Will There Be A Physical Temple?

17 min readSep 8, 2021

(And Does It Matter?)

September 2021

Written to Bible-believing followers of Jesus, by a Bible-believing follower of Jesus. Test it and hold fast what is good.

What Do We Typically Hear from the ‘Pulpit’?

Here’s The Bible Project’s short video (4 min) and short page/audio devoted to the topic of the temple. Admittedly, I haven’t listened to any of their podcast or Tim Mackie’s further teaching on this topic (assuming there probably is some), so there’s a chance they might totally agree with me. Please note that my point is not to throw TBP under the bus (I like them a lot and greatly appreciate their videos). We have to start somewhere, so I want to use the video above as a starting point for further discussion.

While it does a great job (as always) of capturing the spiritual reality and symbolism of the temple in helpful and appealing aesthetics, a 4-min video [necessarily] falls short of explaining the physicality of the various temples and their significance in the future. In fact, I’d argue it totally undercuts the future temple(s) and potentially (albeit unintentionally) lends itself to a deeper issue. But let’s start here:

I broke the TBP’s video down into bullet points, almost verbatim, but reordered them a bit:

“The whole point of the earthly temple is that it is the place that overlaps with God’s heavenly home. It’s where He lives and rules all creation as King.” (I agree!)
In the creation story, there are essentially 6 speeches, followed by the King’s presence filling creation on the 7th day to rule, reign, and rest. The building of the tabernacle follows suit, and the whole point is that this is the place where heaven & earth overlap — where God dwells. In creation, the garden was at the center, where God and Man dwelt together, thus, the temple is ‘modeled after the garden’ and includes all kinds of garden imagery in its decor, as well as the priests being called to “work and keep” the temple.
“The building was just a symbol pointing to the fact that all of creation is God’s temple.” “All of creation is where God intends to dwell — it [all of creation] is like His temple.”
Man was exiled from the garden, and likewise the Hebrews were exiled from the temple (noting that the second temple was “hopelessly corrupt” according to the prophets), so they hoped for a new temple and a new priesthood, the question(s) being, “Did God give up on Israel? Will God bring about a new creation?”
Jesus came and said He was the true temple, us being ‘many temples,’ communities of peoples where God dwells, the temple equalling the Church (body of Christ), and not being a building, and including all of creation.
[4:00+] “At the end of the story do we ever get a new physical temple?” “Not exactly. What we see is a renewed cosmic temple just like Genesis 1 and this new creation doesn’t need a temple building because through Jesus all creation is now the place where God rests and rules the world with His people.”

So as is always true of TBP, we have a very easy-to-follow logical progression. To put it in my own words: The Garden was spoiled, the Temple was spoiled, but then Jesus came back and fulfilled all of these mere symbols so all is well.

What’s The Problem?

TBP seems to suggest that man was exiled from the garden, then Jews were exiled from the temple, and that’s okay because the whole earth is going to be the garden and the body of Jesus serves as a bunch of ‘temples’ throughout the world/garden. And in a sense that’s absolutely true.

But Jesus is coming back to rule and to reign as King and execute judgment right?

For the sake of discussion, let’s say there’s no temple. It was just a symbol and now it’s irrelevant.

But if Jesus is coming back as a [Jewish] man to reign over the world, where will He reign from? Physically, where will He sit? Will he choose some arbitrary location on the earth? Antarctica perhaps? At the Big Texan in Amarillo maybe?

Why wouldn’t it be in the place that the whole story started, the whole place the story centers around, the physical point of the earth with the most controversy of any other geographic place of the earth, precisely because of the works and wonders done there (and the temples built there and filled with God’s presence there) by the God of Israel? Why wouldn’t it be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem — Mount Zion — in a new temple built upon the same place where so much of the story has already taken place?

I believe the scriptures tell us this will be the case.¹

What About The New Testament?

