THE TRIBULATION TEMPLE

SERIES: THE SCHOOL OF PROPHECY.

TEXT: REVELATION 11:1-2.

Revelation 10 and 11 are parenthetical passages. These two chapters are a pause in the actions and activities of the tribulation period judgements. Revelation chapter 11 is one of the most difficult passages in the book of Revelation. It is hard to understand but keeping two thoughts in mind will help us as we study these verses.

1. We are on Jewish ground-the images and language, the terminologies are Jewish in nature. These verses deal with the future of the people of Israel.
2. We are dealing with future events not current or past events.

What we are studying today in this school of prophecy concerns the future temple in Jerusalem.

This passage contains some very specific visions of the future of the Jewish people.

Let us study together the tribulation temple, soon coming to Jerusalem, the city of the great king:-

A VISION OF PROMISE-11:1.

• When John mentions the temple, he is referring to the place dedicated to Jewish worship.
• The Jews have been without a temple for nearly 2,000 years now.
• This passage makes it very clear that a new temple must be built in Jerusalem.

The past history of the temple.

• For 500 years from the time of Moses to David the people of Israel worshipped God in the tabernacle.
• It was at the temple that sacrifices were carried out.
• It was at the tabernacle that the priest made intercession for the people for the sins of the people.
• It was at the tabernacle that the people sought their king.

Before King David, he expressed a desire to build a permanent house of God, a temple, where God’s presence could dwell-2^nd Sam. 7:1-4.

• God however, refused David to build the temple because he was a man of war-1^st Chron. 28:3.
• The privilege of building the temple fell to David’s son, Solomon-2^nd Sam. 7:12-13.
• David only gathered all the materials necessary for its construction-1^st Chron. 22:1-5; 13-16.
• Before David died, he charged Solomon to build the temple-1^st Chron. 22:6-19.
• Solomon built the temple as per his father’s instructions-1^st Kings 6:1.
• It took 7 years to complete the building-1^st Kings 6:38.
• Where the temple was completed, it was dedicated to God with a lavish sacrifice. 1^st Kings 8:63, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep were offered to the Lord.
• At this dedication the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the temple.
• God demonstrated His approval of this house of worship by filling it with His SHEKINAH glory-2^nd Chron. 7:1-3.
• It cost a lot money to build (about 90 billion).
• The temple building demonstrated the Jerusalem skyline until it was destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 538 BC.
• The Jews were taken into captivity of Babylon.
• Some Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and in 490 BC the temple was rebuilt by Zerrubabbel.
• The Zerrubabbel temple was not as beautiful and elaborate as the first temple-Haggai 2:3; Ezra 3:12.
• This second temple was destroyed in 168 BC by Antiochus Epiphanies. He slaughtered a pig on the altar and demanded to be worshipped as god.

In 6 BC Herod the great rebuilt this temple. He took 46 years to rebuild it. John 2:20, It was in Herod’s temple in which Jesus Christ worshipped and preached. Herod’s temple was more beautiful and grand than Zerrubabbel but never like Solomon’s temple.

Herod’s temple was slated for destruction. In Matthew 24:1-2 Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed.

• In 70 AD, Titus the Roman general came into Jerusalem besieged it for four years (66 AD-70 AD).
• Some one million Jews were slain.
• It is said Titus crucified so many Jews until he ran out of wood for making crosses.
• When Jerusalem fell in 70 AD the city was destroyed and the temple utterly demolished.
• All that remains of the ancient temple is the western wall-now called “the wailing wall.”
• Orthodox Jews go there to pray, daily.
• Currently the Jews have no temple, but that will change in the near future.

The present preparations for the temple.

• When John mentions a temple in Revelations 11:1, he is letting us in on the truth that a new temple must be built in Jerusalem.
• Now, one problem standing on the way between the Jews and a new temple is the mosque of or the dome of the rock.
• The mosque of Omar is the third holiest place of worship for muslims.
• Muslims believe that Mohammed ascended into heaven from this rock.
• This mosque build 691 AD is a holy place, the third most holy place for muslims.
• Recently, excavations revealed that the ancient temple was actually 100 meters north of the dome of the rock!!
• The problems in the Middle East are not political but religious.
• Every religion wants to control the city of Jerusalem-The most contested ground in the whole world!! The Jews are struggling for survival, the Arabs and muslims want the annihilation of Israel.
• The temple institute, Orthodox Jews are now ready to rebuild, they are looking for the Ark of the Covenant.

The powerful message of the temple.

• God is not through with the people of Israel.
• On May 15^th 1948 a nation that had been extinct for 1900 years was raised from the ashes, Israel became a nation and restored back to her lands.
• The promise of a new temple is God’s way of saying “I am not finished with Israel.”

A VISION OF PRESERVATION-Rev. 11:1.

• John is told to take a reed and measure the temple, the altar and the worshippers.
• Reeds grow 15-20 ft. they are used for walking sticks-Ezekiel 29:6.
• The reed is also used for writing tools-3^rd John 13.
• The reed was also used as a measuring tool, “a rod.”
• The measuring tool-rod is used symbolically for two things.

1. A symbol of full presentation.

• God is claiming the temple, the altar and the worshipers as His own.
• God is not through with His people Israel-Romans 11:1-5, 26.

2. Symbol of faithful preservation.

• God will keep every promise He has ever made to the nation of Israel-Zech. 12:10-13:1-9.
• “Displacement theologies” try to replace Israel with the church, but Israel is still in the plan of God as a nation.

A VISION OF JUDGEMENT AND PUNISHMENT-Rev. 11:2.

The realities of this punishment.

• John is told not to measure the outer court of the temple.
• It is to be given to the gentiles and they will occupy the city for three and half years.
• These are the days of the second half of the great tribulation.
• The first assignment of the anti-Christ is to make peace with Israel and its enemies.
• The anti-Christ will do what no other displacement has ever done!!
• The anti-Christ will bring a pseudo (false peace).
• When Jesus Christ the prince of peace comes, He will make permanent peace to Israel.
• This peace treaty will give Israel the right to build their new house of worship-Daniel 9:27.
• After the three and half years of “peace” the anti-Christ will enter the holy of holies in the temple and he will enthrone himself as god-Matt. 24:15; 2^nd Thess. 2:3-4.
• The next 3 and half years will be greatest persecution Israel has ever experienced-Matt. 24:16-22.
• The Jews will lose their temple and their lands.
• They will be hunted down by the forces of the anti-Christ and killed.

The reasons for this punishment.

• Israel will be shown by God in the most vivid manner possible that animal sacrifices cannot take away sin and bring peace with God.
• God will allow them to rebuild their temple and sacrifice again.
• But the rebuilding of the temple is a further rejection of the Messiah-Jesus Christ.
• The rebuilding of the temple and animal sacrifices is rejection of the cross, the blood of Jesus Christ-Heb. 9:11-15; 10:10-14.
• Their refusal of the preaching of the gospel by 144,000 Jewish preachers will not go unpunished by God.
• Finally the remnant of the Jews will turn to Christ and receive Him as their Messiah-Zech. 12:10-13:1-9.
• Remember that there are not two methods of saving both Jews and gentiles. There is only one plan of salvation for both-Acts 14:6; John 1:11-12.

CONCLUSION

• God has still a plan for Israel and for their future.
• Israel is planning to rebuild their temple they are looking for their Messiah to come and save them.
• I wish they can see that the Messiah already came, died and rose again from the dead, that He is coming a second time.
• See what Jesus said-Luke 21:28-32.
• Are you ready for Jesus Christ?