In the December 12th article Jewish prayer has returned to the Temple Mount – exclusive , The Jerusalem Post reported that Jewish worshipers were able to pray on the Temple mount – in full view of the police there – despite the long held status quo preventing them of doing just that, “The prayers were recited in full view and the immediate proximity of the police officers escorting the group around the Temple Mount, and they afforded the worshipers the time they needed to complete their prayers”. Usually any non-Muslim seen praying on the temple mount would often be met with some push back,
“In the past, the police would routinely eject or detain any non-Muslim seen to be praying in any way at the holy site, and this stance was mostly backed by the courts, which ruled that although in theory Jewish prayer was legal on the Temple Mount, the police were entitled to prevent it due to security considerations.”
This is an interesting development to say the least if not prophetically significant in terms of what’s to come. Although Jews this time were able to “discreetly” pray on the temple mount without interruptions, it’s not clear if things will continue this way as “Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld denied that there had been any change in the police’s attitude to non-Muslim prayer at the holy site”. Rosenfeld states “The status quo is exactly the same on the Temple Mount…the policy has not changed.”
The warning given by police stresses that the status quo did not change and any such change to it could inevitably spark protests and strong responses from Arabs and Muslims.
Although this has excited some Jews they have their eyes set on a bigger prize – the 3rd temple! The article goes on to state that the “final goal, however, is to rebuild the Temple” and that the “ultimate goal is to be able to offer sacrifices in the Temple.”
The Third Temple Initiative
Some Jews see this as one of many steps to eventually rebuild the third temple. Rabbi Eliyahu Weber echoed this sentiment stating “We are not really dealing with that right now because there are many stages to this.” This may be welcoming news for Jewish worshipers, but why should the bible believing Christian care?
To put it simply, this is one of many signs of the times we’re living in preceding the rapture of the church. After the rapture will come the worst period of time in human history known as the tribulation or what the bible refers to as “Daniel’s 70th week” or “Jacob’s Trouble”. The bible tells us that during the 7 year tribulation there will be a third temple with a re-established sacrificial system.
“In the past, the police would routinely eject or detain any non-Muslim seen to be praying in any way at the holy site, and this stance was mostly backed by the courts, which ruled that although in theory Jewish prayer was legal on the Temple Mount, the police were entitled to prevent it due to security considerations.”
Daniel 9:27 tells us that the antichrist will confirm a covenant for a “week”, being 7 years. Half way through this 7 year period, he will break this covenant and put an end to the sacrifices. It’s at this point that the antichrist will declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Jesus elaborates further on this event in Matthew 24:15-20 by first telling us this abomination of desolation will occur in the “holy place” – a specific area within the temple. After the Jews at the the time witness this event, he instructs them to flee as Satan and the antichrist will stop at nothing to persecute and wipe out the Jewish people (Matthew 24:15-22, Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17).
For these prophecies to come to pass there must first be a regathered Jewish nation which came back into existence in 1948. There also needs to be a yearning for the third temple to be built, something we’re witnessing now.
I also discuss this in my article Red Heifer born in Israel signaling “final stage of redemption” posted last year concerning red heifers that were being raised in hopes of using them in a temple sacrifice. Lastly, the temple itself must be rebuilt and the sacrificial system put in place for the antichrist to be able to put an end to it.
As we see growing enthusiasm and efforts towards the building of the third temple, logically it shows us the tribulation is near and even closer, the rapture of the church! The stage is being set for the tribulation and we can see that we are in the season of the Lord’s return.
If you haven’t put your trust in Christ’s finished work at the cross, you need to do so before the darkest time in human history comes upon the world like a snare (Luke 21:34-35, Revelation 3:10).
Source
- Jewish prayer has returned to the Temple Mount – exclusive (December 12th, 2019) – The Jerusalem Post
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