Chizuk Emunah Under the Microscope: Chapter 17

Some Christians have said that the curses in Leviticus 26:42 relate to the first temple. The curses in Deuteronomy 28 refer to the second temple, and claim that Israel is to have no restoration from exile.

Troki argues first that this is false, a claim with which I agree. He also argues that the inferiority of the second temple can be judged by teh lack of the ark, mercy seat, cherubim, urim and thummim, and the glory of God.

He also argues that the evil consequences of the original captivity still exist to this day. Israel had never been fully released from its original captivity.

I am not even sure exactly how to respond. I believe that Israel is to have restoration from exile. To this day, the secular state of Israel shows that God is ready to fulfill his prophecies. The people of Israel need only believe in Jesus for the Messianic age to become fully manifest.

Troki is mistaken about the second temple being inferior.

    The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’”
(Haggai 2:9 ESV)

The Talmud confirms this in Bava Batra 3a. The second temple was supposed to be greater. This is difficult for the rabbis to explain, but easy for Christians to explain. The second temple was greater because Jesus himself stood in it. God visited the temple in person.

Troki's objection that Numbers 24, Obadiah 21, Ezekiel 25:14, and Joel 3:19 refer to the destruction of Christianity and Islam. Edom may have meant Rome in Rabbinical literature, but it is anachronistic to push this definition into the Bible. There is no literal mention of either group in these passages, as they are declarations of destruction for those who disobey God. However, this is hardly an argument against Christianity, since it assumes the falsehood of these religions in order to establish their falsehood. This is circular reasoning, and Troki should have known as much.