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1991-09-21
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REBUILDING THE JEWISH TEMPLE
IMMINENT OR IMAGINARY?
by G. Richard Fisher
How close is the rebuilding of a Jewish temple on the temple
mount in the Moslem quarter of the old city of Jerusalem? After
20 trips to Israel (the most recent was the spring of 1990) I see
nothing that would lead one to believe that such a plan is being
considered by Israel. Even a recent attempt to lay a
"cornerstone" for the third temple at the Wailing Wall was
thwarted by Israeli officials and those responsible were branded
as "a sect of dangerous lunatics." (Everlasting Nation Magazine,
Mar./Apr. 1990, "Temple Stone Rejected")
Some have suggested that the building of a temple is on "the
front burner." However, this seems to be just wishful thinking
by a few misguided zealots and does not agree with the current
facts. Many who claim that a rebuilt temple is imminent or just
around the corner do so, I believe, with a sincere wish to see
God's Word fulfilled. But we must remember it is God who does
the fulfilling and in His time.
Some who make the claim often refer to the theories and
findings of Israel's Ashur Kaufman. (Biblical Archaeological
Review, Mar/Apr. 1983) More will be said about him in this
article.
There have been unsuccessful attempts to restore the Jewish
temple since 70 A.D. The first abortive attempt was in 132-135
A.D. In 362-363 the Emperor Julian sought to restore the temple
of Jerusalem, but his death derailed the project and the work was
abandoned. (The Mountain of the Lord, Excavating in Jerusalem by
Benjamin Mazar)
Any discussion of the rebuilding of the ancient temple must be
carried on with great caution and much discretion. Hysteria,
sensationalism and error will be the result if this is not
observed. We must keep before us five very important facts in
any discussion of a rebuilt temple.
1. The location of the ancient temple given by Ashur Kaufman is
his own speculation and by his own admission based on
"assumptions." His assumptions are not based on any hard
archaeological evidence since the Moslems do not allow digs on
the temple mount area. Kaufman has no major archaeologists
agreeing with him on this and there are various theories as to
the exact location of the temple building. Add to that the fact
that Kaufman has said nothing about rebuilding at all. Kaufman
admits that ancient Jewish sources have discrepancies about the
exact dimensions of the temple. How Hal Lindsey could appeal to
Kaufman's theories about the place and location of the temple in
1983 and then conclude "the temple will be rebuilt soon" is
beyond me. (A Prophetical Walk Through the Holy Land by Hal
Lindsey, pg. 75)
Kaufman has adjusted his theories a number of times according
to a 1980 Jerusalem Post article. In a personal letter from John
McRay, professor of New Testament Archaeology at Wheaton College,
he says that Kaufman's ideas "have no bearing on whether the
temple will be rebuilt."
2. Jewish law, Rabbinical pronouncements and the rulings of the
Halacha (Jewish literature of Talmudic and later periods) forbid
a Jewish presence on the temple mount. Some radical extremists
are calling for a "presence," that is, the right to visit, not
necessarily to build. An orthodox Rabbi in New Jersey confirmed
the above and asserted that mainstream orthodoxy has no interest
in rebuilding since they believe the temple will be rebuilt by
the Messiah. Both chief rabbis in Israel currently uphold that
belief. In 1977, Schlomo Goren, then chief rabbi, passed a
ruling that a Jew could not even speculate where the temple
stood. The mainstream Jewish community also has no desire to
rebuild the temple. These issues have been clearly discussed in
past issues of The Jerusalem Post. (See further, The Jerusalem
Post, Sept. 30, 1983, "Target Temple Mount," April 25, 1987
"Tense Confrontation on the Temple Mount.") In The Jerusalem
Post, July 30, 1988, the article "Treasures of the Temple" states
that "only after the Messiah comes will the third temple be
built."
3. The Israeli government has banned a "presence" on Mt. Moriah
because of the potential explosion and bloodbath such an action
would provoke among the Arabs. Author Milton Viorst discussed
this reality:
"Having said that, however, I must emphasize that tranquility in
the Holy City demands some sharing of its symbols of sovereignty.
The Arabs are particularly fearful of Israeli designs on the
Temple Mount, site of two of Islam's holiest mosques. In 1985,
Jewish terrorists attempted to blow up these shrines. In 1986,
Geula Cohen - who does not pretend to be devout - led a group of
right-wing Knesset members in prayer there, provoking a riot.
Recently, Orthodox Jews have taken to demanding that Arabs
surrender the site for the construction of the Third Temple
though not even under Begin has any government treated the
proposal seriously. Most Israelis remain unwilling to outrage
world opinion and to provide Moslems with a cause for permanent
holy war. But most Arabs are unlikely to be satisfied until an
Arab flag, even symbolically, flies over the Temple Mount."
