Is helping to build a temple so that the antichrist can sit in it a good thing?
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thes 2:4 NIV
“The prophecies came true, and the Jews are back in Israel,” added Stinson. “Now they need to build a Temple. But it’s like buying a really nice car. If you don’t have the key, you aren’t going anywhere. The red heifer is the key to making the Temple work like it’s supposed to.”–Byron Stinson, Texas rancher
. . .The farmer who raised the cattle is a devout Christian . . . From Texas to Israel: Red heifers needed for Temple arrive - The Jerusalem Post
Again, they’re not going to build a temple so the Anti-Christ can “sit in it.” Their motives have nothing to do with fulfilling any prophecy. The temple WILL be rebuilt, but keep in mind that right now the temple mount is occupied by a building holy to the Muslims. Obviously then something has to happen to allow the temple to be rebuilt on that spot. If something does happen during our lifetimes, we know that the building of the temple will soon follow, but of course none of that happens before the Rapture…
I’m not sure what you mean here. Clearly Jesus isn’t with us as a physical human being, but just as clearly he is ever present with his children. Yes, He will establish a literal kingdom on earth that will last a thousand years, but this happens after the tribulation.
He’s been at the right hand of his Father so to speak. Definitely in Heaven. He tells us in scripture that he goes to prepare a place for us and that there are many mansions in Heaven. Then He will come back and take his bride ( the church) back to the home he’s prepared. I don’t know what that actual process of preparation consists of. I can’t imagine carpenter angels building literal earthly mansions, Jesus is probably using metaphors here. I believe he is waiting for us. God said that he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and thereby gain eternal life. I believe he’s waiting for that last person to make their decision on whether to accept or reject him. Remember, his very last words to the Apostles was to GO and tell the whole world… With modern technology, that command has been made possible like never before. He also says he will come at an unexpected time so who knows?
The “Rapture” is a modern idea that developed in the 19th century. Instead Christians are called upon to persevere under persecution.
Note that the same passage that describes the “man of lawlessness” says that he will work through deception and lies. Are delusions about a rapture part of that?
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thes 2:9-12
As far as the Al-Asqa mosque, the Netanyahu government allowed Israeli extremists to storm the mosque back on September 29, 2023.
Hamas stated that the October 7 attack a few days later was in response to the attack on the mosque.
I don’t know who Stinson is, but I know he will neither hinder or hasten God’s plan. It will unfold exactly according to schedule. There are different views of prophecy including on the Rapture. I know the word does not appear in scripture and that it gained popularity in the 19th century. It is a word that best describes the descriptions given in various passages of what happens to believers at Christs’ return. I’ve spent a good amount of time studying prophecy and the different views, not really to prove or disprove one view or another ( we can’t), but because I find it very interesting.
I don’t believe any war in the Middle East will be started by Israel and I don’t believe they would destroy the Mosque, unless in response to another attack on them. Then they may well respond by seizing the opportunity to build a new temple on the site. All the indicators are there that another world war could well happen, but I believe Christians will be gone either before or very shortly after that war begins. It is clear we are gone before the Anti Christ stands in the temple, and that doesn’t occur until the halfway point of the tribulation.
There’s a lot of things coming together that align with Biblical prophecy. To me, the condition of society is the most compelling. We become more and more Godless, the current sentiment towards God I fear is only temporary.
Whatever is going to happen is going to happen, but as the saying goes I’m hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Won’t know for sure until it happens…
Basic morality is common to practically all religious texts. I have no problem with religious texts helping to guide policies in this respect.
On the other hand, justifying extermination and expulsion of whole populations based on peculiar interpretations of scripture is not something that the US government should be supporting.
If everything is up to God, then why are so many Christians supporting billions of dollars of military aid to Israel?
Israeli leaders appear to be operating without regard to this command, which is echoed many places in the New Testament:
The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the LORD am your God. Leviticus 19:34
Instead, Israeli leaders are invoking Old Testament references that call for exterminating the pagan Canaanites who lived in the holy land 3000 years ago.
Here’s the main thing I don’t believe most people, including many Christians, don’t understand: THE JEWS ARE GODS CHOSEN PEOPLE! Not just were, but are still. God says I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee. While the Jews were “put aside” (for lack of a better word), during the current church age, they will re-emerge after the rapture, into end time prominence. The 144,000 will be Jews, who will be converted to Christianity during the tribulation and be preaching the gospel. God still loves them despite their stuff necked rebellion through time.
