Posted on 02/17/2005 2:25:35 PM PST by missyme
Two remarkable developments took place recently that are extremely relevant to students of Bible prophecy.
For the first time in 1,600 years, the Israeli Sanhedrin was re-established. It occurred in Tiberius, the site of the Sanhedrin's last meeting in AD 425.
On Jan. 20, IsraelNN.com reported:
A unique ceremony – probably only the second of its kind in the past 1,600 years – is taking place in Tiberius today: The launching of a Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish-legal tribunal in the land of Israel.
The Sanhedrin, a religious assembly that convened in one of the Holy Temple chambers in Jerusalem [before AD 70], comprised 71 sages and existed during the Tannaitic period, from several decades before the Common Era until roughly 425 C.E.
Details of today's ceremony are still sketchy, but the organizers' announced their intention to convene 71 rabbis who have received special rabbinic ordination as specified by Maimonides.
These religious authorities believe it was necessary to re-establish the Sanhedrin because only this properly ordained body of sages can authenticate a Messiah when he comes. There is a growing expectation of the long-awaited Messiah to appear among devout Jews. The rebirth of the Jewish state and recapture of Jerusalem has increasingly influenced this conviction.
On Feb. 9, just a few weeks after the Sanhedrin's re-establishment, another enormously important development took place. The religious sages began to consider the rebuilding of the Temple and reinstitution of ancient animal sacrifices as prescribed in the Law of Moses.
The first step toward facilitating this monumental endeavor was to seek to determine the exact location of the Temple's foundation. Sanhedrin spokesman Rabbi Chaim Richman told Arutz-7:
It is appropriate that the Sanhedrin convened to discuss this lofty matter of the Temple's location this week ... the Sanhedrin continues to move toward strengthening the nation of Israel.
As all these things happen all around us, the Sanhedrin is researching ways to renew the deepest roots of our faith – to renew Temple service, reunite Jewish legal tradition and inspire the Jewish people to aspire to greatness. Our people have one path before us, and we will continue to march toward our destiny.
Sanhedrin member Rabbi Yisrael Ariel is the most ardent believer that the Temple is to be rebuilt in this generation. He is the former Yeshiva head, founder of the Temple Institute, and one of the paratroopers who took part in the 1967 liberation of the Temple Mount. He said:
People today ask, "Who are we in this generation to even consider building the Temple?" But in this week's Torah portion we see that the commandment to build a Temple was given to Jews who had just sinned and committed idolatry in the Sin of the Golden Calf. The fact is that what God requires in this world is for regular people to do their best. That is what we are trying to do.
The most difficult problem is to determine with certainty exactly where the previous Temple's foundations are. Muslims have not allowed Israeli archeologists to do archeological research on the Temple grounds. As a matter of fact, the Muslim custodians of this area, which they believe is their Third Holiest site, have systematically sought to destroy and remove any archeological evidence of Israel ever having a Temple there.
The Sanhedrin determined that there are only two viable theories as to where the Temple stood. One teaches that the Temple stood on the same basic site on which the Muslim mosque known as the Dome of the Rock was built.
The second theory (which I am convinced is the most accurate) is that the Temple was built north of the Dome of the Rock. Dr. Asher Kaufman developed this theory, using certain archeological evidences that he found before the Muslim's destroyed them. However, the most important archeological sign is the position of the Eastern Gate. According to ancient accounts of the Temple, its east-west centerline passed through the center of the Eastern Gate.
We have absolute evidence as to where the ancient Eastern Gate stood. I have viewed personally the remains of the ancient Eastern Gate, which is located under the modern Gate that was built on top of its ruins.
While photographing the area in 1983 for my book, "A Prophetical Walk Through The Holy Land," I sought to verify Dr. Kaufman's theory. I established the east-west centerline from the Eastern Gate. Then I received one of the most supernatural visitations of my life. My mind was suddenly flooded with a couple of verses that had been a mystery to me.
This is what I was shown. "I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, 'Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.'" (Revelation 11:1-2 NIV) So I measured off the distance from the centerline to the point where the wall of the inner court would stand. There was at least 6 meters clearance from the nearest points of the Dome of the Rock and the Temple inner-court wall. The Apostle John clearly predicts that "the outer court was not to be included in the rebuilt Temple, because it was given to the Gentiles."
