Coming. (The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook. Victor Books, 1990, p. 572)
Now Dr. Walvoord is correct in indicating that Jerusalem is the Holy City. And he seems to be correct when he indicates the Beast power will be apparently controlling Jerusalem from past of middle of the week of Daniel 9:27 on, just prior to the Second Coming of Christ.
Yet, if there was a modern Jewish temple (or its remains) in Jerusalem that these passages are referring to, it would seem that it would NOT be under the power of the Gentile Beast power.
Thus, contrary to Dr. Walvoord’s apparent assumptions about a desecrated temple, Revelation 11:2 seems to be saying that “the temple of God” will NOT be in Jerusalem as the Holy City is only the outward court that is given to the Gentiles. This would tend to make the Cenacle location unlikely as well.
The way it would seem that Revelation 11:1 could be referring to be some building in Jerusalem would seem to be if the “man of sin” (for information on him, see Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?) were to sit in the physical Cenacle for a day or two before the 42 months begin and then abandon it. And then that true Christians would worship in it after it was abandoned—and although seems far-fetched, essentially secret worship services did occur for some time in the Cenacle during the first few centuries A.D.
Be that as it may, since the Bible teaches that animal sacrifices will stop (Daniel 9:27; 11:31), they must first resume. And currently, because of the majority Jewish view, this most likely is in the Temple Mount area (though there are other possible locations). This resumption of animal sacrifices is something that the Temple Institute may well be involved in–and they mainly only need permission from Israeli authorities to do so. One person there reported to one of our sons that this could be done within hours of getting permission. Someone there also told me personally that The Temple Institute DID NOT NEED a massive Jewish temple in order to resume animal sacrifices. They basically only need Levites and an altar, and they have that.
And getting permission to resume animal sacrifices is not impossible.
Though it may well take a war, peace deal, and/or political gridlock for that to happen. But it will come to pass as the Bible teaches.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to a sermon titled The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work.
Nascent Sanhedrin structure and high priest: The plan is to start animal sacrifices this would fulfill prophecy! The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. A related video is titled Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices.
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to two related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World.
Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building?
Does the ‘Cenacle’ deal have prophetic ramifications? After a 20 year negotiation, the Church of Rome has negotiated the right to have Catholic mass in the building known as the Cenacle. It is in the area where the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill once stood. This is believed to be the location of the earliest Christian church building. How does the Bible define the ‘temple of God’ in the New Testament? Could this be the area where the ‘man of sin’ will sit in the “temple of God’ that Bible prophecy discusses in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4? This is a YouTube video.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编： 谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel.
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