Many Christians and prophecy scholars believed that a new temple must be built in Jerusalem before the return of Christ can come to pass. One scripture used to support this viewpoint is 2Th. 2:4, “…so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Another scripture used to support this view is Dan. 11:31, “…and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice…”
The preceding verses are referencing the Anti-Christ. One of the points that draws man to the conclusion that a new temple must be built is because 2Th. 2:4 states that Anti-Christ will be sitting in the temple of God claiming that he is God. This is a minuscule point but the word “in” does not necessarily mean the Anti-Christ will actually be inside of the temple. That word “in” can also mean at, before, and by. The Anti-Christ can appear somewhere near the temple, but not necessarily in the temple. This concept parallels with the Gentiles treading down the outer court of the temple in Rev. 11:1-2, “…the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles…” They are not inside of the temple, they are on the outside of the temple.
The book of Daniel states that the Anti-Christ will demand that the daily sacrifice must cease to be practiced. We must remember that while the temple was standing, there were the blood sacrifices of bulls and goats on a daily basis. Once the temple was destroyed, the Jewish people had no temple to carry out their daily sacrifices. They resorted to assembling at the temple site and offer up their prayers to God. Their daily prayers actually became their daily sacrifice. When Anti-Christ is revealed, he will demand that the people stop their praying (daily sacrifices) to God, because he (Anti-Christ) will proclaim himself to be God. He will only tolerate people to pray to him; therefore he will terminate the daily sacrifice of prayers to Almighty God and he will establish himself to be God.
The Temple Mount sometimes referenced as the Wailing Wall or Western Wall is one of the final remnants of the Jewish temple. As the name implies, it was the western wall of the outer perimeter of the temple. It survived the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. It is quite prevalent today because hundreds of people gather on a daily basis at this historical and sacred site for prayer and other memorial festivities. Perhaps it is at the Western Wall where the Anti-Christ will appear parading himself to be the Almighty God.
It is conceivable that Christ can return for His saints before a new temple is actually built, because it’s not absolutely necessary for Anti-Christ to enter the temple. Again, the daily sacrifice does not have to be the sacrifice of animals. The daily sacrifice can possibly be the daily prayers that are offered up to God at the Western Wall. The Anti-Christ will be jealous of their worship; therefore he will not allow it to continue. The return of Christ is not contingent upon a new temple being built.
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