Temple at the Center of Time: Fact or Fiction?
A commentary by Randy Stiver
United Church of God Pastor, Columbus and Cambridge, Ohio
An article on WorldNetDaily.com concerning
author David Flynn's latest book begins with the question: "Was
the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem more than a place of worship?" Expanding
upon this thought-provoking question, the August 14, 2008 article
continues, "Was it, indeed, a roadmap to future events—a
kind of prophetic landmark whose significance is only now revealed
through the development of satellite imagery?
"That is the contention
of an explosive new book 'Temple
at the Center of Time: Newton's Codex Deciphered and the Year 2012,' by
David Flynn, a book that has risen dramatically to No. 1 among unexplained mysteries,
No. 1 in world history and 73 overall on Amazon.com. The book asserts it has 'deciphered
Isaac Newton's greatest paradox: None other than "the unified field
theory" of Bible prophecy.'"
Flynn claims that distances from
the Jewish Temple Mount in Jerusalem to specific international destinations
serve as prophetic time codes, all predicting the dates of actual
historical events. But do they really represent critical historical
dates that connect sites of known historical events to the land
of Israel?
Sadly, his prophetic time-distance codes are inconsistent.
The three examples from his book cited in the WorldNetDaily article
include one measured in statute miles, one in nautical miles and
another in feet. To be consistent he would have needed to use the
same standard of measurement for each distance from Jerusalem.
His arbitrary standards of measurement for his chosen locations—each
selected to fit his desired outcome—manipulate distances
to make them appear to support his theory. This is the
flaw that is most easily recognized in Flynn's theory. But
besides his measurement manipulations, there are no biblical prophecies
that justify his conclusions.
The end of the world?
Prophetic hobbyists, survivalists and such seem preoccupied with
the end of the world. Temple at the Center of Time is only
the latest in the genre of secret-code catastrophe, joining the
company of Apocalypto, The Da Vinci Code, The
Bible Code and such.
There's a better book that has the real prophetic scoop,
with considerably greater historical authenticity. And it has, with
all due respects, a much better Author. It's called the Bible.
Let's take a look at the key issues.
Some think that the end of the world will come in 2012 because
the ancient Mayan cyclical calendar comes to an end that year. Likewise,
some Christians are obsessed with trying to calculate the second
coming of Christ. Apparently, they have failed to notice that Jesus
Himself said: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not
even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36,
emphasis added).
The Bible supports watching for the fulfillment of events clearly
mentioned in the Scriptures, but not personal prophetic calculations
and speculations.
The temple in perspective
God considers Jerusalem "the apple of His eye" (Zechariah
2:8) and though the temple was His sacred dwelling while standing,
ultimately it was expendable. God allowed it to be destroyed twice,
first by Babylon in the 500s B.C.
A century later a new temple was built by Zerubbabel under permission
granted by the Persian Empire. That temple was later remodeled in
the first century BC by King Herod the Great. Herod's Temple
was the one in which Christ preached—the one which He prophesied
would be torn down. That second temple destruction occurred in A.D.
70, near the conclusion of the Jews' first war with Rome.
There is the desire on the part of some Jews and Christians to
see the temple rebuilt to fulfill a prophecy by Daniel about the
resumption of sacrificial offerings. That prophecy, however, could
be fulfilled simply with the construction of an altar for burnt
offerings, without a full temple being erected. But, following His
second coming, Jesus Christ will rule all nations from Jerusalem
for 1000 years. At that time the temple described in Ezekiel 40-48
will be a reality.
The downside of secret codes
The transitory nature of the temple raises a critical issue. Obsession
with mesmerizing magical mathematical calculations and their secret
knowledge can derail you from what God wants you to know and
do. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does
the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
 The Bible reveals much about the future in language that is not
dependant on secret codes and mathematical formulas. We would like
to offer you an excellent introduction to that sound and solid prophetic
revelation. Simply request, download or read online our free, enlightening
booklet: You
Can Understand Bible Prophecy.
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