Temple Institute entrance
(Photo by Bob Thiel)
In its newsletter today, The Temple Institute had the following:
“The place that HaShem your G-d will choose”(Deuteronomy 12:5)Av 24, 5786/August 7, 2026“Look only to the place that HaShem your G-d will choose amidst all your tribes as G-d’s habitation, to establish the divine name there. There you are to go, and there you are to bring your burnt offerings and other sacrifices, your tithes and contributions, your votive and freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. Together with your households, you shall feast there before HaShem your G-d, happy in all the undertakings in which HaShem your G-d has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 12:5-7) For the first time, this week, in parashat Re’eh, Moshe introduces the future Holy Temple, the central place of worship and community which will replace the Tabernacle. …
The newsletter also had the following:
Help To Build The Holy Temple In Our Time!Donate Generously To Help The Sacred Work Of The Temple Institute! Every contribution helps to rebuild the Holy Temple in our Time!
But can the Jews build a HOLY temple in this age?
No.
Well, could Christians represent God’s holy temple in the end-times?
Yes.
First, let’s look at an end-time prophecy from the Old Testament:
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)
Those people, referred to, are not Jews. And we know the above is an end time prophecy as the 3 1/2 year time period encompasses the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord.
Does the New Testament connect Christians (Jews or Gentiles) or non-believing Jews with the temple of God?
To determine that, let’s look at those passages in the New Testament that refer to a naos “temple of God” on the earth after Jesus’ resurrection.
The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Corinth:
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19, KJV)
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16)
Notice that the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul demonstrate the view that the naos temple of God now has to do with Christians, not necessarily the Jewish peoples (except those who are Christians and have the Holy Spirit). Additionally, his wording “Do you not know” or “know ye not” indicates that this is something that they already should have known.
Despite scriptures like 1 Corinthians 3:17, some today who claim to be Christians believe that God would consider a Jewish Temple, to be built in defiance of the sacrifice of Jesus, to be holy. It is God’s people in the church who are the Holy Temple in the church era, not a Jewish building.
It needs to be brought out that the New Testament itself basically uses two Greek terms for temple: they are hieron (ίερόν) and naos (ναος or ναον). While the Greek term hieron always seems to refer to a physical temple in the New Testament (usually a Jewish built one, but sometimes a pagan built one, e.g. Acts 19:27), the term naos does not always do so.
Perhaps because hieron is used more frequently (71 times) in the New Testament (and is the term most often translated into English as temple), some seem to have confused it with the naos term for temple.
Naos is used 47 times in the New Testament, and while it is clearly referring to a physical temple approximately 19 times (mainly in the Gospels and Acts), it is clearly not referring to a physical temple building on earth in many of the remaining verses.
Jesus was the first in the New Testament to use naos to refer to something OTHER than a Jewish temple in scripture:
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body. (John 2:19-21, KJV)
So, while the Jews were thinking that naos was a referring to a physical Jewish temple in verse 20, the scripture is clear that in verses 19 and 21 that Jesus was referring to naos to mean something else.
Notice further that the Apostle Paul told the Christians in Ephesus about being God’s building:
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Thus, Paul’s writings regarding the naos temple have to do with Christian people and not a Jewish building.
And while I do believe that the Bible should normally be interpreted literally, it is clear that the Apostle Paul repeatedly used the term naos metaphorically to refer to true Christians.
Anyway, the late Herbert W. Armstrong agreed that it is the Christian church that comprises the Holy Temple in our age as he declared:
And the Church of God of the present day shall be a “building fitly framed together [and growing] unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21). (Armstrong HW. 7 Proofs of God’s True Church, Part 6. Plain Truth. August, 1979, p. 38)
The Hebrew scriptures state that the Jews were God’s holy people (Deuteronomy 7:6), yet the New Testament shows that God’s holy people are now Christians:
13 Jesus Christ…15 He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13, 15-16)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, (1 Peter 2:9)
The New Testament also teaches that the sacrifices that the Jews wish to make are not needed (Hebrews 9:12-13), hence it is improper for Christians to believe that the Jews can make a Holy Temple in this age. Remember, as Paul wrote:
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. (Hebrews 9:11)
There is no possible way that the Jews can build a Holy Temple in this age.
None believing Jews are not Holy in the biblical sense.
But what about the prophesies for animal sacrifices in the 9th through 12th chapters of Daniel, doesn’t that require a Jewish temple?
No. While the Jews would prefer to have a temple, all they actually need is an altar, a high priest, implements, and a willingness to sacrifice. And they have all of that.
Plus understand that until Solomon built the first temple (1 Kings 6:14), the Bible shows that the Jews sacrificed on altars. David, Solomon’s father, for example sacrificed on an altar (2 Samuel 24:25), as did Aaron and his descendants (Exodus 20:24; Leviticus 1:10-11). And prior to all of that, Abel (Genesis 4:4), Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 22:9-13), and others sacrificed animals to God.
So for over 3,000 years, animal sacrifices were offered without a Jewish temple.
Even after the first Jerusalem temple was destroyed and left in ruins, the Bible itself specifically shows that sacrifices were made in the time of Ezra BEFORE the second temple was ready:
6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. (Ezra 3:6)
One may argue that since it takes the participation of Jewish religious leaders in order for Jewish animal sacrifices to be resumed in the 21st century, that the above scripture is a moot point.
And it might be if there were no Jewish religious leaders that thought that they could not sacrifice without a temple. Yet, leaders from both the Temple Institute and reconstituted Sanhedrin, have told me that they do not need a temple, just permission now to sacrifice.
While the Jews may or may not build some type of a structure to sacrifice, they are not capable of building a holy temple in this age.
But didn’t Jesus say that the abomination will be in the holy temple?
No.
Jesus warned:
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)
Notice He did NOT say the holy place was a Jewish temple.
This place could be the first church building in Jerusalem (see Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill) or another location.
But He did NOT say a Jewish temple in the end times was the holy place.
The New Testament in Acts 7:33 and 21:28b specifically shows that the terms topos (place) and hagios (holy) can refer to a holy location as opposed to being restricted to a structure. But many Protestants as well as many in the COGs (including my previous one) do not fully grasp that and are looking for something that cannot be.
The Jews cannot build a holy place now.
In this age, Christians are God’s holy people and Christians should live like that.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to two sermons The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work and God’s Temple in Prophecy. And here is a version of the latter one in the Spanish: El templo de Dios en profecía.
Nascent Sanhedrin and Prophecy The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. A related video is titled Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices. And a newer one is: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to three related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World and Red Heifers and Antichrist? and Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent. Here is a link to two videos in the Spanish language: Novillas rojas and La novilla roja y su posible implicación profetica.
Which Laws were Superceded? Which Remain? What about the Ten Commandments? What about the 613 regulations (called 613 Mitzvot) in the Old Testament? Which were ‘done away’? Here is a link to a related sermon video: ‘What was ‘Nailed to the Cross’? About about the 613 Mitzvot?
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … These videos cover nearly all of the book, plus have some information not in the book. We also have the book translated in the Spanish PRUEBA de que JESÚS es el MESÍAS and French PREUVES QUE JÉSUS EST LE MESSIE languages.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œf/’Y’jNº’ÿ Here is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.