I probably should not get too involved in discussions of prophecy. It can be too tempting to think we've got it all worked out and therefore lock anyone elses' views out, then we end up as if in our own 'cult,' as I once was. Nevertheless, the events and especially the numbers can be interesting. Is it weeks or sevens in Daniel? It appears it can't be weeks/7 days, as that is not much more than a year. But 70 sevens/periods, in years, leads to ca. 45 b.c. Rome first conquered Judah in the 60's b.c. and began true occupation about 43-37 b.c. But the 70 years/sevens-- or in another passage, 62 + 7-- is in regard to rebuilding the temple and 'until Messiah.' About 40 years' difference. This also seems to neglect that the second temple, commissioned by Cyrus, had been virtually destroyed, and certainly desecrated, before the oMaccabeans. Then Herod, something like a liason, between the evil conqueror and the conquered, desired his name to be associated with major building projects, the temple being his masterpiece, per se. And this was completed about the time Jesus was born, or shortly after. Then 63-70 years after Jesus' birth, this temple was destroyed, and so many things Jesus had said did prove true at the time of this revolt-- flee, don't go back for anything, pray your flight is not on the sabbath [the gates would be closed and could not be opened]... And then there is no temple... except what Paul says about "You (plural; meaning believers) are the temple of the Lord." I have also wondered why, regarding the number of years, or sevens, there seems to be no mention anywhere (that I have seen) of the historical fact that the number of years between the Babylonian destruction the first temple and the Romans' destruction of the second temple was very close to 666 years. [The Bible does deal with the significant and multiple meanings of particular numbers-- you're not into "numerology" if you see that; Israelites 40 years in the desert Jesus 40 days; 6 days then a sabbath day, 6 years then a sabbath year; 12 tribes, 12 disciples, 12 gates, Jesus 12 when he astounded the scholars in the temple,.......]
Does this exclude a 3rd physical temple being built on the Mount? No. In fact this may be the essence of what I meant about thinking we've got it all figured out. Those last chapters of Ezekiel come immediately to mind. When I got my first apartment and had only been there a few days, and l had also recently been into biblical prophecy. Late one night I was reading from Ezekiel and I had a strange experience. I remember that something suddenly became so plain to me that I slowly put my Bible down with an open mouth. But a few seconds later, whatever this was, it left my memory. I remember it was there and compelled me to put the Bible down, but as soon as I did-- erasure. I have never been able to recall what I was thinking then. That, I suppose, is why I don't discuss, or even consider, prophecy all that much.
.
