A sign of the times? Unofficial road signs to the Third Temple appearing

The buzz surrounding the idea of a 'Third Temple' seems to have gone up a notch. Unofficial road signs are appearing, directing people to “The House of the Lord.” They may be made by rogue sign makers in a guerilla operation, but their very existence signifies that something major is brewing.

Never far from the minds of many Orthodox Jews, the reconstruction of the Temple is something promised in scripture several times in both the Old and New Testaments. What was once dismissed as the pipe dream of fringe radicals is now beginning to crystallize into a tangible possibility within our lifetime – especially amid current discussions of previously unimaginable peace agreements.

Each day, the Jewish people pray the “amida” – a set of blessings said three times a day, facing Jerusalem. The seventeenth blessing, “Avodah” (which means service, or worship) goes like this: "Accept Your people, O Lord our God, and receive their prayer. Restore the most holy service of Your house and accept in love the offerings and prayers of Israel. May the service of Your people Israel always be pleasing to You. May our eyes see You return to Zion in mercy. Blessed are You, O Lord, Who restores His Presence to Zion." The prayers and expectation in Jewish tradition includes faith in the biblical promises of regathering Israel, rebuilding Jerusalem, and the restoration of the Temple.

An end-times Temple is mentioned in the Bible several times in prophetic literature, such as Isaiah 2:2–3, Micah 4:1–2, Daniel 9:27 and Zechariah 14:20, as well in the New Testament in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 11.

It is described as the “Temple of God” and the “House of the Lord of Hosts,” yet it seems from the texts that it will at some point be defiled by the antichrist “standing where he should not stand” as Jesus says in both Matthew and Mark, referring back to Daniel’s prophecy.

The Temple Institute has been campaigning and preparing for the Third Temple since its establishment in 1987. The museum in Jerusalem’s Jewish quarter presents displays of how the First and Second Temple might have looked, with models and replicas of all the accoutrements along with the outfits of the priests. In addition to being an interesting stop for tourists, the Temple Institute is actively pushing for the rights of Jewish people to worship at the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.

While many believe the Western Wall is the most sacred site for Jewish people, the truth is that it is merely the closest place to where the Temple once stood in which Jewish prayers can be said. The longing to be able to pray on the site of the Temple itself has been unbearable for some, who defiantly prostrate themselves on the ground only to be dragged off by guards.

The Temple Mount is currently administered by the Jordanian Waqf, but that arrangement may soon change. Rumors that half of the huge plaza could be divided between the sons of Isaac and the sons of Ishmael are rife, possibly as a sweetener to swallow the pill of a two state solution. Time will tell. 

For some it can’t come soon enough. Theoretical plans for construction have been made and the equipment is ready. Priests and Levites are being trained and acquiring the ash of perfect red heifers has finally become a possibility. They’re simply waiting for the signal to move forward. There are murals and paintings on Jerusalem walls, wishing for the soon-coming of the Temple, and now pictures are appearing on social media of road signs pointing the way to the House of the Lord. 

The Temple Institute posted on 𝕏 in preparation for Tisha B’Av, “Temple Talk: Enough Talk! Let's Build! 2000 Years & 9 Days - The Time to Build is NOW!!” and asking, “How Did This (the Destruction) Happen & Where Are We Today?!”

As the Jewish people look back to the destruction of the Temples on the 9th of Av in 586 B.C. and then again in 70 A.D., many are looking forward to the building of the Third Temple. We are living in days when it is no longer outside the realm of possibility. If the Bible is true, the appearance of a Third Temple would signify the start of a very dramatic chapter of history.

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