The Bible prophesies that a Jewish temple will exist in the end times and will be desecrated by a future leader. These prophecies call people to seek salvation while there is still time.
The Bible predicts that a Jewish temple will exist in Jerusalem during the end times, as prophesied in Daniel and referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:15. Daniel and the apostle Paul also describe a future leader who will defile the temple and claim to be God, which assumes that a temple must be present (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). Plans to reconstruct a temple are underway, making it possible for the temple to be rebuilt quickly when the time comes. In light of these prophecies, the Bible urges people to turn to Jesus for salvation today (2 Corinthians 6:2) and encourages believers to remain faithful, pursue holiness, and share the gospel while there is still time (Matthew 28:18–20).
The major problem with a Jewish temple in the end times is that the historical temple site is now the location of the Muslim Dome of the Rock. Some scholars have suggested the "true" site of the original Jewish temple is next to the Dome of the Rock and that both could exist at some point in the future. Others suggest, based on the traditional location, that something will have to happen to the Dome of the Rock to allow room for this future temple.
Also fascinating is the work of the Temple Institute in Israel. This group has painstakingly prepared the blueprints and all of the items needed to quickly rebuild the Jewish temple. Because Bible prophecy predicts that the desecration of the temple will take place at the three-and-a-half year point of the tribulation, the temple will have to be in operation before this time. Today, nuclear power plants are built in three years, so it is certainly possible, with modern technology and the Temple Institute's advanced planning, for the temple to be reconstructed within this time as well.
While only God knows the timing of the unfolding of these events, the Bible is clear there will be a future Jewish temple. We may not understand how the temple will be rebuilt, but God is certainly capable of bringing about changes in the world to cause His plan to be fulfilled. God is sovereign over history and fully capable of orchestrating the necessary events to bring His prophetic word to completion. These future events are able to occur very quickly. In fact, “the Temple Institute is actively engaged in the research and preparation of the resumption of service in the Holy Temple to the extent of actually preparing operational blueprints for the construction of the Temple according to the most modern standards” (https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/israels-priests-prepare-third-temple/, accessed 2/11/2025). The Bible calls people to come to Jesus for salvation today (2 Corinthians 6:2), while there is still time. For those who already believe, the prophecies of the end-times temple serve as a reminder to live in holiness, remain steadfast in faith, and actively share the gospel, so others may come to know Christ before these events unfold (Matthew 28:18–20).