Q. The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of a future temple that was to be built in Jerusalem and was even allowed to walk around it and measure it. That temple has never been built. If the Mosaic system of sacrifices has been abolished in Christ, then surely this temple isn't needed anymore? If so, why was Ezekiel shown it?

A. This is a most interesting and a very difficult question to answer for believers. It seems to me that there is only one answer to it. You are right when you say that a Jewish or Israelite temple is not necessary anymore because all the ceremonial types of the coming and atonement of Messiah have been fulfilled. To my knowledge, the only people who maintain that the restoration of animal sacrifices is necessary as a permanent worship fixture are the Mormons and some Messianic groups, both of whom subscribe to various heresies. They maintain that as the House of Aaron has not as yet made an acceptable sacrifice (Jer.6:20) that before Messiah returns they must do this. There is not, however, any evidence in the Bible to suggest that such a sacrifice is required in the Christian dispensation. And even if it were, it would not be a permanent feature of worship, but a one-off affair for the House of Aaron, and not something for Christians to do. There would simply be no need for it, since Messiah has already fulfilled the ceremonial types.

But what of the Jewish people who have not received Christ? Is it possible that the Jews will go ahead and build the temple anyway? There have been plans to build one on Mount Moriah -- the Temple Mount -- ever since the creation of the Republic of Israel in 1948. The trouble is, the site is occupied by a large Moslem mosque, one of the holiest Moslem shrines after Mecca. And that has remained an obstacle to the building of their temple...until now, even though they have been assembling the materials for a temple after the Ezekielian pattern and have been training up priests to offer sacrifices. A passover sacrifice was made near the Wailing Wall in 2018.

There is great controversy and division in both Messianism and Evangelical Protestantism as to whether the third and millennial temple described in Ezekiel 40-47 is literal or figurative, or whether it was a conditional offer made to Israel and Judah in exile if they would repent. Most Messianics tend towards a literal interpretation and believe that a variation of the Mosaic sacrificial system will be restored. Protestants either believe that it is entirely symbolic or that it pertains only to the 'Jews' whereas the 'Church' has no part of it. NCAY's position has always been that the Levitical system ended with Messiah along the lines of the following Baptist argument by Thomas Williamson:

"There are many persuasive Scriptural reasons for believing that Ezekiel’s Temple prophecy will be fulfilled in a non-literal manner.

"Ezekiel presents the priesthood of the temple as being conducted by Levite priests, Ezekiel 43:19, 44:10, 15, etc. However, we are told in Hebrews 7:11-18 that God has permanently set aside the priesthood of the descendants of Levi, in favor of the priesthood of Christ, a non-Levite.

"The system of Temple, priests and animal sacrifices was part of the Old Covenant which, according to Hebrews 8:13 was about to vanish away (which took place at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD).

"The priests of Ezekiel’s temple must be circumcised, Ezekiel 44:9, but under the New Covenant, circumcision is not required, Galatians 5:6.

"We are told in Hebrews 9:11 that Christ has become the high priest of a better tabernacle, non-literal, non-corporeal, not made with hands, located not on earth but in heaven (Hebrews 9:24). Christ now ministers for us in heaven, in "the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man," Hebrews 8:2. Any temple built on earth would be phony, not the "true tabernacle" and therefore should be rejected by believers.

"The Old Testament sacrifices and temples were only shadows and figurative representations of the true heavenly Temple and once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, Hebrews 9:24, 10:1. Christ has taken away the old system of animal sacrifices, Hebrews 10:8-10. We are commanded to go forth from the camp of Judaism with its literal sacrifices, Hebrews 13:11-14, and to concentrate on the heavenly Jerusalem, not the literal one on earth, Hebrews 12:22, John 4:21, Galatians 4:25-26. To draw back to the old Temple and sacrificial system would be an act of apostasy, Hebrews 10:26-29, 38-39.

"Here is the clincher: Revelation 21:22 teaches that there will be no Temple in the Millennium: "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." [1]

However, recent archaeological work has demonstrated conslusively that what has up to now been called the 'Temple Mount' with its 'Wailing Wall' is, in fact, the remains or the huge Roman Antonia Fortress, which was many times larger than had been presumed. The actual site of Solomon's and Herod's Temple has now been located in the original City of David to the south, which would present no obstacles to a modern temple construction as there would be no need to demolish the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsah Mosque. The main obstacle to this is the deeply entrenched Talmudic tradition, which has been bought into by Christians as well, that the 'Temple Mount' so-called is the actual location of the former temple, which it is not.

