The Seed Blog: Are You Watching, Part 2

We had begun a study of things we should be looking for in our lifetimes if we are indeed living in the last days, which must at least have their beginnings before—or just into the start—of the Tribulation. We should be actively, expectantly looking for these things from a solid scriptural basis with great expectation because such a large portion of the scriptures are used to explain the events to come. Because time and again, scriptures tell us: "To keep watch… for these things that will begin to happen!" Because Jesus gave one of His longest sermons in all three synoptic gospels, and John wrote an entire book telling us of the "Signs for which we are to watch," and encouraging us to actively be looking: Luke 21:28, 31, 36. In our last study, we recognized that none of these signs would matter unless the single most important key had been revealed—the return of Israel to her own land, because everything which happens in the End Times involves Israel as the center stage, and because one of the biggest reasons for this entire time of Tribulation is to bring Israel to repentance and redemption. We also looked at the coming war of Gog, from the land of Magog with all his alliance in the last days, moving against Israel near the beginning of the Tribulation in the last days—which we seem to be witnessing with incredible accuracy today involving Russia, Iran, Israel and other Middle East nations—perfectly fitted to the last detail with prophecies over 2500yrs old. Today, we will look at another event which must at least have its roots of origin before the Tribulation begins in order for the prophecies of the End Times to occur as written: the rebuilding of the Third Temple.

Why must there be a Third Temple built in Jerusalem? Because, as we will see in this study, many Old and New Testament prophecies tell of the measuring and construction of a Temple in the Tribulation Period (Revelation 11); there are sacrifices and offerings given during the Tribulation Period (Dan 9  / Rev 11); the desecration of the Temple by the "Antichrist" half-way thru the Tribulation (Dan 9 / Rev 11 / Matt 25) as he goes to the Temple to proclaim himself "god!" According to the details of these chronological events of the last seven years on earth, it is a complete impossibility these events could occur without the Temple being built—or already being in place—at the start of the Tribulation. In order to see the full credibility of Biblical prophecy concerning the Third Temple and see how the coming events fit into God's big picture, let's take a look at the history of the Temple in Jerusalem since it's beginning.
The First Temple was built by Solomon (David’s son) 1000BC, and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The Second Temple was built by Zerubbabel (Completed in 515 BC) when the Medes and Persians defeated the Babylonians and King Cyrus of Persia gave the Jews permission to return to their land, encouraging them to rebuild the Temple: Ezra 1:1-4. One of the most astounding prophecies of Scripture is from Isaiah concerning this event over 200 years prior, when God literally foretells this even calling "Cyrus" by name: Isaiah 45:1, 3-5, 13. History shows us this is exactly what happened and King Cyrus of Persia was the King who made it happen. This Second Temple was later greatly enlarged and improved by King Herod under Roman Rule in 37 BC. This is the grand piece of architecture which was standing in Jesus' day when He preached within its walls. Although Jesus proclaimed the "Antichrist" would come in the Last Days and desecrate The Temple: Matthew 24:15-16. Jesus also predicted the current Temple of His day would be completely destroyed and that Israel would be scattered throughout the world until the Last Days: Matthew 24:1-2; Luke 21:24. Daniel not only predicted this same thing would occur in Jesus' (Messiah’s) lifetime some 500 years before Jesus was born, he also predicted Jesus would be killed at about the same time in history: Daniel 9:26—all fulfilled exactly as written in the exact timetable given. When Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate and 40 years after, the Romans destroyed this massive structure in AD 70, and John writing Revelation—well after this Temple was destroyed (AD 90-95)—verifies this Third Temple had to appear in the Tribulation because in his writings it is already built and in use again. God says to measure the Temple, it's articles of worship and to see the number of people who worship there. This is written in Greek in the present participle active tense, meaning an action in the present at that given time, that will continue. In order to be in use at this time of the Tribulation, this Temple construction must begin at the very beginning of the 7 year period at the latest, and perhaps a short time before. Each of the previous two Temples were prophesied to be destroyed in perfect fulfillment, and the Third Temple has been prophesied to be built in these Last Days—by OT and NT prophets, and Jesus Himself. Do we see any signs or preparations for such a Temple today?
