Do you seriously think that God would allow Satan and the Antichrist to desecrate His temple? What is being planned right now is the third temple in Jerusalem by unbelieving Jews, who will be blind to the fact that the Antichrist will sit in that temple and claim that he is God. This temple will indeed be destroyed, since the Abomination of Desolation polluted it. Then there will be a true pure and holy temple under God and Christ after Israel has been redeemed and restored.
As to the prophecy of Ezekiel it is so obviously under the New Covenant that no one should even question that.
EZEKIEL 36
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Enoch, Oops! I missed your posting. Still trying to adapt to these forums.
Enoch says: "This temple will indeed be destroyed, since the Abomination of Desolation polluted it. Then there will be a true pure and holy temple under God and Christ after Israel has been redeemed and restored."
Do not believe that the God we rely upon to cleanse us, cannot do something as simple cleanse a building?? Even my housekeeper can do that!
This is not the first time a temple has been desecrated. When the second temple was desecrated, it was cleansed by building an new altar, and then cleansing it by offerring a sacrifice each day for seven days. During Channukka seven candles are lighted during a 7 day observance, and then on the eighth day, the 8th candle is lighted signifiying that it was now time to re-commence the daily sacrifice for the people. The same ritual that will be used to cleanse the altar in the new temple after anti-christ desecrated it:
"25 For seven days you shall prepare daily a goat for a sin offering; also a young bull and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be prepared. For seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it; so shall they consecrate it. When they have completed the days, it shall be that on the eighth day and onward, the priests shall offer your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you,’ declares the Lord God.” Ezek 43:25 It makes a lot more sense to build a new altar, than build a whole new temple!
As for this temple being contaminated because it was built by unbelieving Jews, I seem to recall that the second temple is attributed to Cyrus, and of all people, Herod, and Edomite, offspring of Esau!!
Your suggestion that the new temple will be built during the New Covenant, I don't see that at all! Considering the detailed instructions for the temple sacrifices Ezekiel 44 etal, and the unforgiven Levites in Ezekiel 43, it is not the vision I have of the new temple. While you have mentioned the New Covenant in Ezekiel 36, starting at chapter 40, Ezekiel 40, He is being presented with a whole new vision, not of the New Covanant, but of the new temple. I have no reason to believe that the temple will be destroyed when Christ returns, which would merely be based upon silence.
