There is a prophetic mosaic that few have attempted to explain, because it's fulfillment appears to be shrouded in a cloak of elusiveness, and at the moment, seeming improbability. Yet we know it must be fulfilled sometime within the next few years, or other prophecies which directly hinge on it will not be able to be fulfilled. This prophetic anomaly revolves around how, and when, Israel will regain absolute jurisdiction over The Temple Mount long enough to allow them to build their Third Temple. After all, according to the book of Daniel, there will soon arise a world leader who will desecrate the Temple mid-Trib. Therefore, it logically must be assumed that in order for him to carry out this treachery, a Temple, complete with all Temple worship priestly activities in operation, must first be erected on The Temple Mount!
There have been occasional attempts by well-meaning, but somewhat fringe individuals, to free The Temple Mount from the Muslims. But none of these attempts have been successful, because the LORD does not honor those who take matters into their own hands. Rather, the LORD Himself will bring about fulfillment of specific prophecies which will free The Temple Mount from the pagan presence of Islam, and place it undeniably within Israeli control.
The political and religious mechanisms necessary for this to be accomplished are already in the process of unfolding. The current situation in The Middle East is complex, and even though we do see the unfolding of prophecy as the Quartet (the USA, the UN, the EU, and Russia) is attempting to do everything possible to bring about peace by trying to form an independent Palestinian State alongside Israel, we are able to conclude that such an eventuality will not procure a lasting peace in the region, so long as there are equally strong Islamic forces which desire to annihilate Israel.
Also, because of the raging controversy regarding national sovereignty over the Land, Israel's current Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, is showing signs of beginning to succumb under the weight of international pressures, and is dictatorially pushing for Unilateral Withdrawal of all Jews from Gaza, as well as eventually from parts of Judea and Samaria. This program of withdrawal is not sitting well with many Israelis, even though the leftist leaning media has tried to tell us otherwise. Needless to say, many of the Palestinians, along with the Arab terrorist organizations, are beginning to sense some victory for their efforts. Some terrorist leaders have vowed to step-up their activities as withdrawal proceeds, in order to further their cause. Their ultimate desire is to annihilate Israel.
Security is a constant concern for both Palestinians and Jews. Therefore, to deter the smuggling of illegal weapons, and to prevent terrorist atrocities against Israel from Gaza following Israel's withdrawal, Egypt has been approached to oversee and provide security in Gaza.
But what does all this have to do with The Temple Mount?
Security on The Temple Mount is administered by the Waqf, a branch of Arafat's terrorist Fatah organization, which, needless to say, is not favorable to any religious activity by either Jews or Christians within the Mount area. In fact, they frustrate both Jews and Christians by variously opening and closing access to the Mount. Even when access is granted, the number of non-Muslim visitors allowed at any given time is severely limited. Security is cited as the reason for such restrictions.
Along with the above, the Mount geologically is unstable. Seismic activity of a fault line that passes through The Mount of Olives, under The Temple Mount, and extends into The Old City, has increased of late. Also, the southern wall of the Mount has become unstable due to unethical and illegal excavating on the part of the Muslims, in order to build an underground Mosque in the area referred to as Soloman's Stables. This weakening of the south wall has caused cracks and some sloughing along both of the southeastern and southwestern corners. Meanwhile, a growing length of the south wall itself is dangerously bulging. This bulge has been slowed down somewhat with band-aid repairs by Jordanian and Egyptian engineers, but everyone knows the wall will eventually collapse. The geological seismic activity, coupled with the south wall instability, have the potential to escalate animosities between Israel and the Islamic Arabs, if anyone is hurt or killed when further damage to the Mount inevitably occurs.
Couple this with the fact that both Muslims and Jews claim The Temple Mount area as sacred territory, and we can easily understand the ramifications for both Israelis and Muslims when these inevitable catastrophes occur.
The Temple Mount represents the presence of God to Israel. During the tenures of both the first and second Temples, the Shekinah Glory presence of God rested within the Temple. There are some Jewish rabbis who believe this presence has never actually left The Temple Mount area, and, since no one knows for certain where the Shekinah is on the Mount, they feel it is inappropriate for Jews to ascend the Mount until another Temple is constructed, for fear of encountering the power of God, and incurring a curse upon themselves. (But of course, this also begs the question of how a Temple will even eventually be built under such a possible curse, since contractors and their crews will obviously have to work there to construct it! What they fail to remember, is Ezekiel actually witnessed the Glory leave the Mount!) Therefore, the religious community is divided regarding whether Jews should be allowed to enter the Mount area, other than to pray at the Kotel -- the Western Wailing Wall.