Ultimately, all who reject Christ will be regarded as enemies and face eternity in Hell. We can’t really apply human standards to God’s behavior. ALL human beings, without exception, are extended the opportunity for eternal life. The caveat is that they must accept this offer while they are alive. Even people who spend their lives hating Jesus and persecuting and killing his followers may be forgiven (Think of Paul for example) if they can truly repent and ask forgiveness before they die. As mortal humans, we place too much emphasis on THIS life, when our main concern ought to be for the next life.
Yes, the New Testament shows that the apostles and the earliest converts were all Jews. They are part of God’s chosen people, “the Israel of God” Gal 6:16.
On the other hand, Paul says that Jews who rejected Christ are branches that were “broken off because of unbelief” Romans 11:20.
Likewise Paul notes that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel” Romans 9:6.
Or the 12 tribes in Revelation represent faithful Jews who received the gospel and were brought into heaven during Christ’s resurrection:
. . . the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 1 Peter 4:6 NIV
This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) Eph 4:8-10 / Psalm 68:18
It’s going to be very interesting- what leads up to the rapture and tribulation. Events in the ME are coming together but I believe the rise of America is going to push the rapture back, but the stage is being set…
Sadly many American Christians are supporting a violently anti-Christian state based on interpretations of prophesies about the end times.
The New Testament is clear that misguided efforts that aid the antichrist are not a good thing.
Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist . . . 1 John 2:22
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God . . . 2 Thes 2:3-4
Before Christ, places and things were holy. For Instance, the holiest place in the Temple where the priests talked to God. Also as you mentioned, holy ground where Moses stood.
Under Christ’s New Covenant of Grace, people are holy, things and places are not.
I think the Bible is a history book. It is the oldest history book that we have.
Some in the religious world would have us believe that the land promise God made to Abraham and his descendants was never fulfilled. The land promise was that Abraham would receive he land through his descendants.
Deut 34:1-4 "1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naph’tali, the land of E’phraim and Manas’seh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zo’ar. 4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
God told Moss that He had promised to give the land to Abraham, and He said that, "This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saying, “I will give it to your descendants’. I have caused you to see it with your eye, but you shall not cross over there.”
From the beginning, the land promise to Abraham was that he would receive that land through his descendants. Abraham was not, even from the beginning, promised that he would personally possess the land!
This is how Ezekiel, the inspired prophet saw it. “Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession” Ex 33"24.
This was not a failure, it was the way God meant for it to be.
Israel’s land promises were only a type of the better land, the heavenly country that Abraham actually looked to. He realized that the physical land was not the final goal of his faith. He looked beyond dirt, he looked forward to Christ.
I think the reality we have in Christ is better than the earthy shadow. (the promised land) Reality is more enduring. The shadow pointed to the body. It is better to dwell in Christ than in a physical land.
The land promise was made to Abraham’s earthly descendants. I am not included. in his earthly descendants.
Gal. 3:24 So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
If you read the New Testament literally, then the rightful heirs to the promises to Abraham are Christ and his followers. Biological descent means nothing.
The Greek and Hebrew words that are frequently translated as “descendants” or “offspring” in modern versions of the Bible literally mean “seed”. The King James Version has a literal translation:
And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed . . ." Deut 34:4 KJV
Paul is very clear that this distinction is important:
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. Gal 3:16 NIV
Jhn 8:56 - Jesus said “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
The Apostle Paul was a Jew. It was the his mission from God, to bring the Jews and the Gentiles together into one body. He accomplished his mission.
Ephesians 2:13" But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."
We are all united together in Christ whether we realize it or not.
Men are still trying to separate God’s children and people are separating themselves. I think we’d do the best when we accept everybody and leave the separating (if there is any) to God.
By the time of Jesus, everyone in the Middle East was a biological descendant of Abraham. Today, that is probably true for the entire world. That is what mathematics shows:
In 2004 mathematical modeling and computer simulations by a group of statisticians led by Douglas Rohde, then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, indicated that our most recent common ancestor probably lived no earlier than 1400 B.C.and possibly as recently as A.D. 55. In the time of Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti, someone from whom we are all descended was likely alive somewhere in the world. Go back a bit further, and you reach a date when our family trees share not just one ancestor in common but every ancestor in common.
The Old Testament says that only Abraham’s descendants through Sarah were heirs to the promise. The New Testament says that that biological descent is irrelevant–faith in Christ is what is important.
When the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem in 70 AD, and the Jews were scattered, their records were destroyed. They kept the record of Jewish descendants in the temple. The Gentiles were not great record keepers like the Jews.
Genetically, we all come from Adam and Eve.
It’s good to know who are ancestors are, but God doesn’t make a distinction.
Jesus was prophesied to be born of the Jews -----God chose the tribe of Judah through both his paternal and maternal lines. The New Testament gives us the linage from Adam to Jesus in one place and his linage from Adam to His mother Mary in another place.
