The Red Heifer

Two weeks ago, the Temple Institute publicly confirmed for the first time with video footage that they have found (and taken) a red heifer.

It was "a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke" - all in accordance to Numbers 19. To many, it was a nondescript event; but to those waiting for the re-building of the Third Temple and prophecy watchers, it is perhaps one of the most exciting confirmation where we are on God's timeline. After all, Israel hasn't had a red heifer for almost two thousand years and a pure red heifer is a rare anomaly. 

The red heifer is a picture of Christ - perfect and without blemish - who was slain "outside the camp", and through his death (ashes) comes the "purification for sin". So important was this ritual, God said "it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever".

Without the red heifer, there is no purification of sin - and Temple Service cannot re-commence. The Temple Institute has re-created virtually all that is necessary for Temple Service - the priestly garments, the Menorah, the incense and even the blue-print for the Temple; Levites are being trained to serve in the coming temple. Even now, they have "enough people" to man the temple. 

More than 800 years ago, while the Jews were yet scattered, Maimonides (a revered Jewish rabbi) taught that the coming (tenth) red heifer "will be accomplished by the King, the Messiah". The Jews are excited, because it is confirming that God is dealing with Israel again. The dry bones have come alive, many have been gathered from the four winds, the desert is blooming, the former and latter rains have returned, and now, the heifer is come - only the re-building of the Temple is left. God is preparing His people - and they are about to cry out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord", and great is their desire.

Let's pray along for Israel and Jerusalem. Exciting things will be unfolding this year and next, and we, of all generations, have a front-row view as prophecy unfolds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byAoFbA6cr8

Reclaiming Christmas - When was Jesus born?

Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was of the priestly line of Abijah (Lk 1:5), and while he was serving in the temple, an angel of the Lord told him that his wife, Elisabeth, would conceive. The priesthood was divided into 24 courses, of which the line of Abijah would be the 8th course (1Ch 24). Jewish temple practice was such that each course will serve a week twice a year. Since there are three major feasts at which all Jews must gather in Jerusalem, there are three times in a year when all priests would be needed to serve together. 

For a moment, let's just assume this is the first time in the year that Zacharias is serving. The religious new year begins on Nisan 1 (being the "first month" which approximates to March). Zacharias' course would have started on Iyar 27 (in April) - and the following week would be the Festival of Weeks (Shavout). This explains why the "whole multitude of the people were praying" outside -- because the Torah requires all Jews to be in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavout. After the Festival of Weeks, Zacharias returned home and Elisabeth conceived John (Lk 1:23-24). This means John would have been conceived no earlier than the month of Sivan (which is around May). 

It is very likely that John was conceived two months later ("after those days") in the middle of Av (about July). Following a 39-40 week pregnancy, John would have been born on Passsover (Nisan 15) -- which is in March. It is important to note that traditionally, Jews expect Elijah to return on Passover -- which is the season of redemption. Christ himself said "Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would" (Matt 17:12, Mk 9:13), thereby confirming John, for he did come in the "spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him" (Lk 1:17). 

This brings added significance when John proclaims "Behold, the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world". For John was himself born on Passover, and his first introduction of Jesus was as the true sacrifice Lamb of God.

Gabriel appeared to Mary when Elisabeth's pregnancy was into the sixth month (Lk 1:26). This will put Gabriel's visit in the month of Shevat (which would be around January). Mary then hurried to Elisabeth's house, learning that she is pregnant (Lk 1:39).  Arriving in January, Elisabeth would have been in her third trimester. Seeing both Zacharias and Elisabeth are old, Mary stayed on to help them. This was especially needful as the baby would be full term around Passover and Zacharias would have to serve in the temple. Mary stayed on with Elisabeth until John was born in March -- thereby staying with Elisabeth for "about three months" (Jan - Mar) before she "returned unto her house" (Lk 1:56).

If Mary conceived when Gabriel visited her (in January), Jesus would have been born in late September / October. More precisely, Jesus would have been full term around the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). All Israel would gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles to remember how the LORD had brought them out of Egypt and tabernacled among them in their journey to the Promised Land. This explains many things. (1) It is a convenient time to tax people - all Israel will all be gathering in Jerusalem anyway -- no wonder "there was no room for them in the inn" (Lk 2:7) (2) It is not yet too cold - travelling in winter just to get taxed may just trigger another revolt -- the memory of the Hasmoneans was still fresh; (3) the cool (but not freezingly cold) climate also explains why shepherds can still be out tending the sheep. 