So what does all this mean? The Temple can be rebuilt and stand alongside the Dome of the Rock without disturbing it. And since the outer court, also known as the Court of the Gentiles, is given to the Gentiles in this period just before the Messiah comes, it infers that there would be a Gentile building there, i.e., the Dome of the Rock.
The fact that a re-established Sanhedrin is now considering the rebuilding of the Temple after 2,000 years is extremely important to students of Bible prophecy. I believe that we are very near the final climactic events that end with the Second Coming of Christ.
Im on SJackson's pinglist, but I missed it anyway! lol
Well, the thing is, I no longer believe in God, so I think it's kinda pointless for me to go to a real synagogue (or one at least somewhat religious). Maybe I'll believe in God when I get older (maybe there's hope, lol).
"If you had studied the Scriptures in the original language it would not be necessary to explain this."
King James, you know one of those kings gave forth to the Christian world an English translation and even he sent a letter along with that translation that there was disagreement about the translation..... "WARNING"
Exodus 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
So my King James does NOT give the name Kohen. Now Nadab won't translate to Kohen, Abihu, won't either, Elezar won't either, and Ithamar doesn't either, I look each one up and went back to the prime.
So hey maybe somebody added it to your book.
You can still argue with God even if you don't believe in Him. We're Jews; it's in the job description. ;o)
I have read that site..Again this is all interpetation, but a Christian site for Jesus as the King is also subject to interpetation why because we all are human beings living in the 21st century...
For the most part wether you have been a Jew a Gentile A Muslim a Hindu if within your walk you have a personal account to pray by yourself and ask Jesus if he is real then come into my heart and I will never stop beleiving that you are the Son of GOd.When you have that personal revelation you start to read the Gospels and become a follower of Christ.
This is the big difference...People are not born a Christian they don't become a Christian because someone told them read the Gospels and then they found out Jesus is the Son of GOD. IT's a Personal Encounter that you have with Jesus that makes you relize who and what he says he is truly "The Truth" At one point everyone will find Jesus.
Some have found him now and others will later...
L'kahano li. Kahano=he may minister. Kohen=one who ministers.
Get yourself Bible study software.
Well, that sure settles it then! In the King's English, just like God gave it to Moses.
Of course, it might help if you actually read what Alouette posted:
Kohen, Kohanim(plural) is Hebrew for priest.
Now, the transliterated Hebrew in question (FR doesn't support Hebrew fonts) is:
veata hakerev eleikha et-aharon akhikha veet-banav ito mitokh benei yisrael lekhahano-li aharon nadav vaavihu elazar veitamar benei aharon
Bolded above is the word translated in your KJV as "priest's office", the root of which clearly is khn, kaf-hei-nun, the same root as the word kohein translated throughout your KJV as "priest".
So the KJV is actually a translation of a translation of a translation, which means that it is three iterations removed from the original text.
I'm not saying that translations are a bad thing, but they are only a tool for the study of sacred scripture, a valuable tool to be sure, but only a means to an end.
Your confusion about the meaning of the word Kohen is just one example of how significant meanings can be lost in translation. Another, very famous mistranslation, is of the word amah in Isaiah chapter 7.
Anyone who studies scripture should make an effort to learn the original language in which it was written. The KJV is beautifully written in a literary sense, but the grandeur of the language can introduce a formality that is not present in the original.
For example, in the Ten Commandments, the Mitzvot are very brief concise: "Don't murder; don't be vile; don't steal; don't lie; don't crave what your neighbor has."
"Don't murder; don't be vile; don't steal; don't lie; don't crave what your neighbor has."
The Problem is the entire world does one of these things daily each and every day of there life...
SO we can all agree the entire human race is Sinful and dis-obeys GOD daily...
I don't think it is appropriate to attack the beliefs of Christians. It usually ends up in a flame war with people being called "anti-Semites" and "anti-Christian bigots" and then the thread is deleted (or moved to "Smokey Backroom") and posters get ZOTTed.
I'm just curious as to what Jews believe caused the temple to be destroyed. I'm ignorant on the subject. I don't intend to offend or start a religious argument, I'm just curious and you apparently are an expert.
Me! Well I am flattered but I am the least expert.
Will Ping Justmythoughts, Alouette Malakhi they know quite a bit....
