If the temple seen by Ezekiel in a vision in chapters 40 through 47 is not any of the historic temples built or remodeled by Solomon, Zerubbabel, or Herod, could it be a prophecy of a structure yet to come?
There are many Christians who hold this view. They look for the construction of a Third Temple to be the realization of end times prophecy. Many hints and clues can be found in the Bible that indicate such a temple will be built before the appearance of the Antichrist and the return of Jesus.
Still, the description provided by Ezekiel of a future Temple is troubling. The details include the offering of animals in an Aaronic priesthood. A restored sacrificial system is foreseen (vs. 29) where the laws and rituals of the Old Testament come back into play.
For Christians, this cuts against many of the New Testament themes about the Old Testament laws being fulfilled by Jesus. There is no longer any high priest for Jesus is our priest. There are no longer sacrifices offered for atonement, because Jesus made atonement once for all. What was incomplete and imperfect in the past has seen its realization in Jesus Christ. How, then, could we return to a system that was broken and replaced by Christ?
Some suggest that the offerings at the Third Temple will be "memorial" rather than actual, supplying only a teaching purpose to show people what used to have to be done for atonement before Christ. To me, this seems like a stretch. There may yet be better answers as to just what Ezekiel's temple vision is all about.
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