The Temple Institute have launched an international crowdfunding campaign to help raise funds for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. Crowdfunding is a relatively new phenomenon in which ordinary people are able to contribute directly towards the development of various projects, rather than companies having to rely on third party investors for capital. It is mainly used for the development of computer software, but has been used to fund other projects as well. The Temple Institute's campaign was timed to coincide with Tisha B'Av, the commemoration of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. They hope to raise around $100,000 within the next two months in order to draft plans for the construction of the Third Temple...

Quote: “Building the temple, says the Indiegogo campaign statement, would “usher in a new era of universal harmony and peace,” as prophesied in the Bible. “It is not enough to wait and pray for the Third Temple,” the statement added. “It is a Biblical obligation to build it.”

Orthodox Jews believe that the construction of the Third Temple will help bring about an era of peace and tranquillity on earth. In May 2007, the newly convened Sanhedrin sent a letter to every nation on earth, calling for the immediate rebuilding of the Temple. They warned that the world was heading towards a great calamity, and that the only way to bring lasting peace among nation states is by building an house for God where “Jews will worship, pray and offer up sacrifice, according to the vision of the prophets”. The Bible predicts that the Jewish Temple will indeed be rebuilt and the sacrifices recommenced in the last days. In his vision of the Apocalypse in Revelation 11:1-2, the Apostle John is commanded to rise and “measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein”. The second book of Thessalonians also foresees a rebuilt Temple.

But there will be no peace. Both the Old and New Testaments prophesy of a time of great trouble ahead for the nation of Israel. The prophet Daniel foretells that “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time”, Daniel 12:1. Jeremiah 37:1 states, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it”. And the Lord Jesus Christ also mentions it in Matthew 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”. During this time Israel's enemies will be “in siege against Judah and Jerusalem”, Zechariah 12:2. In Revelation 11:2, the Apostle John is instructed not to measure the outer court of the Temple because “it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months”. The Bible predicts that half of the city will go into captivity (Zechariah 14:2). We can see the beginning of this time of trouble in the present conflict between Israel and Hamas. Today Hamas rockets threaten most of Israel, and the Palestinian Authority is seeking to establish their state in Judah, Samaria and east Jerusalem. So as you can see, the nation of Israel is heading towards a time of great trouble which the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple will not prevent. During this time of tribulation a great world leader will arise. This world leader will command the Jewish sacrifices to be halted (Daniel 9:27). He will enter the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself to be God (2^nd Thessalonians 2:4). And he will persecute Israel and the Jewish people. Only when the nation of Israel has nowhere else to turn, will they call upon their Messiah for deliverance (Zechariah 12:10).

During the First Temple period God's presence filled the Holy of Holies. We read about it in 1^st Kings 8:10. We don't read about this happening when the Second Temple was built. But we do read in Malachi 3:1 that the Lord Himself would come to His Temple. The Lord Jesus Christ came as prophesied, and taught in the Second Temple daily (Luke 19:47). On two occasions He would cleanse the Temple from those that defiled it. In John 2:16 He refers to the Temple as “My Father's house”. And in Matthew 21:13 He says, “My house shall be called the house of prayer”. But in leaving the Temple for the last time before going to the cross, He says, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”.

Jesus Christ is coming back again soon, first to take all those who have trusted in Him for salvation to His Father's House (John 14:3), and then to return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you trusted in Him for salvation? He bore God's punishment for your sin when He died upon the cross. He died for you so that you could have everlasting life. Turn away from your sins, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Isaiah 53:10-11
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Source Times of Israel