The Third Temple?

[_L]

I understand the Church probably does not have an official teaching regarding a building of a third temple in jerusalem, but what is the conventional thinking of the Church on this matter? Will a Third temple be rebuilt in jerusalem during the end times? Support for this comes from St Paul’s writing in 2 Thess. 2 where he writes (concerning the end times):

[3] Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, [4] Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God. [5] Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Scholars have said that Paul is most likely referring to the 2nd temple, which is presumed to have not been destroyed yet seeing as he does not reference its destruction at all, not even once. So taking this into account, it seems that St. Paul is truly referring to a physical third temple and not temple in the spiritual sense of the Church.

and let’s say for example that a third temple were to be built (disregard the fact that the dome of the rock is on top of the temple mount) how should we as Catholics react? Should we oppose it or be indifferent to it and let things play out as they may? I surely do not see how rebuilding the temple could be a good thing where animal sacrifice would resume which is almost insulting to the sacrifice of Christ, not to mention if it were rebuilt according to the prophecy by Paul it is destined to be the setting where the antichrist claims himself to be God and desires himself to be worshiped.

 

[MorningSong51]

I understand the Church probably does not have an official teaching regarding a building of a third temple in jerusalem, but what is the conventional thinking of the Church on this matter? Will a Third temple be rebuilt in jerusalem during the end times? Support for this comes from St Paul’s writing in 2 Thess. 2 where he writes (concerning the end times):

[3] Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, [4] Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God. [5] Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Scholars have said that Paul is most likely referring to the 2nd temple, which is presumed to have not been destroyed yet seeing as he does not reference its destruction at all, not even once. So taking this into account, it seems that St. Paul is truly referring to a physical third temple and not temple in the spiritual sense of the Church.

and let’s say for example that a third temple were to be built (disregard the fact that the dome of the rock is on top of the temple mount) how should we as Catholics react? Should we oppose it or be indifferent to it and let things play out as they may? I surely do not see how rebuilding the temple could be a good thing where animal sacrifice would resume which is almost insulting to the sacrifice of Christ, not to mention if it were rebuilt according to the prophecy by Paul it is destined to be the setting where the antichrist claims himself to be God and desires himself to be worshiped.

How are we to view any prophecy? Should we try to be against it? These things are meant to be - Jesus is described as prophesying his own Passion and his Resurrection three times and Peter tried to stop it "“Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (John 20:17). In this case, Peter, didn’t know the power that Christ had over the cross.

In the story of Joseph and his brothers, the end of the chapter is a testimony to the greatest of God. We read that Joseph was sold to the Egyptians by his brothers- and at first, it sounds horrible that the brothers did this. However, Joseph overcame the trials and succeeded in becoming apart of God’s plan. We read that he was accused of seducing the king’s wife - and that didn’t hold, then we read that the brothers were sent to him by Jacob for grain but he didn’t send Benjamin - the youngest, we then read that Joseph held his brothers aside, except for one, until all brothers were present, when the brothers returned back- they had brought Benjamin with them, Joseph was so moved by seeing his younger brother he then began to cry, and last we read that Joseph tricks the brothers (again) and held another family member as a slave - Joseph then reveals himself to his brothers out of anguish- and then ask about his father, Jacob. When Jacob sees his son - Joseph, he exclaims, "30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.” The brothers, and out of fear for their brother (Joseph)- thought he might take revenge (become an adversary against them) - but Joseph had this remark to make “19 **Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. **21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

A good story to read, in Genesis. Prophecy is much like this - God meant it for good, not evil. So we must believe that God will bring out the good to come out of all things. No matter how bad things look - believe and have faith.

Christ said “. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (John 12:23-24, 27). If we look at scripture from both the old and the new, regardless of the fact, we have to proceed with them - as bad as that sounds.

 

[steve53]

Very possible.

If you ask very politely, I am sure that the Islamic folks would be happy to dismantle the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem so the Temple can be rebuilt to Herodian specs.

 

[_L]

Very possible.

If you ask very politely, I am sure that the Islamic folks would be happy to dismantle the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem so the Temple can be rebuilt to Herodian specs.

If the third temple is to be rebuilt then the most likely scenario would be that the dome of the rock is destroyed. Wouldn’t be surprised if that happens considering the constant fighting in that area of the world.

 

[MorningSong51]

Very possible.

If you ask very politely, I am sure that the Islamic folks would be happy to dismantle the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem so the Temple can be rebuilt to Herodian specs.

It’s really isn’t confirmed on the exact location of the Holy of Holies with absolute certainty (the Kodesh Hakodashim is still a subject of dispute) however, most believe that it is located under the Muslim Dome of the Rock. Also, the location of the ark of the covenant and some of the temple treasures have not been found either, and even that’s a source of debate on who has them - or where these items are buried, so.

