Let's Build the Temple Already

Some heretics of my acquaintance reckon that the end of the world is just around the corner. They believe that the Jewish temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt first and lament that the site of the temple is at present occupied by a mosque. They reckon that some calamity will befall the mosque to make way for the rebuilding of the temple.

I don’t reckon the rebuilding of the temple presages the end of the world, but the idea provokes some questions. Does the temple have to be located precisely on the so called Temple Mount? Is there something magical about that spot that renders a temple located elsewhere unsuitable and unacceptable to God? I reckon that the temple could be built anywhere in Jerusalem. Let’s face it, nobody is going to be 100% happy with the new temple and its design, but as long as you have the holy of holies right, it should do the trick. You won’t have the original ark, of course, but you could have an even fancier one if you wanted.

Now that the way has been cleared to site the temple elsewhere, who would be qualified to build it? Could I form a company, acquire land, and commission the construction of a temple in Jerusalem if I were so inclined? If the builders must be Jews, what kind of Jews do we need? Would any Levite do? Would a high priest have to be installed to lend an imprimatur of legitimacy to our temple? Assuming we could staff the place with priests and moneychangers once it gets built, why can’t anybody who feels inspired to do so build a temple?

If I remember rightly, King Solomon built Temple Number One, and he was not a priest. And didn’t some Persian Emperor sponsor its rebuilding? It seems that there is precedent for government to take the lead in temple building and that it need not be the government of Israel itself. The US, for example, at the urging of folks who want to accelerate the rapture, might fund the project.

Maybe a prophet such as Pat Robertson might turn the resources of the 700 Club to temple building. He could recruit Levites and other staff and turn the whole enterprise over to a high priest when it was ready for business. Would Jews sacrifice their animals at such a temple? Would modern Jews sacrifice animals in any event?