REITERATING THE DUALITY PRINCIPLE IN PROPHECY
The duality of biblical prophecies is a factor in any future speculations of how and when the Eternal God will commission the building of the Third Temple.
Isaiah 41:-22, “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come.” (NKJV)
What is the pattern set by the historical records?
Nehemiah 6:1-2, “Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, ‘Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.’ But they thought to do me harm.”
Possibly when modern Israel's neighbors suspect a growing interest in rebuilding the temple and the robust growth of that nation's defenses, they will become more threatening as in the past. Could the growth of antisemitism be a sign that evil forces fear the strengthening of Judah and the rebuilding of the temple? During such a period, could it happen again?
JUDAH'S BLESSINGS WILL SOME DAY WANE BECAUSE OF TEMPLE NEGLECT
The pattern of the past is that at some point God stopped the blessings of Judah. Why?
Haggai 1:6-7, “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes. 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!’”
Through the prophet Haggai, God warned them that He had cursed them materially because they had neglected His temple.
Haggai 1:8-9, “‘Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,’ says the LORD. 9 ‘You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.’”
Will some future prophet reveal to current day Israel that your economy is in the dumpster because you have neglected God's Temple?
Haggai 1:11, “For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Spiritually, the prophets got the nation to repent and finish building the second temple.
THE TWO SPECIAL, POWERFUL WITNESSES OF GOD AND THE TEMPLE
The prophet Zachariah was given a vision by an angel. These prophets were pushing the people to rebuild the temple and God then involves the two witnesses, note.
Zechariah 4:8-14, “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 9 ‘The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.’”
These prophets are backed up by God to finish the temple and in dual sense these prophets are also a type of the final all-powerful two witnesses.
Verse 11, “Then I answered and said to him, ‘What are these two olive trees at the right of the lampstand and at its left?’ 12 And I further answered and said to him, ‘What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?’ 13 Then he answered me and said, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ And I said, ‘No, my lord.’ 14 So he said, ‘These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.’”
Note the connection with the final end time witnesses.
Revelation 11:1-4, “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.’”
Note that part of the temple courtyard is in the hands of the gentiles. This is probably the Dome of the Rock. It will remain next to the the third temple, possibly. Part of the repeating pattern of prophesy is these two witnesses are also a type of Moses and Elijah.
WHY WOULD A KING FORCE THE TEMPLE ON JUDAH SOMEDAY?
Why would a gentile king push the temple on the middle east? One motive maybe that he wishes someday to be crowned there as God, believing it is the best location.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
We know this will occur at the end of this age –– therefore a third temple will be built. Another motive for a powerful world leader to back the rebuilding is if they are a supporter of Israel, like Cyrus. Possibly because of the influence of queen Esther; She put a pro-Judah perspective on the royal family. If someone were to ask who is most likely to fulfill that role at this moment, it would undoubtedly be President Trump. He is the most supportive President of Israel in American history.
However IF this approach to when the temple will be rebuilt is what God will use, then one would have to admit that all the players are not in place yet. Therefore the temple is at least a few years into our future, but not now!