How then do we understand the New Testament teaching on the body of Jesus as ‘temples’ and the seeming spiritual/theological irrelevancy of a physical building structure?

Joel Richardson points out that there are two words in the New Testament for the temple:

Hieron: Used of the greater temple complex (72 times) and used of a pagan temple of Artemis (once — Acts 19:27)
Naos: Used of the temple in Jerusalem, specifically the building consisting of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (32 times), used of a heathen temple/shrine (2 times), and used metaphorically, the spiritual temple (representing Christ/individual Christians/the Church corporately) (9 times).

In a sense, our ratio is a striking 107:9 (or at least 104:9). I was personally surprised by this.

Joel suggests the following takeaways concerning a future physical temple:

This [metaphorical/spiritual reality] doesn’t negate the fact that He dwelt in physical temples in the past.
Paul engages in temple sacrifice long after the veil was torn (Acts 21:26–27) and it wasn’t unholy or blasphemous and he wasn’t just contextualizing — he took these things very seriously, making vows and sacrifices, and it wasn’t cynical or deceptive.
Four texts in Daniel (8:11, 9:27, 11:31, 12:11) suggest quite clearly a literal physical temple in the days of the antichrist (note that the temple is not described as unholy or blasphemous), and this is the main picture of what the antichrist does against God: to desecrate and destroy the temple [God’s temple]. (see #7)
Ezekiel 40–48, if we don’t read this literally, must forcibly be interpreted metaphorically, which is pretty tough (if not delusional) given the level of detail and measurements included. It would be like your wife setting the grocery list out on the table for you and you wondering if the grocery list has a deeper spiritual meaning. (In Richardson’s book, When A Jew Rules The World, he says “This text, one continuous prophecy, is also one of the most glaringly difficult for amillennialists who deny there will be a literal, future, messianic, millennial kingdom in Israel. Because these nine chapters contain such a tremendous amount of meticulous detail, any effort to interpret them symbolically or metaphorically will inevitably result in a circus of bizarre interpretations and speculation that would make even Origen blush.”)
Jesus takes the temple literally (Mt. 24:15–21) (and no, Jesus wasn’t talking about 70AD)
The New Testament doesn’t rewrite or overwrite the Old Testament. That’s terrible hermeneutics. The NT affirms, reiterates, and often expands what’s been there the whole time. “The principle of first mention.”
2 Thess 2:4 (see #3)
Rev 11 — “the temple of God” again. The temple is the extension of God’s heavenly throne extended on the earth over His subjects.

Like TBP says, we would of course expect the tabernacle, the temple, Jesus and the nature of His people all to point back to creation and the garden with increasing affirmation and clarity, concerning the heart of God and how He wants to relate with His creation. But can each of these things not remain significant in their own respect?

With TBP’s video, it’s like the temple merely points backward (to the garden) and forward (to the church and/or the new earth) but itself is no longer relevant. It’s like it was a bridge that we no longer need because we have Jesus, or a bridge that we can now destroy now that we are ‘back in the garden.’ It kind of feels like it removes/replaces Jewish history.

What’s more, it actually seems to also diminish the value of Eden (and the earth) as an actual place with an actual purpose. In many ways it appeals to the Greek worldview that we’ve inherited in the West which says the physical realm is ‘bad’ and something to ‘escape’ from, which isn’t the Jewish/Biblical worldview.

So what if ALL of these things (the Garden, Sinai, the Temple Mount, etc) are still ever-significant in their own right, and that while, in Jesus we see a more beautiful picture and more complete story, the ‘chapters’ of the story are still ever-relevant? What if these elements of the story simply stack and actually increase in value as the story barrels towards a close? (Note: Unlike the Greek worldview, the story does have an ending!)

Why can’t the Cornerstone (Jesus) sit and reign upon the foundation stone where Adam was created, where Adam sinned, where Isaac was spared, where the Ark sat (the ‘mercy seat’ Ex. 25–26), and where God’s glory and presence filled the temple?

