Everyone was caught off guard by Hamas’ violent invasion of Israel over the last couple of days. Hamas is an extremist Islamic organization that controls the Gaza Strip located on the Southwestern corner of Israel, bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

According to the most recent reports, nearly 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,000 injured. Along with this, Hamas has captured dozens of Israelis and foreigners, including several women and children.

Horrific videos emerged of Hamas terrorists dragging captured women through the streets.

There are undoubtedly numerous reasons for the invasion which may even include an attempt to derail burgeoning peace talks between Israel and the rest of the Middle East, including most recently Saudi Arabia.

But at the heart of it, Hamas, which is backed by the Iranian government, represents the most extreme elements of Islam.

Concerns about the Jews building a third temple

One factor that may explain the most recent violence, centers around the growing controversy over the Temple Mount located in Old Jerusalem.

In fact, Hamas named the invasion, ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’, after the Mosque located on Israel’s most holy site.

Though Jerusalem is controlled by the Israeli government, it has allowed the Jordanian Waqf to give oversite to the Temple Mount.

There are currently two important Muslim buildings located on the site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which were built roughly between 691 AD and 705 AD.

However, the Jew’s historical claim to the Temple Mount goes back much further.

The first Jewish Temple was built on the site around 957 BC. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. A second temple was built in 586 BC and was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Because of these competing claims, the site has become a point of contention between Muslims and Orthodox Jews.

Currently, Jews are allowed to visit the Temple Mount but are not allowed to pray at the site, forcing them to pray down below at the Western Wall.

But increasingly Jews are demanding they be allowed to pray on the Temple Mount.

According to the Times of Israel, a poll conducted in May of this year found that 50% of Israeli Jews believed they should be allowed to pray on the Temple Mount.

This past summer a group of Orthodox Jews prayed outside the compound surrounding the Al-Aqsa mosque. The area, which is called Haram al-Sharif by the Muslims, is the third-holiest site in Islam. This sparked outrage among elements of the Muslim community.

There is also growing pressure on the Jewish government to allow a third Jewish temple to be built on site. Though, it is believed Islam’s Dome of the Rock was built on the location of the former Jewish Temple, there is still room for a third building.

These calls have sparked a reaction from Muslim extremists.

Back in August, several Israelis were injured when a Muslim terrorist opened fire at a mall in Ma’ale Adumim.

Shortly after the attack, a spokesman for Hamas, Hazem Qassem, stated in an interview with Al-Aqsa TV, that it was “an act of retaliation for the damage to the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque” and “a move to thwart the Israeli intention to build the Temple,” 7Israel International News reported.

Another Hamas spokesman also cited the Jewish temple as justification for the mall attack.

“The attacks will not stop,” said Abdel Latif al-Qanoa, “As they are intended to protect the Palestinian land and the holy places, and to thwart the settler government’s plan to build the false temple on the ruins of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Though there are undoubtedly many reasons for the Hamas’ invasion, the thorny issue of the Temple Mount may have been a catalyst for the most recent attack.

According to Christian end-times theologians, the Bible predicts the rebuilding of a third Jewish temple in Jerusalem and specifically cites two passages.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, the Apostle Paul states that in the days leading to Christa’s second coming, the Antichrist will set himself up in God’s temple to be worshiped.

In the Apostle John’s vision of the end times events recorded in the Book of Revelation, John saw an angel who had been called in to measure the Temple (Revelation 11:1-2).

Though both passages seem to imply the existence of a physical temple, others suggest it could be a reference to a spiritual temple, the Church (Ephesians 2:20-22).

READ: Hamas: Attack meant to thwart establishment of Temple AND Hamas leader threatens Israel over ‘plans’ for Temple Mount AND SEE IT: Hamas using brutal tactics from ISIS playbook: torture, rape, murder AND Israel confirms 100 hostages taken, among them a wheelchair bound holocaust survivor as death toll reaches 700 AND Israel-Hamas war: what has happened and what has caused the conflict?

Will a third Jewish Temple be built in the end times? The cursing of the fig tree may indicate it will not.