How many people remember the 1989 film "Field of Dreams?" Where an Iowa farmer hears a mysterious voice telling him, "If you build it, he will come!" And he builds a baseball diamond on his land, where ghosts of great players come out of the crops and play. This is how many Orthodox Jews feel about the Third temple today: "If we build it, He will come!" The Director of the Temple Institute, Rabbi Chaim Richman—the central organization working towards rebuilding the Temple recently said: "The Shekinah (God's Presence) is brought about only through the Temple.…In terms of our mission as a people, we cannot in any way reach our spiritual status without the Temple.” First, realize we are the first and only generation since Jesus Christ who could ever fathom the presence of a Third Temple. Since 1987, there as been a "Temple Movement" in Israel. Since this Movement's conception, almost everything needed to rebuild the Temple has been painstakingly researched to the last detail and created or developed in Israel in anticipation of the moment they begin building. Here is a quote from the Temple Institute concerning their preparation for the Temple today: "The Temple Institute has likewise called upon Israel's finest craftsmen and artisans, and enlisted them in the historical task of recreating the sacred vessels and vestments. Every vessel produced by the Temple Institute is done in accordance with the precise instructions that were first handed down by G-d to Moshe. The vessels you are about to view are all fit and ready for use in the Holy Third Temple, may it be built speedily, and in our days!" To show just how prepared—just how close they are to beginning—see all that has been completed to this day: They have revived the Sanhedrin which is the religious ruling body over the Temple. This Sanhedrin Body now presides over the preparations of restoring the Temple... For years, the Institute has searched to locate a select group of males qualified to act as priests in the Temple (Kohanim). They must be born in Israel and able to show proof of lineage with extreme conditions of purity and no exposure to certain things in their lives thus far. Those qualified have been holding reenactments of the temple ceremonies in training preparations for service. The priestly garments have been carefully studied and reproduced, including the ephod for the High Priest, the two sardonyx stones one the shoulders of the ephod and the High Priest's breastplate with the 12 stones engraved with each tribe's name. They have painstakingly constructed all of the articles and furnishings necessary to fill the Temple and conduct sacrifices and rituals, the alter of sacrifice, the golden table of showbread, the golden menorah, the golden altar of incense, the lottery box for choosing the sacrifice and scapegoat, all of the cups, plates, shovels, pitchers, flasks, cleaning vessels, forks, incense holders, etc. to be used, the silver trumpets and shofars needed for ceremonies. The harps, lyres, and other instruments have been created according to Scriptures for use in the Temple. Just recently, the Temple Institute even began a Levitical Choir Academy in order to train qualified descendants through the Levitical songbook. The Sanhedrin have begun planting the Biblical Temple Forest to meet the agricultural needs of the Temple (5yrs.). The Temple Institute has created a project to restore the sacred red heifer used for purifying Jews before serving in the Temple (using frozen embryo implant science). According to the Mishna (Jewish Talmud), there have been nine sacred heifers used in Israel's past. The Mishna tradition reveals the 10th red heifer will be sacrificed by the Messiah Himself. We have seen much news about the recently found five flawless red heifers arriving in Israel from Texas on Sept. 15, 2022—it is yet to be seen if they will qualify. Numbers 19, and oral Jewish Law require the heifer to be: three or four years old and in perfect redness (older is ok); meaning as few as two hairs of any other color makes it invalid. Even hooves and exposed skin must be red (nose, mouth, etc.), free of any blemishes or defects (not even ear tag), never been used in physical labor or been yoked. It is not true that the Institute is in need of finding the original ashes of the first nine heifers to continue. They would like to find them, but there would be no way of verifying they are authentic or verifying they have been kept "clean." The Institute's final words on the subject are these: "But in the meantime, let the truth be known: there is nothing to stop the people of Israel from raising a new red heifer, from birth, and preparing it in the manner we have described in these pages, and raising children in purity to carry out the procedure - even without the original ashes. On the contrary: we may be in doubt as to the true nature of any discovery that is unearthed whose authenticity cannot be completely verified. But a perfect heifer, born and raised under a controlled environment, would be fit to be used for the Temple. And that is precisely what is being done today." The Institute has recaptured the science of producing biblical crimson used in the High Priest's garments, the curtain separating the Holy of Holies, and the red heifer sacrifice (Numbers 19:5-6) from the “crimson worm” (carmine), the Kermes biblicus.
There are a few things which are yet to be revealed that prevent the Temple from beginning immediately. These are the things to keep watch upon today: 1) the verification of the flawless red heifer 2) location of the Ark of the Covenant—no one seems to know where the Ark of the Covenant is today, yet it would be strange going to such elaborate work in planning the Temple if they did not have the most important piece of the puzzle—the actual place where God is supposed to dwell. The Temple Institute makes this claim about the Ark: "Unlike the other sacred vessels created by the Temple Institute for use in the third Holy Temple, the Ark of the Covenant is a replica. The original ark, created in the desert, lies hidden in a chamber beneath the Temple Mount, and will be revealed with the building of the Holy Temple." 3) the current presence of an Islamic structure known as "Dome of the Rock”—which many believe is standing on the precise location of the First and Second Temples.
This structure is not a mosque, but a Muslim shrine where tradition holds that the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven on a winged horse. Israel gained control of the Temple Mount in 1967 (6 Day) War. They still technically own and control it, but they returned authority of the Temple Mount over to the Islamic Waqf (Islamic Guardians of Muslim Holy Sites) as a gesture of peace after the War. There is new evidence suggested to prove the First and Second Temples were not located on the Dome's location, but very near. If it is found to be near, the antichrist may allow both to coexist in his "Peace Treaty." If it is indeed on the same location, the antichrist may allow the Temple to be rebuilt regardless because he wants to proclaim himself God and stand in the Temple to be worshiped. Or the Dome of the Rock will be destroyed through war or natural means. Orthodox Jews believe the Temple will not be built until the Messiah is ready to return. One of the top Ultra-Orthodox Rabbis of the Jewish Community, Chaim Kanievsky (passed recently) claims the Messiah is here and soon to be revealed. Muslims declare they will not allow the Temple anywhere on the Holy Mount until their messiah (Mahdi) commands it. Pay attention to what John wrote in the Book of Revelation concerning what the Angel told him to measure on the new Third Temple in the Last Days: Revelation 11:2. God says do not measure the Outer Courts of the Temple—because they have been given over to nonbelievers for 3 1/2 years. Does this not perfectly describe today’s exact sharing of the Temple Mount: The Dome and the Al-Asqa Mosque with the Islamics? Stop and think just for a moment—could it possibly be coincidence that an entire nation was scattered into every other nation on earth only to return 2000yrs later—in a day, to be hated by all around, to be prosperous and powerful—and one of the most massive and amazing structures of the ancient world was completely destroyed leaving no trace which the Jews were exiled into the world? With plans to rebuild that structure in our generation? The same generation seeing this nation return—on the Mount where a Gentile power happens to occupy the outer Temple Courts as prophesied 200yrs ago? As a powerful nation, located where Magog is foretold to be arms and allies with all the exact nations foretold, accidentally in the same generation—which is seeing all of these things happen after 2000yrs of nothing?
Get Ready my friends... It cannot be much longer!