Since 2017 Messianic Evangelicals have taken the firm position, after years of being neutral, that the Book of Ezekiel nowhere prophesies the restoration of an end-time temple during the Christian dispensation. A temple, seen by the navi (prophet) Ezekiel in vision, was offered to the northern and southern Kingdoms of Israel and Judah in exile in Assyria and Babylon, respectively, a new temple and a renewed covenent if they would repent. In other words, the prophecy was conditional. As this covenent was rejected, the temple of Ezekiel will never be built by true believers. To understand why this must be the correct interpretation, see the article, The 13 Scrolls of Ezekiel: How Wrong Ordering Has Led to Wrong Eschatology.

Will a temple be built by Jews in Jerusalem even though none is commanded in Scriprture or needed in the New Covenant? Almost certainly. And equally likely, the end-time Anti-Messiah or Antichrist may attemp to install himself as 'God' in this structure even as he is doing so spiritually step-by-step in our day by infiltrating the churches and messianic assemblies over which at some point he will claim spiritual authority as a false messiah. True believers are not being, and will not be, taken in by this deception and will separate themselves from Apostate Christianity and Messianism to form what Scripture prophetically calls 'The Remnent'.

In the years ahead you will hear many fantastic claims made about this false temple from different factions, from those who claim that there are two salvations - one for the 'Jews' and one for the 'Christians' - and that a physical temple is necessary for the Jews to make atonement for their sins, to those who believe that the purpose of such a temple would be to restore Jewish consciousness to their spiritual roots. There is, however, only one salvation, through Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) alone, whose Torah-obedient followers consititute Messianic Israel in our day. There is no 'Israel' outside of Messianic Israel even if there may be unsaved descendants of Jacob presumptuously claiming such a privilege.

There is no biblically prophesied Third Temple. The only physical temples that have been accepted by Yahweh were the First Temple of Solomon, destroyed by the Babylonians, and the Second Temple, later expanded by Herod the Great, and destroyed by the Romans. Had Israel and Judah repented and renewed their covenant with Yahweh, a Third Temple would have been built as seen by Ezekiel in vision. Since the coming of Messiah, no physical temple is required ever again, as the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) are collectively that temple, the true 'Third Temple' built without stones. The Millennial New Jerusalem has no physical temple either "for Yahweh-Elohim Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev 21:22, NKJV). Divinely-manded temple-building, with or without animal sacrifices, with or without a Levitical Priesthood, is permanently over.

What the Jews do in Jerusalem, described as the spiritually dead City of Hagar which "stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother" (Gal.4:25-26, NIV). The eyes of true believers should be on the Heaveny or new Jerusalem whose temple is Yahweh and Yah'shua (Jesus), after Sarah, not on the earthly Jerusalem after Hagar or any of its unholy constructions which are spiritually dead and useless. Worse, these constructions, like the awaited 'third temple', are but a distraction and sideshow of the Enemy.

So if the Jews do build another temple, it will not be owned by Yahweh, but the Anti-Messiah (Antichrist).

Endnotes

[1] Thomas Williamson, Temple in Jerusalem With Animal Sacrifices– Next Event on the Prophetic Calendar?

Comments from Readers

[1] "What about Revelation 11?" (LB, UK, 16 April 2018).

Author's response: How you view this will depend on whether you're a Dispensationalist or not. Given the overwhelmingly symbolic nature of the Book of Revelation, and taking the whole counsel of Scripture on the temple in New Covenant theology, I am bound to conclude that the temple represents the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) - e.g. 1 Cor.3:16-17; Eph.2:20-22; 1 Pet.2:4-10; cp. Rev.3:12; 21:22). Ask yourself how the Gentiles are only able to trample the Outer Court but not the Sanctuary and it soon becomes apparent that this is symbolic. In other words, those who are not sanctified (nominal believers) get trampled but those who are sanctified, are protected. That Courtyard trampling is going on right now.

[2] "Very interesting website you have, and informative too. After reading the article (FAQ 164) and others of Talmudic Judaism I wonder how the [NCAY] ministry can still be Dispensational (and therefore, pre-trib believers)? As truth seekers, I'm sure you must have studied where / when / how Dispenasationalism came to be, and who were the ones pushing it. To my understanding, it is clear[ly] false doctrine created in order to 'prepare' Christians, firstly for creation of the state of Israel, and secondly for the 'new messiah'. As a former Calvary Chapel member, the impact it creates on people is outstanding. God bless" (BB, USA, 26 September 2022).

Author's response: Thank you for your kind remarks and observations. NCAY is not dispensationalist and we do not accept a pre-tribulation rapture (see the Rapture website) so I believe we are in agreement on all the matters you raised."

This page was created on 2 May 1998 Last updated on 28 September 2022

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