If you see a rainbow in the sky, it is a symbol of the covenant that G-D made with Noah that he would never again destroy the human race in a great flood. There is even a special blessing that you say when seeing a rainbow:
"Blessed are You, Eternal, our G-d, Ruler of the World, who remembers the Covenant [of Noah] and is faithful to the Covenant, and remembers his Promise."
When a rainbow appears, it is a sign of G-D's displeasure at the behavior of humanity, such that, if He had not promised to Noah never to bring another flood, He would have destroyed the world.
Now you know why the gays have adopted the Rainbow as their flag and official symbol, as it is written, "and the men of Sodom were evil and sinful against the Lord to a very great degree." [Genesis 13:13] They sinned not only because they could not control their perverted urges, but also to openly mock G-D.
Nevertheless, Abraham prayed to G-D not to destroy Sodom if there were ten righteous people found there.
When you see a rainbow, it means that G-D has become so provoked by the sinners that the world should be destroyed at that moment, but because of the promise made to Noah, all are spared.
According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin, I think), the First Temple was destroyed because of idol worship, but the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinom (useless hatred).
Jews had deteriorated into divisive little cliques, no group trusting any other. Because of this petty squabbling and infighting, they were defeated by their enemies.
Sounds exactly like Israel today.
That is a great post Alouette...But the difference is we are really not spared because we all are, all of us are going to face a physical "Death"
For me if I did not believe that there would be an afterlife because I believe Jesus was the one who conquered death through the resurrection, I would be scared to death of dying.
How the Muslims can take Death so meaningless and have no
fear is beyond my comprehension, or how Atheists believe they will die and become of the earth's dirt is bewilldering but my comfort level of being "spared" is having a eternal life...
Thanks.
I think this might have something to do with the possible discovery in Israel several years ago of something called the "Parah Adumah," an unblemished totally Red Cow which per the Torah (OT) was used in a sacrifice to cleanse the Cohanim (Priests) and allow them to enter the Holy of Holy area and perform rituals. Its discovery allows the Temple and its rituals to proceed. Without it such activity is forbidden. The cow itself can not be certified until two years of age.
This animal was symbolic of purity. Its meaning was enigmatic but obligatory for the rituals. Many believe its discovery ushers in the Messianic age.
In the end this did not turn out to be the genuine article, but it created quite a stir and renewed interest in being prepared when the true animal shows up.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Parah Adumah: The Red Heifer
Some time in 1997, a red heifer was born in Israel. This birth received quite a bit of press coverage, and I received many questions asking about the significance of it.
The ritual of the red heifer (in Hebrew, parah adumah) is part of one of the most mysterious rituals described in the Torah. The purpose of this ritual is to purify people from the defilement caused by contact with the dead. The ritual is discussed in Numbers 19. If you find it difficult to understand, don't feel bad; the sages themselves described it as beyond human understanding. What is so interesting about this ritual is that it purifies the impure, but it also renders the pure impure (i.e., everybody who participates in the ritual becomes impure).
It is believed by many that this ritual will be performed by the messiah when he comes, because we have all suffered the defilement of contact with the dead. Thus, the existence of a red heifer is a possible, but not definite, sign of the messiah. If the messiah were coming, there would be a red heifer, but there could be a red heifer without the messiah coming.
I have not heard any definitive word on whether the animal born in Israel satisfies all the requirements of a parah adumah (e.g., that it be without spot, without blemish, and that it has never been yoked).
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/qorbanot.html (excellent resource site)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Holy Cow!
By Barney Kasdan, Messianic Rabbi
If you have been keeping up on the news in Israel, you know that it has recently caused quite a stir. I am referring to the mysterious and controversial "Parah Adumah" (red cow) that was reportedly born on an Orthodox kibbutz, Kfar Hassidim, near Haifa some four months ago. Why all the excitement from both the Jewish and Christian communities? We must turn back to the Torah, Numbers 19:1-22, to see the uniqueness of this sacrifice as stipulated by G-d himself:
"Then the L-rd spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, This is the statute of the law which the L-rd has commanded, saying 'Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect, and on which a yoke has never been placed. And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence...Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight" v.1-5.
Among the unusual characteristics of this sacrifice, we find that this is the only one that must be a particular color. Likewise, of all the sacrifices of the Torah, this is the only one that had to be performed outside the camp instead of on the altar. These things alone would be enough to grab our attention, yet there is more.
"Now a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the sons of Israel shall keep it as water to remove impurity; it is purification from sin" v.9.
