Update: In November, 2002, the red heifer born in Israel in April became disqualified.

A red heifer is necessary in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers, chapter 19

Israel is clearly moving toward the rebuilding of the prophesied third temple on the Temple Mount. A prophecy sign we should keep our eye on regards the birth of a red heifer. The young cow is required to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers, chapter 19. This is a prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and without it, the Divine service of the Holy Temple cannot be resumed. A red heifer was thought to have been born in Israel in 2002 but it was later disqualified. There is no doubt a red heifer will soon be born so the third temple can be consecrated. Once it is, prophecy further informs us that in the middle of Daniel’s 70^th week, exactly 3 ½ years or 1260 days after the signing of the seven year covenant, Antichrist will immediately stop the temple sacrifices. He will proclaim himself God in the holy temple and that abomination will cause desolation and the Great Tribulation.

See Prophecy Sign #6

Israelite priests hold first gathering since Temple era

This is the first family reunion of the Jewish priestly dynasty in nearly 2,000 years. Having qualified priests will make it much easier to have animal sacrifices once the Temple is rebuilt.

Sons of Aaron - The Priestly Tribe - Convene in Jerusalem

The priestly blessing of the kohanim.

Genetic research over the past several decades has succeeded in isolating a particular DNA signature shared by all members of the Tribe of Levi, making the reinstitution of Israel's priestly caste a relatively simple endeavor once the Temple is rebuilt. The Kohanim want to serve in the Holy Temple to bring peace to the whole world.

Priestly Blessing on Temple Mount

Numbers 6:21-27 (NIV)
²¹"'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.'"
²²The LORD said to Moses,
²³"Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
²⁴"' "The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'
²⁷"So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

God is about to abundantly bless the nation Israel, the "apple of His eye." Zechariah 2:8-9 (NIV) offers a clear message for those who condemn the nation. ⁸For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you--for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye--
⁹I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me." God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will not tolerate those who seek Israel's harm.

Temple Institute Announces: High Priest's Crown is Ready!

The tzitz is made of pure gold, was fashioned over the course of a more than a year by the craftsmen of the Temple Institute, and is ready to be worn by the High Priest in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Rabbi Richman said, "We have begun work on 120 sets of garments for 'regular' priests, not the High Priest. This involves special thread from India, etc. In addition, we have begun work on architectural blueprints for the Third Temple, including cost projection, modern supplies, electricity, plumbing, computers, etc." "We are now approaching the holiday of Chanukah," Rabbi Richman continued, "which is the holiday that commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. We're not just building beautiful vessels; we're interested in granting G-d the dwelling place that He wants in this world;

Support Sought for Temple Mount Synagogue

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, religious Jews have prayed that God will allow for the building of a Third Temple. This prayer has been a formal part of the traditional thrice daily Jewish prayer services. Though it remains unbuilt, the notion of and desire for a Third Temple is sacred in Judaism, particularly Orthodox Judaism, as an unrealized place of worship. The prophets in the Tanakh called for its construction, to be fulfilled in the Messianic era. Orthodox Judaism believes in the rebuilding of a Third Temple and the resumption of sacrificial worship, although there is disagreement about how rebuilding should take place or exactly what kind of worship will occur. Orthodox authorities generally believe that rebuilding should occur in the era of the Jewish Messiah at the hand of Divine Providence, although a minority position, following the opinion of Maimonides, holds that Jews should endeavor to rebuild the temple themselves, whenever possible. Orthodox authorities generally predict the resumption of the complete traditional system of sacrifices, but some authorities have disagreed. It has traditionally been assumed that some sort of animal sacrifices would be reinstituted, in accord with the rules in Leviticus and the Talmud. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Third Temple)

First Temple seal found in Jerusalem

Jerusalem Post reports 1.17.08 "A stone seal bearing the name of one of the families who acted as servants in the First Temple and then returned to Jerusalem after being exiled to Babylonia has been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's City of David, a prominent Israel archeologist said Wednesday... According to the Book of Nehemiah, the Temech family were servants of the First Temple and were sent into exile to Babylon following its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BCE... The 2.1 x 1.8-cm. elliptical seal is engraved with two bearded priests standing on either side of an incense altar with their hands raised forward in a position of worship... One cannot help being astonished by the credibility of the biblical source as seen by the archaeological find."

The historical accuracy of the Bible proves it is the Word of God, to be taken literally. In other words, biblical reliability, past present and future. This fact adds to the excitement of watching for unfufilled prophecies coming true in our lifetime.

950 B.C. King Solomon builds First Temple of Jerusalem.

586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and Temple of Solomon. End of First Temple period. Jews exiled to Babylon.

