Reasons for the literality of the reference to the Jerusalem Temple
in 2
Thess.2.4.
'The fact that we do not have the Temple
is a sign of God’s
judgment
against us.'
'When the Temple returns, in
fulfillment of God’s promise, the loyal Jew will not miss a
beat in bringing the sacrificial system back to life.' Yisroel
Blumenthal, 2010 'The
Holy Temple is the central, integral, intrinsic, vital and
necessary component of exercising sovereignty' Chaim Richman, 2nd September, 2011 Home Theology Tweet
Writing
of the AntiChrist,
'Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that
is called God, or
that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was
yet with you, I told you these things?'
Items already prepared for the 4th temple.
The Temple was still standing at the time of inspiration and
it would have been the obvious and natural meaning to the readers.
The reference to sitting is apparently literal, the allusion
to showing himself seems to suggest the support his need for a
specific physical location to gain assurance about his status.
Let there be no doubt of the growing and ostensibly highly
legitimate, but nevertheless spiritually disastrous, Rabbinic Jewish
determination to
rebuild
the temple (as evidenced by the first Jewish marriage there in 2
millennia, reported on 19/11/2010). See this poll
in Israel National News' website and this of Israel's public in
July
2010. The red heifer, long considered a
major stumbling block to regaining ritual purity, is
now ready, March 2011. Members
of
the Knesset begin to campaign for the seemingly innocuous and
perfectly proper right for Jews to pray in Judaism's holiest site -
which will meet massive Muslim resistance. The carpet
baggers are already ready, even before the Temple is rebuilt.
The Temple
Institute claims: (though I suspect these restrictions
are also though less rigorously applied to Christians too)
Popular songs abound with a
reflection of the growing expectation of the restoration of the
Jerusalem Temple
A flavour of growing Rabbinic Jewish sentiment
Although rebuilding the Temple would be the fruit of extraordinary
forbearance, given its theological roots it
can only end in tears.
A short glimpse at the feedbacks
at the bottom of this page shows how pervasive opinion in favour of
reconstructing the Temple has become in English speaking national
religious circles. There is also continuing Muslim paranoia and incitement
of anxiety and aggression over the issue. Why should the Muslim
Brotherhood desire Jerusalem
not Mecca as its capital?
Reasons why the reference
in 2 Thessalonians to the Temple is literal
A reference to the church would have seemed forced, since
there is no indication of simile or metaphor, unlike other NT uses
of the Temple as a figure.
Daniel alludes to a desolating abomination, a common term for a
seductive idol, (Deut.
7.25, 27.15,
1 Ki. 11.5,7, 2
Ki. 23.13, Isa.
44.19, Ez.
18.12, Luk.
16.15, Rev.
21.8, 27),
associated
with
the cessation of daily temple sacrifice in four places (Dan.
12.11, 11.31,
9.27, 8.13). This
strongly suggests an association between this event and the literal
temple, where daily sacrifice was alone legitimate (Deut.
12.11). The timing of the cessation in Daniel 8.14
(2,300 days, over 5 years), does not match the three years from 15th
Chisleu 167 (1 Macc.1.53) to 25th Chisleu 164
BC (1 Macc.4.51), when
Antiochus Epiphanes profaned the Temple, though this event like that
of later Roman Emperors prefigure an ultimate desolation. Matthew
Poole, for example, gives 5 quite different attempts at reconciling
the timing with Antiochus, none are satisfactory. (NB: The
writings of the Maccabees are noteworthy but not inspired by the
Holy Spirit, and versification is inconsistent between
translations.)
Antiochus Epiphanes and coins of his realm (Courtesy of
Wiki)
The Lord Jesus Christ cites Daniel's Abomination 'standing
where it ought not', then exhorts the reader In Judaea to flee, and
to pray that his flight not be on a Sabbath. In Matthew He makes it
explicit that this refers to 'the holy place', the sanctuary (Matt.
24.15).
The power of the false prophet is described in Rev.
13.15, in that he 'had power to give life unto the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause
that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be
killed.'
Could the placing of this image in the Temple represent the
Abomination that desolates, perhaps at the time identified in Dan.
11.45 the heart idol of all the world that defiles and
destroys the world?
Early
writers: second century AD. 'But when this Antichrist shall
have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for
three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem;
and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the
glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him
into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the
times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh
day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, in which
kingdom the Lord declared, that “many coming from the east and
from the west should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” '
Iraeneus 'Against Heresies', Book V, Chapter 30, Paragraph 4.
'Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also
a king. The Saviour was manifested as a lamb; so he too, in like
manner, will appear as a lamb, though within he is a wolf.
The Saviour came into the world in the circumcision, and he will
come in the same manner. The Lord sent apostles among all the
nations, and he in like manner will send false apostles. The
Saviour gathered together the sheep that were scattered abroad,
and he in like manner will bring together a people that is
scattered abroad. ... The Saviour raised up and showed His holy
flesh like a temple, and he will raise a temple of stone in
Jerusalem.' Hippolytus,
Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, Pt.2. Sn.6.
The real test of the true Temple is found in this text:
'And the nations shall know that I the LORD do sanctify
Israel,
when my Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.'
Ezek. 37.28 Will it bring inward
holiness of character?
Writing
of the AntiChrist, 
Antiochus Epiphanes and coins of his realm (Courtesy of
Wiki)
