The temple has long played a prominent role in Jewish history. In fact, Israel has had three different temples.
David wanted to build the first temple for God, though it was not to happen, for David was disqualified for being a warrior. His son Solomon eventually built the temple (1 Kings 6–7; 2 Chronicles 3–4).
Like the tabernacle, Solomon’s temple had a Holy Place and a Most Holy Place. The Holy Place (the main outer room) contained the golden incense altar, the table of showbread, five pairs of lampstands, and utensils used for sacrifice. Double doors led to the Holy of Holies, in which was found the ark of the covenant. The ark rested between two wooden cherubim angels, each standing ten feet tall. God manifested Himself in the Holy of Holies in a cloud of glory (1 Kings 8:10-11).
This temple—the heart and center of worship for the kingdom of Judah—was eventually destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 587 BC.
Following the Babylonian exile, many Jews returned to Jerusalem and constructed a smaller, leaner version of Solomon’s temple. King Cyrus of Persia had allowed them to return and rebuild the temple, and he sent along the temple vessels Nebuchadnezzar had looted.
The returned exiles started out well in 538 BC but soon ran out of steam. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah worked hard to encourage them, and the second temple was finally completed in 515 BC. However, it was not nearly as magnificent as Solomon’s temple (see Ezra 3:12). It had little of its former glory and was a dim reflection of the original. This temple was without the ark of the covenant and had only one seven-branched lampstand. The ark and Solomon’s ten lampstands were never recovered. This temple lasted about 500 years.
Israel’s third temple in Jerusalem was built by King Herod the Great. Herod believed this ambitious building program, which he began in 19 BC, would be a great way to earn favor with the Jews of his time (that is, his subjects) and impress the Roman authorities.
Completed in AD 64, it was much larger and more resplendent (with more gold) than Solomon’s temple. It was an enormous, cream-colored structure that shone exceedingly bright during the day. It measured 490 yards (north to south) by 325 yards (east to west).
This magnificent temple was destroyed along with the rest of Jerusalem by Titus and his Roman warriors in AD 70—a mere six years after the project was completed. How ironic that those Herod sought to impress in Rome were the instigators of the temple’s destruction.
Scripture reveals that yet another temple will be built during the tribulation period. In terms of prophetic chronology, there are a number of important factors.
First and foremost is the prerequisite that Israel be back in her homeland as a nation. This has been a reality since 1948. The Jews have been streaming back to the holy land from around the world ever since (see Ezekiel 36–37). Obviously the Jewish temple cannot be rebuilt unless a reborn nation of Israel is in the land.
Second, we know that the temple must be rebuilt at least by the middle of the seven-year tribulation because Jesus in the Olivet discourse warned of a catastrophic event that assumes the existence of the temple: “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16). This abomination of desolation is the desecration of the Jewish temple by the antichrist, who will set up an image of himself within the temple at the midpoint of the tribulation. The temple must be built by this time.
It is significant that Jesus says this because just previously (in verses 1-2), He positively affirmed that the great temple built by Herod (the Jewish temple of Jesus’s day) would be utterly destroyed: “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” This prophecy was literally fulfilled in AD 70 when Titus and his Roman warriors overran Jerusalem and the Jewish temple.
The only possible conclusion is that the temple of Jesus’s day would be destroyed and that the abomination of desolation would occur in a yet-future temple. This latter temple would be built at least by the middle of the tribulation period (see also Daniel 9:27; 12:11).
Scripture is clear that there will be animal sacrifices in the Jewish temple sometime during the first half of the tribulation, but then the antichrist will stop them. We read in Daniel 9:27 that the antichrist “shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering.” This “week” refers to the seven-year tribulation period that precedes the second coming of Christ. For half of the week—that is, the last three and a half years—sacrifices in the temple will cease. John F. Walvoord explains it this way:
This expression [“for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering”] refers to the entire Levitical system, which suggests that Israel will have restored that system in the first half of the 70th seven. After this ruler gains worldwide political power, he will assume power in the religious realm as well and will cause the world to worship him (2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:8). To receive such worship, he will terminate all organized religions. Posing as the world’s rightful king and god and as Israel’s prince of peace, he will then turn against Israel and become her destroyer and defiler.1
Even today we hear reports that various Jewish individuals and groups have been working behind the scenes to prepare various materials for the future temple, including priestly robes, temple tapestries, and worship utensils. These items are being prefabricated so that when the temple is finally rebuilt, everything will be ready for it.
