Why is the return of the temple so important to Israel?
Without the temple, Israel is hopeless, like a flat tire. Israel's hope is bound up with temple worship, so its return will bring great elation; this fits their anticipation of Messiah and the first three and a half years when the Antichrist approves their temple worship.
Les teaches that temple worship will come back on the scene. The Temple Institute already has garments, instruments, and everything ready for reinstituted sacrificial worship; all that is lacking is permission to build. Les notes uncertainty about how the Mosque of Omar issue will be resolved, but says Israel will once again have her temple and temple worship for the first three and a half years, with the Antichrist putting his stamp of approval on it. Israel will be elated to have the temple back because Israel without the temple is just about like a flat tire—hopeless—and this is their anticipation. Everything concerning Israel at that time is with the Messiah in mind, though they look for Him to come the first time, not the second, because they do not recognize that Christ was the Messiah. The two witnesses will primarily witness to the Jewish nation, and from that witnessing the 144,000 young Jews will come on the scene.