Haggai and the Tribulation Temple

The book of Haggai is the book about the building of the Second Jewish Temple. It has become very contemporary since the Jews have returned to the Holy Land. A study of the book of Haggai is a wise approach to any study of the tribulation Temple.

 

Hag 1:2-5
2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built.

3Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

5Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
KJV
 

 

Expectations were High

It was June 7, 1967 when expectations rose that God had given Israel the open door to build the next Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount. Israeli soldiers liberated Old Jerusalem from Islamic Jordan. In the process the Wailing Wall, and the Temple Mount came under Israeli control.

 

 

It is an amazing fact that within a month of the Six-Day War, Time Magazine published an article concerning Jewish thinking on this subject in its religious section entitled, “Should the Temple Be Rebuilt?” Below are excerpts from this article:

Israel’s conquest of Jordanian Jerusalem, which sent thousands of devout Jews to pray in freedom before the historic Wailing Wall for the first time in centuries, has raised an interesting theological conundrum. Assuming that Israel keeps the Wall, which is one of the few remaining ruins of Judaism’s Second Temple, has the time now come for the erection of the Third Temple?
Since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, in A.D. 70, Conservative and Orthodox Jews have beseeched God four times a week to “renew our days as they once were”—a plea for the restoration of the Temple. Although Zionism was largely a secular movement, one of its sources was the prayers of Jews for a return to Palestine so that they could build a new Temple.
Bibliotheca Sacra. 1998 (electronic edition.). Dallas Theological Seminary: Dallas, TX

 

Consider Your Ways

Thirty five years have passed. Almost one full generation, and the same expectation God had for the generation of Haggai is again being anticipated of this generation of Jews. The same exhortation about procrastination is as relevant today as when given by Haggai - "consider your ways!" I'm sure Israel will respond to the call, but the exhortation must come from God through a real prophet. There must be divine authority and revelation behind a kosher building, and kosher worship. The one thing I know is that the Judaism of today is apostate. The rabbis are all lost in sin, and have as much chance of doing something under God's authority as would the Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses. I do not see the next Jewish Temple being built by apostates. A dispensational change is needed before an acceptable Temple, and acceptable Temple worship can become reality.

The Jews of today repeat the words of those who were expected to build the Second Temple. "The time is not come," and it is true! The time is not come - yet! The Church of all the born again Christians must be taken out of the way. A theological impasse must be removed first. A dispensational change must take place before the Holy Spirit can move upon the hearts of Jews as Jews. They will not become Christians. They will become Biblical Jews. The book of Leviticus will become center to Biblical Judaism as the sacrificial blood of Christ will be presented to the world again as was the plan from the beginning. In the days of Haggai the Levitical sacrifices of the Second Temple looked forward to the coming Messiah. In the days of the Third Temple the book of Leviticus will look back in remembrance of the blood sacrifice of Christ.

The next Jewish Temple must be built by the midpoint of the seven year tribulation period. The antichrist will stop the kosher Levitical sacrifice of the Biblical Jews at that time. The Temple will be desecrated, and the Spiritual Jews will flee the Temple, and Jerusalem into the wilderness for the last part of the tribulation.

 

Dan 9:27-10:1
27And 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.
KJV

Matt 24:15-16
15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
KJV
 

Rev 12:6
6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
KJV


 

Temple Desecration, and Murder of Two Witnesses

It should be no surprise that the midpoint of the tribulation is also when the Two Witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 are killed by the antichrist. The two events of the desecration of the Temple, and murder of the Two Witnesses flow together. It seems clear that the Two Witnesses are linked to the Temple. Revelation Chapter 11 begins with the Temple having been constructed, and worship in operation. The altar for Levitical blood sacrifice is in place as the Two Witnesses are introduced by John. The purpose of the Two Witnesses must be the building of the tribulation Temple which John prophetically saw so clearly!

 

Rev 11:1-3
11:1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
KJV
 

 

(Notice the Gentiles will tread under foot the Temple for 3 1/2 years [last half of the tribulation]. That can only mean the Temple, and Temple worship before the midpoint of the tribulation is considered by God as kosher. A secular Temple built by apostate Jews would never pass muster. The Bible does not say how long it will take for the Temple to be built, but it is quite clear that the building will have been completed, and proper worship will have been established before the midpoint of the tribulation. During the time of the Two Witnesses, and in their 3 1/2 years of ministry before the midpoint.)

