Thank you for the question on the beginning of the Tribulation, “If the third temple of Israel gets built before the rapture occurs, does that mean the tribulation begins immediately after?”
The timeline on the rapture, the rebuilding of the Third Temple, and the Tribulation is debated by theologians. One’s answer will depend upon one’s understanding of eschatology.
From my understanding of the Scripture, here are some thoughts for one’s consideration.
A. The Great Tribulation is a Seven Year Time Period.
Daniel 9 says this, “25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[f] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” (NIV).
There are Christians who believe that Daniel 9 has been partially fulfilled with the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE while other Christians believe in a future reconstructed Temple. I am of the later opinion. Thus one has to consider Matthew 24 in the interpretation of Daniel 9.
In addition, one has to interpret the meaning of the “seven” as to its meaning. Without going into details, the “one seven” refers to a 7 year time period whereby this person causes the offering to cease.
From my understanding of the Jews, they are seeking to rebuild the Temple and are beginning to make the furniture of the Temple and the garments for the priests. They are looking forward to rebuild the Temple.
B. The Reconstruction of the Temple is completed sometime in the middle of the Seven Year Period.
If the above premise is correct, then the Antichrist will allow for the reconstruction of the Temple and the desecration of it in the middle of the 7 years.
C. The Amount of Time to rebuild the Temple.
With modern technology and the limited scope of the Temple, is it possible to rebuild the Temple in 3 years with prefab materials? What is unknown is what materials will be used to rebuild the Temple and how effective and efficient will the Israelites be in rebuilding the Temple. What is also unknown whether the Temple had to be completed or its foundation laid as in the days of Zerubbabel.
D. The rapture of the Christians is prior to the Tribulation.
The above statement is a theological interpretation. There are those who believe that the Christians will go through the Tribulation while others believe they will be taken from earth before the Tribulation when Jesus returns for them (John 14:1–4, Acts 1:9–11).
The question being posed is can the Temple be rebuilt before the rapture begins.
Based on the above timeline, it is unlikely that the Third Temple be rebuilt prior to the rapture of the Christians. The reason being is that the Antichrist will negotiate a peace treaty to have the Temple rebuilt. This means that the Christians are living when the Antichrist is in power and makes that treaty to rebuild the Temple. If that is the case, then the Tribulation would have begun.
The rise of the Antichrist to power means the beginning of the Judgments from Revelations over his kingdom. The signs are there for the coming Antichrist. Whether he is born or to be born is unknown. The Covid pandemic is a preview, in my view, of how the Antichrist will rule the world through natural catastrophes that will be declared to the whole world. It will not be viewed as being from God but from random natural events.
Is it possible that some form of peace agreement that is being worked on for the rebuilding of the Temple? The discussions will continue until the Antichrist settles the disputes. With Jerusalem being recognized by some nations as the capital of Jerusalem, there are some Arab countries who are in disagreement especially with the Palestinians. Will there be some future agreement with them? I believe so to set the stage for the rebuilding of the Temple.
Personally, I do not believe the Temple will be rebuilt until the Rapture occurs. The ground work may be laid, but no agreement. Thus the Tribulation can’t begin until the Rapture occurs. I may be wrong, but I certainly hope that I don’t have to live in or through the Tribulation.
-Kingston