Question: Does Isaiah say anything about a millennial temple in America, considering Isaiah lived only in the land of Israel?
Answer: Isaiah’s prophecy about ancient “Egypt”—which name acts as a codename of end-time America—mentions an “altar” in the midst the land of Egypt and a brotherhood of covenanters who perform temple ordinances. The context of this prophecy is a time of wickedness in which these covenanters seek the Lord’s help against their oppressors:
“In that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt and a monument to Jehovah at its border. They shall serve as a sign and testimony of Jehovah of Hosts in the land of Egypt: when they cry out to Jehovah because of the oppressors, he will send them a savior, who will take up their cause and deliver them” (Isaiah 19:19–20).
The descent phase of trials and afflictions these covenanters experience leads to their coming to “know” Jehovah personally not just know about him, which is the purpose of temple ordinances. Their ascent phase follows when the Lord sends them a “savior”—his end-time servant—who delivers them, causing the entire land and people to “heal”:
“Jehovah will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day. They will worship by sacrifice and offerings, and make vows to Jehovah and fulfill them. Jehovah will smite Egypt, and by smiting heal [it]: they will turn back to Jehovah, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them” (Isaiah 19:21–22).
