25. Where/what is the
Temple of Jerusalem?
Although the "New Jerusalem" is spiritual, the capital of Christ's
Kingdom on earth will be the Jerusalem of the Middle East.
Whether a temple is literally built in Jerusalem or not, Antichrist will not build it.
Antichrist is already represented in this City by its churches and shrines (See #6).
Furthermore, the Pope today is intervening in Israel's affairs, especially over Jerusalem,
the "burdensome stone for all people" (Zechariah 12:3). So certainly Antichrist
is seeking to control the City before God's Kingdom is established on the earth beginning
with Jerusalem.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain [Kingdom] of the
LORD's house [temple] shall be established in the top of the mountains [kingdoms of this
world]. . . .and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come
ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of God of Jacob, and he
will teach of us his ways and we will walk in his paths, for out of Zion shall go forth
the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:2-4).
The detailed description of the Ezekiel's vision of a temple and its services (Chapters
40-48)—which was never built—is a graphic representation of God's glorious
Kingdom arrangements. For example, the dedication of the "altar" (43:18) would
be calling attention of the world to the sacrifice of Christ.