I reiterate that the temple does not need to be rebuilt until the midpoint of the tribulation period. This makes the fact that many items are already being prefabricated all the more exciting to many prophecy enthusiasts. The day of the rapture may be drawing near.
A “sign of the times” is an event of prophetic significance that points to the end times. We might say that the signs of the times in the pages of prophetic Scripture constitute God’s “intel in advance” regarding what the world will look like as we enter the end times.
We are specifically instructed that certain signs will take place as the tribulation period unfolds. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” In verses 4 and following, Jesus mentions a number of signs of the times that will predominate during the tribulation period (just prior to the second coming).
Jesus urged His followers to be thoughtful observers of the times. He gave the Sadducees and Pharisees, who rejected Him as the divine Messiah, this challenge: “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:1-3).
These Jewish leaders were supposedly expert interpreters of the Old Testament Scriptures. In such messianic passages as Isaiah 11 and 35, we are told that when the Messiah came, the lame would walk, the deaf would hear, and the blind would see. When Jesus came on the scene, this is precisely what happened. These Jewish leaders should have been able to read the signs of the times and recognize that Jesus indeed was the promised Messiah. But they could not.
The lesson we learn from this is that you and I are called by Jesus to be thoughtful observers of the times. We are to be aware of what biblical prophecy teaches and then to keep a close eye on unfolding events in the world so that we become aware of any possible correlation between world events and biblical prophecy.
We are never to set dates (Matthew 24:36)—we do not know the specific day or hour of Jesus’s coming (Acts 1:7)—but we can know the general season of the Lord’s return by virtue of the signs of the times. Jesus urged His disciples, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door” (Matthew 24:32-33 NASB).
Jesus indicates in this passage that God has revealed certain things through prophecy (particularly related to the future tribulation period) that ought to cause people who know the Bible to understand that a fulfillment of prophecy is taking place—or perhaps, in our present day, the stage is being set for a prophecy to eventually be fulfilled. Jesus is thus informing His followers to be accurate observers of the times so that when biblical prophecies are fulfilled, or the stage is being set, they will realize what is happening (see also Luke 21:25-28).
Let us now briefly survey the signs of the times that Jesus described. I have categorized them as earth and sky signs, moral signs, religious signs, and technological signs.
Scripture reveals that in the future tribulation period, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and signs in the heavens will increase in frequency and intensity (Matthew 24:3,7). In Luke 21:11 (NIV) we read, “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Such things are said to be the beginning of “birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). Just as birth pains increase in frequency and intensity, so these signs will become more and more catastrophic.
These signs have particular relevance to the future seven-year tribulation period, but I believe that just as tremors (or foreshocks) often occur before major earthquakes, so preliminary manifestations of some of these signs may emerge prior to the tribulation period. Other people have said that prophecies cast their shadows before them. I think this is true. Prophecies that relate specifically to the tribulation are presently casting their shadows before them in our present day.
What are the “fearful events” mentioned in Luke 21:11 (NIV)? Scripture does not specify this for us, but the Greek phrase literally means “terror,” “sights of terror,” or “terrifying things.” Terrorism has never been more prominent on a global basis than it is in our day. Terrorism will apparently get worse as we go into the future.
Signs in the heavens could include any number of different things, including strange weather patterns, falling stars, a darkening of the moon and other celestial bodies (specifically during the tribulation period), and large bodies striking the earth. For example, in the context of the future tribulation period, we find reference to “wormwood” in Revelation 8:10-12 (NASB):
The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
Many believe this “star” will in fact be a large meteor or asteroid striking the earth, causing a near-extinction-level “deep impact.” It will look like a star because it will burst into flames, burning like a torch as it plummets through earth’s atmosphere. It will turn a third of the waters bitter so that people who drink them will die. It may contaminate this large volume of water by the residue that results from the meteor disintegrating as it blasts through earth’s atmosphere. Or the meteor may plummet into the headwaters from which some of the world’s major rivers and underground water sources flow, thereby spreading the poisonous water to many people on earth.
