For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols (Ezekiel 36:24-25, NASB1995).
We live in a day when bits of prophecies, often unknown by believers, are being fulfilled!
One of these fulfilled prophecies involves a red heifer – to be exact, five red heifers. And though relatively unknown as a prophecy by Christians, this is not insignificant.
Both Christians and Jews believe that Biblical prophecy predicts both the return of the Jews to Israel and the rebuilding of the temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Along with the continued return of Jews to the Holy Land (before the current war Ukraine had the largest population of Jews in Europe) – there has been a movement in Israel for decades to rebuild the temple.
There is an organization in Jerusalem known as the Temple Institute. Tourists can visit and see on display not only ancient, but newly made, instruments and clothing needed for worship in a rebuilt temple.
The Institute has spent decades researching and creating exact replicas of the implements and vestments needed to worship in a rebuilt temple. Observant Jews throughout the world pray three times a day, “May the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily and in our day.”
The nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever (Ezekiel 37:28).
Christians also anticipate a rebuilt temple that will be desecrated by the antichrist as prophesied by Jesus…
Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place… (Matthew 24:15).
Israel restored, a new temple predicted, and all the items necessary for temple worship already created for when the temple is rebuilt. But there is only one item needed that can’t be made by man…
A red heifer.
According to the Law, only the ashes of a red heifer can be used to purify. For a full understanding of the importance of a red heifer, read Numbers 19:1-10 but below are significant verses…
Bring an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect… the heifer shall be burned outside the camp… gather up the ashes of the heifer… and shall keep it as water to remove impurity.
Consider the problem of no red heifer: a red heifer is needed to purify the temple and those leading worship in the temple. Without purification there can be no orthodox ceremonies in a rebuilt temple.
Now, where can those anticipating a rebuilt temple and restored worship find a red heifer?
As one scholar says…
There were only nine red heifers since the time of Moses till now which is five thousand years!
No red heifer – both worship in a rebuilt temple foiled and Biblical prophecy false!
Very, very, very important is this red heifer.
Understanding all the above, imagine my surprise and also the rejoicing in Jerusalem, with the recent headline on September 17, 2022…
Does the Arrival of Five Red Heifers in Israel Signal Third Temple, End Time?
Wow! And not only one but five!