Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, we cover an incredible event that took place in AD 363: an apostate Roman Emperor who was trying to revive paganism attempted to rebuild the "Third Temple" in Jerusalem. Why? So he could disprove Christ's divinity, and seduce the Jews into eventually becoming pagans. His plot was eerily similar to how most Church Fathers say Antichrist will behave toward Christians and Jews in the end times.
But divine intervention stopped him. Fire, explosions from the ground, storms, the sign of the cross in the sky and on the garments of the workers: these and other signs reported by multiple ancient accounts (both pagan and Christian) caused such great fear among the pagans and Jews involved in the project that it was abandoned. Many converted to the Catholic Faith as a result.
Particularly now, when the prospect of a rebuilt "Third Temple" in Jerusalem is more plausible than it has ever been for nearly 2,000 years, it is important to remember this event so that if and when Antichrist comes, we are not deceived.
We will offer a deeper theological reflection on this event, the relationship between the Church and the Jews, etc., in future episodes. For now, we offer the records of this event as a warning to deceived Christians and Jews who would welcome the prospect of a "Third Temple" in Jerusalem, which would be nothing more than a direct affront to Jesus Christ and the fullness of His Body, the ACTUAL Third Temple, the Catholic Church.
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This apostolate is a non-profit under priestly authority, and all your gifts are tax-deductible. Your generosity makes it possible for us to produce our podcast, research, and written content with excellence, while making it available to the world for free, all for the salvation of souls. It also empowers us to work on even bigger projects behind the scenes (stay tuned).
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
08:26 - Roadmap
09:14 - Divine Intervention? Or Natural Explanation?
13:09 - Emperor Julian the Apostate (Pagan)
18:06 - Ammianus Marcellinus (Pagan)
19:57 - St. Ephrem the Syrian (Christian)
24:08 - St. Gregory Nazianzus (Christian)
33:33 - St. Ambrose of Milan (Christian)
34:45 - St. Jerome (Christian)
37:09 - Rufinus of Aquileia (Christian)
41:21 - St. Cyril of Jerusalem on Antichrist and the Temple (Christian)
44:33 - St. John Chrysostom (Christian)
55:06 - Philostorgius (Christian)
59:18 - Socrates of Constantinople (Christian)
1:03:46 - Theodoret of Cyrus (Christian)
1:07:27 - Sozomen (Christian)
1:13:55 - St. Isidore of Seville (Christian)
1:17:15 - Conclusion
This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
RELATED RESOURCES
#57 | Divine Intervention Stops the Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple: eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/articles/number-57
In this episode, we cover an incredible event that took place in AD 363: an apostate Roman Emperor who was trying to revive paganism attempted to rebuild the "Third Temple" in Jerusalem. Why? So he could disprove Christ's divinity, and seduce the Jews into eventually becoming pagans. His plot was eerily similar to how most Church Fathers say Antichrist will behave toward Christians and Jews in the end times.
But divine intervention stopped him. Fire, explosions from the ground, storms, the sign of the cross in the sky and on the garments of the workers: these and other signs reported by multiple ancient accounts (both pagan and Christian) caused such great fear among the pagans and Jews involved in the project that it was abandoned. Many converted to the Catholic Faith as a result.
Particularly now, when the prospect of a rebuilt "Third Temple" in Jerusalem is more plausible than it has ever been for nearly 2,000 years, it is important to remember this event so that if and when Antichrist comes, we are not deceived.
We will offer a deeper theological reflection on this event, the relationship between the Church and the Jews, etc., in future episodes. For now, we offer the records of this event as a warning to deceived Christians and Jews who would welcome the prospect of a "Third Temple" in Jerusalem, which would be nothing more than a direct affront to Jesus Christ and the fullness of His Body, the ACTUAL Third Temple, the Catholic Church.
BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITION
Has our content blessed you or those you love? Then please consider becoming a monthly patron for $10/month or more.
➡️ eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron
This apostolate is a non-profit under priestly authority, and all your gifts are tax-deductible. Your generosity makes it possible for us to produce our podcast, research, and written content with excellence, while making it available to the world for free, all for the salvation of souls. It also empowers us to work on even bigger projects behind the scenes (stay tuned).
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
➡️ eternalchristendom.com
CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
X: twitter.com/JoshuaTCharles
Facebook: facebook.com/joshuatcharles
Instagram: instagram.com/joshuatcharles
DIVE DEEPER
Check out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you’ll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic:
➡️ eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic
SUBSTACK
Subscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content:
➡️ eternalchristendom.substack.com
EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTS
➡️ eternalchristendom.com/bookstore
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
08:26 - Roadmap
09:14 - Divine Intervention? Or Natural Explanation?
13:09 - Emperor Julian the Apostate (Pagan)
18:06 - Ammianus Marcellinus (Pagan)
19:57 - St. Ephrem the Syrian (Christian)
24:08 - St. Gregory Nazianzus (Christian)
33:33 - St. Ambrose of Milan (Christian)
34:45 - St. Jerome (Christian)
37:09 - Rufinus of Aquileia (Christian)
41:21 - St. Cyril of Jerusalem on Antichrist and the Temple (Christian)
44:33 - St. John Chrysostom (Christian)
55:06 - Philostorgius (Christian)
59:18 - Socrates of Constantinople (Christian)
1:03:46 - Theodoret of Cyrus (Christian)
1:07:27 - Sozomen (Christian)
1:13:55 - St. Isidore of Seville (Christian)
1:17:15 - Conclusion
This podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
RELATED RESOURCES
#57 | Divine Intervention Stops the Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple: eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/articles/number-57