Some scholars have speculated that this deep impact may be what causes a reduction in light from the sun and other celestial bodies. Following this impact, a catastrophic level of dust could be thrown into the atmosphere, blocking light (see Revelation 8:12).
Today’s top scientists are saying that it is not a matter of if such a celestial body will strike earth, but when. The mathematical probabilities render this a certainty at some point in the future. And when it happens, it will likely involve a significant celestial body striking the earth with a minimum velocity of 130,000 miles per hour. The sad reality is that this event will, in fact, happen during the tribulation period, and the result will be truly catastrophic. Many will die!
Some have also speculated that the signs in the heavens may also include some UFO phenomena. Countless sightings of UFOs are reported around the world, and many today believe that “space brothers” are contacting us through psychics and mediums. I find it highly revealing that this “alien” contact is not through physical means, such as radios, but rather through the occult. Many of the “revelations” coming from the “space brothers” through physics deny essential doctrines of Christianity, including humanity’s sin problem, the reality of hell, and the need to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. Moreover, one must wonder why these “aliens” have come millions (billions?) of miles only to tell us the same kinds of things that New Agers have been telling us for decades.
Still further, one cannot help but notice that almost without exception, those claiming to have been abducted by aliens today have been involved in some form of the occult. Additionally, the typical abduction experience has notable similarities to occult Shamanistic initiation ceremonies.
I see Satan’s fingerprints all over current UFO phenomena. Please do not get me wrong. I am not saying that every time somebody sees an unidentified flying object in the sky, it is the devil. As I document in my book Alien Obsession: What Lies Behind Abductions, Sightings, and the Attraction to the Paranormal, many times people are just seeing natural phenomena, such as space junk (more than 7000 pieces of space junk are floating around the earth), the planet Venus, ball lightning (a form of lightning that takes an oval shape, sizzles, and can move around the sky at great speeds, instantly changing directions), a high-flying weather balloon, a jet, or something else.
Nonetheless, a great deal of occult and psychic phenomena accompany current UFO incidents. Such phenomena have given rise to many “doctrines of demons,” which prophetic Scripture reveals will characterize the end times (see 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NASB; see also 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Scripture also speaks of moral signs that will emerge during the future tribulation period.
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Avoid such men as these (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB).
Notice that in the last days, people will love self (we might call this humanism), money (we might call this materialism), and pleasure (we might call this hedonism). It is significant that humanism, materialism, and hedonism are three of the most prominent philosophies in our world today, and they complement each other. Jesus Himself gave this warning:
Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold…For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:12,37-39).
This passage specifically refers to the future tribulation period, but we see the attitude Jesus described in our own day. People are merrily going about their way, seemingly with no concern for the things of God.
Without a doubt, America is engulfed in a moral crisis. The moral fiber of this country is eroding before our very eyes, and if the trend continues, it is only a matter of time before the country capitulates.
Today there is widespread acceptance of homosexuality. Abortion—even the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion—continues to be widely practiced, with some 50 million unborn babies having been murdered since the enactment of Roe v. Wade in 1973. Pornography is pervasive and freely available on the Internet, enslaving millions as sex addicts.
Drug abuse and alcoholism are pervasive as well among both teenagers and adults. Promiscuity, fornication, and adultery continue to escalate to ever new heights, bringing about the carnage of sexually transmitted diseases.
Meanwhile, the family unit is disintegrating before our eyes. The divorce rate is around 50 percent, and many today are living together outside of marriage. Out-of-wedlock births have escalated to new highs, with 40 percent of women not being married when they give birth. As well, gay couples are adopting children, raising them in a homosexual atmosphere.
People are far more interested in happiness than in holiness. They yearn more for pleasure than for praising God. Humanism, materialism, and hedonism reign in the end times!
Prophetic Scripture refers to many religious signs that will find fulfillment in the tribulation period (Matthew 24:3).
