The Future Temples

By Randall Price, Th.M., Ph.D.
World of the Bible Ministries, San Marcos, Texas

As in the past, the temple will exist in the future to enable Israel to fulfill its national and spiritual existence. The prophecies of the rebuilding of a temple in Jerusalem in the latter days are therefore an inseparable part of the restoration prophecies made to national Israel. Scripture indicates three temples will appear in the future: Tribulation temple, millennial temple and eternal temples.

During the Tribulation, unbelieving Jews will rebuild the temple: Isaiah 66.1-6; apparently as the result of a covenant made between the Jewish leadership and the antichrist: Daniel 9.27a. This covenant will be broken by the antichrist with the abomination of desolation: Daniel 9.27b; when he invades Jerusalem: Daniel 11.45 and Revelation 11.2; signaling the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation period: Matthew 24.15, Mark 13.14 and Revelation 11.1-2.

An unparalleled period of Jewish persecution will then begin, leading up to the rescue of the redeemed remnant at the second advent of Messiah: Zechariah 12.8-14 and Revelation 19.11-16. The temple in the Tribulation period may be destroyed at the return of Christ when the Mount of Olives splits in half: Zechariah 14.4; but it will certainly be removed as part of the extensive topographical changes in preparation for the millennial Jerusalem and its temple: Zechariah 14.10 and Isaiah 2.2.

The Millennial Temple will be built by Christ: Zechariah 6.12-13; redeemed Jews: Ezekiel 43.10-11; and representatives from the Gentile nations: Zechariah 6.15, Haggai 2.7 and Isaiah 60.10; at the beginning of the Messianic Kingdom: Ezekiel 37.26-28. Redeemed Gentiles will also be included in worship at this temple: Isaiah 60.6, Zephaniah 3.10, and Zechariah 2.11; as predicted by Jesus: Matthew 21.13 and Isaiah 56.7. The dimensions and architectural design of the Millennial Temple, as well as its priestly personnel and ritual regulations are detailed in Ezekiel 40 – 48.

The ceremonial system in Ezekiel’s temple includes blood sacrifices: Isaiah 56.6-7 and 60.7; the function of which may be memorial in nature, just as the Lord’s Supper is today: 1 Corinthians 11.24-26. The fact the blood sacrifices are said to be for atonement indicates the need for a ritual purification for those saints living in mortal bodies throughout the Millennium and seeking to approach the temple, since God’s holy presence will be resident there: Jeremiah 3.17 and Zechariah 14.20-21. The Millennial Temple will apparently be besieged by Satan and his army at the end of the Millennial Kingdom: Revelation 20.7-9, and removed at the time of the creation of the new earth: Isaiah 65.17 and Revelation 21.1.

The final temple revealed in prophecy is the one occupying the New Jerusalem throughout the eternal Kingdom: Revelation 21.2,10. Since all of the saints are now in resurrected bodies without the possibility of sin, there will be no need for a physical structure to prevent direct contact with God: Revelation 21.3 and 22.4. John declares there is no temple in the New Jerusalem because, “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple,” Revelation 21.22. This holy temple, comprised of God Himself will fulfill the divine ideal originally begun, but never realized in the Garden of Eden where God and man were to experience an intimate relationship: Genesis 3.8. As a result, the saints will serve God forever: Revelation 7.15 and 21.3; in the New Jerusalem, which itself is an infinitely magnified Holy of Holies: Revelation 21.16 and 1 Kings 6.20.