December 17, 2009
“Therefore WHEN you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet STANDING in the HOLY PLACE” (whoever reads, let him understand) THEN let those who are in Judea FLEE to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-16).
Dear Brethren,
The possibility of a new Temple being constructed appears to be very likely based on what we find written in the Gospels, in the writings of Daniel, and the apostle Paul.
News about its continued planning seems to be more frequent as is seen by many of us. Please note the two following recent articles:
On December 6, Haaretz reported the following:
"If the 18th-century rabbinic authority the Vilna Gaon was right, on March 16, 2010, construction will begin on the third Temple. His projection states that the auspicious day will coincide with the third completion of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter. The great day is at hand: On March 15, the reconstructed Hurva Synagogue, considered the most important house of prayer in Jerusalem will be rededicated. It was last destroyed in the War of Independence."
Examiner.com
Temple Institute to Build Sacrificial Altar on Tisha B’av
by Yehudah Lev Kay December 15, 2009
(IsraelNN.com) The Temple Institute began work on the sacrificial altar Thursday, Tisha B’av, the day the Second Temple was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago.
T
he
sacrificial altar was located in the centre of the Temple, and upon
it the Kohanim (priests) offered the numerous voluntary and
obligatory sacrifices commanded in the Bible…
“Unfortunately, we cannot currently build the altar in its proper place, on the Temple Mount,” Temple Institute director Yehudah Glick said. “We are building an altar of the minimum possible size so that we will be able to transport it to the Temple when it is rebuilt.”
The Temple Institute has already built several of the Temple vessels such as the Ark and the menorah, and has now embarked on an ambitious project to build the altar, which will ultimately measure 3 metres wide by 3 metres long and 2 metres tall.
During Thursday’s ceremony, which took place in Mitzpe Yericho just east of Jerusalem, the Temple Institute laid the cornerstone for the altar and demonstrated how tar will be used to cement the stones together. The Institute plans on bringing the altar to its proper place on the Temple Mount when the Temple is rebuilt.
“Today, Tisha B’av, is not just a time to mourn the destruction of the Temple,” said Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, the head of the Temple Institute. “It is also a time to build.” http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132664
The Writings of the Gospels
As we
approach this coming time of the very likely possibility of a new
Temple being built other major prophecies will also be coming into
place that will connect with it.
Together, they will signal to the true and faithful people of God to be on high alert regarding the time to flee for the place which Jesus Christ will have prepared to protect them from the deadly sword that would take their lives during the Great Tribulation.
The words of Jesus Christ, as written by Matthew and Mark, are intended for the ELECT of God’s Church to be watching with vigilance and urgency for those prophetic events to fully come into place in Europe, Rome, and later in Jerusalem— all relating to the timing of what Jesus Christ said in those gospels.
They will enable the people of God to know exactly when to flee from where they will have gathered in Jerusalem from around the world and a related area close-by; this will be noted later.
Seeing the ‘SIGN’
Please note the difference of the— SIGN OF WARNING— given by Jesus Christ in the writings of Matthew and Mark— in contrast with the writing of Luke.
Matthew 24:15-16 “Therefore WHEN you SEE the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet STANDING in the HOLY PLACE” (whoever reads, let him understand) THEN [at that precise time] let those who are in Judea FLEE to the mountains.”
Mark 13:14 “And WHEN you SEE the Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STANDING WHERE IT OUGHT NOT (let the reader understand) THEN [at that precise time] let those who are in Judea FLEE to the mountains.”
I
t
should be realized the Scriptures having to do with a statue
being set up and standing in the Temple in Jerusalem were not
fulfilled in 70 A.D.! Undoubtedly, this is why Christ refers the
reader back to 
the Book of Daniel for the additional understanding
needed for the end-time.
Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
There was no statue set up in the Temple by Titus and his Roman armies in 70 A.D. as history makes known.
