Page 35 - Satan in the Sanctuary

The Stage Is Set 37

thus has a great influence on this small nation's place in
the world. A central Temple could attract many Jews of the
world to make at least one pilgrimage to their ancient holy
land. Jews obedient to the laws of Moses would want to go
three times a year for the grand feasts—Passover, Pente-
cost, and Tabernacles. Immigration also would doubtless
increase. At present there are 3 million Jews in Israel and
3 million Jews in New York City. The other 7 million are
still dispersed throughout the world. Israel needs more of
its own.
Third, there would be a political factor—stabilization of
the state—inherent in the rebuilding of the Temple. Look-
ing back at the ancient days of the first Temple, we find
Jeroboam breaking away and creating the Northern King-
dom, and stopping pilgrimages to the Jerusalem Temple.
In 1 Kings 12:27-30 Jeroboam demanded his people in the
north to worship in his substitute temples in Beth-el and
Dan, and to forget about the Jerusalem Temple. What a
dividing and weakening influence this had on the Jewish
nation!
Today's divisions and weaknesses are still more obvious.
The Jews are indomitable and unrelenting; they have re-
mained Jews in name and practice through some of the
most heartless and continuous persecution in the history of
man. But they have been divided and on the run for millen-
nia. How much better it would be for them to meet at their
Jerusalem Temple once again. How much more significance
Israel would have among the nations of the world, if Jews
everywhere were united in their common Temple worship.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
So there are good incentives, as well as formidable ob-
stacles to the construction of the Tribulation Temple. God