Two websites that are a good source:

templeinstitute.org/events.htm

mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/History/HISTORY-+The+Second+Temple.htm

 

[MorningSong51]

If the third temple is to be rebuilt then the most likely scenario would be that the dome of the rock is destroyed. Wouldn’t be surprised if that happens considering the constant fighting in that area of the world.

…most believe that it would cause WWIII -

See other holy sites:

Cave of the Patriarchs: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Patriarchs

“Until 1929 Jews were forbidden from entering the site, and were not allowed past the seventh step leading up to the tombs. Following the 1929 Hebron massacre, access by Jews was severely restricted by Brittish Mandate authorities. After Israeli Statehood in 1948 and occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan no Jews were allowed anywhere in the West Bank. Following the Israeli victory over the Jordanians in the Six Day War, the area came back under Jewish control for the first time in 2,000 years and the 1,400-year-long restriction limiting Jews to the seventh step was lifted.”

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I don’t know of any official Church teaching on this. However, one can take John 2:19-22

19* Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21* But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22* When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

to say that Jesus is the Third Temple.

 

[_L]

I don’t know of any official Church teaching on this. However, one can take John 2:19-22 to say that Jesus is the Third Temple.

yes exactly, and thats the point. The belief in much of the Church Father’s writings is that the Antichrist as a counterfeit of Christ will build a 3rd temple made of stone (a rival to the 3rd temple that is Jesus’ body) and thus be embraced by many Jews as the long awaited messiah who they believe will be the one to raise the temple again in accordance with prophecy (if only they realized that Jesus has already fulfilled this prophecy in Himself!)

 

[MorningSong51]

yes exactly, and thats the point. The belief in much of the Church Father’s writings is that the Antichrist as a counterfeit of Christ will build a 3rd temple made of stone (a rival to the 3rd temple that is Jesus’ body) and thus be embraced by many Jews as the long awaited messiah who they believe will be the one to raise the temple again in accordance with prophecy (if only they realized that Jesus has already fulfilled this prophecy in Himself!)

Hi L,

Again, understanding that much of what God will accomplish on the earth between now and the Lord’s Second Coming is going to be done in and through Israel.

Even with the thought of the third temple being built, we have to realize that all things are happening in the divine plan to bring about the restoration of Israel and the Second Coming of Christ. Remember the story of Joseph is very significant to the point that God’s divine plan will always be accomplished for the good of all people but again we must believe, have faith and trust in that plan. There’s another passage to complete this thought on the subject: Samuel and Saul- Saul and the people had to wait till the seventh days for Samuel’s blessing. The prophet Samuel promised to come and offer the sacrifice and to pray for God’s blessing before the Israelite fought the Philistines. Saul and the people waited till the seventh day; as they looked for Samuel, but they did not see him coming. Toward the end, Saul became very impatient, didn’t wait any longer, he then commanded the people to bring the offering, and he would then offer the sacrifice himself, without waiting for Samuel…What happened? He will soon take away the kingdom from thee, and give it to a better man.

I think there is a severe punishment in not trusting and believing in God plan to the point of one being disobedient - perhaps that was the point in our Lord telling Peter, “Get behind me Satan!” from the view point of another scripture passage, “Christ said " Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (John 12:23-24, 27). In order for us to read - John 17: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

Job 37:7 He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.

Judith 9:5 Your hand guided all that happened then, and all that happened before and after. You have planned it all-what is happening now, and what is yet to be. Your plans have always been carried out.

Blessings,

Mary

 

[Todd_Easton]

It may be impossible to rebuild the Temple. It is my understanding that an attempt to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem was made in A.D. 363, under the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, but the effort had to be abandoned because of persistent natural fires and earthquakes that struck the reconstruction site.

 

[TimothyH]

I don’t know of any official Church teaching on this. However, one can take John 2:19-22 to say that Jesus is the Third Temple.

That’s right. The temple is already here.

Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.* (1 Peter 2:4-5)*

Peter the Pope says that as members of Christ’s body, we are to be living stones in God’s temple. And Paul says that we ourselves are temples.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthains 6:19)

If you want to know when the temple will be rebuilt, look in the mirror and ask yourself.

