The New Temple and the Second Coming

November 1, 2007
Jeffrey ("The Next World War") attempts to uncover the theological meaning of certain biblical prophecies regarding the building of the Third Temple as foreshadowing the return of Jesus of Nazareth in our generation. The first four chapters examine biblical, archaeological, and Talmudic sources that indicate what the eschatological meaning of the building of the Third Temple signifies. The final five chapters discuss practical details concerning how the Third Temple will be rebuilt, what the renewal of the Sanhedrin and Levitical priesthood means, and more. There are several glaring methodological weaknesses. First, a literalist interpretation of Sacred Scripture does damage to its literary expression; since the biblical authors employed every manner of literary device, deconstructing the text as literal historical truth misunderstands thoroughly the biblical enterprise and God's message contained therein. Secondly, both the select bibliography and the chapter footnotes give the veneer of scholarship but in fact represent little more than dated secondary-source reports. More subjective opinion than scholarly exegesis and intended for a fundamentalist Christian audience; not recommended.Pius Charles Murray, Boston Univ. Sch. of Theology Lib.

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