A Temple is Necessary

In Matthew 24:15, Jesus describes the beginning of the end by quoting the prophet Daniel, "When you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place...", and it makes one wonder what is this thing the Master is speaking of.  It goes back to the prophecies of Daniel where he describes things that are going to happen at the end of this age and just prior to the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ Jesus on this earth. 

There will be a peace treaty with Israel, but after 3.5 years, the one we know as the Antichrist will set up an image of himself in the Temple and will proclaim himself as God and will terrorize all who do not worship him.  This will happen for 3.5 years after 3.5 years of peace.  After a full 7 years, then Jesus will return to reign on the earth for 1000 years.

One thing that is missing for the fulfillment of this prophecy is a new Temple which will be "the holy place" that Jesus mentions.  Currently there is an old mosque called "The Dome on the Rock" right where the holy place must be for this future event.  The  mosque, built in 691 A.D., covers a sacred bare spot of ground thought to be where three things took place (only one is considered sacred to the muslims).  First, muslims believe that it is the spot where Mohammed was taken up to heaven.  Second, it is believed to be the location of the "Holy of Holies" (i.e. - the holy place) in the destroyed Jewish Temple, and the future location of the holy place talked about by Jesus.  And finally, it is regarded by some as the place where Abraham was interrupted from sacrificing Isaac and then saw the ram caught in the thicket. 

The jews that pray at the western wall ask for many things, one of them being the super-natural destruction of the dome of the rock.  Apparently something will happen to it and a third temple will be rebuilt, undoubtedly making muslims all over the world spit-fire mad.

When the dome is destroyed, look out!  Things will be closer then than ever before.  As much as satan would like the credit, we know that the timeline of things yet to come is God's plan and we know how it turns out.  We are plainly told these things in the Holy Scriptures.  We must ask God to help us understand them.


--Johnie