-Tim-

 

[Nate13]

I understand the Church probably does not have an official teaching regarding a building of a third temple in jerusalem, but what is the conventional thinking of the Church on this matter? Will a Third temple be rebuilt in jerusalem during the end times? Support for this comes from St Paul’s writing in 2 Thess. 2 where he writes (concerning the end times):

[3] Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, [4] Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God. [5] Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Scholars have said that Paul is most likely referring to the 2nd temple, which is presumed to have not been destroyed yet seeing as he does not reference its destruction at all, not even once. So taking this into account, it seems that St. Paul is truly referring to a physical third temple and not temple in the spiritual sense of the Church.

and let’s say for example that a third temple were to be built (disregard the fact that the dome of the rock is on top of the temple mount) how should we as Catholics react? Should we oppose it or be indifferent to it and let things play out as they may? I surely do not see how rebuilding the temple could be a good thing where animal sacrifice would resume which is almost insulting to the sacrifice of Christ, not to mention if it were rebuilt according to the prophecy by Paul it is destined to be the setting where the antichrist claims himself to be God and desires himself to be worshiped.

Some time after the temple was destroyed in 70A.D supposedly people tried to start rebuilding it, but fire would spring up from the ground every time they did. I don’t know if they will ever build a third temple but I highly doubt it. The fact is we are in the New Covenant now and every person is a temple of God. The purpose of the temple in the Old Testament was to make a place in which God could dwell. What reason is there for this now that God dwells within each one of us? Also your quote from 2 Thessalonians is definitely concerning the 2nd temple because right before the verse you quoted Paul is talking about the coming of Christ being close at hand. This might be puzzling unless you look at it in terms of the preterist view point of the book of Revelation which proposes that Christ did come exactly as is shown in the book of Revelation and destroyed the temple of the Old Covenant. The future fulfillment of the second coming is to come when the real temple, the Universe, is destroyed. The Jewish people saw the Temple as a microcosm of the Earth as God’s temple so in the destruction of the Jewish temple we got a glimpse of what is to come at the end of time.

 

[Augustine3]

Why haven’t the Jews for the past almost 2000 years tried to build another temple just as they did the last two times?

God bless,

 

[Nate13]

I think Judaism has changed so much by now that they no longer have a purpose for a temple in the practice of their religion. They could have gone back to what they did before they had the temple and just have a tent where in the Lord dwelt, but I bet the reasoning behind why that has not been done is because they also don’t have the ark of the covenant anymore. I think a lot of the reason has to do with why they built a temple in the first place.

Also here is a link that might shed some light on the matter.
beingjewish.com/unchanged/rebuild.html

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think Judaism has changed so much by now that they no longer have a purpose for a temple in the practice of their religion. They could have gone back to what they did before they had the temple and just have a tent where in the Lord dwelt, but I bet the reasoning behind why that has not been done is because they also don’t have the ark of the covenant anymore. I think a lot of the reason has to do with why they built a temple in the first place.

Also here is a link that might shed some light on the matter.
beingjewish.com/unchanged/rebuild.html

They didn’t have the ark of the covenant in the Second Temple.

 

[steve53]

The Ark was kept in a special room in the first Temple, but then got spirited away by the Assyrians or some bunch like that.

Of course, by then the Jews weren’t a nomadic people anyway, so the concept conveniently morphed into God “living” in the room where the Ark was.

 

[TimothyH]

The Ark was kept in a special room in the first Temple, but then got spirited away by the Assyrians or some bunch like that.

Of course, by then the Jews weren’t a nomadic people anyway, so the concept conveniently morphed into God “living” in the room where the Ark was.

Concerning the ark getting “spirited away”, it was captured by the Phillistines during the reign of King David and subsequently returned it a short while later. See 2 Samuel 6 if you want to read the account.

The Prophet Jerimiah hid the ark in a cave at the onset of the Babylonian exile sometime around 600 BC. You can read about that in 2 Maccabees 2 if you have access to a Catholic bible and want to read about it.

The Bible records that God’s presence - his literal living among men - was a belief when the ark was kept in a tent. This was centuries before Solomons temple and the room where the ark was kept was even built.

-Tim-

 

[Nate13]

They didn’t have the ark of the covenant in the Second Temple.

yes, notice that was only part of the reason. They still did believe God was present there in the holy of holies however, which was the whole purpose of the ark of the covenant. Another big point of the temple was that it made Jerusalem a center of culture in that region because everyone came there to worship. In many ways it was the glue that helped keep all the Jewish people together as one.

 

[Augustine3]

But the question still stands, why don’t the Jews build a third temple?

God bless,

 

[Nate13]

But the question still stands, why don’t the Jews build a third temple?

God bless,

They can’t just build the temple anywhere. The Dome of the Rock stands above the foundation stone of the last temple. The foundation stone supposedly is the cover to the abyss that leads to what is called in Hebrew “Sheol” or what we know as Purgatory before Jesus died for our sins. It is also supposedly from this abyss that, the water’s that caused the flood during Noah’s day, came from. There is just a lot more to this issue then meets the eye in my opinion and I think a lot of it could be answered by simply asking a Jewish person today what rebuilding the temple would mean to them and whether it would make much of a difference to them in their spiritual life.