Trump Fulfilling Bible Prophecy for Third Temple in Jerusalem
The POTUS Donald Trump confirmed a very controversial decision on Wednesday. The President declared that the US will officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This decision has actually been a long time in the making, with promises from the Obama and Bush administration prior to Trump’s presidency. This decision not only carries great political weight, but also Biblical prophecy as well.
Additionally, Trump announced that he is planning on relocating the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. For those of you who missed the news, here is President Trump’s official speech announcing his plans for Israel:
What is so significant about this announcement?
This announcement is significant for many different reasons. First of all, this is an extremely risky and volatile decision, that will no doubt increase tensions within the Middle East between the Palestinian and Jewish people.
Israel seized West Jerusalem in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, displacing over 750,000 Palestinians from historic Palestine. With this news, Palestinians are now up in arms for fear they will lose East Jerusalem as well. Violent protests are already underway in countries throughout the Middle East and even Europe:
What are the religious implications? Does this fulfill prophecy?
While it is obvious this decision has immense political repercussions, many people have missed it’s Biblical and prophetic implications. For Jews and Christians around the world, this is an announcement of Biblical proportions. These rising conflicts among Israel and her neighbors are also spoken of in the Bible. This conflict among Israel and the surrounding nations was spoken of in Zechariah 12:2-3:
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
This also sets the stage for the highly anticipated re-construction of the “Third Temple”.
Currently the holy site of the Temple Mount or “Dome of the Rock” is home to the Muslim mosque they call Haram esh-Sharif. Trump’s decision is one step closer to giving Israel control over this holy ground, enabling them to eventually reconstruct their prophetic Third Temple.
The prophecy of the Third Temple of the Bible?
In fact, prominent Jewish leaders and rabbis have already began to discuss the rebuilding of the new temple immediately after Trump’s announcement:
“What he did last night was an enormous step in bringing the Temple,”Asaf Fried, official spokesman for the United Temple Movement, an association of organizations working towards making the Third Temple a reality, told Breaking Israel News. “There have been amazing advances towards bringing the Temple this year. It was clear that Trump was part of that process, guided by Hashem (God),”
Even prior to Trump’s declaration on Wednesday, Jewish leaders were already discussing the possibility of constructing the Third Temple:
“President Trump can choose to be a part of a process to bring the Messiah,” Rabbi Hillel Weiss told Breaking Israel News, a religious website in Israel.
Ushering in the Antichrist
This is the Third Temple that the Jews believe will bring their long awaited Messiah. However Christians know that this Third Temple will actually usher in the Antichrist according to Bible prophecy (Read more about why Christianity is different from all other religions):
“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
This verse is of course in reference to the Antichrist entering the Third Temple (because the Jews’ Second Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.) and declaring himself to be the “messiah”.
We are living in unprecedented times as Christians. Trump’s declaration should be both sobering and exciting. It very well seems that we may be entering into the final days. As Christians, we must continue to pray and study the Bible to remain vigilant and ready for what may lay ahead.