Pastor Billy Crone says a push for a “universal temple” in Jerusalem could bring political dealmaking and interfaith worship together in a development he connects to biblical warnings about the last days.
An existing complex in Abu Dhabi gives his warning a concrete point of reference. The Abrahamic Family House, inaugurated in February 2023, houses a mosque, a Catholic church and a synagogue on one site, with shared spaces for dialogue and gathering.
Speaking with Mondo Gonzales on Prophecy Watchers, Crone described what he says some temple advocates envision in Jerusalem: “a universal temple for all Abrahamic faith.”
He identified Yehuda Glick as a supporter and said advocates invoke Isaiah’s description of God’s house as a house of prayer for all nations.
Crone argued that such an arrangement could overcome a central obstacle to rebuilding a temple: the presence of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. He said a new structure could be built alongside them, framing religious cooperation as a possible route to securing permission.
“This is literally what they’re working on,” Crone said.
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The Abu Dhabi complex already welcomes worshippers to the Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. Its website invites religious communities to “practice their respective faiths” in those buildings.
Crone views the broader interfaith movement as preparation for a future world religion.
“The Vatican is promoting that,” he said, referring to the Abu Dhabi model.
The Vatican’s support for that complex is documented. Pope Francis received an Abrahamic Family House delegation in October 2024. According to Vatican News, the initiative grew out of his 2019 visit to the United Arab Emirates and the Document on Human Fraternity he signed with Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar.
Crone alleged that the Vatican’s involvement serves a larger ambition.
“Now, the reason why the Vatican is promoting that is because the Vatican has an agenda and the Vatican wants to be in charge of all religions,” he said.
He argued that this ambition extends to Jerusalem.
“They want one headquartered in Jerusalem as a symbol of this new universal religion,” he said.
He connected that assertion to Revelation’s descriptions of Babylon and the false prophet.
“That’s a Bible prophecy sign,” Crone said.
Crone also discussed President Donald Trump and Jared Kushner as potential facilitators of an agreement permitting temple worship.
“All they need is somebody to broker a deal,” he said.
Crone argued that the focus on conflict with Iran has overshadowed temple developments he considers urgent.
“But they’re not talking about how close we are to this rebuilt Jewish temple,” he said.
Gonzales brought the discussion back to the truth that determines salvation: Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.
In John 14:6, Jesus declares that He is the way, the truth and the life. His words establish an exclusive claim that every interfaith initiative must confront.
“That just eliminates all these other false ideas or false religions,” Gonzales said.
“That is crystal clear, and we don’t apologize for that.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
