3: The Temple [Excerpt]

“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15-16)

As we examine the role of Israel in the End Times, we are focusing on the future temple to be built in Jerusalem. God tells us that He has placed the city of Jerusalem in the centre of the nations. Just as the Bible centres on Israel, the city of Jerusalem and specifically on the temple, so our watchfulness is helpfully directed first to the temple site, then to the city of Jerusalem, then to the land of Israel, and then to the Jewish people dispersed across the world. This reflects Jesus’ instruction to the Apostles “you shall be My witnesses, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Herod’s Temple was much admired in the time of Jesus, comprised of wonderful buildings adorned with lovely stones and decorative offerings. Jesus explained to His disciples that the temple would be destroyed stone by stone. The disciples asked when these things will happen. It is a very fair question, and one which Jesus took time to answer in Matthew 24-25, a passage known as the Olivet Discourse. It is given this name because Jesus was speaking on the Mount of Olives, which is to the east of Jerusalem and overlooks the temple area. The very fact that Jesus supplies such extensive details about the End Times is an indication of the importance of our subject. We know that the Romans destroyed Herod’s temple and left Jerusalem desolate in AD 70, but the Jewish people neither called out for their Messiah nor cried, “BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” This tells us that there will yet be a further fulfilment of His prophecy...

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