515 B.C. Second Temple built upon ruins of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

18 B.C. Herod begins vast renovation of Second Temple.

66-70 A.D. Jewish revolt against Rome. Jerusalem and Second Temple captured by Rome and razed.

691 B.C. Dome of the Rock built on Temple Mount.

Future Date yet tbd... Third Temple built upon Temple Mount.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT) He (Antichrist) will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

Temple Institute Announces the Production of Linen Garments for Lay Priests

"FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1,938 years the linen garments of the lay priests are being produced in preparation for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service... The garments being created are not museum pieces or collector's items. Their cost is 2,500 shekel, (approximately $695). They will be sold only to true decendants of the High Priest Aharon, who aspire to be fully prepared for the day when they can once again perform the Divine service in the Holy Temple, may we merit to rebuild it soon!"

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D., religious Jews have prayed that God will allow for the building of a Third Temple. I believe the Bible clearly teaches a Third Temple will be rebuilt upon the Temple Mount immediately before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It will be built shortly before or at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. Unfortunately, the third temple will not become the place of worship religious Jews long for. Instead, the coming Antichrist, the greatest deceiver of all time, will desecrate the Temple by proclaiming himself God there and setting up his image to be worshipped by the entire world. With all that is happening in Israel, we may very well be the generation that is destined to see this event actually occur. If we do see this prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime, it will defintely mean the End-Times have begun and time for us to prepare and warn our friends & loved-ones of the Lord's quick return to this earth will be very short!

Daniel 9:27 (MSG) ²⁷"Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed."

Matthew 24:15 (MSG) ¹⁵"But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Islamic Movement blames Israel for quake-induced hole on Temple Mt.

Haaretz reports 2.15.08: "The 5.3-magnitute earthquake that jolted Israel on Friday shook open a large hole on the Temple Mount plaza, near the Dome of the Rock... The Islamic Movement blamed Israel for the hole, saying Israel is digging tunnels in the area that undermine the stability in the area of the Al-Aqsa mosque."

The square mile of the Temple Mount is becoming headline news. Bible prophecy is very clear, the Jewish temple will be rebuilt. How it will happen is not so clear. Some suggest God will use supernatural means involving a massive earthquake to destroy the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque, clearing the way for the building of the third temple.

Luke 21:11 (ESV) ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Matthew 24:15-16 (ESV) ¹⁵"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ¹⁶then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Daniel 9:27 (NIV) He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him".

Third Temple preparations begin with priestly garb

Jews inch towards their Temple

A 'Big Day' for Kohanim: Future Temple Priests Get Fitted

In the News...

THE JERUSALEM POST. Jul 1, 2008 23:40 | Updated Jul 2, 2008 16:43 By DANIELLE KUBES

Wearing a turban and a light blue tunic threaded with silver, a man stands in a workshop in Jerusalem's Old City beside spools of white thread affixed to sewing machines. A painting of high priests performing an animal sacrifice beside the First Temple illustrates the function of the room. On Monday, the Temple Institute started preparing to build a Third Temple on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah, the site of the Dome of the Rock and the Aksa mosque, by inaugurating a workshop that manufactures priestly garments. After Efrat Chief Rabbi Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, a Kohen himself, gets measured for his own set of Kohanim garments, Aviad Jeruffi, the clothing's designer, strums "To Ascend to the Temple Mount" on his guitar in celebration. Priestly garments have not been worn since the destruction of the Second Temple by Rome in 70 CE and cannot be functional until a Third Temple is constructed.

JERUSALEM NEWS WIRE By Stan Goodenough July 02, 2008

Another step on the long road towards the restoration of Temple Worship in Jerusalem was reportedly taken Monday with the opening of a new workshop in which robes will be manufactured for practicing priests. According to a report in The Jerusalem Post Wednesday, a number of Kohanim, (Jews in the Cohen family line who trace their ancestry back to Aaron, the first High Priest) have already had measurements taken for the biblically-described vestments... The new workshop was inaugurated by the Temple Institute which is situated in Jerusalem's old City, just a stone's throw from the Temple Mount - the site of the first and second temples and the place where, according to the Bible, the Third Temple will be built to welcome the Messiah.

ARUTZ SHEVA by Ze'ev Ben-Yechiel Published: 07/03/08, 5:55 PM / Last Update: 07/07/08, 5:55 PM

(IsraelNN.com) In a ceremony befitting the Time of Redemption, tailors at the Temple Institute in Jerusalem’s Old City began taking measurements of Kohanim earlier this month in anticipation of an even bigger event -- the dedication of the Third Temple.