Many times when speaking about the third temple, questions arise. Also for me. I prefer to speak about the second temple instead of the third. Because that’s more according to the prophets. (Hag.2 en Zech.2-6) “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of JHWH.” Haggai en Zechariah are speaking of the second temple, which was in building at that time. Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah didn’t finish this temple. Also Herod didn’t finish it. Yeshua did it, or, if you want, will finish it.
I think its hard to understand because we have to deal with two dimensions. One which we can see, and one which we can not see. The temple (and tabernacle) are always a place where G-d resides on earth. The Holy One down on earth. Can you imagine? No. And that’s the point. Otherwise, the holy things resides in the divine world. We can’t imagine to. With our natural eyes we can’t see things in heaven. We are here on earth and that’s an other dimension then the divine world. So what can we expect? A (third) temple made with hands, physically, according to the measurements of the prophet Ezekiel? Maybe, but I certainly can’t see it without all of it’s divinity, especially the Messiah Yeshua with all of his properties as there are his kingdom, high priesthood and his prophetical word.
For me an important key is the word of Yeshua unto the Jews: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Joh.2:19) He said this while he was standing in the temple before pesach. This was the second temple erected by Zerubbabel, governor of Judah (around 500 BCE), and expanded by Herod (around 20 BCE). Although Yeshua said it of the temple of his body, it’s obviously that the context let us see that it concerns the matter of the temple itself. Also the people understood by replying: “46 years was this temple in building and you will raise it up in three days? (Joh.2:20) I think here is more in case then just his body. A divine dimension appears, we can’t see this clear. Because it goes beyond intellect.
As I said in the post before, Haggai states that G-d will fill this house (2e temple) with glory and the glory of the latter house will be greater than the glory of the former, and in this place I will give peace. That the latter will be greater than the former is not new. The first world was destroyed, the second gives a new change. The first Adam was fallen, the “second” stands forever. Most significant is the berith (covenant) which is given to Israel. When Moses gave the first, they broke it down. With the second table of the covenant they said unanimous “we shall do this.” Also circumcision, the first, in flesh, was not enough. A second “of the heart” was required. The first Torah causes (in certain sense) penalty of dead. The second, Yeshua, gave life by grace and made Torah perfect. And so fort. I can add another one, but it extends in future. The first return ended in crucifixion and lost of the temple, the second return will lead to the acceptance of Yeshua and rebuild of the temple.
And so the temple. By the first HaSjem said unto David: Would you make a house for me? But he wants to do it and his son built it and it was good. Then after hundreds of years it has been destroyed and later a new second temple arises. This new second temple will be forever according to the prophets. But how do we understand this. JHVH said: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?” (Isa.66:1)
Faith(based) Works 