Nearing Midnight is the home of ongoing reports of the signs of the times we consider relevant to Bible prophecy. One important topic that hasn’t been on the Nearing Midnight radar in quite some time, to any significant extent, is news that might portend a coming Jewish temple. But, that doesn’t mean that the temple is completely undetectable on the eschatological radar screen of these turbulent days.
A recent report reminds us that this vitally important element of the overall prophetic picture is in the mix of all the other signals that are telling the world where this generation is on God’s prophetic timeline:
“An Israeli archeologist said Wednesday that he has pinpointed the exact location of the Second Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount…”
Hebrew University archaeologist, Prof. Joseph Patrich, based his findings on the study of a large underground cistern on the Temple Mount. Additional examination of passages that run underground beneath the cistern led him to his conclusion.
“…Examining the location and configuration of the cistern together with descriptions of the daily rite in the Temple and its surroundings found in the Mishna, Patrich said that this cistern is the only one found on the Temple Mount that can tie in with the ancient rabbinic text describing elements involved in the daily purification and sacrificial duties carried out by the priests on the altar in the Temple courtyard…”
Patrich believes that his method of close examination of the area will accomplish a very important service regarding verifications involving Temple history.
The news item states further:
“…By thus locating the laver, the water wheel, the ramp and the altar, one can then finally map, again in coordination with the Mishna, the alignment of the Temple itself and its gates and chambers, he said…” (Etgar Lefkovits, "Archeologist: Ancient cistern proves location of Second Temple," Jerusalem Post, Feb. 7).
This is a valuable surveyor’s effort. Virtually all of Israel’s Arab antagonists claim the Temple never existed –that the site is sacred only to Islam, because that is where –so the fiction goes-- Mohammed flew into heaven from the stone that is now beneath the Dome of the Rock. This archeological find/proof, of course, will not quiet the claims of those who demand that Israel get out of town. But it does set the stage for satisfying those who will consider empirical proofs that the Jew does have at least a share in that most volatile piece of real estate on Planet Earth.
It is a proof that could one day be the catalyst for Antichrist weaving into that prophesied false peace of Daniel 9: 26-27 allowance of a temple being built atop Moriah. This he possibly would do in preparation for his own foretold destiny.
This gets us to the title of the commentary –"The Temple and 666." We find that prophesied time of Antichrist and the temple in the following:
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
The son of perdition –the Antichrist—is scheduled to sit in the Jewish Temple, claiming to be God. I believe he will be personally indwelt at that time by Satan, himself, who will, with his evil angelic hordes, have been cast down from the heavens. This demonically possessed, flesh-and-blood tyrant will, I believe prophecy teaches, sit in the Temple after a deadly head wound that is supposedly miraculously healed. It will be a devilish deception.
Antichrist will then institute his infamous mark and demand that every person on earth accept it in the top of the hand or in the forehead. His personal designation in the numerical sense is six hundred, three score and six –666. That number will somehow be incorporated within the mark of this beast in a way that will be a declaration of allegiance to Satan, and which will doom every individual who takes the mark to eternity apart from God.
My friend and colleague, Arno Frose, whose magazine, Midnight Call, is probably Bible prophecy’s most widely read and respected publication, has written a dynamite book on the topic of this beastly system of control that is even now in the late stages of development, I’m convinced. Preparing for the Mark of the Beast by Arno Froese is one you don’t want to miss.
The technologies of control that come across our news sources on an hourly basis join the many other birth-pang developments that make the student of Bible prophecy know that we are nearing midnight –the Tribulation hour. But we look not for Antichrist, rather for Jesus, the Christ, our Savior and Lord (Titus 2:13) –the Rapture!
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"The Masterpiece"
I highly recommends "The Masterpiece" by Dr. Joseph Chambers. This book puts the reader right out there on Heaven's Balcony, while below the stupendous Seals, Trumpets, and Vials of Wrath pour on an incorrigibly wicked world of earth-dwellers. Yet the work --one of the best I've read-- tells the Story of God's Love for His creation called man in understandable language accessible to even the newest student of Bible Prophecy. See my review, then consider getting the book. You will be glad you did. The Masterpiece
--Terry of raptureready
...................................................benny
