The Rest of the Temple Institute's Incredible Message Part 3

In the previous two posts I've shared parts of the Temple Institute's announcement of its plans to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem. (Tweet that!) 

Today I wanted to share the rest of the Temple Institute's newsletter message from the 9^th of Av / July 26, 2015. (I'm sharing their message because I can't locate it on their site. If I could, I'd simply link to it.):

Rabbi Chaim Richman, International Director of The Temple Institute notes: "One third of all Torah commandments pertain to the building of and service in the Holy Temple. Today, we not only mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples, but also our inability to fulfill one third of the Torah. But the time has come to cease mourning and begin building in earnest. Over the last three decades, the Temple Institute has done everything in our power to research and prepare for the Third Temple. As world Jewry sits on the ground mourning the first two Temples, we have taken a huge leap towards the rebuilding. The architectural plans for the Temple and our current project to raise a perfect Red Heifer are two complimentary components essential to begin the immediate building of the Holy Temple."

The "Torah" mentioned here corresponds to the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), also known at the Pentateuch. (Penta means five, like the Pentagon having five sides.) This is also called, "The Law," as in when Jesus referred to "the Law and the Prophets," which is basically the whole of what we know as the Old Testament.

Many Christians don't understand why the Temple needs to be rebuilt. I've heard from many, many Christians who seem resistant – or are outwardly, even vehemently, resistant – to the rebuilding of the Temple. (Tweet that!) I can understand that as Christians, we know the Temple is no longer needed to atone for our sins since Jesus did that. (Tweet that!)

However, the Temple does need to be rebuilt to fulfill the Bible's End Times prophecies. (Tweet that!) 

If you did not know that, what I just said in that previous sentence, THIS is why it is so amazing to see The Temple Institute working towards, and announcing, the rebuilding of the Temple. We are seeing Bible prophecy being fulfilled in our lifetimes, right before our very eyes. (Tweet that!) If that doesn't amaze you, it should.

There is, of course, so much more to talk about regarding the Temple and how it portrays the work Jesus did while here on earth to open the way into God's presence for all who choose to believe in Him. But with the Shemitah 2015 on its way, we'd better save that discussion for a later time.

In the next post, we’ll resume our conversation and learning about the Shemitah coming on September 13, 2015. If you haven’t yet ordered your e-book, The Shemitah, you can pre-order it right now and get it as soon as it releases. This e-book collects everything on this blog up to this date in one place for your review, convenience, and to help you share with others. Learn more about The Shemitah e-book here. 

Related Articles:

• Saturday, April 11, 2015: Will the "Framework Agreement" with Iran be the False Peace Treaty in Bible Prophecy?
• Thursday, July 16, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 1
• Saturday, July 18, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 2
• Tuesday, July 21, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 3

Don't forget to order your copy of The Shemitah ebook now:

The Shemitah

What it is, When it is, and Why it's Important in Light of Bible Prophecy

More from the Temple Institute's Incredible Message - Part 2

Excavated stones from the Western Wall of the
Temple Mount (Jerusalem, Israel), knocked onto
the street below by Roman battering rams
in 70 CE - "Ninth Av Stones Western Wall"
by Wilson44691 - Own work
Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons 

 In the previous post last Thursday, I shared the first portion of the 9^th of Av announcement from The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. Because I cannot find this newsletter message shared on their site where I can send you to read the rest of it, I want to share it here.

The second part of their newsletter message follows. (Tweet that!) You can watch the video mentioned in my previous post:

The video comes one year after the Temple Institute appealed to our supporters to take part in an Indiegogo crowd funding campaign that raised over $100,000 for the architectural plans. This year, as you are aware, we have recently begun our equally important "Raise a Red Heifer in Israel" Indiegogo campaign. Over the past five years, the Temple Institute has unveiled our most ambitious campaigns and most poignant videos for the purpose of redefining the Tisha b'Av mourning period into one of active preparation for the Third Holy Temple.

