I looked on the internet for clues as to what is happening in Israel concerning their Temple and I found a couple of things, after which a question arose concerning Israel's prophetic time clock given in Daniel 9:27. Is the covenant mentioned in that verse having to do with land or a rebuilt temple. I've always heard temple, but isn't the covenant actually about the land?
It is interesting that you looked on the internet to see what was going on with the nation of Israel, especially concerning the issue of their long-awaited temple. I too have, over the years, kept abreast on the developments of that issue. Although we do live in the dispensation of grace, and know that God is not actively fulfilling his prophetic program with that nation, I do however believe (just like I see that God is counting these years in which we live into his overall time schedule for the earth) that as we get closer and closer to our rapture, we are also in reality getting closer and closer to the resumption of his Prophetic program. Therefore what we will see is a growing focus on the Middle East in general; and the people of Israel in particular, including their desire to rebuild their temple—something you see growing by the day. So with this desire growing, we are getting closer to the resumption of their program, which means ours will need to come to an end first!
(Not too long ago, one could go to a website where you could actually see Jews in Israel talking about having already formed certain things that will be used in the temple once "Messiah" (Anti-Christ) allows. However, it has since been changed and one must be able to read Hebrew. Even so, it's interesting to know that they have plans for these things already in motion, and have already set aside a group of young Jews to learn the Law to be priest, etc.)
In the article that you included, we see that there is a great movement of "Orthodox" Jews actively seeking the building of the Third Temple. Now what does this article, as well as all this media focus on the Middle East mean regarding the Jews, the Muslims, the re-building of the Temple, etc.? Well our Apostle Paul (as well as Daniel, the Jewish prophet, and others) says that it is a signal of Israel's last days, including the long-prophesied day of the Lord's wrath!
2 Thessalonians 2:3-8
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Daniel 8:11
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Daniel 11:31
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
So we see that obviously since the last Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., therefore another temple must be built. So since much preparation and cries among the Jews in Israel are taking place in our day, we can speculate that these things will come to pass in the very near future. And obviously for their program to resume, ours must end first!
Now then, regarding your question as to if the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27 is concerning the land or rebuilt temple, my comment is both! When it comes to the bible, there is a direct relationship with the Temple and the land—they go hand in hand in the mind of God.
Daniel 9:27
And he [Anti-Christ] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Notice that verse 27 is part of the larger context on chapter 9, especially the verse that precedes it...
Daniel 9:26
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Notice that if you read the entire chapter, including verses 26-27, the focus is on both the land and the temple. In verse 26, the Anti-Christ and his people will destroy both the city (Jerusalem), and the sanctuary (the Temple). So when it comes to Dan 9:27, the issue with the covenant is both the land as well as the Temple in the land...they go hand in hand.
Hopefully this
helps!
†††
†††
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you have a question
for Pastor Ron?
No comments:
Post a Comment