Question
Should Christians expect the literal rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem in the future? Ezekiel 40-48)
Answer
Concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, a great deal of confusion exists in the religious world. Most of that confusion is over premillinial doctrines not found in the scripture. The temple was destroyed in 587 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, burned Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. This is also the date of the third deportation of Judah. Ezekiel was among the 2nd group deported to Babylon in 597 B.C. Ezekiel prophesied during the captivity in Babylon. Jeremiah in Jer. 25:12 prophesied that the captivity would last 70 years. In 536 B.C. exactly 70 years after the 1st group was taken into captivity, the first group returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest (Ezra 1-5). The alter was restored and the foundation of the temple laid. In 516 B.C. the temple was finished, 70 years after it had been destroyed. Haggai and Zechariah were two prophets of this time who urged the people to complete the temple.
So, God kept his promises to the Jews to return a remnant to Palestine. The temple has already been rebuilt as Ezekiel prophesied. Except when a Jew obeys the gospel of Christ, God is through with them. Their relationship with God is through Jesus Christ, just like our relationship is through him.
By Larry Snell