If God created a pinnacle physical symbol of His rule and reign on earth (the temple), and if Jesus is coming back to rule and reign on earth (He is), would it not make sense that the physical Jesus will rule and reign in the physical temple?

Is. 2:1–4

So…will there be a physical temple?

Before the return of Jesus, yes. Except this one will be destroyed before His return. This event (the temple being made ‘desolate’) will kick off the ‘Great Tribulation’ (or ‘Jacob’s Trouble’), as the antichrist will stop the sacrifices, sit on God’s throne in the temple, and destroy it.² The modern Jewish people are prepared/preparing to build this temple, and it seems that they will attempt to build it according to Ezekiel’s vision (ch.40–48) “as best we can” (which so far has obviously never been built). However, Ezekiel’s temple is massive and would effectually need to destroy all of the Old City of Jerusalem in order to be built according to Ezekiel’s measurements, and so my thought (especially in light of 1. the eschatological nature of the the surrounding chapters and verses in Ezekiel, and 2. the coming siege and destruction of Jerusalem in the Great Tribulation), that this temple won’t be built to-spec until Jesus returns. Rather, the third temple will be built as ‘best as possible’ but not according to all of Ezekiel’s measurements (which was also true of the second temple even though they had Ezekiel’s writings at the time).
When Jesus returns and reigns for 1000 years (His ‘millennial’ reign) on the earth, yes, He will reign from a rebuilt (fourth) temple.³ Many will reign with Him during this time, where He will be executing judgment on the earth,³ as King of all her kings.⁴ This period of time I believe is what the aptly-named novel “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” points us toward in some ways. I have not read it myself, but a friend of mine was reading it lately and I couldn’t help but notice one afternoon that he was about halfway through the book, and yet he said the final war had already taken place. This was a powerful illustration for me of Jesus’ millennial reign for me. In the last days of the tribulation, there will be huge changes in the earth’s topography⁵ and the land will be in need of renovation.⁶ For 7 months after the final war of the tribulation,⁷ dead bodies will be collected and the earth cleaned up.⁸ Ezekiel’s temple will be built,⁹ and a river will open up and flow from the Temple Mount down to the Dead Sea, bringing the Dead Sea (and the land along the new river) to life.¹⁰ Nations and kings will bring gifts from across the earth to the new King on the throne in Jerusalem and pay homage, helping to rebuild the kingdom.¹¹ It will be a time of justice, peace, [Jewish] celebration,¹² abundance, and restoration,¹³ and it will happen on the same physical earth that we (more or less) now know. This is the good news of the kingdom, isn’t it?
When God creates a new heaven and a new earth, there will be no temple,¹⁴ which is what TBP is ultimately pointing us toward. Yet we should note that although there isn’t a temple, it doesn’t seem to be because the temple was some mere earthly thing to be discarded with no significance; rather, there is something far more grand in its very place, in Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem, beyond our wildest imagination.¹⁵

Why Does It Matter?

Firstly, we should recognize that this matters to God. There are more verses about the tabernacle and the temple than there are about things like the Sabbath and dietary laws (Kosher/Kashrut). In this abundance of verses, the Scriptures reveal the above truths concerning the temple(s). That should be enough reason for us to consider and ponder these things. It’s worth saying that I know several great and godly men who have made significant life decisions against their best humanly (or cultural) judgment — whether it’s sacrificial giving, gender definition/roles, or global missions — because “the Bible says what it says, and I can trust it.” I deeply respect these men, and I know there are many more of them in the body. Why then, on this topic, do we seem unclear? Why have so many done spiritual gymnastics around these things when it seems to me that ‘the Bible says what it says and I can trust it?’ How can we read some of these verses any other way than they’re written? Do these words mean anything? (my emphasis added)

God speaking to Solomon at the dedication of the first temple:
“For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.” [2 Chron 7:16 ESV]

