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

A testimony unto all the nations

Jesus gave many signs about the End Times in Matt 24. Many of them can be fulfilled multiple times - e.g. false teachers (v5), wars (v6), famines and earthquakes (v7), persecution (v9), false prophets (v11) - and that is one reason why people disagree over "fulfillment". After all, they had happened in the past - and what gives us surety that the circumstances we now face are signs of "the End"?

There is however, one verse, which cannot be fulfilled multiple times.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.

Matt 24:14

Preterists may claim it's been fulfilled in the first century, but "the whole world" is the whole world. There is no need to give a discount to an omnipotent God. In the modern age, with satellite and communications technology, we've finally come to the point where we do know every nation on the globe. 

Perhaps then, the simplest question we can ask (for which there is a definite answer) is whether the Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached in "the whole world" (to every nation)?

Benny Prasad has taken the gospel to every single nation on earth. On 22 Nov 2010, he completed his "world tour" in Pakistan, and set a world record. Where he goes, he has preached the gospel of the kingdom.

References

http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/travel/fastest_time_to_visit_245_countries_Benny_Prasad_set_world_record_112047.html 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Prasad

Watching the Fire

Sardis is the slumbering church. It has but a name, and is in reality, dead. Jesus warned that He will "come as a thief" on those who are not watching.

In Leviticus 6:8 - 13, the LORD commanded how the burnt-offering was to be kept. The burnt-offering was to be on the altar "all night unto the morning", and He commanded that "the fire on the altar shall be kept burning thereon" (v9). The fire was so important that the LORD emphasized it again in verses 12 and 13.

"the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out" (v12),

"the fire shall ever be burning on the altar; it shall never go out" (v13).

We so often focus on the offering that we forget the fire. We think the offering is the important thing, but somehow, the LORD placed more emphasis on the fire - that it must not go out.

When the priests were serving in the Second Temple, they were sometimes guilty of not watching the fire and allowing it to go out. The High Priest would randomly make his rounds to make sure that the priests were performing their duties and faithfully watching the fire as the LORD commanded. When the High Priest discovers a sleeping priest, he would set fire to the priest's garments. In no time at all, the sleeping priest would be running around amok and naked in the temple, and all the other priests on duty will see his shame. The High Priest is therefore also nicknamed the "thief in the night".

Jesus says "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Rev 16:15). Jesus is our Great High Priest (Heb 4) and we are the royal priesthood (1Pet 2:9). When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth? Will He have to set fire on our garments that we awake from our slumber? Will we be caught sleeping and not watching the fire?

To those who are slumbering and not watching -- He comes as a thief, and we will not know the hour of his visitation; but we are not in the darkness, that the day should overtake us as a thief (1Th 5:4). Let us therefore do what the LORD has commanded -- to watch the fire of our offering that it does not go out, even in these times. When the Son of Man returns, my fire will be strong and I will be found watching for His return.