By Ray Gano

Last week I wrote about the final generation. I had a number of people ask me about the third temple. What I pointed out in my article is that it started all in May 1948, that was the year that Israel became a nation. That was when I believe that the hour glass was turned over. Slowly the sands of time have been trickling through and I believe that the Jews are going to rebuild their Third Temple in Jerusalem very soon.

How do we know that the Jews are going to rebuild the temple?

In 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (KJV)

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…”

This is where the Anti-Christ goes into the Temple and defiles it. I believe that we are coming very close to this time and that is if we are living in the Last Days.

Matthew 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. “

If one runs that numbers, like I pointed out in my article “2018 – The Generation’s End” then I believe that the building of the temple will have to take place soon. Now, how soon? I have no idea. But I do know that there are talks going on today about the third temple.

So how long is it going to take to rebuild the temple?

A meeting was held in November 1990 with religious leaders, political leaders, scientists and archaeologist in Israel to discuss the building time of the temple.

This meeting was needed in order to work out details for the Oslo 3 treaty talks that will be held in 1996.

SPECIAL NOTE – Oslo has been on the table now since 1996, the two parties still have not signed the treaty and they are still haggling over this treaty.

We read the following in Daniel

Daniel 9:27 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.

Many out there say that the antichrist will create and “sigh” a peace treaty. As you can see he does not do that. He CONFIRMS a covenant / treaty.

To “confirm” means that the treaty is in place and it just needs to be acted upon. Oslo treaty has never been taken off the table. It just has not been fully accepted yet.

According to the study done for the Oslo treaty, the time determined to rebuild the Temple was 1-2 years. This does not include all the ornamental work that would be needed, this is just to get the temple up.

An alter will be raised somewhere west of the temple construction site to start daily sacrifices. Once the priests resume daily sacrifices, the construction of the Temple itself will begin.

The site for the Jewish temples of the past has been the Temple Mount, but there is a problem… The Dome of the Rock is there. We all know that the friction between the Jews and the Muslims has gotten worse rather than better. Seeing things in that light, it will probably take the diplomatic skills of the Antichrist to make development of this temple to come about.

There is also another key aspect and that the organization “The Temple Institute” has already been preparing some of the vessels to be used in the next temple, and they have been training priests in their use. The Temple Institute believes that the next temple is to be built in the VERY near future.

Location

On the Temple Mount there are NO archaeological digs going on because the Muslims will not permit it. But extensive excavations have been made around the outer perimeter of the area and under the Temple Mount site. In this light, Scientist, Scholars and Archaeologist have come up with 3 main theories/sites as to where the Temple should be rebuilt.

The 3 Proposed Temple Site locations are:

• Southern Site, placing the Holy of Holies over the Al Kas Foundation.
  (Bagatti Theory)

• Traditional Site, placing the Holy of Holies over the As-Sakhara
  (Dome of the Rock)

• Northern Site, placing the Holy of Holies over the Dome of the Tablets/Spirits
  (Kaufman Theory)

The theory that I will look at in this article is the Northern site or referred to as the Kaufman theory. I hope to look into the other theories in later issues.

In 1969 there was some Arab construction work going on around the Dome of the Rock. A man by the name of Dr. Ze’ev Yeivin (now deputy director of the Department of Antiquities) happened upon this Arab construction site and made some drawings of an exposed ancient wall near the Dome of the Rock. Sense you cannot have archaeological digs up there, this was a very important find.

In the Early 70’s a man named Asher Kaufman published a very interesting theory. After studying evidence proposed by a Dr.Bagatti (His theories are for a Southern Site) and other evidences, Asher Kaufman identified the section of this wall, seen by Dr. Yeivin, as the eastern wall of the Temple’s Court of the Women.

Based on ALL these different works from Bagatti and other Archaeologist and the records left by the British studies from a 100 years ago, Kaufman concluded that the site of the Temple was at the northwest corner. He determined that the east-west line aligning the Mount of Olives and with the Eastern Gate and the Temple exactly bisect on this small cupola. He noted that the bedrock inside the cupola is the only such bedrock appearing on the temple mount, it sticks up from the surface. The rest of the area around the Dome of the Rock has been paved. Now is this the “Even Shetiyyah” (Foundation stone) that protruded in the ancient Holy of Holies?

Furthermore, a passage from the Mishneh Torah by Rambam quotes Jewish Talmudic writings from the times before the Temple in 70 AD being destroyed. Eyewitness declare that the Temple was not built in the center of the temple mount (location where the Dome of the Rock is) Rambam states that” the Temple Courtyard was not situated directly in the center of the Temple Mount. Rather, it was set off farther from the southern wall of the Temple Mount that from the wall of any other direction” The reason is because worshipers would normally enter and exit from the southern Hulda Gate. The people needed room to congregate on that area. Rambam continues to quote sources that declare that the Temple itself was situated directly opposite the Eastern Gate in the northern part of the Temple Mount. (1)

” These five gates were placed in a strait-line” from the Eastern Gate into the entrance hall of the Holy of Holies. These gates were as follows” the Eastern Gate, the gate of Chayl, the gate of the Women’s Courtyard, the gate of Nicanor and the gate of the entrance hall. So if the temple was built on flat ground, one would have been able to see through all the gates at once” (Mishneh Torah, Commentary Halachah 5 and 6) (1)

Over a century ago there were some archaeological digs conducted by the British, these digs and surveys produced some other very relevant new discoveries. When this evidence is looked at in conjunction with Kaufman’s, the pieces start to fit. Of importance was a particular rock mass near the Northern steps leading up to a small Muslim Cupola on the Temple Mount.

NOTE – A person standing on the Mount of Olives can look over the Eastern Gate into a huge area north of the Dome of the Rock. If you give this person a surveyor’s laser, it would cut right through the Eastern Gate (if it was not sealed) and through the center of this small cupola or known by the name of the Dome of the Spirits / Tablets.