Meanwhile, The Land of Israel and Temple Mount Faithful, headed by Gershon Salomon, is dedicated to
regaining control of The Temple Mount, and to the building of the Third Temple. Their efforts will soon pay off. But when? And more importantly, how?
God has always dealt with Israel according to His plans and purposes, in fulfillment of His prophetic timetable. God brought about the destruction of the previous two Temples as discipline. Therefore the presence of the Temple on the Mount, or the lack of it's presence, reveals the discipline and prophetic purposes of God for Israel. He has an appointed time on His prophetic schedule when Israel will regain the Mount, and the Temple will then be re-built.
The LORD seldom accomplishes one goal in isolation of other prophetic purposes. His freeing of The Temple Mount is directly tied to both deliverance for Judah and Jerusalem from her enemies, and the establishment of Israel in the Land of Covenant. However, there is a definite prophetic piece-by-piece process involved, and the freeing of The Temple Mount to allow the Third Temple to be built is part of this process. But at what juncture in the unfolding of prophecy does this necessary fulfillment take place?
When Gabriel explained to Daniel the unfolding of God's discipline upon Judah and Jerusalem, he made
reference to what appears to be a calamity that results in the need to rebuild a "wall" and a "street." Daniel 9:25b states: "the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." Although this is stated within the explanation regarding the breakdown of the Seventy Weeks, the context does not specifically state that the "wall" and "street" are rebuilt during the Seventieth Week. Rather, the repairs are accomplished within the sixty-nine week breakdown, prior to the Seventieth Tribulation Week. Therefore, the repair of the "wall" and "street" is a prophetic sign which likely will be fulfilled during the sixty-ninth week.
Also, notice the "street" and "wall" are singular, not plural. This prophecy has not yet unfolded, because at the time of the return of Judah from their seventy year captivity, repairs were made to all the walls and streets, plural, surrounding the entire Old City of Jerusalem. Therefore there must be coming a specific calamity which must result in the need for a wall and a street, singular, to be repaired, and this will be accomplished during troublesome times. Collapse of the south wall of The Temple Mount could fulfill this prophecy, because repairs would be done under great duress between Islamic and Jewish factions.
Along with the above, the current stance Israel is taking in withdrawal from the Land that God obviously handed to them during the 1967 Six Day War, (which included The Temple Mount,) has ramifications which will result in revealing His involvement in the situations developing in the Middle East. Israel acted in fear and disobedience by returning the Mount to Jordan in 1967. Jordan then turned the Mount over to the newly formed Palestinian Authority. If Israel had retained the Mount, they most certainly would have had to endure some repercussions from the Muslims. What form this would have taken is open to conjecture, because Israel did not give God a chance to show His blessing. Therefore, because of rejecting the Mount, Israel is now headed down the road to inevitable war!
The Unilateral Withdrawal, with the subsequent set-up of a Palestinian State, will escalate the onset of this coming war. The first conflict regarding these issues will be the Battle of Gog and Magog, which will result in temporarily freeing Judea and The Temple Mount from Muslim jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of Egypt as a source of security following the Unilateral Withdrawal process will feed this whole scenario, and interestingly, the wall surrounding the Temple Mount is indeed to be used as the prophetic sign, telling us God does know what is transpiring within Israel! Notice what Isaiah states regarding approaching Egypt for help. Isaiah 31:1."Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" What is Israel doing approaching Egypt for assistance? That is not God's desire for them! Verse 3 of the same chapter says, "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God." This verse continues by stating, "When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fall together." Both Israel and Egypt will lose! Isaiah 36:6 states, "Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him."
Also, Isaiah chapter 30 explains what God thinks of those who do not trust Him, but rather trust in Egypt. This chapter is prophetic regarding the present scenario! It's as if Isaiah were a journalist covering the currently breaking news in the Middle East, providing us with a dictated written editorial from the LORD Himself! Let's begin reading at verse 1. "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me, and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: Verse 2: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth: to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!" Israel is even now seeking to rest under Egypt's military covering, and to trust in the protective shadow of Egypt! Verse 3. "Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion." Verse 7. "For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still." Hello!!
Sit still!! Do not leave Gaza!! Do not consider leaving Samaria or Judea!! But will Israel follow this directive?
