Many people in Israel are convinced that the Temple will be rebuilt soon, and are
preparing to help make it a reality. Here are some of the signs of this preparation:
– Training
The Seminary of Ateret Cohanim (Glory of the Priests) in the Old City of Jerusalem is
training priests and Levites in priestly rituals and animal sacrifice.99
In their book, Are We Living in the End Times, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins write,
―Many yeshivas [religious schools] have arisen throughout Jerusalem to prepare for the
eventuality of a rebuilt, fully functioning temple service.‖100
Gershon Salomon, Chairman of the Temple Mount and Eretz Israel Faithful Movement,
periodically attempts to place the cornerstone for the new temple on the Temple Mount. Their
organization‘s goal is ―the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in
our lifetime in accordance with the Word of G-d and all the Hebrew prophets and the liberation
of the Temple Mount from Arab (Islamic) occupation so that it may be consecrated to the Name
of G-d.‖ They have produced architectural plans for the Third Temple.
101
– Materials
An organization known as The Temple Institute has already spent approximately 27
million dollars on preparations for the rebuilding of the Temple. Their Museum in Jerusalem’s
Old City contains solid gold service vessels, trumpets made of silver, garments to be worn by
future priests made from golden thread, copper urns and many, many other items that have been
painstakingly designed to Biblical specifications for use in the future Temple.102 They have even
started the building of the massive sacrificial altar. It obviously can not be built where it belongs,
but it is being erected off site, and will be transported to the new Temple when it is ready. The
rocks for the sacrificial altar were gathered from the area around the Dead Sea and they were
individually wrapped in order to ensure that they are not touched by metal as the Torah requires.
– Ashes of a Red Heifer
According to Numbers 19:1-9, it is necessary to use the sacrificial ashes of a young red
cow, which has not yet reproduced for ritual cleansing of the Temple.
Until recently, this was considered a serious hurdle to the establishment of a new Temple.
There had been some hopes of finding ancient ashes among the Dead Sea Scrolls, but when that
no longer seemed likely, representatives of the Temple Institute started looking throughout
Europe for pure red cattle. They found that they do exist. There is a breed called the Red Angus,
but they were not sure whether or not the existing specimens would be pure enough to qualify.
An American rancher was known to have a herd of these red cattle, which he hoped could
be used.
In May of 1997 a shocking announcement was made that a red heifer had been born
unexpectedly in Israel! Examination of the animal revealed that, though it was born to parents
that were not red its features would qualify it to be used in this way when it is of age. In early
1998 a few white hairs developed on its tail, making it no longer acceptable, but there is
optimism that a suitable heifer will become available in the near future.
Another interesting twist in this matter is the successful cloning of sheep recently,
opening the way for possible genetic engineering of a red heifer if it is necessary.
– Timing
Using older methods, it would take many years to build the new temple like it did in King
Herod‘s days. But with modern equipment, it could be erected quickly if the plans and materials
were ready to begin the process. Some Temple advocates have even said the project could be
done in less than a year. It is believed that cedar from Lebanon was obtained in the war in 1982
and hidden for future use in building of the Temple.
A controversial mega-church in Sao Paulo Brazil has been given permission to build a
$200 million dollar full-scale replica of Solomon’s Temple. The massive structure will be twice
the height of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. It will be constructed from
stone imported from Israel, and should be completed in four years.103 This project has no direct
bearing on the prophesied temple in Jerusalem, but it demonstrates that the structure could be
built during the first half of the Tribulation (3 ½ years).
A Fourth Temple during the Millennium
There will be a Fourth Temple built in Israel during the thousand-year reign of Christ as
King of Kings. The prophet Zechariah says that Messiah, whom he calls the “Branch” will yet
build a temple in Israel (Zechariah 6:12-15).
This temple may well be that seen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-45), in a vision. A temple that
matches his description has never yet been built.
According to many Bible scholars, the fourth or “millennial temple‖ will be a memorial.
It will be a teaching center to instruct men about the holiness of God and proper worship. As
sinful men and women continue to be born into the world in the Millennium the temple is
supposed to remind everyone of the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, as the “Lamb of
God,” some two thousand years earlier.
For more information and latest developments regarding the Temple Mount visit the
Temple Mount Web Site and The Temple section at Prophecy Central.104
We now turn our attention to the dreadful events that transpire at the midpoint of the
seven-year treaty with Israel, plunging the world into The Great Tribulation.
