REBUILDING THE TEMPLE

 by Dr. Hank Lindstrom

"And when these begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."  Luke 21:28.

     Although there will be no signs of the rapture, there will be signs that will occur just after the rapture as signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  There are no signs for the rapture, but there are many signs for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ when He will set up His Kingdom on the earth.

     In a recent article in the New York Times, datelined Jerusalem August 5, 1986, the New York Times reported:
"In a step that defied both civil and religious law in Israel, a group of prominent rabbis issued a formal call today for the construction of a synagogue on the Temple Mount, an area sacred to Moslems and forbidden to Jews."

     "They also called for public prayers on the site."

     "The rabbis buttressed their call today with a 1967 survey map purporting to show the exact location of the Original First and Second Temples as well as the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant.  They said that by careful measurements, that they had identified the exact area of the Temple of Mount where it would be permissible under Jewish religious law to build a synagogue."

     "In its call for the building of a synagogue, the religious order issued by the meeting today also raised the possibility of building a third temple in the immediate future, rather than waiting as some Orthodox groups hold-for the return of the Messiah."

     We know from the Scriptures that the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt after the rapture and blood sacrifices will be offered again (Daniel 9:27).

     II Thessalonians 2:3-4 reads, "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; 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."  The "day" referred to in this reference is speaking of the tribulation period during which the antichrist will be revealed.  The phrase "falling away", means departure and is a reference to the rapture when all believers on the earth will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:17).  It is Holy Spirit who is hindering iniquity in the world today (I Thessalonians 2:6-8).  When the Holy Spirit departs, then we depart because the Holy Spirit dwells in us forever.

     Follow the sequence:
1. Departure first (rapture of all believers) (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
2. Revealing of the antichrist will take place in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
For the first time since AD 70, we now see the possibility of that temple being built at anytime.

     Follow the sequence:
1. The state of Israel was reborn after 2,000 years, on May 14, 1948.
2. The state of Israel conquered Old Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in June 1967.
3. Prominent Jewish rabbis call for worship on the Temple Mount, and raised the possibility of building a third temple in the immediate future rather than waiting, as some Orthodox groups hold, for the return of the Messiah.

     We must be living very close to the event called the rapture, because we are already seeing signs of events that will take place after the rapture.  Never before now have these circumstances been present.  What an exciting time to be living as we watch for the Lord's return!

     Jesus Christ speaks of this same event in Matthew chapter 24 when asked the question, "What shall be the sign of thy coming?"  After listing several signs he says, "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)(Matthew 24:15)."  The "holy place" is the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.  The "abomination of desolation" is an image the antichrist will place in the temple when he proclaims he is God.  Jesus said that Daniel the prophet spoke of this event.

     We learn from Daniel Chapter 9 that the antichrist will stop the sacrifices that will be offered again during the tribulation exactly mid-way or three and one-half years into the tribulation.  "And he (antichrist) shall confirm the covenant any (peace treaty with Israel and Arab nations) for one week (week of years or seven years): and in the midst of the week (half way through the seven year week) he (the antichrist) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (he will stop the sacrifices which are resumed), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:27)."

     What if the Lord should return this year?  He could return this year, you know!  That would mean that we might only have weeks left until He will catch us up to meet Him in the air at the rapture.

     If you knew that Jesus would definitely come this year, would you do anything differently than what you are doing?  Is there anyone that you would witness to?

     Time is running out!  Once Jesus returns, it will be too late for you to witness to loved ones, to read your Bible, to attend church, to get your Christian life together.  It will be too late!

     Now is the time to make a decision to get going for the Lord!  Jesus may not come this year, but He just might come this year!  Don't gamble!

     Signs are all about us that signal that the time is right for Jesus to come.  Jesus, himself, told us when these things [signs] begin to come to pass to look for Him.  We need to let it affect our lives!