There are many within Israel trying to point out the folly of Unilateral Withdrawal, but Sharon and his ilk are ignoring them, and even threatening them with legal discipline. This chapter continues. Verses 8-10. "Now go, write it in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:" Is Sharon listening to the Land of Israel Rabbis, or to the evangelical Christians trying to point out the will of the LORD for Israel. Did he pay any attention to the Human Chain, or to the Orange protest rallys? NO! In fact, the powers that are insisting on withdrawal are trying to silence the voices of protest and reason! They are shoving aside those who protest, by saying. Verse 11: "Get out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." Now that's dangerous!!
So what will be the LORD's response? Verses12-14. "Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon (insist on your plan) Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant." Is not the south wall of the Temple Mount even now swelling out of alignment? This swelling of the south wall began high in the wall during a Ninth of Av, 2001 prayer vigil, held by The Land of Israel and Temple Mount Faithful!! The swelling has been steadily increasing ever since, and the weakened wall is considered in real danger to collapse! Does God have a physical sign for Israel which may well burst suddenly when Israel withdraws, and Egypt is actually called in to bring "security"in Gaza? Yes, the wall will collapse, to cause Israel to take stock of what she is doing. Then the wall will need repairing, and the street that runs fairly close to the south Wall will also need fixing, and this will all unfold under troubling, dangerous, circumstances -- just as Gabriel stated to Daniel!So when will the Third Temple be built? The collapse of the southern aspect of The Temple Mount wall very well may render the entire Mount area to be unusable for the Muslims, because the Mosques situated there will be severely damaged. They will have to find alternate facilities until the area is totally restored. They will blame Israel for the collapse and damage, and insist that Israel fund and repair the area. Therefore, Israel will gain access to The Temple Mount through a disciplinary act of God! The Temple will
finally be rebuilt as a result of the routing of the Muslims from the Mount through an act of God showing His displeasure against Israel calling upon Egypt for assistance, thus causing the Mount wall to crumble.
In the course of this whole scenario, war also will result, not simply because of Temple Mount animosities, but because of several concurrent factors which will draw Russia (the King of the North) and her allies into Israel. This Russian invasion will be thwarted by God turning them back on the mountains of Israel, (the West Bank.) As a result, Israel will entrench jurisdiction over all of Judea, and Jerusalem will be secure. However, Gaza, and quite possibly part of Samaria, will remain temporarily in Palestinian hands, probably as an interim Palestinian State.
Following this war led by the King of the North, a short time of unsettled peace will ensue, and a new Prime Minister will arise in Israel. This leader will not be the Antichrist, but will be a politician referred to as a "raiser of taxes." See Daniel 11:20."Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle." In order to tax the population, there will have to be a relatively strong economy, so this indicates a time of relative peace and prosperity will follow the Battle of Gog and Magog. The Israeli citizens will obviously have jobs and incomes which can be taxed, (which also means the world economy will recover for a short time, because Israel depends on foreign trade to survive.) But notice, the purpose of this increase in taxation will be very specific. It will be ear-marked for "the glory of the kingdom." What is Israel's 'Kingdom glory?" The Temple! So this leader will collect taxes to specifically make sure the Temple is built on the Temple Mount. The Raiser of Taxes who will expedite this project is often overlooked, but he is important. Unfortunately this Prime Minister will not remain in office for very long, but not because anyone is angry with him, and not because of another immediate war.
Now to not have anyone angry with him
as a result of raising taxes will be somewhat of a miracle! Why will no one be angered? The Israeli
population, and Jews world-wide, will finally, and quickly, before anyone can mount opposition to the project, be able to build their Temple! Because there will be a short time of peace and prosperity following Gog and Magog, (the Sixth Seal Calm of Revelation chapter 7, allowing also the 144,000 to be sealed to take the Gospel world-wide), indicated by the fact that the Raiser of Taxes is not brought down by battle, the Jews will be able to have enough security in Israel to build the Third Temple! That also means the Islamic factions within Israel will be temporarily defanged until this Prime Minister's demise, which also will be a miracle!
Therefore, the Unilateral Withdrawal Plan, Egyptian security in Gaza, the collapse of the south wall, the Battle of Gog and Magog, and raising taxes, will all work together to bring about the unfolding of prophecy, allowing the building of the Third Temple on The Temple Mount.
Written by Maureen Metcalf, author of "The Final Schedule Revealed: In the Fall Feasts and Festivals" http://teshuvatrumpet.org