How Many Temples Will There Be?

Q

From reading your different articles along with the Bible, I understand that the 3rd temple to be built, that the Anti Christ will desecrate, will be built supposedly after the Ezekiel Battle. Is that the same temple that will remain when Christ comes back for the 1000 year reign? Or is the 3rd temple destroyed by the Anti Christ and a 4th built in the Millennium that the Jews will do their sacrifices in during that 1000 years? Thank you for your time and answers. I have loved studying God’s Word along with your interpretations.

A

According to Jewish thought based on the Old Testament, there will be a total of three Temples. The first was built by Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians, the second by Zerubbabel (remodeled by Herod) and destroyed by the Romans. They call the third one Ezekiel’s Temple after its description in Ezekiel 40-46. This one will be built soon, desecrated by the anti-Christ (Daniel 9:27), and re-dedicated for use in the Millennium.

Some Christians believe there will be a total of 4 Temples. They believe the soon to be built 3rd Temple will be destroyed after being desecrated, and then a new one built for the Millennium.

Like the Jews I believe there will only be three, but this difference of opinion will be resolved soon. The first two Temples were very similar in location and construction, but Ezekiel’s is quite different in both. If the Jews build something that resembles Solomon’s Temple on the current Temple Mount then it will be destroyed and a 4th one will replace it. But if they build it north of Jerusalem in Shiloh according to the dimensions given by Ezekiel, then it will be the final one.