For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. [Ps. 132:13–14 ESV]

Isaiah 62:
The Lord is speaking to Israel (“Zion” x2 “Jerusalem” x3), contrasted with other nations and kings (v.2, 7, 8), and He calls her “a crown of beauty,” and changes her name from “Forsaken” and “Desolate” to “Married,” “My Delight Is In Her,” “The Holy People,” “The Redeemed of the Lord,” “Sought Out,” and “A City Not Forsaken.” He is speaking about the future return of Jesus when all Israel will be saved (v.11), when Jerusalem is never again plundered by foreigners but gets to enjoy the fruit of her labor in the Temple with the Lord (v.8–9). He is zealous for her and for this day (v.1, 6–7) and rejoices over her in this day as her husband (v.5).

Secondly, this downplaying of the physical temple and the eschatological realities concerning the ‘Jewishness’ of our Messiah lends itself to a much deeper issue. This issue is one of theology, and is most commonly known as ‘replacement’ theology (though it commonly uses softer language like ‘inclusion’ or ‘fulfillment’ to disguise itself), and God’s character and His faithfulness are at stake. To simplify this issue and put it as frankly as possible: God has made a tremendous amount of promises to the people of the physical bloodline of Abraham, the ethnic Jewish people. Many of these concern a complete spiritual restoration for the remaining Jewish people on the earth, at the coming of the Messianic Jewish King to His throne in Jerusalem. These promises have yet to be fulfilled. If we believe that God will not keep these promises to the Jewish people, then we cannot trust His faithfulness to us, or any of His other promises for that matter. Lest we be tempted to think (unbiblically) that we the Church have ‘replaced’ the Jews and become the ‘true Israel,’ let us heed Paul’s warning in Romans 11. He called this ‘arrogance,’ and spoke of us Gentiles as being grafted into a much larger and much older Jewish ‘tree.’¹⁶

Again, what do these words mean?

“If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.” Thus says the LORD: “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD.” [Jer 31:36–37 ESV]
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. Thus says the LORD: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.” [Jer 33:23–26 ESV]
(Recommended reading: Jer 30–33)

The third reason this matters, which we’ve alluded to already, is that this affects how we treat people. Namely, this affects how we view and treat the Jewish people, both now and in the future. In another article, I suggested that God expects us to know how the world is trending and to see what He is doing. Aside from refraining from the historical pattern of Christian anti-semitism, we will have key roles to play as the day of the Messiah’s return approaches, and these responsibilities will be harder to carry out if we don’t know what’s going on and if our heart isn’t aligned with God’s. Anti-semitism will only increase, and it is already appearing ‘just’ and ‘right’ to persecute the Jews or to make them appear to be the bad guys. When a third temple is constructed and animal sacrifices resume in the most controversial site on the planet, muslims, vegans, atheists, PETA, and a whole host of others will be in an absolute uproar. Brothers and sisters, please consider where you stand. Jesus is coming back and the armies who stand against Him and against His people Israel will be destroyed and judged accordingly.¹⁷

In summary, this matters because it matters to God, it affects how we view God, and it is only becoming more and more practical as time goes on (and anti-semitism increases).

Conclusion

It is tough to balance these things as Christians. We are so [rightly] saturated in the New Testament, where the Jews often seem like the ‘bad guys.’ What’s more, we look at modern history and largely we see an unbelieving Jewish people (regarding Jesus), so it is easy to compartmentalize the Jewish people into the same black-and-white (or believing-and-unbelieving) category as the animistic tribesman (and ourselves when we were unbelieving). In a salvific sense this is accurate; Jesus is the only way of salvation.

But we cannot neglect what we call the ‘Old Testament.’ We must remember that God has written a story. In fact, 75% of the Scriptures are Stories (vs Poems, Letters, etc.), and the whole thing is very clearly one overarching story.

