False Teaching: The Church is the 3rd Temple

 

DO NOT FOLLOW THIS NEW PERVERSE TEACHING THAT THE CHURCH IS THE 3RD TEMPLE:

Please Study to show yourself approved.  2 Timothy 2:15 KJV.

The Following is a detailed summary and synopsis of my BLOG Titled:

The Millennial Kingdom Teaching: The Heart of the Matter

https://www.thethirdheaventraveler.com/2024/01/the-millennial-kingdom-teaching-heart.html

This Blog presents a strong, scripture-centered critique of popular dispensational views on a literal earthly millennial temple. 

BLOG argues persuasively that Ezekiel 40–48 describes a physical temple tied to the Tribulation period, involving the Antichrist (referencing 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Daniel 9:27), rather than a millennial kingdom structure or the eternal New Jerusalem. Key strengths include BLOG emphasis on the literal details of animal sacrifices and sin offerings in Ezekiel (e.g., Ezekiel 43:18–27, 45:15–25), which BLOG contrasts with the sacrifice-free eternal state, and BLOG Points that forcing Ezekiel into a millennial framework requires inconsistent allegorization despite the text's precise measurements (Ezekiel 40:5). BLOG also ties this to spiritual fulfillment in Christ as the true temple (Hebrews 10:1–23) while warning of end-time deception for Israel. Overall, it's a clear, KJV-based exposition that challenges readers to re-examine assumptions about prophecy timelines. Well done—it's thorough and rooted in a consistent literal hermeneutic where it counts.

Examination of Ezekiel's Temple (Ezekiel 40–48, KJV) and Why It Cannot Be the New JerusalemEzekiel 40–48 provides one of the most detailed architectural visions in Scripture: a future temple complex, complete with precise measurements, gates, chambers, altar, priesthood regulations, sacrificial system, a life-giving river, and tribal land divisions. This is introduced as a literal vision shown to Ezekiel in the 25th year of captivity (Ezekiel 40:1–4), with a man using a measuring reed to outline every dimension, emphasizing physical reality.Key features include:

• Physical structure and dimensions: A walled square enclosure (500 cubits per side, Ezekiel 42:15–20), outer and inner courts, gates with palm decorations and steps, a temple building with porch, holy place, and most holy place (Ezekiel 41), side chambers, and a massive altar with horns and steps eastward (Ezekiel 43:13–17).
• Sacrificial system: Explicit animal sacrifices, including daily burnt offerings, sin offerings (young bulls, goats), guilt offerings, and festival offerings (Passover, Tabernacles; Ezekiel 45:21–25). The altar is consecrated with seven days of sin offerings (Ezekiel 43:18–27), and the prince provides sin offerings for himself and the people (Ezekiel 45:22).
• Priesthood and prince: Only Zadokite priests minister (Ezekiel 44:15–16), with strict rules on garments, marriage, and purity. A "prince" has a special role, eating bread before the Lord, providing offerings (including for his own sin), and receiving land inheritance (Ezekiel 45:7–8, 46:16–18).
• River and land: Water flows from under the threshold, deepening into a life-giving river that heals the Dead Sea (Ezekiel 47:1–12). The land is divided equally among the 12 tribes, with a sacred portion for priests, Levites, city, and prince (Ezekiel 45–48).
• Ongoing rituals and mortality implied: Regulations for unintentional sins, purification after contact with death (Ezekiel 44:25–27), and the prince's personal sin offerings all point to a setting where sin and death persist.

In stark contrast, the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21–22 (KJV) is the eternal dwelling of God with redeemed humanity in the new heavens and new earth:

• No physical temple: "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it" (Revelation 21:22).
• Direct divine presence: God's throne is central, with the river of life flowing from it (Revelation 22:1); no night, curse, or impurity (Revelation 21:25, 22:3); nothing shameful enters (Revelation 21:27).
• Dimensions and materials: A perfect cube city (12,000 furlongs length/width/height), walls of jasper, streets of pure gold, gates of pearls, foundations of precious stones (Revelation 21:12–21).
• Life and healing: Tree of life on either side of the river, bearing 12 fruits monthly, leaves for healing of nations (Revelation 22:2)—but in a context of perfected eternity, not remedial sin offerings.
• No sacrifices or mortality: Complete removal of curse and death; God wipes away all tears (Revelation 21:4).

These are fundamentally incompatible:

• Ezekiel's temple requires ongoing animal sin offerings in a world where sin still occurs—impossible in the eternal state where the Lamb's once-for-all sacrifice has fully eradicated sin (Hebrews 10:10–14).
• A physical building with restricted access (holy/separate from common) contradicts the open, direct access to God in New Jerusalem.
• Mortality markers (sin offerings for the prince, purification rites) cannot coexist with "no more death" (Revelation 21:4).
• The settings differ: Ezekiel's vision assumes Israel's tribal structure on earth with foreigners integrated (Ezekiel 47:22–23), while New Jerusalem descends encompassing all redeemed without national distinctions in that form.

Ezekiel's temple cannot be the New Jerusalem—it describes an earthly, physical structure with memorial or functional sacrifices in a pre-eternal era.Ezekiel's Temple as the Third Temple: The One the Antichrist Will UseMany interpreters recognize Ezekiel's vision as describing the next physical temple in Jerusalem—the Third Temple (after Solomon's and Herod's/Zerubbabel's). This aligns with prophecies of a temple standing in the end times, where the Antichrist "sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4; cf. Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11—abomination of desolation).Current Jewish groups actively preparing for this Third Temple draw heavily from Ezekiel's template:

• The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has recreated vessels, garments, and even trained priests, using Ezekiel's descriptions for elements like chambers, altar design, and overall layout where Torah details are lacking for a future temple. Their illustrated tours and plans reference Ezekiel extensively for inner courts and sanctuary features.
• Chabad Lubavitch teaches that Ezekiel's vision details the Third Temple, to be built in the Messianic era. Their writings discuss why it wasn't built after the Babylonian exile (partial repentance) and anticipate its fulfillment soon, with the Rebbe emphasizing temple rebuilding as central to redemption.

These efforts reflect a widespread Jewish expectation of rebuilding based on Ezekiel—precisely the temple that, from a New Testament perspective, will be co-opted or desecrated by the Antichrist during the Tribulation. It fits the timeline before Christ's return, not the millennial or eternal state, and serves as a sign of end-time deception for unbelieving Israel (while the Church is already with Christ).
CHART Comparison of Ezekiel Temple Scriptures to Tribulation

Ezekiel Reference (KJV)	Key Element in Ezekiel's Temple Vision	Parallel to Tribulation Scriptures
Ezekiel 40:1–42:20 (Extensive measuring of the temple, gates, chambers, courts, and walls)	Ezekiel receives a reed to measure every detail of the temple structure, including inner/outer courts and separating walls (e.g., 42:20: "to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place").	Revelation 11:1–2: John receives a reed to "measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein," but to "leave out the court... for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Direct parallel in measuring the temple amid distinction/separation during Gentile trampling (42 months = latter half of Tribulation).
Ezekiel 43:18–27; 44:15–31; 45:15–25 (Altar consecration, sin offerings, daily sacrifices, Passover/Feast offerings resumed)	Detailed ordinances for blood sacrifices, sin offerings, and ongoing ritual worship to consecrate and maintain the altar/temple.	Daniel 9:27: The "prince" confirms a covenant (implying restored sacrifices), then "in the midst of the week... cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate." Also Daniel 11:31; 12:11 and Matthew 24:15 (abomination of desolation standing in the holy place). Parallel: Functional temple sacrifices that are halted mid-Tribulation by the Antichrist.
Ezekiel 45:21–25; 46:1–15 (Ongoing feasts and offerings in the temple system)	Resumption of Passover, feasts, and regular offerings.	Daniel 9:27 and related passages (as above): Parallel in a restored Jewish sacrificial system in a future temple, temporarily active before Antichrist's interruption and abomination (2 Thessalonians 2:4: he "sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God").
Ezekiel 44:1–3; 46:2–12 (East gate shut after glory enters; only the "prince" uses it for worship/offerings)	The prince has special access and provides offerings.	Parallel to 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (man of sin exalting himself in the temple) and Antichrist's control over temple access during Tribulation deception. The "prince" (nasi) fits as a future ruler figure in the transitional Tribulation period.
Ezekiel 45:22; 46:4–12 (The prince offers sin offerings for himself and the people)	The prince personally provides and participates in sin offerings (implying need for atonement).	Parallel to Tribulation context: Fits unbelieving or transitional Israel under Antichrist's rise (links to Daniel 7's "little horn" exalting himself and changing times/laws, Dan 7:25), before full restoration.
Ezekiel 43:1–5 (Glory of the Lord returns and fills the temple from the east)	Divine presence returns after prior departure (cf. Ezek 8–11 abominations caused glory to leave).	Parallel pattern: Temple defilement then temporary restoration, matching Tribulation sequence—temple function before desecration (abomination of desolation), followed by ultimate cleansing at Christ's return (indirect tie to Daniel 7:13–14, Son of Man receiving dominion after beasts/horn defeated).

These parallels highlight temple functionality (measurements, sacrifices, access, and glory presence) during a time of crisis and transition, aligning chapters 40–46 with Tribulation events. Ezekiel 47 offers the "future" promise of what comes after the tribulation.