Another point to look at while discussing this stone, which Kaufman believe is the Foundation Stone (Even Shetiyyah). The stone in Dome of the Spirits / Tablets. is very pitted, this detail also agrees with a 4th century pilgrim of Bordeaux who calls in his accounts the “Pierced Stone” because of its numerous imprints of the hobnailed of Soldiers.

Further importance about this stone is the name of this site, Dome of the Spirits/Tablets. Arabic titles often preserve original place names. Were these dual titles reminiscent of the Divine Presence that accompanied the Ark and the tablets of the law stored within it which once rested in the Holy of Holies?

Looking at all these sources, information and the writing from the Mishneh Torah and a bit of triangulation we can see that the Temple could have very well been located where Mr. Kaufman believes, and that is over Dome of the Spirits / Tablets.

Now one last point of evidence. Knowing the measurements of the Holy of Holies, all the courtyards and walls, and working your way from the center out from the Dome of the Spirits / Tablets, the Dome of the Rock falls within the courtyard of the Gentiles

Do you realize that this falls right in line with what we read in Revelation?

Revelation 11:1-2 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the alter, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.”

Many of us have read this before, but in this light, you can see how prophecy could come to pass with the Kaufman theory.

This is the only theory that enables the Jews to rebuild the Temple TODAY! The only thing that needs to be done is the negotiations.

In 1996, like I stated earlier, are the Oslo 3 discussions regarding Jerusalem. It is in my opinion that Israel has given up so much land to the Arabs and have not gotten anything back in return of substance for this land. At this time, I believe that they will pull this ace out from under their sleeve and demand the rebuilding of the Temple and to share the temple mount, all in the name of peace.

IMPORTANT!! None of these theories are acceptable to the orthodox Jews because ANY Muslim or other temple, shrine, mosque, etc will desecrate the Temple Mount and make it unclean. So, ALL the mosques and monuments have to be taken off the Temple mount before the Temple can be rebuilt. This is according to orthodox Jews. This is a big stumbling block that needs to be overcome. Interesting thing is that Israel’s Cabinet has been “cracking down” on extremists. Extremists largely being right wing orthodox Jews.

Cabinet Okays Crackdown on Extremists

By David Makovsky

JERUSALEM (November 20) – The cabinet yesterday, as expected, approved the establishment of an ad hoc interagency task force that will coordinate information and direct an overall effort to crack down on extremist groups involved in “incitement and sedition…”

“There is no more business as usual,” said Environment Minister Yossi Sarid who, along with Education Minister Amnon Rubinstein, advocated a tough approach in dealing with extremists. “We want to tell the world that we have declared all-out war on Jewish terrorism, just as we have an all-out war on Arab terrorism. No democracy in the world can accept those who seek and act to destroy it…”

The task force will be coordinated by representatives of the State Attorney’s Office, General Security Service, IDF, and police. Its functioning will be re-evaluated after six months…

Justice Minister David Liba’i said that law-enforcement bodies would no longer be working in an isolated fashion, that the more unified approach would improve effectiveness…”

“One of our major failures was in dealing with a small group of fanatic rabbis, whose role in incitement is apparent. Anyone opposing stigmatizing the entire religious community must disassociate himself from such inciteful rabbis,” said Absorption Minister Yair Tzaban.(2)

I know that this is pure speculation, but with Trump pushing to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem then I could see motivation within Israel to rebuild the temple and sharing the Temple Mount with the Muslims.

Another little bit of information…In 1992 Yitzhak Rabin was approached by the Vatican and a plan was offered. The proposal is for Jerusalem to become the second Vatican. The 3 main religions come from Jerusalem, so why not turn it into a Vatican 2? If this happens, Jerusalem will become its own city/state. It is also proposed that once this happens, turn Jerusalem into the international city of peace, in fact there are rumors that if all of this comes to pass, some people would want the UN to move there. Something else will happen if this comes about, Israel will lose its 3000 year old capitol.

One last thing. What about the Ark, and where is it?

Some believe it is in a cave on mount Nebo just as is quoted in II Maccabees 2:5:

“And when Jeremy came thither, he found a hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.”

Others state that it was in a small chapel in Ethiopia. It was carried there by Menaleke son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Grant Jeffrey, a leader in Bible Prophecy, has spoken with a man in a position to know. He told Grant Jeffreys that the Ark has been flown from Ethiopia to Israel when the Ethiopian Jews returned to Israel.

There are others who believe that it is under the Temple Mount itself. Behind a walled-up area called the Warren’s Gate there is a hidden vault, it is said to be there. Rabbi Getz, Chief Rabbi of all Holy Places in Israel contends that he knows where the Ark of the Covenant is hidden under the Temple Mount.

The late Rabbi Getz proclaimed,” The treasures of the First Temple are under the Mount, and we know exactly where they are…The time will come when we will enter”.(July 18, 1991)(3)

There are many theories as to where it and the other Temple treasures are, but that is another article in itself.

There are some very good books out there right now that deal with this topic. If you are interested in this topic I highly recommend these following books. This is also where I drew my information from for this article.

Ready to Rebuild , by Thomas Ice & Randall Price

Messiah, Prince of Darkness, Heaven, by Grant Jeffrey. Grant Jeffrey’s Ministries.

Cup of Trembling , by Dave Hunt

The Bible: Ezekiel 40 – 45, Revelation 11 and 21.

Footnotes

1 – Heaven, by Grant Jeffrey Frontier Research Publications 1990, Pgs. 63-64

2 – Jerusalem Post, Nov.20 1995

3 – Ready to Rebuild, by Thomas Ice & Randall Price, Harvest House Publications. 992 Pg. 149