Will a 3rd Temple be built on earthly Jerusalem in the future?
The simple and direct answer is: No.
Why?
Because the earthly Temple is the shadow (or copy arrangement) of heavely Jerusalem. The earthly Temple can’t truly atone for the sins of the people, “Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?” – Hebrew 10:2
And Jesus would build the Temple not made with hands in the New Jerusalem, Mark 14:58 says, “We heard him [Jesus] say, ‘I will destroy this temple (AD 70) that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”
“The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he [Jesus] was speaking about the temple of his body.” – John 2:20,21
“ Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb,… the holy city Jerusalem…”
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” – Revelation 21:9-10,22
Jesus said He would build the Temple not made with hands. This refers to “Himself” as the true Temple — the appearance of Jesus and Father God in the New Jerusalem. So, the earthly Temple, as the “symbol” of God’s presence, is no longer needed.
What is the purpose of the earthly Temple? Hebrew 9:7 says, “…into the second (the 2nd room as the symbol of the most holy place) only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.”
“11 …when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent [ New Jerusalem – AD 70], (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation [earthly Jerusalem])
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” – Hebrew 9:11,12
The earthly Jerusalem has completed its mission. There is no longer any need for an earthly high priest taking blood “for the unintentional sins of the people”. That’s why it was destroyed in AD 70. If the earthly Temple is now useless, why do people believe a Third Temple needs to be built in earthly Jerusalem? Could it truly achieve the goal of redemption?
“9 then he [Jesus] added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first (destroy the earth Jerusalem in AD 70) in order to establish the second (in heavely Jerusalem).” – Hebrew 10:9
What would happen once sins have been removed by Jesus’ eternal redemption?
” 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more…” – Revelation 21:2-4
“And the city (New Jerusalem) has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.” – Revelation 21:23-26
Amen.
<The End Day>, <New Jerusalem>
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