QUESTION: Will the Jews rebuild the temple in Jerusalem? If so, when?

ANSWER: Yes, the Jews will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. During the tribulation we read that the man of sin will sit in the temple of God showing himself that he is God (2 Thess. 2:3-14). The title "man of sin" is one of the names for the antichrist. This antichrist will use the rebuilt temple to reveal his true character. His true character is revealed in several ways:

1. He takes the place of God and seeks worship for himself (2 Thess. 2:3,4).
2. He sets up an image in the holy place of the temple (Rev. 13:14).
3. He demands that all should worship the image of the beast (Rev. 13:15).
4. He seeks to get everyone to receive the mark of the beast in their right hand or their foreheads (Rev. 13:16).

It is clear from the above that the temple must be rebuilt sometime before the antichrist uses it to reveal his true character.

Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 13 tell us that the antichrist will not reveal his true character until the middle of the tribulation period. So the temple must be rebuilt before the tribulation period begins or during the first three and one half years of the tribulation period.

There have been many printed reports of the desire of the Jews to rebuild their temple. They want to build it on Mount Moriah. However, there is now a Mohammedan mosque on the spot where the temple should be built. If the mosque were to be removed to make way for the temple, it would cause a loud outcry from the Mohammedan community.

But when the time comes, we know that the temple will be rebuilt because "Scripture cannot be broken."

—John D. McNeil