Why Will the Temple Be Rebuilt?
We know from prophecy that the Temple will be rebuilt and the sacrifices will resume before the return of the Messiah. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the coming construction of the elaborate structure, the re-establishment of the priesthood, the uncovering of the Temple Treasures, and the revealing of the Ark of the Covenant. I do not believe God will allow the Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem until every component is in place.
Rebuilding the Temple involves far more than erecting the walls of the building and unearthing the genuine worship artifacts from the previous Temple. If we build the Temple and miss the purpose for it we have wasted a great deal of God’s resources and our time. What is God’s purpose in rebuilding the Temple?
God’s purpose for the Temple was that it be a teaching tool to proclaim truths about God. The blood of the sacrifices did not atone for sin. Hebrews 10:4 says it is not possible that the blood of bulls of goats should take away sins. Then why did God require sacrifices? They pictured the sacrifice of the Messiah for our sins. The human High Priest was not perfect or permanent but he pictured the Messiah that was coming. Hebrews 4:15 says we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin.
The Temple and the worship system picture the Messiah. Hebrews 9:24 says the holy places are figures of the true. God established the Temple to teach His people about the Messiah that was coming. Jesus Christ filled all of these pictures. We have been given the impression that there were few followers of Christ as the Messiah in Israel in the first century but that is not accurate. At the feast of Pentecost only fifty days after Jesus died, in the Temple complex there were 3,000 who accepted Jesus as the Messiah in one day. Those who understood the Temple and the feasts easily recognized the Messiah when He appeared because they taught about Him.
In the last days there will be a multitude accept Jesus as the Messiah. This group will be so large no man can count them. (Revelation 7:9). These will be people from all over the world who follow the Messiah in the tribulation. The greatest evangelistic effort in history will happen in the last days. How will they learn about Jesus the Messiah?
When the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and sacrifices commence, the world will be watching. That will be the perfect opportunity to tell the world about the Messiah. The Temple proclaims the Messiah. He is the Passover sacrifice. He is the scapegoat sacrifice. He is the high priest. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, who fulfills all these pictures.
God will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem so we can proclaim the Messiah to the world. It will be the teaching tool we will use to lead a countless number of souls to God through Jesus the Messiah.
We must be prepared to proclaim to the world the Messiah through the pictures in the Temple!
©Dr. Steven L Smith 2017
Rebuilding the Temple involves far more than erecting the walls of the building and unearthing the genuine worship artifacts from the previous Temple. If we build the Temple and miss the purpose for it we have wasted a great deal of God’s resources and our time. What is God’s purpose in rebuilding the Temple?
God’s purpose for the Temple was that it be a teaching tool to proclaim truths about God. The blood of the sacrifices did not atone for sin. Hebrews 10:4 says it is not possible that the blood of bulls of goats should take away sins. Then why did God require sacrifices? They pictured the sacrifice of the Messiah for our sins. The human High Priest was not perfect or permanent but he pictured the Messiah that was coming. Hebrews 4:15 says we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin.
The Temple and the worship system picture the Messiah. Hebrews 9:24 says the holy places are figures of the true. God established the Temple to teach His people about the Messiah that was coming. Jesus Christ filled all of these pictures. We have been given the impression that there were few followers of Christ as the Messiah in Israel in the first century but that is not accurate. At the feast of Pentecost only fifty days after Jesus died, in the Temple complex there were 3,000 who accepted Jesus as the Messiah in one day. Those who understood the Temple and the feasts easily recognized the Messiah when He appeared because they taught about Him.
In the last days there will be a multitude accept Jesus as the Messiah. This group will be so large no man can count them. (Revelation 7:9). These will be people from all over the world who follow the Messiah in the tribulation. The greatest evangelistic effort in history will happen in the last days. How will they learn about Jesus the Messiah?
When the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and sacrifices commence, the world will be watching. That will be the perfect opportunity to tell the world about the Messiah. The Temple proclaims the Messiah. He is the Passover sacrifice. He is the scapegoat sacrifice. He is the high priest. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, who fulfills all these pictures.
God will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem so we can proclaim the Messiah to the world. It will be the teaching tool we will use to lead a countless number of souls to God through Jesus the Messiah.
We must be prepared to proclaim to the world the Messiah through the pictures in the Temple!
©Dr. Steven L Smith 2017