Though it was against the direct orders of Titus not to burn or destroy the Temple, in the heat of the battle his Roman Armies torched the Temple and burned it to the ground. Consequently, no statue was set up before the Temple was destroyed (The Bible as History, Werner Keller, Page 406).
This was due to the fact that Jerusalem and the Temple were at that time under the firm control of the Jews prior to its fall to the Roman General Titus and his armies.
Having these things in mind the people of God knew this was not something they were to be watching for to know the exact time when they were to flee. Rather it had to do with the approaching armies of Titus who would surround and close in on Jerusalem making their escape impossible.
A Statue of Jupiter was Set Up - Later
The Emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117-138) did set up a statue during his reign as history makes known:
“
A
statue of Jupiter [Olympus- same as Zeus] was
enthroned above
the ruins of the Jewish Temple as if in derision [Ridicule
or
scorn to show contempt], and on the site that
Christian
tradition believed to be that of the Holy Sepulchre, and strangers
climbed the terraced steps to do homage at a shrine of the pagan
goddess Venus (The Bible as History,
Werner
Keller Page 408
Based on what Christ had Matthew and Mark to add to their Gospels, which Luke did not, make it apparent that Christ was making reference to the time just ahead of us, the end-time.
The ‘Sign’ to Watch for in 70 A.D.
Luke
wrote basically of the same things as did Matthew and Mark; however,
what he did write appears to be directed more toward the brethren in
Jerusalem in 70 A.D. so as to make known to them when they must
immediately flee to Pella.
It also has meaning in part for the future departure as well
Luke 21:20 “But WHEN you SEE Jerusalem SURROUNDED by armies THEN KNOW that its DESOLATION is near.”
A
fter
the Roman General Vespasian left for Alexandria he left his armies in
Caesarea. As he was come to Alexandria this good news came to him
from Rome. And upon confirmation of him being established as the new
emperor by his entire government he turned his thought back to the
unsettled state of Jerusalem.
However, he himself made haste to go to Rome, since the winter was now almost over [69 A.D and early in 70 A.D.], and soon set the affairs of Alexandria in order.
Vespasian then sent his son Titus [from Alexandra] with a select army to destroy Jerusalem. So Titus marched on foot the many miles until he at last reached Caesarea.
During this time Jerusalem itself remained under the control of the Jews prior to its destruction by Rome in 70 A.D.
Putting
these writings of Josephus and other historians together, it would
appear that the brethren in Jerusalem departed for Pella sometime
after Vespasian departed for Alexandria in 69 A. D. and before the
return of Titus with his armies just before the Passover in 70 A.D.
Scouts for the warring Jews undoubtedly were watching for the return of Titus and his huge armies who were racing to Jerusalem from Alexandria. They knew Rome would be back to begin their fight to conquer Jerusalem. Undoubtedly the scouts continued to report of the approaching armies of Titus.
A
fter
having reached Caesarea with his select army shortly before the
Passover, Titus then gathered the waiting forces of Vespasian who
were there with his own and marched to Jerusalem to begin the battle
against the Jews.
The Window of Opportunity
This interval of time between the departure of Vespasian and the arrival of Titus with his huge armies to begin their attack, which they did at the beginning of the Passover in 70 A.D., made possible a small window of opportunity to flee from there to Pella.
A
Reference to the Writings of Daniel
It should be emphasized that for understanding of the ‘Abomination of Desolation Standing in the Holy Place’, as recorded in the writings of Matthew and Mark, Jesus Christ refers the reader back to the Book of Daniel.
To be continued—
In my next writing of this subject my intention is to do as Jesus said by going back to the Book of Daniel with the effort of trying to understand the prophecies concerning the sacrificial offerings and the Abomination of Desolation that connect with what Jesus said in the Gospels as well as what Daniel wrote about the sacrificial offerings that will once again take place in the near future (Daniel 12:11).
Your servant in Christ,
Don Billingsley
http://bodyofchristonline.us/ http://cog-ff.com http://www.ezekielwatchman.org/ http://worldnewsbulletin.com
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