John,

 

I want to explore something that will probably cause a stir. It is this idea of a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem that most profess the anti-Christ will set up sacrifices and such during the great tribulation.

 

First let me state I do not believe for one minute, as I used to, that the tribulation period, or Daniel's 70th week, is yet in full, to come. I believe the first half was Jesus' 3 1/2 year ministry. 

 

If we look at the words of the prophet Isaiah that Jesus spoke when He first came out of the desert we see only 1/3 of the prophecy from Isa. 61:2 spoken in Luke 4:19;

 

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

 

The entire prophecy from Isa. 61:2 is:

 

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

I firmly believe that was the first 3 1/2 years and He was cut of in the midst of the week causing the sacrifice and oblation to cease. The second half of the 70th week is the "day of vengeance" and the last part of the prophecy comes after the millennial reign when God wipes all tears away.

 

Now the issue of this temple most everyone says will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. I believe it is a false teaching and I'll show why John.

 

Jesus Himself told us in Mark 14:58;

 

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

 

The dispute is further clarified in John 2:21 about just what this new temple was after He cleared the temple;

 

But he spake of the temple of his body.

We are told God will no longer dwell in a temple made with hands in Acts 7:48 and 17:24;

 

7:48; Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet

 

17:24; God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Now the verse from Daniel 9:27 is one of the keys. To fully justify there is a seven year tribulation, one must place the anti-Christ in the place Jesus sits as the "HE" who confirms the covenant with many. Jesus did that and it is spoken to in Galatians 3:17;

 

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ,

People use the verse from 2 Thessalonians 2:4 in an attempt to justify the building of this new temple when in fact, it speaks to the body of believers. Jesus destroyed the temple made with hands. God will no longer dwell in a stone temple made with hands. And the following clearly says:

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.

If it is the temple of God he sitteth in, it can ONLY be the body of believers. Any other temple would not be the temple of God. It does not say a false temple or temple to idols. It clearly states it is "the temple of God" which is the body of Christ. That is reiterated over and over again starting in 1 Corinthians 3:16;

 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

 

1 Corinthians 6:19;

 

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

2 Corinthians 6:16;

 

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And the Greek used here is "naos" and is used as the inner sacrificial altar, not the temple building. That is the Greek word "heiron" when speaking to the entire temple.

 

My point is this. For over 1800 years a sound doctrine was adhered to and that was that the "HE" is in fact Jesus Christ. By changing it to the anti-Christ effectively allows the counterfeit to occupy the place meant for Jesus in the hearts of believers.

 

There has been so much hoopla around a seven year trib and a new temple being built, it has more focused on the anti-Christ sitting where he does not belong in the Word of God.

 

I fear as 2 Timothy 4:3 prophesied, teachers have fallen from sound doctrine and have defiled the temple of God teaching false doctrine. Sound doctrine that for 1800+ years was adhered to until the days of J.N. Darby, the 1885 ESV Bible and the teachings of Sir Robert Anderson when he penned "The Coming Prince" and posited the notion the "HE" of Daniel 9:27 is the anti-Christ, not Jesus Christ.

 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

 

The frightening warning comes also with a coming punishment or any who "defile" the temple of God which is you and every believer. 1 Corinthians 3:17;

 

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

See what is underlined? Look at what the original Greek means about "defile the temple" and hopefully this will open some eyes.

The Greek used here for "defile" is "Phtheiro" (fthi'-ro) 5351; and means: to lead away a Christian church from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide, to be destroyed, to perish

 

Can you see the "falling away" taking place here?

 

I have been doing many studies on this John and if you would be interested, here is a link to my site. Wonderful One :http://p097.ezboard.com/bwonderfulone

 

I am terribly concerned the body of believers is being led astray by all of the modern "merchandisers" of God's Word who sell books and tapes and do seminars etc. and are the people we were warned of in 2 Peter 2:3;

 

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Just the observations of  a terribly concerned Brother in Christ that seeks the truth in our Lord's Word. Since after all, His Word IS Him. Revising His Word is revising Him and teaching a different Jesus.

 

YBIC,

 

Michael deKruif