I'm sure you noticed that Hebrew word: Tisha b'Av.  I had to look it up. You can see the word "Av" in it so since we've studied this here on the blog we can guess it has to do with the 9^th of Av…and it does! See how much we've learned? I thought Wikipedia's definition of this Hebrew word was helpful:

Tisha B'Av: (lit. "the ninth of Av") (Hebrew: תשעה באב‎ or ט׳ באב) is an annual fast day in Judaism which commemorates the anniversary of a number of disasters in Jewish history, primarily the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. 

Tisha B'Av is regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar and a day which is destined for tragedy. Tisha B'Av falls in July or August in the Western calendar. 

The observance of the day includes five prohibitions, most notable of which is a 25-hour fast. The Book of Lamentations, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem is read in the synagogue, followed by the recitation of kinnot, liturgical dirges that lament the loss of the Temple and Jerusalem. As the day has become associated with remembrance of other major calamities which have befallen the Jewish people, some kinnot also recall events such as the murder of the Ten Martyrs, massacres in numerous medieval Jewish communities during the Crusades and the Holocaust. 

Is it as amazing to you as it is to me that The Temple Institute has as its goal turning the mourning of the 9^th of Av into the incredible joy of rebuilding the Temple? (Tweet that!) 

Related Articles:

• Saturday, April 11, 2015: Will the "Framework Agreement" with Iran be the False Peace Treaty in Bible Prophecy?
• Thursday, July 16, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 1
• Saturday, July 18, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 2
• Tuesday, July 21, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 3

Don't forget to order your copy of The Shemitah ebook now:

The Shemitah

What it is, When it is, and Why it's Important in Light of Bible Prophecy

Follow-Up on the 9th of Av - Temple Institute's Incredible Message Part 1

I wanted to come back to the topic of the 9th of Av to make one correction and also give some new information:   (Tweet that!) 

NEW: Another exciting announcement from The Temple Institute.

First the correction: I posted previously that the 9^th of Av would correspond to the 25^th of July on our calendar. So I was surprised when I received a newsletter from The Temple Institute on Sunday, July 26^th, with the date at the top as the 9^th of Av. Here's how the date read:

Av 9, 5775/July 26, 2015

I'm not completely sure, but perhaps my mistake came in seeing the 9^th of Av on my Biblical calendar on July 25^th when the 9^th of Av really started at sundown on July 25^th. Does that make sense? Then the 9^th of Av would have run through sundown on July 26^th. That's my best guess at what happened at this point.

Secondly, that newsletter I received from The Temple Institute which came on Sunday held some amazing news. You can sign up for the Temple Institute's newsletter on their site, but for those who haven't seen it I'll pass on their incredible message.

The subject line read:

"The Third Holy Temple Plans have Begun"

(Tweet that!)

I've followed the work of The Temple Institute for many years. I've written about their work to prepare the various items, such as the Lampstand and the Table of Shewbread, needed for the Temple to function. I've watched from afar the preparation for the Temple to be rebuilt. I’ve also watched in amazement as it appears Bible prophecies to rebuild the Temple seem to be setting up to be fulfilled.

And yet…

…to see that announcement put in concrete terms in the subject line of a Jewish organization located in Jerusalem felt stunning.  (Tweet that!) 

The opening of their message contains familiar information if you've been reading my posts about the 9th of Av. See how much you've learned? (If you've missed those posts, see Related Articles below). Here's how the Temple Institute opened their announcement:   (Tweet that!) 

Today, the Ninth of Av, the solemn day of mourning which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples, the Temple Institute has released a modern three-dimensional architectural rendition of the future Third Holy Temple utilizing the latest building material and techniques. The three-minute video walks viewers through the main sanctuary, showcasing decades of research and tens of innovative Halachic solutions to various perplexing issues that were resolved to create fully functional, ready-to-use plans. As the visual tour sweeps through the sanctuary, one can see the menorah, incense altar and showbread table, all of which have already been prepared by the Institute, among 70 other sacred vessels. 

I'm including the three-minute video the message references below. (Tweet that!) 

