Our ABA Sunday School literature states that the Anti-Christ will set himself up in the rebuilt Temple (II Thess. 2:4). Reading a blog by Bro. Tom McElmurry, however, has led me to believe that this will not happen.
II Thess. 2:4 "...he as God sitteth in the Temple (naos) of God, shewing himself that he is God."
Temple (naos) is not a literal temple but the same "temple" that is used in the verse "Know ye not that your body is the temple (naos) of the Holy Ghost?"
If II Thess. 2:4 was speaking of a literal temple, Bro. McElmurry states that the Greek word (hieron) would have been used for a literal temple. Therefore, the argument can be made that the Anti-Christ sets himself up in people's hearts, not in a literal temple. Make sense?? If Bro. McElmurry is correct, then our literature, as well as some commentaries, miss the mark on this one.
P.S. Not posting this to open a door for slamming our writers. But what is your opinion of the prophecy lessons this quarter???
Not to rip on Bro. Mac or anything but he is definitly not the foremost scholar on end time events as evidenced by his attempt to set dates for certain events and (to me) a gross misrepresentation of end time prophecies as he looks at things through the lense of a geologist. I have prolly said too much but there...I said it.
ReplyDeleteAs to the Temple rebuilt it is usually represented as being another Temple becasue of two things:
1. The Anti-Christ will confirm the covenant of peace with the Jewish people, according to Daniel 9:27. Which Bro. (blank) so brazenly states will take place before Nov. 8 of this year in the most recent Monitor.
In order for this peace to take place one ASSUMES (big letters on purpose) that he will allow or work out a way for the Jews to resume thier sacrificial system which would ASSUME a building or Temple or Site for them to do this.
2. The second reason is usually attributed to the anti-christ like work of Antiochus Epiphanes who actually entered Zerbabbel's Temple and sacrificed a hog on it and declared himself to be God. The Jews referred to this event as the abomination of desolation. Jesus says that we look for this event again to come which would infer a Temple being rebuilt.
As for our ABA writers I think they have been very careful to not advocate 1 particular view of end time events, such as pre, mid, post or pre wrath rapture. They have simply made the case for the Coming of the Lord which we all agree on!
Enjoyed the blog and hope y'all are all well.
So you are saying not the Millenial Temple, but another Temple??
ReplyDeleteI have never heard Bro ? spoken of with such harshness. Repent, brother :)
Some folks seem to think that the lessons are a little deep with not too much with regards to practicality or everyday living.
ReplyDeleteI suggest that every one read Acts 1:7. I do not know why it is paid so little attention. It is next to the last thing said by Jesus before He ascended up.
ReplyDeleteI repent...there satisfied :)...I do believe that the Millineal Temple is a completly different Temple...Before the Lord comes a 1/3 of the holy city will be destroyed and when the Lord returns, as Bro. Marlin reminds, will be to the Mt. of Olives (Just outside Jerusalem) and it according to Zecheriah will be cleave in two. I think the Tribulation Temple or the 70th Week of Daniel Temple will be destroyed.
ReplyDeleteGod will build/create a new Temple suitable for His Son to sit upon in Jerusalem...this would be the Millineal Temple.
Along the lines of what Brother J was saying... if you already did and I missed it, I'm sorry Brother, but we should look at Daniel 9:27 for a good reason.
ReplyDeleteDan 9:27 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, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Notice he causes the sacrifice AND the oblation to cease. If I understand Jewish worship properly, they must have the temple reestablished in order to sacrifice and oblate (is that a verb?). These take place on the altar.
Also, modern Jews already have a place chosen and instruments created. They are prepared and ready to build this temple and worship in it. So why would we think they won't be able to do this, or that it won't continue into the time of the tribulation?
Finally, look at the next verses with reference to the Anti-Christ also...
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
As to the word "temple" meaning a body, it can. But it is used more times in the NT referring to the actual place/building. So there is equal reason to believe this reference is to a physical building as to believe it is a person. Also, it seems to me extreme to make the jump from making "temple" mean body all the way to meaning the hearts of people, especially when it is in the singular number.
Is there reason to doubt the sanctuary and sacrifice aren't in the temple? If so, give it please.
Ezra 3 speaks of the re-commencement of the burnt offerings and the continual burnt offerings prior to even the laying of a re-made foundation for the temple. It the action of the anti-Christ to terminate the offerings that commences the great tribluation. The question then becomes whether there must necessarily be the rebuilding of a literal temple before the offerings can re-commence and the anti-Christ terminate them. Ezra 3 would seem to indicate that all that's needed for the offerings to commence would be the altar set up in the right location (temple mount). The timing of those offerings will be quite significant if one seeks to know what precisely needs to be in place on the temple mount for anti-Christ to trigger the last 3 1/2 years.
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