Biblical Judaism and  the Two Witnesses

It is just so obvious that the Two Witnesses are intricately linked to the Third Jewish Temple. It is also clear that the divine revelation needed to build a kosher Temple, and establish kosher worship would be available to these two prophets. There are none more qualified in the Bible to build the next Temple then these two special Witnesses who appear at the beginning of the next dispensational change. They will lead the Jews into a return to the Bible. Their ministry is centered in Jerusalem. They will have the power to thwart any attempts to stop them from building the Temple on the Temple Mount. They will not be corrupted by fame, and like John the Baptist they will be clothed in sackcloth. I can almost hear their message as the Temple walls rise. "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!" What a visual they will be building to go with that message! A Kingdom that will have their Temple from where the Lord Jesus Christ will rule at His second coming.

 

Hag 1:12
12Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
KJV
 

 

Zerubbabel and Joshua - Two Olive Trees

Haggai exhorted a faithful builder, and a faithful priest to take up the challenge of the Second Temple. Zerubbabel was the contractor, and Joshua son of Joesdech was his High Priest. One to build a kosher Temple. The other to establish kosher worship. When the prophet Zechariah spoke of these same two kosher ministers, he called them two olive trees.

 

Zech 4:2-3
2And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

3And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
KJV

Zech 4:10-14
10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

11Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

12And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

13And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

14Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
KJV
 

 

Two Witnesses - Two Olive Trees

It is no wonder that John referring to the two witnesses of Revelation calls them by the same unique title. There are only Zerubbabel and Joshua, and then the Two Witnesses who are called two olive trees in all the Bible. The link to building and establishing Temple worship is certain.

 

Rev 11:4-7
4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
KJV
 

 

The Finished Testimony

The task that must be finished before the antichrist can kill them can only be the completion of the Third Jewish Temple. Their testimony would then be finished. Acceptable Levitical blood sacrifice on its altar as a remembrance will have begun. Were their testimony limited to just the gospel message as some seem to think, that is one testimony that can never be finished. The gospel message is eternal. All witnesses will never stop telling it even in scenes of glory to those who know it best. However, Temple construction can be finished. Kosher worship can be caused to cease.

 

The Remnant

Haggai tells us that Zerubbabel and Joshua had a remnant of the people to help them in their task. The Two Witnesses will also have a remnant of helpers.  One hundred and forty four thousand to be exact. Everything related to Biblical Judaism will be centered in the blood! When the Church is gone, the Biblical Jews who will be the foundation of the next dispensation will be mandated by God to build the Temple. Secular Judaism will be forced to step aside as these Spiritual Jews who's hearts will turn to the coming Messiah make their mandate known. Only then will Temple construction begin. Only then will the word go out to all Israel to "consider your ways" in relation to the procrastination around the present Temple Mount.

 

Hag 1:14
14And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
KJV
 

 

Rev 7:2-4
2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
KJV
 

 

The World Turned Upside-down by The LORD of Hosts

There was great opposition to the building of the Second Temple by Israel's neighbors. Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant had their hands full, but they built the Second Temple. The same will be true for the Two Witnesses and the remnant when they announce God has given them a mandate to build a Third Temple on the Temple Mount. I fully expect the announcement will turn the Islamic world upside-down. I would expect apostate Christianity which is the only Christianity that will be left after the rapture to oppose the Jewish Temple with vigor. The UN and EU will see these Two Witnesses as threatening world peace with such a proposal. Without divine protection, and guidance the task would be impossible. The LORD of hosts who provided for the Jews of the Second Temple will again manifest His power for the builders of the Third Temple.

 

Ps 24:10
10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
KJV

Ps 48:8
8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
KJV

Isa 44:6
6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
KJV
 

 

The Earth Shattering Event

A dispensational change will need an earth shattering event to cause the world to know God is bringing in the Kingdom age. That event is found in Ezekiel 38 & 39. The forever end of Islamic influence on world affairs will cause both secular Israel, and the heathen nations to know God has taken control of world events when bringing the Kingdom into fruition. A last Jihad invasion of Israel will be met by death for Islam in the mountains and fields of the Holy Land as God's wrath is manifested. There will be no doubt that God is at work establishing the place of the throne for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose of Ezekiel 38 & 39 is no secret. The God of the Bible declares to all the world that: "I will be known!"

 

Ezek 38:22-23
22And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
KJV

Ezek 39:7
7So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
KJV

Ezek 39:21-25
21And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.

22So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.

23And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.

24According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.

25Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
KJV
 

 

The Peace of the Antichrist

I'm sure the world will not lift a finger when the hordes of Islam invade from North, East, and South. It will not be until the heathen Islamic hordes are destroyed in the mountains and fields of Israel that the world will take note. The antichrist will be in control of a ten nation Western Confederacy which will probably include the USA. As leader of the Western World with all the control it presently has as the dominant world power, he will make a treaty with Israel. He will be wise enough to know not to challenge God at this time after what God will have done to Islam. The signing of that treaty will signify the beginning of the seven years of Biblical tribulation. The antichrist breaks the treaty in 3 1/2 years at the midpoint of the tribulation. This antichrist will seduce the world with the sweet talk of peace, but his peace will be false only leading to Armageddon.