But first let me say that you should treasure this experience of being taken inside the Temple. If the Temple were standing in real life, neither you nor I would be allowed to take this tour. Many Christians may think of the Temple much like our churches, where we welcome visitors to come inside and worship. (Tweet that!) 

However the Temple in Jerusalem is different! No one is allowed inside except the Jewish priests sent in to tend to the Temple items inside. Furthermore, even they are not allowed in the back 1/3 of the Temple, which is the Holy of Holies. The only person allowed to enter there is the High Priest, and then he may only enter once per year on the Day of Atonement (an annual observance which is coming up this fall).

I want to watch this video over and over again! I want to pause it, study it. There's so much to learn here.

But I want to mention one thing: A couple of times you will see the big, reddish "wall" with the two golden winged beings facing each other. This the Curtain that separates the front 2/3s of the Temple, the Holy Place, from the back 1/3, the Most Holy Place of the Holy of Holies. In this video we stop at the Curtain and do not enter the Holy of Holies. This video is called "Stage One: The Sanctuary" which refers to the front 2/3s of the Temple.

The inside of the Temple represents that holy place where the Living God resides. What I mean by that is, like the Temple, no one may enter His presence except by the blood of the Lamb, the Sacrifice. (Tweet that!)

Anyone who enters in any other way is to receive the death penalty.

Ponder that as you enter the Sanctuary via watching this video…

"The Third Holy Temple Plans have Begun"

"Stage One: The Sanctuary"

The Temple Institute

The LORD Jesus Christ actually personifies the Holy Temple in the Bible which is to stand in Jerusalem. Another way to say that is the Temple pictures the ministry of the LORD Jesus. We'll have to discuss that another time soon.

Related Articles:

• Saturday, April 11, 2015: Will the "Framework Agreement" with Iran be the False Peace Treaty in Bible Prophecy?
• Thursday, July 16, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 1
• Saturday, July 18, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 2
• Tuesday, July 21, 2015: What might happen on the "9th of Av" = July 25, 2015 - Part 3

Don't forget to order your copy of The Shemitah ebook now:

The Shemitah

What it is, When it is, and Why it's Important in Light of Bible Prophecy

The Best of the Bible Prophecies Fulfilled Blog Series

Breaking News: Temple Institute Announces Efforts to Raise a Pure Red Heifer in Israel

The Temple Institute announces plans to raise
a pure red heifer in Israel.
(Image source: The Temple Institute newsletter.)

Last week a friend shared with me a notice that The Temple Institute in Jerusalem was planning a major announcement on July 12th.

Here, in part, is the announcement that came via email:

Tammuz 25, 5775/July 12, 2015

After 2,000 years, with great thanks to the Almighty, we are pleased to announce: 

The Temple Institute is raising red heifers in Israel. For the first time in 2000 years, the restoration of Biblical purity is within reach... the prerequisite for building the Holy Temple. Click HERE to watch this video and learn how to participate in this historic project.  

The future is in our hands!

 Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem,
 Rabbi Chaim Richman
The Temple Institute

The announcement included a fundraising link to raise the funds needed to accomplish this goal. More information is given on the fundraiser page. Here are a few pieces of information I found interesting:

What is a Red Heifer? 

The Red Heifer is a female cow, three years of age, with perfect consistency of a particular reddish hue, having not even two hairs of any other color. The heifer also may never be used for any type of labor, and must be totally blemish-free.  The ordinance of the para aduma, the Red Heifer, is found in the Torah, in the book of Numbers Chapter 19, and elucidated in the teachings of the Sages of Israel... 

Here's a bit more info:

What's the Difference Between an Ordinary Red Cow, and a Proper Red Heifer? 

Red cattle can be found throughout the world, and are not uncommon. However, raising a perfect red heifer in accordance with Biblical requirements for the fulfillment of the Numbers Ch. 19 commandment is a daunting task requiring advance planning, exacting preparation and constant supervision. In order for a heifer to be considered kosher for the Biblical use, it must literally be raised from birth under specific circumstances and in a controlled environment.  

