Israel Is Moving Towards a Third Temple Project

At the mid-point of the tribulation period, the Antichrist will set himself up as god in the holy temple of the Jews and will cause them to discontinue temple sacrifice (Daniel 9:27; II Thessalonians 2:3–4; Matthew 24:15; Daniel 11:31). This is spoken of as the abomination of desolation. For this event to occur, a third temple will have to be built in Jerusalem.

The first temple was built by Solomon and was destroyed by the Babylonians during 586 BC. The second temple, which was built in 516 BC after the Babylonian captivity, was destroyed by the Romans during 70 AD. There had been no attempt to rebuild the temple since that time until the end of the 20th century. In fact, the Jewish people were not in the land for nearly 2000 years following their expulsion by Rome.^1, 2

Preparations already under way

At present, the Temple Institute has drafted blueprints for such a temple, they have reportedly constructed all of the implements to be used in the temple, and they are attempting to develop a red heifer, whose ashes are to be used for a purification ceremony for the new temple according to the OT book of Numbers (Numbers 19:2–10).^3, 4, 6 Nearly 40% of Jewish Israelis have voiced support for building the third temple.⁷ Prophecy experts disagree over whether a physical temple must be rebuilt, with some holding that there will simply be a return of sacrifice.

The preterist objection

Some in the current church age, usually called “preterists,” believe that the seventy weeks of Daniel have already been fulfilled. Therefore, many do not look for a return of the temple at all. These individuals point either to the temple desecration of Antiochus Epiphanes that occurred in 167 BC, or they conclude that this referred to the destruction of the second temple by the Roman leader Titus during 70 AD. Both events were a type of abomination of desolation, but to conclude that these events have no future reference is inconsistent with the text, in our opinion. Jesus in Matthew 24 is clearly talking about a future event that has not occurred, meaning that the desecration of Antiochus could not be the event to which He was referring. Moreover, He is letting the disciples know the signs that precede His return at the end of the age. Many of the related events have still not occurred — including His return and the revealing of the man of perdition — and we hold that these are future events. Others have pointed out that the events surrounding the destruction of the second temple did not comport with the entire prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.⁸

Early church fathers Irenaeus and Hippolytus held to a future interpretation as well, and both tied this event to an eventual Antichrist who was to come.^9, 10 These same views are seen in the writings from the fourth century by Cyril of Jerusalem as well as the desert fathers:

“…there are many antichrists to come at this time from earth. For already, as you have seen, many have begun to say, I am the Christ: and the abomination of desolation is yet to come, assuming himself the false title of Christ.”

Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th century AD¹¹