 

Dan 8:25
25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
KJV

Dan 9:27
27And 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.
KJV
 

 

Chronology of Events

1.   The rapture first.

2.   The conversion of the Two Witnesses, and the hundred and forty four thousand Jews. A new dispensation begins. The foundation is laid for the return to Biblical Judaism.

3.   The announcement of the Third Jewish Temple.

4.   The last Jihad.

5.   The peace treaty agreeing to the building of the Third Jewish Temple. The Two Witnesses will be mandated from God to finish the Temple within 3 1/2 years.

6.   The midpoint of the tribulation. The antichrist kills the Two Witnesses, and desecrates the Temple. The Spiritual  Biblical Jews flee for the wilderness. The secular Jews stay behind.

7.   The antichrist can't destroy the Biblical Jews, but brings about Jacob's Trouble on the secular Jews who stay behind finding the whole world is against them.

8.   The antichrist drives the whole world toward Armageddon.

9.   The antichrist abandons Jerusalem as the King of the North invades on the way to Armageddon. The Spiritual Jews return to cleanse the Temple during the mayhem as half the city goes into captivity.

10.  The Lord Jesus Christ returns to Jerusalem, and the sanctified Temple. Many of the secular Jews receive Him as their savior. The sheep and goats are separated, and the goats are put to death. The antichrist and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. The Jewish Biblical Kingdom is established.

 

The Chronology of Ezekiel

The tribulation Temple is Ezekiel's Temple. Ezekiel 37 is the repeated prophecy of the dry bones coming to life in this second return of the Jews to the Promised Land just as they did at the first return. Next in the chronology is the last Jihad of Ezekiel 38 & 39 that never occurred at the first return, but remains unfulfilled to this very day. The very next thing in the Ezekiel chronology is Ezekiel's Temple chapters 40 - 48 that has never been built. The chronology of Ezekiel demands the tribulation Temple is Ezekiel's Temple. The divine direction will be given the two olive trees of Revelation.

 

 

The Throne in Ezekiel's Temple

Ezekiel's Temple will be unique to all other Temples because this Temple will have a throne. A throne where the antichrist will sit usurping the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. His worldly reign will be a short 3 1/2 years. He will lead the world into the self-destruction of Armageddon. Only the return of Christ will save mankind from total annihilation. Christ will rule for a thousand years from Ezekiel's throne.

 

Ezek 43:7
7And 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, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
KJV
 

 

The Flow of Life

There will be one major improvement to Ezekiel's Temple when Christ returns. His feet will touch on the Mount of Olives and it will split in two. He will cross the Kidron, and enter the Temple. It is at this point I expect a flow will begin from under the altar on the South side. A flow for cleansing. First the cleansing of the blood from the altar, and then the mixture of blood and water flowing as a cleansing flood bringing life back to a polluted post tribulation world. The power in this blood will never be diluted. The flow will turn into a mighty flood. A great river of life will cleanse the earth as the Kingdom takes form.

 

Ezek 47:1-9
47:1Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles.
4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
KJV
 

 

A Fisherman's Paradise

It is a glorious beginning to the Kingdom dispensation. The river will be full of fish, and I expect to be sitting often on the shore with pole in hand. I know my dad will be there. Oh, what a joy that will be! The two of us fishing together again. I hope to see you also. There is only one way to enter this Kingdom. It is through Christ, and Christ alone. It is not by good works, but by grace paid for with the blood of sacrifice. It is offered freely to all who will come, but you must come. This mighty King is gentle and kind. He never refuses the lost sinner who casts self before Him in humble submission. We must come with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might. No hypocrite can come before Him who can see the heart, but when we come fully submitted we find a sure hope in Christ. He is more then the King in the Temple, but He is the High Priest. The anchor of our soul who has interceded for us with His blood in order that we might have eternal life.

  

Heb 6:19-20
19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
KJV
 

Matt 11:28-30
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
KJV
 

 

Hope to see you there?

 

Read:

Mishpat: The law of the coming Kingdom.

This Place: about the Temple Mount of the Bible.

The Second Woe: about the Two Witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 and the Temple.

Invasion Israel: about 4 predicted invasions of Israel concentrating on the Last Jihad.

The Last Jihad: about the invasion of Ezekiel 38 & 39 (takes some time to load).

The Gentile in an all Jewish Dispensation: about how gentiles function in a Jewish world Kingdom.

 


Edited by DDSrail - April 20, 2002

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