Page 103 - Signs of the End

THE SIGNS OF THE END 67

THE COMING TEMPLE

One of the main events of End Time prophecy is the rebuilding
of the Jerusalem Temple, so that it can be desecrated by the
Antichrist. The Apostle Paul describes the action of this "son of
perdition."

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called
God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
(2 Thessalonians 2:4)

How much before this event the Temple is built is not clear, but
it must be standing by the time of the middle of the Tribulation.
Many interpreters of prophecy believe the Temple will be built
during the first 3 1 /2 years of the Tribulation.

There are at least four groups in Israel that are moving in the
direction of rebuilding the Temple: the Temple Institute (research­
ing and fashioning the furniture and implements), the Temple
Mount Faithful (installing a ceremonially pure foundation stone),
the priest group (forming a generation of ceremonially pure priests
and Levites), and the Rabbinical group that is attempting to certify
a qualified red heifer in order to make the Temple ceremonially
pure. All of these groups are small and compete with each other
for attention and support.

The one that is most open to the public is the Temple Institute,
which has a bookstore with museum-type displays and a theater-
type room where video tapes about the history of the Temple are
shown. Here, both Jewish and Christian groups can see actual ves­
sels and equipment that are being made to furnish a third Temple
in Jerusalem. They have an almost Messianic concept of the
Temple, that when the Temple is built, the worship of God in the
Temple will bring peace to Israel and mankind.

The Temple Mount Faithful have actually cut and ceremonial­
ly sanctified a "foundation stone," a large rectangular limestone
block, about four feet long, which is to be the initial block in the
construction of the third Temple. Their bold leader, Gershon
Salomon, has led a ceremony every year on the Feast of
Tabernacles, in which they carry the stone in a truck to the Pool of
Siloam, pour water on it, and endeavor to take it up to the Temple