Tabernacle of David & the Third Temple

 

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Many are waiting for the Jews to rebuild the 3^rd

temple, so that the antichrist will go into it, and

declare himself god, thus identifying himself. But,

is it really going to be a temple that they put up?

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The impression of the timing of the 3^rd temple from

2 prophecies:

1. Dan 11:31   And arms shall stand on his part, and they [forces of the vile leader from verse 21] shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.

*** note there is a sanctuary in existence for the abomination to occur. This was fulfilled once by Antiochus Epiphanes. But Antiochus only put a pig on the altar to commit abomination.

The future antichrist will go further than this:

11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god,

2. Ezechiel’s description of a future temple (Chapters 40-47). It is very elaborate, with miraculous elements to it, such as healing waters.

**** The healing waters would have to manifest after the arrival of the Messiah.

It is a fact that Jews in Jerusalem are preparing to rebuild a 3^rd temple.

They even have a Temple Institute to organize it. They are preparing the sacred vessels and vestments, and many other items.

But will what they have available, by the time of the antichrist, be such a building?

Scripture does mention another structure that has not appeared yet:

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It is the Tabernacle of David.

Let’s take a close look at what this tabernacle was:

2Sa 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

** The tabernacle David “pitched” was a tent.

Isa 16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he [Messiah] shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

** this has a Messianic tone to it

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

*** This and surrounding verses suggest the last days. The structure is “fallen” and will be “raised up” again.

Act 15:16 After this I… will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

*** this is a reference to Amos 9:11-12.

Notice that the structure will be “built again,” or rebuilt. So this is a reference to the first tabernacle, not a new structure.

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So what did the tabernacle of David look like?

It was a tent, with the ark of the covenant in it.

This can be interpreted on 2 levels:

1. physical – they only need 2 elements: a tent, and the ark of the covenant. The ark would only be brought out if Israel had been convinced that there was peace and safety, and Messiah was imminent or present.

2. spiritual – the tent represents the human heart, and the ark represents the covenant that is kept by the devout person.

A closer look at the Amos prophecy:

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Amo 9:12   That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen [gentiles], which are called by my name, says the LORD that does this.

Notice that there are gentiles that are “called by my name.” This would indicate that Christians are present. So the spiritual interpretation could have been fulfilled at the time of Christ.

Since the prophecy is to rebuild the tabernacle of David, by the time it is rebuilt, it has apparently fallen.

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So, another interpretation is that this refers to the last days, not the time of Christ, and that the Church has “fallen” and needs to be rebuilt.

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But that does leave the physical interpretation of the Tabernacle of David!!

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Alternatively, it is possible that the Jews will really

build Ezekiel’s temple in anticipation of the

Messiah, knowing that He will add the miraculous

elements to it.

When the Antichrist violates the temple, this will temporarily pollute it, and make it unusable.

This interpretation may be possibly supported by this passage in Daniel:

Dan 12:11   And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Dan 12:12 Blessed [is] he that waits, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

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Between 1290 days and 1335 days is a gap of 45

days. Maybe it takes 45 days to clean and purify

the temple.  Just in time for Hanukkah!

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So what do you think?