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"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thes 5:6)

As discussed in the May article, on January 20, 2005 the new Sanhedrin was commissioned for the first time in 1600 years. This event marked a milestone in Biblical prophecy, since the Sanhedrin must recognize Jesus as Messiah and cry out "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 1335) before the Lord can return.

In May, the Sanhedrin initiated plans that will mark another milestone on the road to the Lord's return -- the rebuilding of the temple. The Sanhedrin "calls upon all groups who work in the area of the Temple and Temple Mount-related research and activity, to begin to prepare detailed architectural plans for the construction of the Holy Temple, towards the goal of its establishment in its proper place. The Sanhedrin will establish a forum of architects and engineers whose goal will be to implement this decision, so that detailed working plans are effectively brought to an operational stage. The Sanhedrin calls upon the Jewish people to contribute towards the acquisition of materials for the purpose of rebuilding the Holy Temple; the gathering and preparation of prefabricated, disassembled portions of this building to be stored and ready for rapid assembly, in the manner of King David."

As you are probably aware, the implements for the temple have already been fabricated and the priesthood has been trained. Once built, the temple must be purified -- which requires the ashes of a perfect red heifer. The ashes of a red heifer were required by the ancient Hebrews to cleanse worshipers who went into the Temple to pray. In modern times, rabbinical law forbids Jews from setting foot on the Temple Mount, unless or until they are ritually purified. Without a perfect red heifer to sacrifice, the Third Temple cannot be built, and Moshiach the Messiah will not come.

Interestingly, the Mishna (Jewish commentary on the Scriptures) teaches that up until the destruction of the Second Temple, ashes had been prepared from a total of only nine red heifers. In recounting this historical record in his commentary to the Mishna, Maimonides, a Jewish cleric, makes the following statement "... and the tenth red heifer will be accomplished by the king, the Messiah; may he be revealed speedily, Amen, May it be God's will."

With this amazing statement, Maimonides recounts an ancient tradition -- that the tenth red heifer is associated with the Messianic era.

In 1997, a red heifer was born in Israel, thanks in part to a cattle-breeding program set up in Israel with the help of are fundamentalist Christian Texas ranchers. However, as it turns out, during the three years of waiting for the heifer to reach the ritually-mandated age of sacrifice, white hairs popped out on the tip of her tail and she was disqualified.

In 2002, the Temple Mount Institute reported another red heifer was born in Israel and had been validated by rabbis to be kosher. They have to wait three years for the heifer to reach the ritually-mandated age of sacrifice. It remains to be seen whether this heifer will be qualified.

However, archeologist Vendyl Jones (whom the Indiana Jones movie character was based on) is convinced that he is on the verge of finding not only the ashes of the red heifer, but also the Mosaic Tabernacle, complete with the golden ark of the covenant! Based on descriptions found on a copper scroll found in a cave near Qumran, he believes he has located the site where the ark is located. Jones said, "In the copper scroll, the first five lines say, ‘In the desolations of the Valley of Achur, in the opening under the ascent, which is a mountain facing eastward, covered by forty placed boulders here is a tabernacle and all the golden fixtures". He says he has found the boulders and is awaiting permission from the Rabbis to proceed with his quest. So far he has received a special blessings from one unnamed Rabbi to proceed with his efforts, encouraging Jones that the "time is right" to find it. He expects to locate the treasure in the near future.

The Sanhedrin is in place; Plans to rebuild the temple are underway; The ashes of the red heifer and the Ark of the Covenant are almost in hand. "It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Rom 1311b)

With the temple in view, is the antichrist also around the corner? Next issue.

As we approach the return of Jesus Christ, the shaking in the world will increase as God draws out a bride for himself. "Once again, in a little while, shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts."(Haggai 2:6-7)

"It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Rom 13:11b)