The Bible states that there will be a total of four temples in Jerusalem and in the same location. In this lesson, we will look at the three temples that will have existed prior to the Millennial Kingdom as the fourth temple will be built by Christ Himself (Zech. 6:13).
In 1 Kings chapter 6, Solomon constructed Israel's first temple. It was a magnificent temple that took seven years to complete (verse 38). King Solomon's Temple lasted until Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed it when he set fire to Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:8–10, Jer. 52:12-14).
The Jews in the southern kingdom of Judah were held captive in Babylon for 70 years (Jer. 25:11). The project to construct a new temple was led by Zerubbabel and completed in Ezra 6:16. During the construction of the Zerubbabel's Temple, the older Israelites mourned. They knew that this temple paled in comparison to Solomon's Temple (Ezra 3:12). History records that King Herod I remodeled the Jewish temple in hopes of creating an eternal legacy focused on him. Because of the magnificence of the remodeling, the second temple is most often referred to as Herod's Temple. This temple stood until destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman General Titus.
"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." - Revelation 11:1-3
The Third Temple plays an important role in Bible prophecy. By studying this temple, we learn how long the Tribulation period will last until Jesus' return. Jesus said that it would be in this temple that the Abomination of Desolation would occur that would start the second half of the Tribulation period (Dan. 11:31, Matt. 24:15-21).
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." - Daniel 9:27
"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and threescore days." - Daniel 12:11
Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 line up perfectly with Revelation 11:1-3!
The Temple Mount is a highly contested area between the Judeo-Christian world and the Muslim world. It is where the Islamic Dome of the Rock currently sits. The angel told the Apostle John that unlike Herod's Temple, this temple would not have an outer court. Given that the Antichrist will possibly be Muslim (see Antichrist lesson) has led to speculation that the Dome of the Rock and the Third Temple will probably sit side by side. The proposed solution would look like this:
The Temple Institute already has the necessary materials to begin immediate construction of the new temple. Additionally, they have announced that they have over 500 men trained as Temple Priests to begin their worship and sacrificial duties. However, they cannot begin to use the temple until it is consecrated, and for that, they require an unblemished red heifer (Numbers 19:1–2, 10).
Although the Bible does not say specifically when the Third Temple will be constructed, Jesus shows us in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that the season is near.