The Project Has Begun: A Change in Conception 

In the past the people of Israel waited for the birth of a potential Red Heifer. But with Torah knowledge and advanced science, the Temple Institute has now begun to actively pursue this commandment.  For this unprecedented project, the Temple Institute has joined forces with an experienced cattle rancher here in Israel. This expert in the science of animal husbandry, under the halachic supervision and guidance of the rabbis of the Temple Institute, is utilizing the technique of implanting the frozen embryos of Red Angus cattle in Israeli domestic cattle.  The end result of this program will be the introduction of the Red Angus breed into Israel. This method, authorized and approved by Israel's Ministry of Agriculture, has already proven successful with the birth of a number of male Red Angus. The location and other details of the cattle ranch will remain undisclosed to the general public during the initial stages of the project. The Temple Institute will release periodic progress updates. 

And finally this is interesting because it differs from what I've always heard:

Myths:

• The appearance of a Red Heifer is miraculous...
• A Red Heifer cannot be prepared without first obtaining the ashes of the original Red Heifer 

Facts: 

• There is nothing miraculous about the birth of a red cow; they exist in plenty. But raising and preparing a heifer to be a potential candidate for fulfilling the Biblical commandment requires know-how:  halachic, scientific and animal husbandry expertise,  The Temple Institute's partnership with an expert Israeli cattleman represents the perfect synthesis of Torah knowledge and scientific expertise... and faith. A true religious-Zionist enterprise! ...
• There is no halachic prerequisite that requires the original ashes

Finally, here is the short video included with the announcement:

I've written on this blog my understanding from what I've been taught about the red heifer in these Related Posts: 

• February 12, 2015: Check out this Red Heifer born in Texas. Is it connected to Bible Prophecy? – Video Post

• April 18, 2015: Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? - The Bible Prophecy of the Red Heifer

Tweetables:

Temple Institute announces plans to raise a #RedHeifer in #Israel. #Prophecy (Tweet that!)

Experts say ashes of original #RedHeifer are not required to purify the #Temple in Jerusalem! #EndTimes (Tweet that!) 

Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? - The Bible Prophecy of the Red Heifer

"Dig Panel at Comic-Con 2014" by chrisjortiz - IMG_9185.
Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons  

This week we've been looking at some intriguing topics brought up by the TV show Dig. In the first episode, as a matter of fact if I remember right it was the first scene of the first episode, we saw traditional Jewish men arriving at a snowy farm in Canada to inspect a newly born calf.

Again, I thought it was intriguing that the folks behind the TV show Dig portrayed the red heifer needed to fulfill Bible prophecy. (Tweet that!)

A heifer is defined as:

A young female cow; especially: one that has not had a calf (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

I previously wrote a little bit about the red heifer in the Bible in my article:

• Check Out this Red Heifer Born in Texas. Is it connected to Bible Prophecy? – Video Post

I wanted to revisit the topic and give more information. Every few years I hear of a lot of excitement about another red calf that has been born followed by flurry of activity by Jewish authorities. (Tweet that!) Jewish authorities need to inspect any such calf to see whether the calf qualifies as being red enough (limited number of other-colored hairs) to be the red heifer needed for the ceremony to purify the rebuilt Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (Tweet that!)

Just this past week a new article emerged talking about another red heifer which might be THE red heifer. (Tweet that!) The article sums up the information so well I'll let you read it rather than try to recap it here:

• Times of Israel: A Passover sign from God?

My question is, if this heifer is two years old, as this article says, why are we just now hearing about it? (Tweet that!)

Here's another article with the same title on a different blog:

• Jewish Voice Blog: A Passover sign from God?

Again, the TV show Dig has opened an opportunity to talk about some of the details that need to occur in order for Bible prophecies to be fulfilled.

Related Articles:

• Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? – Training Temple Priests in Israel to Fulfill Bible Prophecy

• Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? – Tunnels Under the Temple Mount in Bible Prophecy

• February 12, 2015: Check out this Red Heifer born in Texas.Is it connected to Bible Prophecy? – Video Post

Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? - Tunnels Under the Temple Mount in Bible Prophecy

"Dig Panel at Comic-Con 2014" by chrisjortiz - IMG_9185. 
Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons  

In the previous post, Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? – Training Temple Priests in Israel to Fulfill Bible Prophecy, I gave an introduction to the TV show Dig and some of the little known pieces of information about Bible prophecy portrayed in the show. (Tweet that!)