Oddly enough, this is the only sacrifice where G-d commands that the ashes of the burnt animal be kept. And this was for a unique purpose as the parah adumah was the key sacrifice for purifying the priesthood and their sacred utensils from sin and uncleanliness. As the Passover lamb was essential to bring our people into covenant relationship with our Heavenly Father, the red heifer was that which kept us cleansed in our service to HaShem. Rabbis and scholars have been somewhat mystified by this unique sacrifice throughout the ages. One statement in the rabbinic commentaries states that even "Solomon was wiser than all men, but when he came to the section of the Parah Adumah he admitted, "I said, I will get wisdom, but it was far from me" (Kohelet Raba 7:23). Rashi, one of the greatest commentators ever, admitted that is was something he could never understand. Yet, the importance of the red heifer is emphasized not only in the Torah but in 12 chapters of the Mishna (an entire tratate called Parah) which are devoted to this strange ritual! No wonder there has been considerable excitement over the birth of this new red heifer in Israel. Some of the Orthodox see it as the vital link to start up the Temple sacrifices and the priesthood once again. In our Israel trip last March, we visited the Temple Institute where most of the instruments and clothing for the priests have already been produced according to the mandate of the Torah and the Talmud. Many of the Orthodox have stated that these things cannot be used until the Temple is rebuilt and the ashes of a perfect parah adumah are found to cleanse the utensils.
Besides the focus on the kibbutz red heifer, there have been other recent developments related to this event. One of the rabbis of the Temple Institute, Haim Richman, has teamed up with a Pentecostal preacher from Mississippi (who is also an experienced cattle rancher) to establish a red angus herd of cows in Israel. Their vision is not only to revive the lagging cattle business in the Land, but in process to develop many kosher heifers for the Temple service in the future (see article in Jerusalem Post International, June 14).
Before we all get too carried away in the excitement, we should note some glitches that have recently arisen. The red heifer of the kibbutz is now coming into question as to its kosher status. You see, they have discovered at least three white hairs on its tail which would disqualify it. There are also many people who fear this animal will be a ticking time bomb for Israel as some fanatics may try to seize the Temple Mount in order to build the Temple. If nothing else, all this reminds us that life is never dull in Israel, even when it comes to the cows!
While many seem to be caught up in the recent commotion, a question is posed to those of us, Jews and Gentiles, who believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. What does all this mean to us? On the one hand, I am sure many believers are also excited that things keep moving closer to the end of the present age. As we see some of these events of the Scriptures come into focus, we realize anew that Mashiach is coming! Yet, I believe we miss an important point if we feel the need for a red heifer in order to be cleansed before G-d. In fact, such excitement about the parah adumah seems to imply that Yeshua is not the Messiah and that we must have the cleansing of our sins through the sacrifices of the rebuilt Temple. The New Covenant scriptures remind us of the opposite truth; namely, that Yeshua himself fulfilled the ministry of the parah adumah in his first coming to Jerusalem. Significantly, it is the letter written to the Jewish believers of the first century that states:
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to G-d, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living G-d? (Hebrews 9:13-14)
Indeed, the death of Yeshua as our Messiah is a beautiful fulfillment of the symbolism associated with the parah adumah. He was without defect (sin). Like the red heifer, Yeshua's death took place outside the camp. The ongoing affect of his sacrifice, similar to the ashes of the heifer, cleanses his people for priestly service. As interesting as all the recent events are, it seems Messianic believers have even a better reason to be excited. Instead of getting caught up in the "holy cow", I hope we are more caught up in the "holy Messiah"! Are you ready for His return? Are you fulfilling your calling as a priest cleansed to serve the Living G-d
http://www.kehilatariel.org/articles/1997_7_8.html
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PARSHAT CHUKAT "This is the Torah's decree... have them bring you a completely red cow which has no blemish..." (19:2) This is the mitzvah of parah adumah (red cow): contact with a human corpse, or even being together with a corpse, overshadowed by one cover renders a person ritually impure. The purification-procedures for such a person include his being sprinkled by the "waters of purification" which contain the specially prepared ashes of a parah adumah. There is a profound link between the precept of parah adumah and the principle of the Messianic redemption: For the duration of the galut, until the coming of Moshiach, all Jews are in a state of impurity caused by corpses. We no longer have ashes of a parah adumah, and new ones can be prepared only in the presence of the Sanctuary (Bet Hamikdash).
Our present impurity is not only a Halachic condition determined by legal definitions. It is also a spiritual condition, for it is sin and spiritual defilement that brought about the very state of galut: "Because of our sins we were exiled from our land..."Mitzvot signify life. To follow the Divine commandments means to attach oneself to the Al-mighty who gave us the Torah and mitzvot, drawing unto oneself spiritual vitality from the very Source of All Life. Thus it is written: "You who cleave unto G-d, your G-d, you are all alive today." (Va'etchanan 4:4)Sin signifies death.
Sin means violating G-d's Will, rebelling against G-d; thus it disrupts attachment to the Creator, plugging, as it were, the very channel through which the spiritual life-force flows to man. Sin thus brings about the "impurity of death." Both the "red cow" and the Messianic redemption effect purification. The ashes of the "red cow" are used for removing a legal state of impurity. The redemption will purify the entire people of Israel (including those who Halachically are pure) from any trace of deficiency in the bond with our Father in Heaven.
One of the Messianic prophecies thus says of that time, in terms analogous to the "waters of purification" of the "red cow": "I shall sprinkle pure waters upon you that you be purified. From all your impurities and from all your idols I will purify you!" (Ezekiel 36:25)Maimonides cites a Talmudic ruling in the following words: "Nine `red cows' were prepared from the time this precept was ordained until the Second Temple was destroyed: the first was prepared by Moses our Master, the second Ezra prepared, and there were seven from Ezra to the destruction of the Temple. The tenth will be prepared by the King Moshiach - may he soon be revealed, amen, may thus be (G-d's) Will!" Our present mitzvot will make this happen momentarily!(From: Discover Moshiach in the Weekly Torah Portion)
"This is the statute of Torah...and they shall take to you a red heifer." (19:2) QUESTION: Why does it say "Zot chukat haTorah" - "This is the statute of the Torah" - instead of "Zot chukat parah adumah" - "This is the statute of the red heifer"? ANSWER: The laws concerning the parah adumah are paradoxical. On the one hand, when the mixture is sprinkled, a defiled person becomes cleansed. On the other hand, those who are involved in the preparation of the parah adumah become defiled. The people appointed to prepare the parah adumah may rationally argue, "Why should we become defiled for the sake of those who were not careful to avoid contact with a corpse?" Through the statute of parah adumah the Torah is teaching that a Jew must help another Jew even if it requires sacrifice. This is "chukat haTorah" - "a basic principle of Torah" - and though we may not easily comprehend it, we must practice it in our daily lives.
"Take the staff...and speak to the rock before their eyes that it shall give its waters." (20:8) QUESTION: What purpose was the staff to serve and what was Moshe to say to the rock? ANSWER: Aharon and Moshe each had his own staff. When Hashem wanted Moshe or Aharon to take his own staff, He would say "matecha" - "your staff" (see Shemot 7:9). Since in this pasuk it says "hamateh" -"the staff" - obviously it was a special one with unique qualities. In Parshat Korach, Moshe told the leaders of each tribe to bring a staff to be put in the Tabernacle. On each would be written the name of the tribal leader, with Aharon's name written on the staff of the tribe of Levi. The staff belonging to the one who was Divinely-chosen would blossom. The staff of Aharon blossomed and produced almonds and eventually was put next to the holy Ark for posterity. It was this staff that Moshe was to take. This corresponds to the verse, "Moshe took the staff from before G-d" (20:9). The purpose of taking the staff was to show it to the rock as if to say, "Learn this lesson; just as this dry piece of wood suddenly became moist and alive in order to sanctify Hashem's name, so should you sanctify Hashem's name by giving water, even though it is not your nature." (From: VeDibarta Bam by Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky)
"When the entire assembly saw that Aaron had perished, they wept for Aaron thirty days, the entire house of Israel." (20:29) Whenever Aharon heard that two people were involved in a quarrel, he would go to one of them and tell him that he had recently met his friend and had heard him say, "The quarrel was my fault, and I bitterly regret it." Aharon would then go to the second friend and tell him the same fabricated story. When the two would meet again, they would hug one another and be friends. For this reason, the entire nation wept when Aharon died. (Avos D'Reb Noson 12:3, From: Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin)
http://www.beverlyhillschabad.com/News-Letter/98/Chukat98.wps.htm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.