Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Will the Third Temple Be Built Next Year?

Dr.Mariottini has posted a news item from Israel Today. I never heard of this before. The story is:

According to a centuries-old rabbinical prophecy that appears to be coming true, on March 16, 2010, Israel will begin construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.
During the 18th century, the Vilna Gaon, a respected rabbinical authority, prophesied that the Hurva Synagoge in Jerusalem, which was built during his day, would be destroyed and rebuilt twice, and that when the Hurva was completed for the third time, construction on the Third Temple would begin.
The Hurva Synagogue was first destroyed shortly after its initial construction when Muslims demanding the return of loans tore it down. The synagogue was rebuilt a hundred years later and became the most important Jewish house of worship in the Holy Land, only be blown to pieces by Jordanian troops during Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
In 2001, Israel finally decided to rebuild the landmark, which today stands in the center of the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City. The building is scheduled to be completed and the Hurva Synagogue dedicated for the third time on March 15 of next year.

I'm not so willing to dismiss the story out of hand. I mean I still think god talks to us through prophets. A true prophet is 100% right all the time when they art talking for God. Vilna Gaon was right about the Hurva Synagoge and I doubt that it is coincidental. Well looks like we'll see next year if construction begins on the 3rd Temple.I have heard that materials for the temple have already been gathered.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Will the Third Temple Be Built Next Year?