The original temple built by King Solomon around 950 BC was destroyed around 587 BC by the Babylonians. The second temple, which was rebuilt by the Jews after their return from the Babylonian captivity around 515 BC. This one was destroyed by the Romans around 70 AD.
As a Christian, we know that Christ paid the price required by God for sin when He died on the cross. During his earthly ministry, He prophesied that the temple would be destroyed.
Mark 13:2- And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The idea of a rebuilt Third Temple is sacred in Judaism, particularly to Orthodox Jews, as it is believed that it will occur in tandem with the arrival of the Messiah, and only then will the sacrificial practices of the First and Second Temple be reinstated.
Orthodox Jews don't believe that Jesus was their Messiah. They won't read any of the New Testament of the Bible, and still think that the Messiah has not yet come.
The notion of a rebuilt Temple, on top of what many call the Temple Mount, has been a core part of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many believe that the site called the Temple Mount is where the original first and second temple stood. Several organizations, usually representing a small group of Orthodox Jews, have been formed with the objective of constructing the Third Temple in the present day. These organizations include the Temple Institute, which has made several items they say will be used in the Temple when it is established.
First, we should take note that what is called the Temple Mount is not where the original temples actually stood. Jesus prophesied that not one stone would be left of the original buildings in the city of David.
When Titus came to view the conquered city he said, "We have certainly had God for our assistant in this war, and it was no other than God who ejected the Jews out of these fortifications; for what could the hands of men, or any machines, do towards overthrowing these towers!"
According to Flavius Josephus, an historian and military leader, Titus gave orders to destroy the entire city and temple, leaving only the towers standing. In his words, " it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited."
The Bible clearly tells us in Daniel that the temple would be rebuilt. This was prophesied during the time of the destruction of the first temple.
Daniel 11:31- And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
All throughout the Jews history, prophets have told them not to make any idols. Beginning with Moses and the ten commandments, it was written that there were to be no images that were worshiped. When the Hebrews split into two nations because of King Solomon's apostasy, they both fell into the habit of worshiping idols- the Samaritans worshiped the golden calves that Jeroboam set up in Bethel and Dan, along with the false idols of those around them, and the Israelites of Judah began worshiping the same false idols along with the queen of heaven and Tammuz (Babylonian religion false gods) which Jeremiah prophesied against.
This is why the temple was destroyed the first time.
When Jesus was rejected as the Jews Messiah, Paul was called to take the gospel of the forgiveness of sins to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:46- Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
The Jews tried to revolt against the Roman's rule and eventually this led to the destruction of both the city of Jerusalem and the second temple, as Jesus prophesied.
For the last two millenia, there has been no temple. The Jewish nation didn't come back to the area until the late 1800's AD, early 1900's AD. And still, after 100 years there is no temple though the preparations have been made.
Jesus echoed the prophecy of Daniel in Mark 13:14- But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
There will be rebuilding of the third temple. But, it won't be the Messiah that comes to it. It will be the antiChrist. He will create an image (WARNING) that he will expect the world to worship. This is what will prove that he is not the long awaited Messiah- because the real Messiah would NEVER go against the God given law of Moses and tell them to worship an image.
Right now, we have the blessing of being able to simply ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and we will be accepted as pure in God's eyes. But when the antiChrist is on the scene, the rules change- it will take faith in Jesus and works by keeping the law of Moses.
There isn't much time left, the time of the Gentiles is almost over, and everything is prepared for the time of Jacob's trouble.
Jeremiah 30:3- For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
The Jewish people are back in their native homeland. This prophecy of Jeremiah has been fulfilled. The rest of the prophecy is at hand.
Jeremiah 30:5-7- For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 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.
