Yeah, you've made that distinction before, and frankly my dear, I just don't buy it.
Firstly, coz almost every YT vid. on the subject is ostensibly presented by believers who effuse about the glories of this miraculous building and its pivotal significance in the fulfilment of OT kingdom prophecies. Anybody listening to them extolling its virtues could be forgiven for thinking that it represents the most significant development in redemptive history since Messiah himself set foot on this fallen world. The following is typical of the fayre offered for our incredulous consumption:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTO8YYs29c
And secondly, please show me where, in the entire corpus of Holy Writ, is it so much as hinted that God's holy temple is anything less than instrumental to His resplendent glory, let alone the seat of evil incarnate? On the contrary, its locus classicus (Ez.40-48) clearly presents it as the abode of the redeemed, and the ultimate expression of the divine presence. Its counterpoint in Gal. 4, Heb. 12 and Rev. 21 make it clear that Ezekiel was speaking of spiritual realities, and not something made by the hands of men.
No, I'm afraid your position is untenable. The fact is that your belief in a future anti-christian literal temple presents you with several intractable problems that you still choose to ignore. But yes, this debate will continue until time proves you wrong, as it has done since this temple was first touted in 1948.
So, only 70 years on, and still counting.
Ohhh....... I see .......THAT temple! Well why didn't you say so?
Scriptural authority?
Both of which are capable of perfectly sensible interpretations that do not necessitate the building of a 3rd temple, Jewish or otherwise, at some indeterminate point in the future.
But I suppose if you read Scripture thru your own bespoke 3rd Temple spectacles......
Quite apart from which, I have zero interest in how Christ-rejecting Jews interpret God's word. They are the last ppl on Earth I would trust to get that right. Remind me again, how many times did Jesus have to correct them about the interpretation of their own Scriptures, nevermind what their blindness did for them when it came to recognising their own Messiah?
Yet you expect me to let them loose on the NT, which they revile in the most execrable terms in their own Babylonian Talmud?
Nope, I think I'll pass on that, thanks all the same.
Good plan. I'm sure he'll enjoy it. We only celebrate Xmas to annoy trapper, so I'm hoping he's now furiously jumping up & down.