When Jewish Expectations Meet Prophetic Timing
“If Yeshua is Messiah… why didn’t He build the Temple or establish the Kingdom?”
This objection is ancient, emotional, and absolutely legitimate.
But when we allow the Psalms and Prophets to speak for themselves, a different picture emerges—
a two-stage Messianic mission that Israel never fully understood.
The Scriptures reveal two Messianic portraits, separated by time but united in one Person.
1. The Prophets Foretold Two Comings Long Before... moreWhen Jewish Expectations Meet Prophetic Timing
“If Yeshua is Messiah… why didn’t He build the Temple or establish the Kingdom?”
This objection is ancient, emotional, and absolutely legitimate.
But when we allow the Psalms and Prophets to speak for themselves, a different picture emerges—
a two-stage Messianic mission that Israel never fully understood.
The Scriptures reveal two Messianic portraits, separated by time but united in one Person.
1. The Prophets Foretold Two Comings Long Before Christianity
The Jewish sages themselves wrestled with this mystery, recognizing two distinct roles:
Mashiach ben Yosef — the suffering, rejected, pierced, sacrificial Messiah
Mashiach ben David — the reigning, conquering, ruling, world-restoring Messiah
They could not reconcile them in one moment, so many assumed two Messiahs.
But Tanakh reveals one Messiah in two phases, and the Psalms are the key.
2. Psalm Fragments Reveal Both Missions — With Remarkable Clarity
Psalm 22 — Mashiach ben Yosef
“They pierced my hands and my feet…
they divide my garments…
they cast lots for my clothing…
I am poured out like water…
my heart has melted within me.”
This is not David’s personal biography.
It is the prophetic agony of the suffering Messiah, centuries before crucifixion existed.
This is ben Yosef — rejected, pierced, humiliated.
Psalm 16 — Mashiach ben Yosef Raised
“You will not abandon my soul to Sheol…
nor allow Your Holy One to see decay.”
David did see decay.
His tomb was still known in the first century.
This “Holy One” is not left in the grave.
He rises.
This is not poetry. It is resurrection prophecy.
Psalm 110 — Mashiach ben David
“YHWH said to my Lord:
Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
This is not ben Yosef suffering.
This is ben David ruling.
Exalted. Enthroned. Victor over all opposition.
The “until” is key —
there is a waiting period between exaltation and open rule.
Psalm 72 — Mashiach ben David reigning worldwide
“All kings shall fall down before Him;
all nations shall serve Him.”
This has never happened historically.
It belongs to the reign of the Messiah at His return.
3. Why Yeshua Didn’t Build the Temple During His First Coming
Because the Scriptures declare that the suffering work must come first, not the kingdom.
Isaiah 53 precedes Isaiah 60.
Daniel (“Messiah shall be cut off”) precedes Daniel (“Dominion… to Him was given glory and a kingdom”).
Psalm 22 precedes Psalm 110.
This is the divine order:
Atonement
Resurrection
Exaltation
Return
Kingdom
Temple
Ben Yosef first.
Ben David second.
Israel wanted the end before the beginning —
but the Prophets insist suffering precedes glory.
4. Yeshua WILL Build the Temple — The Ezekiel Temple — When He Returns
Ezekiel 40–48 describes a Temple:
✔️ never built in Solomon’s day
✔️ never built after the exile
✔️ never built by Herod
✔️ never built in the modern era
✔️ far larger than any Temple in Jewish memory
✔️ with a river flowing from beneath the threshold
✔️ with Messiah Himself dwelling inside
Ezekiel 43:7 —
“This is the place of My throne…
where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.”
This is ben David in His glory, ruling from a literal, physical Temple in Jerusalem.
And Zechariah tells us when this happens:
Zechariah 14:4 —
“His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives.”
Yeshua will build the Temple —
just not in His first coming.
5. Yeshua WILL Establish the Kingdom Israel Expected
The Psalms anticipate it.
The Prophets promise it.
The Apostles affirm it.
When Messiah returns:
He fights for Jerusalem
“Then YHWH will go out and fight against those nations…” (Zech. 14:3)
He stands on the Mount of Olives
“…and His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives.” (Zech. 14:4)
He becomes King over all the earth
“In that day YHWH will be King over all the earth.” (Zech. 14:9)
He reigns from Jerusalem
“Out of Zion shall go the law…
He shall judge between the nations.” (Isaiah 2:3–4)
He restores Israel
“He will gather the outcasts of Israel.” (Isaiah )
He rules with righteousness
“He will judge the world in righteousness.” (Psalm 96:13)
He brings creation-wide peace
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb.” (Isaiah 11:6)
This is not metaphor.
This is not spiritualized.
This is ben David fulfilling everything Israel has waited for.
6. The Jewish Objection Becomes the Jewish Confirmation
Jews say:
“He didn’t establish the Kingdom.”
“He didn’t build the Temple.”
But the Scriptures say:
Those belong to the second mission — the ben David mission.
The suffering work had to come first.
The reigning work must come second.
The objection itself confirms the pattern.
If Yeshua fulfilled every prophecy of Mashiach ben Yosef in detail,
and if He returns to fulfill every prophecy of Mashiach ben David in glory,
then perhaps the question is no longer:
“Why didn’t Messiah build the Temple the first time?”
But rather:
“Are we prepared to recognize Him when He comes to build it the second?”
✠Sir John Scivoletti✠
✠Turco, Joan of Arc Priory✠
God Above All
