Daily Bible Reading - March 30, 2017

Today's Reading:

Matthew 24:1-31

Numbers 25-27

Song of Solomon 6:4-8:4

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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading:

In Matthew 24, one of the most important warnings Messiah gives His people is the admonishing to watch out for the Abomination of Desolation, which is to be set up in the Last Days. But how can we "watch" for something if we don't know what we're looking for? What is the Abomination of Desolation anyway? Is it an idea? A doctrine? A physical thing?

To answer this, the following is quoted from the feature article of our April-June 2016 News Magazine, titled: Jerusalem's Ultimate Temple Deception. 

The final Abomination of Desolation is the Soon-Coming 3rd Temple in Jerusalem: which will be the Seat of the Beast

The most dangerous deception in the Last Days will be the 3rd Temple and the false Christ who reigns there. It will be so overwhelming and so “righteous” in appearance, that “if it were possible, even the very elect will be deceived.” Are you ready to withstand the ultimate Temple Deception?

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God,”  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Daniel 11:15-16 & 45 “So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities...  And none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain, yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

According to The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, “Tisha b’Av: The Third Holy Temple Plans Have Begun”. A Youtube video is available to watch online showing a complete virtual walk-through of this Temple, soon-to-be-built in Jerusalem (https://youtu.be/A2IkxmwkayM). As The Temple Institute video advertisement explains:

This (video) is a walk-through the main sanctuary of the Holy Temple, showcasing decades of research and tons of innovative Halachic solutions to various perplexing issues that were resolved to create fully functional, ready-to-use plans.

As the visual tour sweeps through the sanctuary, one can see the menorah, incense altar and showbread table, all of which have already been prepared by the Institute, among 70 other sacred vessels. The presentation was specially released to coincide with the Ninth of Av, the Jewish national day of mourning which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples...
In summary, this is a highly-detailed building plan... The video comes one year after the Temple Institute appealed to its supporters to take part in a funding campaign that raised over $100,000 for the architectural plans.

Rabbi Chaim Richman, International Director of The Temple Institute noted: “One third of all Torah commandments pertain to the building of and service in the Holy Temple. Today, we not only mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples, but also our inability to fulfill one third of the Torah. Over the last three decades, the Temple Institute has done everything in our power to research and prepare for the Third Temple. As world Jewry sits on the ground mourning the first two Temples, we have taken a huge leap towards the rebuilding, by releasing a 3D architectural rendition of the Third Temple.

The Third Temple in Jerusalem is intended to be built on the Temple Mount... On the Temple Institute website (http://www.templeinstitute.org), Rabbi Chaim Richman and his Temple team invite: “ALL WHO PRAY FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THE BIBLICAL PROPHECIES that promise the reestablishment of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem are invited and welcome to become part of the Temple Institute’s vision, and share in these efforts.”
 

Bible Prophecy DOES foretell a third temple in Jerusalem.  But it won’t be Holy! It will be the dark Seat of the Beast...

The Temple Institute is the center of research and preparation for the Holy Temple. (And has) also recreated the Temple Furnishings and over 70 sacred vessels for use in the Third Holy Temple, which can be seen at their Visitors Center in the Old City of Jerusalem...Think of it for just a moment! There will soon be a beautiful temple, on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, built after the same pattern seen in Solomon’s Temple, or such as was foretold in the Ezekiel Temple prophecy. It will contain the same furniture as was found in the sacred Temple of Yahweh in the past. And the priests who serve in it will lead the people in keeping the Feasts of Yahweh, apparently keeping the Torah, in every detail. What could be more righteous or blessed than such a place as this? 

Already 70+ temple vessels, described in Torah for use in Yahweh’s holy Temple, have been painstakingly recreated to be used in this coming temple. There will even be some original Temple artifacts in this amazing third temple. These original Temple artifacts will include the very Menorah which was used in the Second Temple, the Silver Trumpets, and many other items, which were taken by Rome when Herod’s Temple was sacked. The record of these artifacts falling into the hands of Rome, is found in the relief carvings on Titus’ famous  Arch. Today, these artifacts and many original Temple furnishings are kept in the Vatican vault, awaiting the day when they are planned to be set in place, in the 3rd Temple of Jerusalem.
 

Items of original Temple furniture were taken by Rome - as is recorded on the Roman Arch of Titus (c. 82AD)

And if that wasn’t enough to convince that this will indeed be God’s holy Temple, 3rd temple proponents can even point to the prophecies of Ezekiel to support the establishment of this future temple. Even the suggestion that such a temple could be “unholy” seems impossible! It even seems abominable! 

But that’s just how it appears on the surface. When we dig a little deeper into Bible prophecy, what we uncover about this soon-coming temple in Jerusalem reveals that it will not be Yahweh’s holy Temple; rather it will be the most unholy place on planet earth (Daniel 11:31) ! Let’s see what Scripture has to say.

