At this time of the year we tend to ponder on the Christ child and all that happened at the time of His birth. The angels, the shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph and the cattle shed where Jesus was born occupy our minds and hearts. And we think also of the birth of John the Baptist, “the Elijah prophesied to come” [Mal 4:5]. With his father Zechariah also telling of the coming of Jesus. There was Simeon who, when he took Jesus in his arms announced: “For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Anna a prophetess also announcing the coming of the promised redeemer. [Luke 2:36]. All these things happened in the Temple at the dedication of Jesus. At this present time there is no Temple. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonian soldiers, rebuilt by Zerabbabel [Ezra 3:7-13]. Then a second complete build was commissioned by Herod, which is the one mentioned in Luke and was in use at the time of our Lords earthly ministry. This Temple was destroyed by Titus in AD70 when the Roman general was sent to quell a rebellion of the Jewish nation. This destruction was prophesied by Jesus in [Matt 24:1-2]. The destruction was total along with much of Jerusalem. The Jewish population was deported and the sacrifices of the Jewish faith terminated by Rome.
Earlier this year an Israeli government minister from a nationalist religious party called for the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel speaking at an archaeological conference near Shilo also called for a Third Temple to be built on the site, which today is home to the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque and is considered Judaism’s holiest site and Islam’s third holiest. Last year, Jewish Home minister Zevulun Oriev also called for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple but stated that if they moved the Dome of the Rock it would probably occasion a world war. The present site is administered by the Jordanian Department of Endowments known as the “Waqf”. The Jews as they are today, have been prevented in times past from access to the Temple Mount, as for many years the area of Palestine was ruled over by the Byzantine Empire which was Moslem. At the moment prospective work to build a Third Temple is under way. The corner stones are already made, the plans drawn, based on the plan given by God in Ezekiel chapters number 40 on. Many of the priest’s garments and utensils are being made and a Red Heifer has been bred. Strong forces are at work to arrange for the Temple to be built. At the moment the restrictions by the “Waqf” on Jewish access to the Mount is beginning to create restlessness among many Jews who feel restricted within their own nation by outside forces. We certainly know that by the time the Antichrist is in power that a Temple will have been built, as he sets up a statue of himself for worship in the Temple. [Dan 13:13-14]. However what is to be done about the site remains to be seen. It may be this access will become part of a peace agreement which appears to be in force when Gog attacks with his ally’s [Ezek 38].
At the moment all eyes are on Syria. It appears neither side in the civil war is winning nor does the United Nations want to intervene with troops on the ground. Meanwhile thousands of refugees are seeking asylum elsewhere. Whatever the outcome there is no doubt that Israel will be under threat from the resultant winners. Israeli leaders are expecting an invasion from Syria at any time. Neither Syria nor Egypt, Israel’s other major threat, have a stable government and anything could happen in what they do with Israel in the future. The prophecy of Psalm 83 is of interest and there could be a marvellous Israeli victory over the nations mentioned in that Psalm which would enable the people of Israel to take over the Temple Mount and build the Third Temple. The Nations listed in Psalm 83 are mainly the Moslem Arab peoples surrounding Israel. Palestinian’s are included and I am sure that should a conflict arise between Syria and Israel then the Palestinians would certainly join in. Psalm 83 indicates a tremendous victory will take place and Israel will obtain peace because the Arab armies are annihilated or severely weakened. As regards timing the Bible gives no indication for either the conflict of Psalm 83 or the attack by the armies of Magog prophesied in Ezekiel 38. Always looked upon as two distinct battles they might consist of a series of continuous battles or skirmishes taking place.
On a completely different subject; the behaviour of the United States Government has sent shudders through world markets. When the U.S. is “tottering on the brink” financially that is not the time for internal fighting and playing politics. Should the economy of the American market collapse there will be catastrophic financial disaster throughout the money markets of the world. The very same situation prevailed after the Wall Street crash which enabled Hitler to rise to power.
Have faith the Lord is going to return. Look up not around you. “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year; Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied, Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way. And finding the hand of God I trod gladly into the night.” [Minnie Haskin – 1908].
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the Prophetic Witness Movement International in the South Pacific
www.pwmi.co.nz