False christs. Jesus Himself warned about the end times: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 NIV; see also Mark 13:22). The apostle Paul also warned of a different Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
The danger, of course, is that a counterfeit Jesus who preaches a counterfeit gospel yields a counterfeit salvation (see Galatians 1:8). There are no exceptions to this maxim.
Even in our own day, we witness an unprecedented rise in false christs and self-constituted messiahs affiliated with the kingdom of the cults and the occult. This will no doubt continue as we move further into the end times.
False prophets and teachers. Scripture contains many warnings against false prophets and false teachers for the simple reason that God’s own people can be deceived. Ezekiel 34:1-7, for example, indicates that God’s sheep can be abused and led astray by wicked shepherds.
Jesus warned His followers, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15-16 NIV). Why would Jesus warn His followers to watch out if they could not possibly be deceived?
The apostle Paul warned Christians about the possibility of deception (Acts 20:28-30; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3). The Bible exhorts believers to test those who claim to be prophets (see 1 John 4:1-3). How can believers recognize a false prophet? False prophets may…
• offer prophecies that do not come true (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
• cause people to follow false gods or idols (Exodus 20:3-4; Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
• deny the deity of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8-9)
• deny the humanity of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:1-2)
• forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3-4)
• promote immorality (Jude 4-7)
• encourage legalistic self-denial (Colossians 2:16-23)
A basic rule of thumb is that if a so-called prophet says anything that clearly contradicts any part of God’s Word, his teachings should be rejected (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
False apostles. The apostle Paul warned of false apostles who are “deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13). The two key characteristics we see here are that these individuals deceive people doctrinally and that they pretend to be true apostles of Jesus Christ.
Christ commends those who take a stand against false apostles. For example, He commended the church of Ephesus: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false” (Revelation 2:2 NIV).
How can we test the claims of apostles? Like the ancient Bereans, all Christians should make a regular habit of testing all things against Scripture (Acts 17:11), for Scripture is our only infallible barometer of truth. No true apostle will ever say anything that contradicts the Word of God (see Galatians 1:8).
Increasing apostasy. Scripture prophesies a great end-times apostasy involving a massive defection from the truth (Matthew 24:10-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). First Timothy 4:1-2 warns, “The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” Likewise, 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns, “The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” Can any doubt that we are witnessing such things in our own day? Consider the things that people deny when they fall away:
God (2 Timothy 3:4-5)
Christ (1 John 2:22)
Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:3-4)
the faith (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
morals (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
authority (2 Timothy 3:4)
We are living in days of deception!
Certain technological advances must occur to make possible the fulfillment of some of the things specifically prophesied of the tribulation period in Scripture. We might call these technological signs. Many prophecy scholars believe that the technology is now in place for these things to occur.
Global evangelism. Matthew 24:14 tells us that prior to the second coming of Christ, the gospel must be preached to every nation. With today’s technology—satellites, the Internet, global media, translation technologies, publishing technologies, rapid transportation, and the like—this has never been more possible.
Economic control. We do not know specifically what form the mark of the beast will take, but we do know that the false prophet will use it to control who will be able to buy and sell, depending on whether they submit to worshipping the antichrist (Revelation 13:16-17). With today’s satellites, the Internet, supercomputers, biometric identification procedures (hand scanners, retina scanners, facial recognition scanners, and the like), RFID chips, and smart card technology, it would be easy for every selling establishment and every buyer to have a separate account number that would enable such control by the false prophet. This technology exists today!
Nuclear detonations? Prophetic Scripture may refer to nuclear detonations in the end times. For example, Revelation 8:7 tells us that “a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” Moreover, Revelation 16:2 tells us that people around the world will break out with loathsome and malignant sores. Could this be a result of radiation poisoning following the detonation of nuclear weapons?
Some believe Jesus may have been alluding to nuclear weaponry when He spoke of “men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:26 NASB). Whether or not this is so, the technology clearly now exists for a third of the earth to be burned up and for mass casualties.
We have given brief consideration to earth and sky signs, moral signs, religious signs, and technological signs that relate to the future tribulation period. Even now, however, these prophetic signs are casting their shadows before them. They are emerging in preliminary form in our own day. We can logically infer that the stage is being set for the tribulation!