The 'Holy Covenant' and the Temple Mount

The Bible believer knows that however it comes about before the Lord Jesus Christ returns, the unbelieving nation of Israel will build a Temple on the Mount in Jerusalem and re-institute Temple worship.

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.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 KJV

Considering the bloodshed and violence unleashed across Israel over the recent decades and the entrenched positions of both Israel and the Arabs and Palestinians concerning the final status of Jerusalem, one can only imagine the magnitude of any sequence of geopolitical events that would bring this prophecy to pass. It WILL come to pass sometime in the future; a literal Temple will be built and it is a prophecy you can 100% bank on coming to pass before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. How this will happen is far from clear in light of current hostilities and the respective religious and political positions.

One key to how this could come about may be found in the writings of the prophet Daniel. In future times, after that Temple is built in Jerusalem, there is a prophecy about a "Holy Covenant" already being in place for some time prior. Here are the references:

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, 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 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [exploits], and return to his own land.

Daniel 11:30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].

These passages of prophecy seem to indicate that there will be some form of treaty or "covenant" between Israel and the Arab world over the question of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. It could be a covenant between both sides to share the Mount; the Jews build their Temple and are free to worship there, while the Arabs are free to worship beside them at the Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock mosques, with both sides respecting each other's religious claim to the Mount.

A far-fetched idea? Not really. Look at what is said in the book of Revelation about the Temple and the Mount during the Great Tribulation:

Revelation 11:1-2 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. 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.

Keep in mind that both Israel and the Arabs are blood cousins, being the common descendants of Abraham through his sons Isaac and Ishmael respectively. Both people's faiths are rooted in the same traditions and they are both from common genetic stock, although the Messianic line is through the bloodline of Isaac and Jacob (the Hebrews). Both of these people's current religious systems, in spite of their differences in practice and belief, have one very important thing in common: Both deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that God came in the flesh in the person of the Lord Jesus.

1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Therefore, based on the authority of the Scriptures, both the mainline Jewish and Islamic faiths of today (to say nothing of other world religions and apostate "Christian" cults and sects) are all under that spirit of antichrist. It is not inconceivable that both the Jews and Arabs, indeed the whole religious world, could find a basis for religious unity under that spirit (religions of works and ritual), not faith in the shed blood of Jesus for justification before God. I realize that this is not politically correct or ecumenical, but such seems to be the Scriptural facts of reality.

 

I would be interested in know what part you think is not future, and why.

 

Granted, Christ's sacrifice did just that for salvation. But, then, what do you do with Paul's statement:

2 Thessalonians 2:4 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.

Seems to me in oder for this prophecy to come to pass that another earthly Temple must and will be built. And that is yet to happen (but it will). Remember, Israel has not accepted Jesus yet, consequently, they see a need to rebuild the Temple to please God. They are still under the Law because of their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

If the "Law" was not still in effect, how then would God judge the world?

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

 

This passage in Revelations says there will be another Temple built in the future AND before the Lord Jesus Christ Returns.

Revelation 11:1-2 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. 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.

This passage does not tell us if the Dome of the Rock mosque will still be there, or not. However, the mention of the outer court being given to "the Gentiles" would strongly indicate that it might. Either way the tone of the passage seems to indicate that it will be there under less than ideal circumstances for Israel, at that time. I say this because if Israel was in full control of the 'holy city' (Jerusalem) at this particular time then there is no way that they would allow 'Gentiles' anywhere near their Temple. Perhaps at this point in future prophecy Jerusalem is 'occupied' by an Islamic power. There would certainly need to be some sort of treaty or "holy covenant" between Israel and the Islamic world for such a situation to even exist on the ground there.

Now, in regards to Ben W's comments, the Bible clearly says that his first sentence is incorrect (Call the bank, your Reality Check has bounced - smile). However, his second sentence is spot-on. As Christians we should not be advocating the rebuilding of the Temple. It's not going to hasten the second coming of Christ. Things are going to unfold exactly as the Bible says, on God's own timetable. If you think about it, the rebuilding of the Temple is somewhat of an act of rebellion (against the Lord Jesus Christ) and the Jews will still be under God's wrath at this point in time. But there is a purpose for these things to happen.

Why all of these things that will come to pass is part of God's way of dealing with Israel and bringing them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel is under God's wrath until that happens because they need to be brought to repentance. Remember: