Some of the next major events that have to happen prior to or at the beginning of the Great Tribulation are the building of a temple in Jerusalem, the rise of the beast power in Europe and the rise of the false prophet, as well as the continued downfall of the USA, the UK, Canada and other English-speaking nations and the constant and increasing deterioration of the relationship between the USA and their allies.
In regard to the temple being built either before or at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, how is that currently possible when the Dome of the Rock and/or the al-Aqsa mosque are sitting on the very spot where the temple needs to be built? Some claim that this could never happen; therefore, the third temple would not be built.
Let’s look at some possibilities in regard to having the site available for building a temple there.
1- The Arab world might consider relocating the al Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock to another site, since historically, it can be proven that the Dome of the Rock was built sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
According to Google, the Dome of the Rock was built between AD 685 and 691 by the caliph ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, not as a mosque for public worship but rather as a Mashhad, a shrine for pilgrims. The same is true for the al-Aqsa mosque which was built in the early 8th century.
2- War could break out with any number of groups in the area and a bomb could completely destroy the Dome and the mosque. This could even occur, arguably, “accidentally.” During the war with Iran, they fired Scud missiles at Jerusalem which have no guiding system and would fall to the ground when the fuel ran out.
3- In the event of a conflict, the Israelis (or some zealots) could intentionally destroy the Dome and the mosque and place the blame on others, claiming they were accidentlly destroyed by them.
4-The site could be hit by a meteorite from space and it would not have to be a huge one to flatten the buildings. Even though somewhat far-fetched, it is not totally out of the realm of possibility. Luke 21:11 speaks of great signs from heaven, and Revelation 6:13 records that stars will fall from heaven, presumably right after the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
5-God could cause fire and brimstone from heaven to destroy the buildings like He did with Sodom and Gomorrah.
6-God could cause the buildings to just collapse, similar to Dagon falling before the ark of the covenant when the Philistines had it at the house of Dagon.
1 Samuel 5:1-4 says: “Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it.”
There might be more scenarios which could explain to us several ways for the site to be cleared or the Dome and the mosque to be destroyed so the temple could be built at that location. It is possible and in fact very likely that Donald Trump will collaborate with Israel when it comes to building the temple. Some concessions to the Arab world might be made in exchange for such an endeavor. Or, no concessions will be made; terrible turmoil will result and the Europeans might be forced to “intervene” in the Middle East to create peace there.
We will just have to wait and see. The important thing to remember is that God says the building of the third temple will happen, and so we can be sure that it will.
In regard to the beast power arising in Europe, a strong charismatic political individual of either German or Austrian descent will arise, and a core Europe, consisting of ten nations or groups of nations will give him unlimited powers. He will lead core Europe, causing the ultimate downfall of English-speaking nations, including the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Their complete destruction will be brought about through nuclear war and other devastating weapons.
Revelation 13:2-7 describes the European power and the last “fuehrer” of that Empire:
“Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
Notice, Satan gives the European power bloc and the final representative of that power his authority. The power of the European Empire, from the fall of Rome during its revivals, lasted at first for forty two prophetic months or 1,260 years, until the fall of Napoleon, but two more revivals would subsequently occur. In focusing on the last individual leader, he will speak great things. He will be a good orator to the point of blasphemy and his authority will last approximately three and a half years. He also makes war with true Christians, the saints, and he causes some to be martyred. He is also described in the book of Daniel as the king of the north.
Daniel 11:33-37 says:
“And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.”
Notice, this starts off with the martyrdom of the saints (verses 33-35), after which it describes the person (Antiochus Epiphanes was a forerunner of the final leader of the European Empire). He exalts himself above every God and he has no desire for women. This indicates that he might be homosexual.
Daniel 11:38 continues: “But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.” This god might very well be the false prophet.
Both the beast and the false prophet are alive today and they will shortly manifest themselves for the saints to recognize them.
In regard to the false prophet, we find him mentioned, for example, in Revelation 13:11-15:
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
Notice, he has power to bring fire down from heaven. He uses deception and performs great signs, deriving this power from Satan the devil. It appears that there will be some kind of talking image or statue which will be used to further deceive and convince people he is a servant or prophet from God—in fact, that he is God or the Messiah, as we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10:
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way [better: “until he is coming out of the midst of the apostasy”; compare https://www.eternalgod.org/who-or-what-restrains-or-holds-back-the-manifestation-of-the-man-of-sin/ ]. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Notice, he receives his power from Satan. He is around when Christ returns. He had declared himself to be God, just prior to Christ’s Coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
The false prophet cannot sit in the temple of God unless the temple is there at the time.
Elijah, a man of God, was also able to call fire down from heaven which killed a hundred of Ahab’s soldiers. 2 Kings 1:9-12 tells us:
“Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: ‘Man of God, the king has said, “Come down!”’ So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him: ‘Man of God, thus has the king said, “Come down quickly!”’ So Elijah answered and said to them, ‘If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.’”
Elijah received his power from God, and the two witnesses will also receive power from God to devour their enemies with fire from their mouth (compare Revelation 11:5), but the false prophet will receive his power from Satan. Still, working such “miracles” would of course give credence to the false prophet’s false claim to be God.
We understand that this religious leader may be an elected pope, or it might even be someone claiming that he should be the pope. Currently, there are two Popes, one as leader and the other one retired, and there are issues between them. In the past, there were occasions when two and even three popes existed at the same time, all claiming to be the rightful “heir” of “Saint Peter.” We know that the false prophet will arise out of the current religious Babylonian system, and he will be able to perform signs and wonders, with Satan’s help.
In conclusion, there will be a temple built in Jerusalem prior to or at the beginning of the Great Tribulation in which the false prophet will ultimately sit. How that comes about, remains to be seen. Coupled with that, we can expect to see the rise of the military leader of ten nations or groups of nations in Europe. He will be backed by Satan, and he will be able to influence the nations to follow him. He will work in conjunction with the false prophet who will give his support to the military leader, and vice versa, and who will have deceiving powers from Satan.
These events are sure; and due to all the current trends, it appears that that time is not too far away.
Lead Writer: Rene Messier (Canada)