(Sands of Sorrow, Israel's Journey from Independence by Milton
Viorst, pp. 268-269)
In 1967 the Israeli government conquered East Jerusalem (the
walled city), but opted to leave the 35-acre temple site in the
hands of Moslem authorities. There is not the slightest hint
anywhere that the Israeli government wishes to change that
arrangement. Over the years any small attempt to alter the
status quo has led to threats, demonstrations and protests by the
Moslems. Naomi Shepherd stresses the government's desire is to
keep things cool and calm:
"The question of whether Jews should pray on the Temple Mount is
perhaps the single most inflammatory issue in the city. Moslems
consider the area an Islamic sanctuary where the Israelis are
guests; Jewish prayer suggests to them the first move toward an
Israeli territory. The tacit understanding that Jews do not pray
there rests on the very slender foundation of rabbinical opinion
as to the probable site of the Holy of Holies . No Jew should
ascend the Temple Mount (a notice put up by the Ministry of
Religious Affairs announces) lest he tread accidentally on that
place. Officially, the status quo (visits by Jews but no
praying) evolved from an undertaking given by Levi Eshkol, Labour
prime Minister in the 1967 National Unity government, together
with the Herut leader Menachem Begin, on the day after
reunification. Apart from this, all that stops Jews from praying
there is a police ruling, confirmed by the Supreme Court in 1970,
that such behaviour is detrimental to public order. (Teddy
Kolleck - Mayor of Jerusalem by Naomi Shepherd, pg. 88)
The tenuous and volatile nature of Arab/Jewish relations is
clearly demonstrated in the August 6-9 riots in Jerusalem. One
Arab was killed, numerous others injured. (The Jerusalem Post,
August 18, 1990. pg. 3)
4. The "Faithful of the Temple Mount" as well as the "Jewish
Temple Foundation" are considered by Israeli's to be the lunatic
fringe. That professing Christians would align with these is
unthinkable since some of them have as their underlying motive
Arab incitement and not the temple at all. The Jerusalem Post
has in the past discussed these issues of the alignment of
"fundamental" Christians with the above groups. (See, The
Jerusalem Post, June 17-24, 1984, [Overseas Edition], "Slouching
Toward Armageddon - Links with Evangelicals.") I am afraid that
with some of our brethren the "trumpet is giving an uncertain
sound" which can only end up producing confusion and perhaps even
the abandoning of God's Word when these schemes fail. We must be
careful that the "bandwagons" we jump on are not juggernauts to
massive error.
5. There are four scripture passages that speak of the
tribulation temple. (Daniel 9:26-27; Matthew 24:15-16; 2
Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 11:1-2) Historical
dispensationalists (Scofield, Darby, DeHaan, Pentecost, Walvoord,
and many others) have always taught that the tribulation temple
would be built in the tribulation by the antichrist after the
Rapture of the church. All the sign-mongering speaks more of
unbelief than belief. Why are some people demanding fulfillment
now for these things. All the speculation and sensationalism may
sell books but it can only ultimately confuse and divide the body
of Christ. Dispensationalists (at least until now) have always
held that Revelation 11:1-2 describe events in the Tribulation
Period. This new teaching smacks of the defunct historical view
that held sway in the 18th and 19th centuries. The early
Methodists and later, the Adventists saw Revelation being
fulfilled before their eyes or so they thought. (The Philadelphia
Inquirer Magazine, April 8, 1984, "On a Hilltop in Jerusalem,"
Robert Rosenthal) A 1983 edition of "Bible in the News" from
Southwest Radio Church was so eager to present us with a rebuilt
temple it suggests that The Great Synagogue in West Jerusalem may
be it! Further, a 1985 edition of "Bible in the News" talks
about putting a temple in The Western Wall plaza!
It does not appear that a rebuilt temple is in the offing. Even
extremists such as the Ateret Cohanim of Jerusalem, who make
temple studies their life, are not trying to force the issue. The
official Kabbalistic-Hassidic view is that man must not force the
advancement of the day of redemption which will come in God's own
time. (The Jerusalem Post, April 20, 1988, "The State of Israel
According to Halacha and the Prophetic Vision")
Speculating on the timing of a rebuilt temple is risky. In the
light of the above considerations we ought not to speculate at
all but should leave it to the timing and sovereignty of God.
Where is the temple? Only God and time will tell. It is
certainly not imminent but more imaginary in the mind of some.
(c) 1990 - PFO. All rights reserved by Personal Freedom
Outreach. Reproduction is prohibited, including BBS, except for
portions intended for personal use and non-commercial purposes.
For reproduction permission contact: Personal Freedom Outreach,
P.O. Box 26062, Saint Louis, Missouri 63136.