Bible prophecy plainly warns that the final Beast will reign from a temple, which is proclaimed to be Yahweh’s holy Temple. Of course since the final Antichrist will be enthroned within its “Most Holy Place”, in reality it will be the most unholy place of all!

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God,”  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

“So the king of the north shall come...  And none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the Glorious Land, which by his hand shall be consumed. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain...” Daniel 11:15-16 & 45

Thankfully, we read the latter part of Daniel 11:45, where we find the Promise that this final Anti-christ will come to his end, after consuming the former holy Land, and placing his unholy tabernacle in what once was the glorious holy Mountain.

In fact, in physical manifestation, the erection of this false temple of the Beast is the final Abomination of Desolation!

“...And they shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength... And they shall place the Abomination that maketh Desolate.” Daniel 11:31

It is vitally important that Yahweh’s people not only avoid falling for this temple deception, but also we need to recognize it for what it really is - prophetically speaking. This temple is the Abomination of Desolation. Thus, when it is placed, it will be the  sign for God’s true followers to flee to the mountains.

“But when ye shall see the Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains,” Mark 13:14

When the Abomination of Desolation was erected the first time, only those who rightly identified it fled - and were saved. Many failed to heed the sign and were needlessly slaughtered as a result.

But what about the Temple of Ezekiel? If the soon-coming third temple will be the Seat of the Beast power, erected for his dark purposes and for his cause; what happened to the Ezekiel Temple prophecy? (Daniel 11:45, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

Just a few years after the First Temple (Solomon’s) was destroyed and before the Second Temple (Herod’s) was built, the prophet Ezekiel was shown a vision of another holy Temple. This Temple, by its physical description and dimensions, was never built. Never has there been such a Temple as this one, on earth.

Ezekiel’s Temple Complex was 500x500 cubits, which is 750 feet square. This means that it would have been much larger than Solomon’s Temple, Herod’s  Temple and the Wilderness Tabernacle - all combined. In fact, all these other prior Temples could fit within the foretold Ezekiel Temple Complex and still have room to rattle around!

Additionally, the Ezekiel Temple would have been unique in that it did not have a laver. Instead of a laver, there was to be a stream of living water, which would flow out from the Messiah’s Throne in the Most Holy Place. In other words, the Ezekiel Temple - not Herod’s Temple - should have been the Temple which Yahshua came to when He was here among us (Ez. 43:7). But it was not to be...

Now, there is a problem with the Ezekiel Temple prophecy, making it clear that this Temple can never be built, by the Cause of Yahweh. We can know this because, Ezekiel Chapter 40 details animal sacrifices, which were to have been performed within this Temple. But now that our Saviour has died (once for all), Yahweh has commanded that the sacrificing of animals forever cease, for they all pointed to the death of Yahshua and were fulfilled by Him on Calvary.

“...Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings... for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein... He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Yahshua Christ once for all,” Hebrews 10:8-10

Animal sacrifices were never the end in themselves. The blood of animals could not take away our sins. These animal sacrifices were merely the “shadow” of Calvary. Yahshua was called the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sin of the world, because it was only His Blood, which can wash away our sin.

“For the Law having a shadow of good things to come... can never with those sacrifices which... they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”  Hebrews 10:1-4

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off... And He shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease...”  Daniel 9:26-27

Since animal sacrifices ceased with the Death of Yahshua, the prophecies of the Ezekiel Temple, with their numerous animal sacrifices, cannot be fulfilled in the future. But what do we do about this prophecy? Surely, since we can be certain this was a Yahweh-given prophecy, it has to come to pass! Doesn’t it? Actually, it is this belief that will make the third temple deception especially convincing to most Christians. When the third temple is erected, it will be built to Ezekiel’s specifications, in apparent fulfillment of his God-given prophecy. It appears to be a “slam-dunk” in terms of evidence supporting the “holiness” of the third temple cause. But in actuality, true prophecies can fail, if the conditions of the prophecy aren’t met (1 Corinthians 13:8 and Jonah 3).

One Bible prophecy which failed is the prophecy of Ninevah’s destruction. Yahweh did indeed tell the prophet Jonah to prophesy against the wicked city of Ninevah.

“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.”  Jonah 3:4-5 

But even though Jonah was giving the true prophesy of Yahweh against Ninevah, the city was not destroyed in 40 days. The prophesy failed because the people REPENTED for their wickedness and turned to Yahweh.

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented (took pity) of the evil (calamity), that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not. Jonah 3:10

Just as prophecy can fail if the people REPENT, so prophecy can fail if the people REBEL.

