Bible prophesy for building of third temple of Jerusalem?

Answer 1

There is no scripture that mentions a "third" Temple... at least, as people tend to think of a temple. It springs from speculation among men, resulting from Jesus' prophetic signs mentioned in Matthew 24, or what is sometimes called the "Olivet Prophecy."

In Jesus' description of the end time [the time of Great Tribulation], He says:

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination fo desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy Place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)... for then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be [again]." (Matt.24:15-21)

The "Holy Place" Jesus mentions here is the site of the Temple... which still stood when Jesus spoke these Words. A few years later... people saw what they believed to be the fulfillment of Jesus' Words, as an idol was set up in the Temple... followed by the Temple's destruction.

And since Jesus didn't return when those witnesses to that apparent fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy expected it; subsequently -- the "speculating" began.

"If Jesus didn't return then... then another Temple has to be built before He eventually does," some people reason. Not scripture... but speculation.

There isn't any scripture that says "a third Temple will be built."

With the advent of Jesus Christ in the flesh, however... "Spiritual Understanding" was brought to light among God's Children, that transcends the understanding and wisdom of this world.

This Spirit leads others to a different kind of understanding, regarding the "Temple that must be built" before Jesus returns.

It stems from the biblical symbolism comparing the human bodies of God's Children to "temples" in which the Holy Spirit dwells:

"Know ye not that YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?... for the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple ye are." (I Cor.3:16-17)

God's "church" [His "ekklesia"; "called-out-ones"]... the collective bodies of all whom God is calling during any given generation... are as "One" through the Holy Spirit -- and as One, the church is also called the "BODY of Christ."

"...as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." (I Cor.12:12)

"Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular." (verse 27)

Or, in I Corinthians 3:16 jargon: God's church is His TEMPLE!

There's no scripture that mentions the building of a "third Temple." Yet... as Herod's Temple sat majestically on the horizon for all to see in those days... Jesus uttered these quiet, simple Words to His disciples:

"...upon this Rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH[Temple]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it[the deaths of generations of God's faithful will not cause the continuation of the Temple construction to fail]." (Matt.16:18)

So, while some men speculate over the possible reconstruction of some future Temple that must be built in Jerusalem before Jesus can return, as a result of vague prophetic signs... God has had His "Temple" [the Body of Christ; His church] under construction for the past two millennia, built on the foundation of the Rock, Jesus Christ... its Owner and Contractor.

Jesus says He doesn't even know when He'll come back... that only His Father knows.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32)

Because it's His Father who is calling people and "giving them to His Son" to mold, shape, form, teach, train and make into integral, functional components of God's Temple: Temple Pillars.

"Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the City of My God, which is New Jerusalem..." (Rev.3:12).

Jesus is constructing His Temple... but it's His Father who is giving Him the raw materials with which to make it. Only Jesus' Father knows how many people He intends to call, to complete the Temple. It won't be until the Father calls the final "member" of "Christ's Body" whom He has in mind... and that member is prepared and ready... and the Temple of God is complete... that He will turn to His Son and tell Him that it's time to return.

"...I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given Me; for they are thine. All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am Glorified in them... Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given Me, that they may be One, as we are." (John 17:9-11)

There are no prophecies for the building of a "third Temple in Jerusalem." Stories have arisen about it as a result of misread scripture.

The Temple that stood when Jesus spoke those words was destroyed... and He didn't return. Subsequently... most people don't believe He'll come back at all.

Some people beileve God is waiting for men to build Him another Temple so Jesus can return [so that Daniel's 'abomination of desolation' will have a place to be set up, again, at the end time].

Although, no scripture speaks of this Temple re-construction eventuality... the speculation continues in the hearts of some men.

Meanwhile... the prophecies of the construction of God's church [the Body of Christ; 'Know ye not that YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD'] continues unabated since that timely Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given -- and has gone unnoticed by the world to this day, and will continue until the Father decides that its construction is complete.

The prophecies say that Jesus is building the "anticipated" Temple. Jesus will gather them to Him [assemble it] when He comes. And Jesus will establish His Temple in Jerusalem.

The Temple's construction has been in progress for centuries under the very noses of men. God never left it in the vile hands of flawed men.

The prophecies say nothing about the "building of a third Temple of Jerusalem."

They say that it's being built by Jesus Christ.

But, that doesn't preclude that some men might try to build one in Jerusalem.