Within that story, Judaism is not merely another one of mankind’s attempts at creating a religion to attempt to satisfy and explain the supernatural inclinations and longings of the heart. The Jewish religious system, unlike any other in the world, was given to man by God Himself, in the context of a very unique relationship and this ongoing story. The whole story is essentially about this relationship.

It is not surprising then that God Himself inserted Himself into this story and specifically into the Jewish culture. Jesus (Yeshua the Jewish Messiah) was a perfect Jew who affirmed and defended the ‘Old Testament’ and expected his disciples to know it.¹⁸

Apart from Jesus Himself, the Temple is arguably the most significant symbol, metaphor, and physical structure that exemplifies this relationship and the intentions of God in creation. As the story comes to a close, we can’t help but notice a very particular love, and a very particular plan, regarding the Jewish people. We will also recognize that the Jewish temple is very much written into the story’s glorious ending:

The Messiah is coming back to this earth, to these cultures, to reign as a Jewish King over all the other nations of the earth from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

No, we don’t need a physical structure to worship God, nor does God need a physical structure to be worshipped in. Solomon knew as much¹⁹ and Jesus told us so,²⁰ but in the same way that God doesn’t need priests and ambassadors or anything at all, He has chosen to create and to share Himself with His creation. For whatever reason, the temple is one of the most prominent contexts in which He has chosen to share Himself.

If we think the temple is irrelevant and miss its future significance, we probably already think the Jews are irrelevant. Without realizing it, we’ve ‘lost our page’ in the story that God is writing, and we’ve succumbed to the things that Paul warned us against in Romans 11. This, brothers and sisters, is my concern.

God cares deeply for the Jewish people and He has not replaced them or written them out of the story. When Jesus returns, we may recognize Him for different things (the Christians for His scars, the Jews for the pillar of cloud,²¹ trumpets, thunder, and zeal for the temple,²² but we will all recognize Him and worship Him together. Let us not exalt ourselves and commandeer the entirety of temple symbolism and meaning when we are but a wild branch grafted into a much larger tree, for “salvation is from the Jews.”²³

Ps. 2, 2 Sam 5:7–9, 7:11–16, Ps. 110, Is. 2:1–4 (cf. Rev 16:17–21), 9:6–7, 16:5, Jer 33:14–16, Mt. 2:2, 27:11, 19:28–29, Lk 1:31–33, John 12:13, Rev 7:15, 11:15–18, 20:1–6
2 Thess 2, Dan 8:13, Dan 11–12, Mt. 24, Mk. 13, Rev 11:1–3
Is. 2:11–12, Ps. 110, Mt. 25:31–46 (cf. Rev 14), and see footnote 1
Is. 9:6–7, Is. 2:1–4, Amos 9:11–12, John 12:13, Rev 11:15, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiYsxMSwKzI
Rev 16:18–21
Is. 61:4
Ezekiel 38–39
Ezekiel 39:12–14
Ezekiel 40–48
Ezekiel 47:1–12
Is. 2:1–4, Is. 60–61, Zech 14:16–18, pages 88–107 of When A Jew Rules The World by Richardson
Zech 14:16–21
Is. 42:1, 11:4, 29:19, 35:5–6, Micah 4:6, Zeph 3:19, Ps. 72:13, Ezekiel 34:16, Is. 61:4, Amos 9:13–15, Zech 3:10, Micah 4:3, Acts 3:21, page 78+ of When A Jew Rules The World by Richardson
Rev 21:22
Rev 21, 22, Is. 65
See pages 55–69 of When A Jew Rules The World by Richardson
Joel 3
John 10:35, 6:31–51, Mt. 4:1–11, 15:3, 5:18, 22:31, 24:15, 21:16, 12:3, Lk. 17:29–32, 11:51, Mk. 7:13, 12:26, The Delusion Of Neutrality
2 Chron 6:18
John 4:19–24
See Appendix B of Sinai To Zion
2 Thess 2:1–12, John 2:13–17
John 4:22