Hello Donna Danna, John and Doves,
Donna, thank you for your
additional comments to the series of letters on this
topic. These have really got me thinking. As
John wrote, we may need to rethink, reexamine our
eschatology beliefs as we go along in our studies and Doves
letters may open up some interesting thoughts and ideas and
new interpretations.
It looks like
the city, the New Jerusalem, doesn't come down from Heaven
with a Temple - see my other letters on the Millennial
Temple - unless somehow New Jerusalem and the Millennial
Temple overlap...as they have some very specific
'similarities' that make one wonder...I noted these in my
other letter today on the Millennial Temple. Maybe
they are just parallel 'things' that the Lord uses to
connect Heaven, New Jerusalem and the Millennial
Temple. And they are found in two different
places....hmmm.
And as Donna pointed out, Rev
21:22 says John saw no temple in the New Jerusalem.
Donna noted "there will also be a 4th temple with a worship
system and offerings described in Ezekiel chapters 40 -
48" - this is the Millennial Temple during the 1,000
years of the Messiah's reign. I agree with Donna that
'the Branch' mentioned in her letter is the Messiah as in
the article she linked.
There is no evidence in The
Revelation of a Temple being built in Jerusalem that the AC
uses. (Is it built before the Tribulation period?)
We see the Temple in Heaven - the
'dwelling place of God' and we see John measuring the
"temple of God". The Temple of God is Holy along with
His altar and the worshipers. And John saw no temple
in the New Jerusalem. But outside the Temple is
unholy. John is told to exclude the courtyard outside
the temple - because it has been given over to the Gentiles
and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
This makes me think there is no literal temple because the
Gentiles are not allowed inside the Temple for the AC to
declare himself god. The Gentiles are only given the
courtyard outside the temple. The courtyard outside
the temple may be what is the Temple Mount now with the two
mosques. ? And at the same time the Gentiles are
trampling the holy city for 42 months, the two witnesses are
empowered by God to prophecy for 1260 days...wouldn't they
have been in the Temple if it was present? Or at some
point, prophecy from the Temple? Hmmm. The
Revelation doesn't mention what happens to this temple, if
its really in Jerusalem.
Many believe that Daniel 11:31 was
about Antiochus Epiphanes - and not about the coming AC.
As for Daniel 12:11 there is much
debate about the 1290 days (and the 1335 days of Daniel
12:12) - some think this also applies to Antiochus IV
Epiphanes. Some think it is 1290 years and not
days. Rabbi Glazerson had a Youtube video about this
that I watched recently - the Jewish translation was
understood to be 'years'. Some think this prophecy has
already been fulfilled. Just like Ed P's Doves letter
about the 1335 days as years. He was thinking 1335
years from the Dome of the Rock to 2023. I've also
seen such calculations with 1290 years. And I've tried
to place the 1290 days starting 30 days before the 1260 day
Tribulation. Again, hmmmm.
NOW
(maybe)
As for 2 Thess 2:3 -4: "Let
no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that
man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes
(is adverse, contrary) and exalts himself above every
so-called god or object of worship, so that
he sits as God sitteth in the temple of God showing himself
that he is God."
The Greek word 'theon' (translated
god) can used as "whatever can in any respect be likened to
God or resembles Him in any way". It can also mean a
god or goddess.
I don't take this as the AC
actually sits on God's throne - I take this as "he thinks so
much of himself, that he'd like to sit in a temple and
pretend to be God."
"so that" is the Greek word
'hoste': it means "so as to", "insomuch that".
Hoste comes from the Greek 'hos' and 'te'.
'hos' is used to compare, explain
or provide a reason. It often introduces similes,
comparisons and explanations. In the New Testament
'hos' is frequently used to draw parallels to illustrate a
point, emphasizing likeness or similarity."
It was "a common linguistic tool to connect ideas and
clarify relationships between concepts. 'hos' helps in
grasping nuances of biblical texts as it often introduces
key theological and moral teachings through comparisons and
analogies."
It can be translated: so at
to sit down in a temple to declare himself a god.
That's how arrogant the AC is.
I see this verse as Jesus showing
how arrogant the AC is - the AC thinks so highly of himself
that he compares himself to god; it's an analogy: I
would similarly say: 'he thinks he is so great
that he would declare himself president and sit in the
presidential office if he could."
'te' means 'and, both, also' - it connects
words of clauses..."It is frequently employed to link two
related ideas or elements, emphasizing their connection or
equivalence...it can also imply addition, similar to
'also'. In ancient Greek literature 'te' was a common
conjunction used by writers to create a smooth flow of ideas
and to emphasize the relationship between concepts."
'te' follows Jesus talking about
how arrogant the AC is - he wants to be worshiped as if he
is God - so much so that he would set himself up in God's
temple and proclaim himself God.
I just see this as Jesus trying to
explain how this man sees himself. He is super
arrogant and thinks he should be God and he exalts himself
above all and defies every god and object of worship.
He thinks he's really something. Jesus is really
trying to make His point as strong as possible.
Just my thoughts on this verse.
Donna, thank you again for writing
about the Millennial Temple - I had spent very little time
studying Ezekiel's Temple - until now. This will be
important during the 1,000 years. I see this Temple as
helping finishing up the prophecies for the Jewish
people. But it looks like Gentiles can also be
there. And New Jerusalem is for 'the redeemed' - so
Christians and Jews will live there.
I have many questions about this
1,000 year time period. And I may not get many
answered until we're actually there!
Thank you again for your input
Donna and sharing your knowledge. I have enjoyed following up on these
topics very much. Please continue to share if
you want to add more - especially on the Millennium, if
you have more info. I am hoping for a soon Rapture -
so we may find out directly in the not so far future.
Pray
for the peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha~
Chance