Immanuel came down on the Feast of Tabernacles to literally tabernacle with Man. God the Father made sure, when Jesus came, the whole of Israel was gathered to honor that day (whether or not they knew the true significance). What more, in Lev 23:36, the LORD declares that during the Feast of Tabernacles, "seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you." 

All Jewish boys have to be circumcised on the eighth day (Lev 12:3). Therefore, on the day the LORD has declared a "holy convocation", Jesus was circumcised in the Temple. 

By the above chronology, everything (logic, common sense, Jewish tradition, and the Law) all begins to converge and make sense, and it is mind-blowing to know that God has ochestrated all these strands together. Indeed His thoughts and His ways are higher. 

Satan's Breast Plate

We often wonder if there is any significance in the mind-boggling details often found in the Old Testament.

For example, when describing Satan, Ezekiel wrote "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold." (Eze 28:13a).

Why did Ezekiel bother describing the nine stones set in gold? Because of our unfamiliarity with Jewish temple practices, we fail to see the relationship with the High Priest's garments. In Exodus 28, Moses describes the High Priest's breast plate.

Exo 28:17  And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. Exo 28:18  And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. Exo 28:19  And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. Exo 28:20  And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

Had we known Exodus 28, it will be immediately clear that the stones are identical. However, Satan has 9 stones on his breast plate, while the high priest has 12 - one representing each tribe of Israel. Therefore, Satan actually has 3 "missing" stones -- all from the third row: ligure, agate and amethyst. To find the "birth stone" of each tribe, we simply order the tribes according to their birth order, starting from Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah ... all the way to Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. Through doing so, we find that the 3 missing stones correspond to the tribes of Gad, Asher and Issachar.

Only then, can we ask the "right" question -- why are these three stones / tribes missing from Satan's breast plate?

To answer this, we have to look at Genesis 49, where Jacob prophesizes about his sons. Gad is an overcomer who  shall "overcome at the last" (v19) and have the final victory. Asher is a royal servant, whose "bread shall be fat" and serve "royal dainties" to the King (v20). Issachar is a burden carrier - a strong ass who lifts burdens. 

Satan is an imitator. Like Judah, he is a lion, but a roaring lion that "walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Pe 5:8). Like Dan, he is a serpent - "the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world" (Rev 12:9). Like Simeon and Levi, "instruments of cruelty" are in his habitations (Gen 49:5). Like Napthali, he uses goodly words, but to deceive. Like Benjamin, he is a wolf, who scatters the sheep.

When God created Satan, he knew what Satan would be. However, there are three things Satan would never be. (1) Satan will never be a burden carrier. Only Jesus carries all our burdens. (2) Satan will never be a royal servant. It is not in him to serve. But Jesus is the Servant King. (3) Satan will never overcome. He will never have the final victory. Jesus will.

--

How amazing it is, that "mere" stones should contain so great a mystery. How deep, how vast, how unsearchable is His wisdom. 

If any man thirst

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 7:37

It was the Fall feasts and the whole nation of Israel was gathered at Jerusalem. Having observed the Feast of Trumpets and Atonement in the last two weeks, the Fall feasts was drawing to a close with the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day, the Levites were at the Pool of Siloam -- the only pool in the city with living waters. They drew the water into a golden goblet and brought it up to the temple, pouring it into one of the two silver basins adjoining the altar; and in the other basin, they poured wine. As the procession went on, the Jews were chanting from Isa 12, a commeoration of water being drawn from the rock as the nation of Israel wandered through the desert.

And as they chanted "with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isa 12:3), Jesus stood up in the midst of the people, and cried, saying "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink".

And as they chanted "God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Isa 12:2), little did they know, the one standing in their midst was truly their salvation incarnate! And the Jews chanted "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee" (Isa 12:6) -- and it was true - the Holy One of Israel was right there in Zion, in their midst!

As the choir sang the hallel from Psalm 118, they would have come across "the LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation" (v14), "I will praise you, for you have heard me, and are become my salvation" (v21), and yet when their salvation stood in their midst, and they did not recognize the significance of that moment.

The one whom they have been longing for and singing about was standing in their midst, and they did not see! Moses wrote "the LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation" (Ex 15:2). The Law (Torah), the Prophets, and the Psalms all proclaimed God's salvation, and year after year, God had the nation of Israel to rehearse the feasts, so they would remember His promises and at the coming of His anointed, they would truly sing and shout.

Pray for the nation of Israel. That they may receive the Spirit of God and thirst no more.