“...Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail...” 1 Corinthians 13:8

In the case of Jonah, who prophesied the Word of Yahweh to the people of Ninevah, the prophecy failed because the people repented. Clearly then, a prophecy from Yahweh can fail. However, the opposite was true regarding the Temple of Ezekiel. Because of Israel’s rebellion, it was too late for the Ezekiel Temple to be built by the Kingdom of Yahweh. 

The Ezekiel Temple was intended, by Yahweh, to be the Temple to which Messiah would have come.

“And He said unto me, Son of man, the place of My Throne, and the Place of the Soles of My Feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of  Israel  for ever, and My holy Name, shall the house of  Israel  no more defile...” Ezekiel 43:7

But, the rebellious heart-condition of the nation of Israel caused this amazing Temple prophecy to fail, in the time of Yahshua. Now, when a temple is built in Jerusalem with the dimensions and characteristics which Ezekiel foretold, it will not be built by the Cause of Yahweh. It will be the Seat of the Beast, with its counterfeit identity deceptively obscured by the unfulfilled prophecy of Ezekiel (Daniel 11:15-16 & 45, 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3).

Thankfully, there is good news. The prophecy that Yahweh would come to dwell with His people, enthroned in a holy Temple upon this earth, is not lost. In fact, for the forgiven faithful, an even better Temple is yet to come!

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4    

But we must pay special attention the the context of the future Promise regarding Yahweh’s holy Temple. The context is that after the earth has been destroyed and made new, Yahweh will bring down the holy City of New Jerusalem from Heaven. Then, and only then, will the Temple upon the earth be Yahweh's holy Temple. Current Jerusalem, with its soon-to-be-built false Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 & Daniel 11:45) will be burned up, upon the true Messiah’s Return (2 Peter 3:10-12). 

Regarding Jerusalem’s role as the Holy City - a title which it received because it held the holy Temple of God - Yahshua gave a powerful warning. This prophecy is one of the most ignored Bible prophecies of all. Yet it was never more vitally important than it is now. Yahshua Himself said that Jerusalem’s “House” was left unto it “desolate” .  

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens ...and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate,” Matthew 23:37-38

What is the “house” to which Yahshua was referring in this prophecy? The word “HOUSE”, in this passage,  is translated from the Greek word οἶκος (Strong’s # 3624).  It means: “a dwelling (…literally or figuratively), home, house (-hold), temple.” According to the Lexical Aids, this word can apply both to a literal Temple and to a figurative one (we are the Temple of the Living God) “…to dwell, as God in the temple at Jerusalem (Matt.23:21); to dwell, as Christ (Eph. 3:17) and the Holy Ghost (James 4:5) in the faithful…”

Messiah plainly stated that the “house” which was left “desolate” was Jerusalem, in Matthew 23:38. This meant that the Presence of Yahweh was no longer in its temple. And if Yahweh’s Presence isn’t indwelling (in a temple or a person, for example) that place or person cannot be called “holy”.  

Yet, today Christians, Jews, and even Torah-keeping Messianics have forgotten that Yahshua proclaimed Jerusalem’s “house” to be desolate. Having forgotten this vital prophecy, Jerusalem is still regarded as Yahweh’s Holy City. This belief is the root-system of many resulting doctrines. For example, if one believes that Jerusalem is still the Holy City, one will also believe that the biblical calendar should be determined by Jerusalem (ie: Jerusalem’s barley determines the first month of the year).

Yet disregarding the prophecies of Daniel (Daniel 11:45), Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3), and Yahshua Himself (Matthew 23:38) is deadly. It prepares us to worship the Beast and fall a prey to the ultimate Abomination of Desolation. For, if we forget or ignore Yahshua’s Jerusalem prophecy in Matthew 23, we will miss the full meaning of His warning in Matthew 24.

The same word, translated as “desolate” (ἔρημος) in Matthew 23:38 also appears in Matthew 24:23-26, referring to the final Abomination of Desolation. The word translated as “desert”, in Matthew 24:23-26, is translated as “desolate” in Matthew 23:38. Plainly, Yahshua warned that the final Anti-christ would be in Jerusalem - the “desolate” place. 

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not… If they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert (ἔρημος - desolate place, Matt 23:38); go not forth...” Matthew 24:23-26 

Ignoring these Temple prophecies is causing many, even among Torah-keepers, to unknowingly prepare to worship the Beast. It is he who will reign in the 3rd temple. It is he who will disrespect Yahshua’s Death reinstating animal sacrifices in it. It will be the biggest deception ever to hit this planet - the final Abomination of Desolation. If it were possible, even the very elect will be deceived by it. So what about you? Are you ready to withstand the ultimate temple deception? 

(For more information on Jerusalem and it’s temple, ask for our DVD’s: “Abraham, Jerusalem & the Biblical Calendar” and “How the Messianic Movement is Unknowingly Preparing to Worship the Beast”.)