Another tidbit of information is about the extensive network of tunnels that exist under the Temple Mount. (Tweet that!) Some of the scenes in the show take place in these tunnels.

I wrote an article about the Temple Mount tunnels previously on this blog here:

A Unique Glimpse: Tunnels Under the Temple Mount (May 27, 2014)

One very interesting belief about these tunnels is that this may be where the currently-missing Ark of the Covenant is located. (Tweet that!) Here is a portion of an article on the Temple Institute's site titled "Israeli Institute Prepares Priests for Jerusalem's Third Temple" (April 9, 2014):

Everything is ready, then, except two additional, small matters. The easy one, you'd be surprised, is the Ark of the Covenant. "The Second Temple didn't have an ark, either," Segel reminds me, and Friedman adds, "There are 10 studies about the location of the Ark of the Covenant. We read them and studied all of them, and reached the conclusion that the right answer is that it's buried in the tunnels under the Temple Mount. When the day comes, we will get to it."

(Tweet that!)

Image from IMDb.com 

I haven't been able to determine if the scenes portrayed in the tunnels were actually filmed in the tunnels under Jerusalem's Temple Mount (Tweet that!), but if so, it was very fun and intriguing to see some of these tunnels.

Related Article:

• Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? – Training Temple Priests in Israel to Fulfill Bible Prophecy

Did the "Dig" TV Show Get it Right? – Training Temple Priests in Israel to Fulfill Bible Prophecy

"Dig Panel at Comic-Con 2014" by chrisjortiz - IMG_9185. 
Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons  

Have you been watching the new TV show Dig? It airs on the USA Network and the first episode ran March 5, 2015.

I was incredibly intrigued because the previews showed glimpses of Old Jerusalem.  So of course I had to watch and check it out.

Here is the recap of what the show is about from IMDb.com:

Peter, an FBI agent stationed in Jerusalem who, while investigating a murder of a young female archaeologist, uncovers a conspiracy 2000 years in the making.

I can't figure out why the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations, which I though investigated federal crimes here on U.S. soil, would have an agent or an office in Jerusalem, Israel. Don't think he'd have any jurisdiction in real life. Don't think he'd actually be "stationed" there in real life. But anyway, here at my house we watched the first episodes – I believe it was two and a half episodes.*

The opening of the pilot had me thrilled because the show started with what I thought might be little-known facts about the Bible even among Christians (Tweet that!), interesting tidbits that I've run across in my studies. For example these three items were portrayed:

• The training of priests from boyhood in a special location and their feet are not allowed to touch the ground. Ever.

• The extensive tunnels beneath the Temple Mount.

• And the red heifer.

These are things that I believe most people don't know about (especially #1 and #3). I think even most Christians who study the Bible faithfully may not know much about these details. (Tweet that!) So it caused me to wonder who is behind this TV show? It made me want to research that, which I haven't done yet. But I thought it would be interesting to talk a bit about these three items here on the blog, so we're doing that this week in this post and the next two.

I was amazed that the creators of the show had in place the training of a special priest who has been raised from birth to perform a certain function (not yet revealed on the show).  I had heard years ago that there is a school in Jerusalem that is training young boys to be priests and perform all the duties of the Jewish Temple (Tweet that!), should it be rebuilt or when it is rebuilt.

As you can imagine, a lot of training that would need to be done in order to properly perform all the sacrifices and ceremonies properly. These are jobs that have not been performed since 70 A.D. when the Herod's Temple (the Second Temple) was destroyed. (Tweet that!)

I also heard at that time years ago that for at least some of these young boys, and I'm not clear if this was all of them or just certain positions such as, perhaps, the High Priest, that these boys were never to allow their feet to touch the ground. They were to keep themselves that holy. I remember finding and reading an article about it at the time which I wanted to share with you here, but I was unable to find it. