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.
It has a particular use in the context of Jewish religious leadership. Your use of the term is thus misleading, and I must presume deliberately misleading. Considering that you profess to be a believer in 'Yahshua', your use of the term is even more puzzling.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. (Matthew 23:8)
A "Rabbi" is a specific kind of teacher, one who is certified to instruct in Jewish law. A "Rabbi" must received semichah (ordination) from a qualified yeshiva (seminary).
Since you are a Christian, it follows that you are not a qualified instructor of Jewish law. Therefore you may call yourself "Professor" or "Reverend" or even "Doctor" (but only if you have a PhD) but you are not a Rabbi.
"I too found this to be exciting news..who would of ever thought we would see these things happen in our lifetime..."Thank you"missyme""LadyPilgrim"I will write My very good strong G-D"wow"News Information ping"Alouette""Sjackson"Thank you all
Actually, he could call himself 'rabbi', but not 'Rabbi'.
"Since you are a Christian, it follows that you are not a qualified instructor of Jewish law."
Are you speaking of the Torah? Because if you are it is a requirement that Christians know that law very well. Now I know very well that most Christians are taught that the 'law' no longer applies, but that is not the first seduction planted in Christianity.
Bump for later read ...
"This is a mostly Christian obsession, with secular press coverage mostly intended to mock religious Jews. "
Interesting accusation!
"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."
So let me get this straight. A bunch of men are going to "certify" The Messiah?
You were wrong 2000 years ago, what makes you think you will get it right this time?
Perhaps my comments are a bit to acid, it just seems a tad presumptious.
"So let me get this straight. A bunch of men are going to "certify" The Messiah?"
You have not seen anything yet!
What do you mean Christian Obsession? This is happening within Israel? that is true not an obsessive fairytale...
""Since you are a Christian, it follows that you are not a qualified instructor of Jewish law."
Are you speaking of the Torah? Because if you are it is a requirement that Christians know that law very well. Now I know very well that most Christians are taught that the 'law' no longer applies, but that is not the first seduction planted in Christianity."
Please Brother Sister today is today G-D is good Love!!!! we are persons G-D love persons all persons ok Thank you all
Specifically, I am speaking of the Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish Law, which of course is a subset of "Torah" (which is all G-Dly knowledge).
In order to qualify as a "Rabbi" or a "rabbi" (Hebrew has no uppercase or lowercase) one has to be certified in an area which is covered in the Shulchan Aruch. There are advanced degrees for rabbinical judges.
Calling yourself a "rabbi" without qualifying in Shulchan Aruch is like calling yourself a "doctor" without medical training or a PhD.
"Please Brother Sister today is today G-D is good Love!!!! we are persons G-D love persons all persons ok Thank you all"
Yes our Heavenly Father and HIS only Begotten Son are the GOOD! Remember we are told that sweet and bitter cannot come from the same fountain. I have a fairly decent understanding of what is exactly Written from Genesis through Revelation. Christ warned a sign of His coming was DECEPTION. No man can tell a Christian to ignore that law, that seat of Moses.
I think that is proably confusing for Christians because Jesus Christ was referred all the time as "Rabbi"
(A Jewish Teacher)and of course he had no degree but was all knowing of TORAH Jewish Law....
I am not a christian, I keep Torah. The Sabbath included and Yahweh's Festivals (Yearly Sabbaths). I try to keep all the Commands of Yahweh. I do not care that some Yahudim teach the Talmud as the final athority. I only go by the Scriptures, not "king jimmy" the pedophile or what some Babylonian foisted on my Hebrew brothers twenty five hundred years ago.
Being that they are called "Priest" "Pastor" "Reverend" "Minister" "Bishop" "Deacon" "Father" and everything else under the sun except for "Rabbi" then what we have here is a case of someone claiming false credentials and deceiving people.
Mohammed encouraged deception, but I am not aware that Jesus ever did.
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