On a recent Hal Lindsey broadcast, Mr. Lindsey talked about how Israel is preparing for the Messiah. The following is based on his broadcast.
The ancient Sanhedrin was the Jewish Supreme Court was composed of 71 of Israel’s most revered Torah scholars. A majority vote had to be at least two votes over half of the 71, to settle any case before it. (Christ was taken before the Sanhedrin during His trial). After the Temple was destroyed, the Sanhedrin moved from place to place. It finally dissolved in Tiberias during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
Jewish tradition is that from Tiberias, the Sandhedrin will be restored. The Jews believe the restoration of the Sanhedrin will precede the coming of the Messiah, as only the Sanhedrin has the authority to crown the Messiah as the Jewish King.
In October 2004, 71 Jews were ordained to restore the Sanhedrin in Tiberias. Rabbi Chaim Richmond stated, "We don’t have a choice, it is a religious mandate for us to establish a Sanhedrin." Rabbi Richmond is head of the Temple Mount Institute and also one of the Sanhedrin. There, the Jewish Priests are recreating the tools necessary to restore Temple worship, where animal sacrifices will once again be offered.
The first and most important sacrifice, is a pure unblemished Red Heifer, as specified in the Bible’s book of Numbers, chapter 19. It is only the ashes of the Red Heifer that can purify the Temple so the Jews can worship there. Jewish scholars note that a total of nine unblemished Red Heifers have been born during the entire period of the first and second Temples. Since the destruction of the second Temple, no perfect Red Heifer has been born until this generation.
In the late 1990's, two perfect Red Heifers were born in Israel, and a third on a ranch in Texas. It has been 2000 years since the last Red Heifer was found to meet the stringent requirement set forth in Numbers 19.
Three of the items needed for the construction of a new Temple are now in place. The instruments used for animal sacrifices - the first legal Sanhedrin in 1600 years - and the first perfect Red Heifers in 2000 years. There are other items needed, but the biggest one is the Temple itself. The major obstacle to its construction, is the Moslem occupation of the Temple Mount. Also there is the famous "Dome of the Rock" sitting on top of the mount, and for some time most people thought the Jewish Temples were sitting on the same spot on which the mosque now occupies. Therefore there was no way the new Temple could be built without removing the mosque. But there are scholars today who believe the Dome of the Rock is not sitting on the exact spot of the old Temples, and that the new Temple could be constructed near by.
The Bible may be predicting this type of a situation in Revelation 11:1,2. How will this come about? As the Bible says, "anything is possible with God." One of the possibilities is that some kind of a treaty between the Jews and Moslems will allow the Jews to build the Temple. But however God arranges it, the Temple will be built.
What does all this mean today? It means the time for the return of Christ (the Messiah) is getting closer. When three items needed to build the Temple, that have been missing for centuries, are now a reality, then the construction of the Temple is that much closer. And many believe that the Temple needs to be rebuilt before Christ returns.
Keep your eyes on Israel – it is God's prophetic timepiece.
By George Konig
February 6, 2005
www.georgekonig.org
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