The first temple was built in 1000 BC by King Solomon after King David conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital. The Temple was destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, when he conquered Jerusalem. The Temple site was located on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem where Abraham had offered Isaac. The Shekinah Glory, the visible manifestation of God on earth, appeared as a pillar of smoke and fire, filling the temple. The ark of the covenant was the place of God’s presence. Ezekiel saw the Shekinah Glory leave the place where His people normally met with Him.
The second temple was built after the nation returned to Jerusalem around 520 B.C. This is the temple Christ came to, and is called Herod’s temple in the N.T. It was destroyed in 70 A.D. by General Titus and the Roman Legion.
In Revelation 11 John is told to measure a future third temple. In John’s visions on Patmos, he was instructed to validate the reality of this rebuilt temple (measure it) which will occur early in Daniel’s 70th week. Antichrist will desecrate it (Abomination of Desolation) ultimately leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The temple must be rebuilt, and the sacrifices reestablished on the Temple Mount before the return of Jesus the Messiah. It will be rebuilt prior to the Abomination of Desolation, so that Antichrist will declare himself to be equal with God at the mid-point of Daniel's 70th Week. During this time, Antichrist will set up the seat of his empire in Jerusalem, and he and his followers will desecrate the rebuilt temple through the worship of Antichrist and an image of the Beast.
Daniel 9:27 (NIV)
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".
Daniel 11:31-32 (NIV)
31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
Daniel 12:11 (NIV)
11 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
Matthew 24:15 (NIV)
15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--
2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV)
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
The Jerusalem Temple (Millennial Temple) will be gloriously rebuilt by Jesus during the 45-day restoration period following the battle of Armageddon. The temple will be located in the center of the New Jerusalem. The Messiah will rule the earth with His bride from this location.
Isaiah 60:7 (NIV)
7 All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.
Isaiah 60:13 (NIV)
13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet.
Isaiah 66:20-21 (NIV)
20 And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD--on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says the LORD. "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels.
21 And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says the LORD.
Zechariah 14:16-19 (NIV)
16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Malachi 3:1-4 (NIV)
1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,
4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
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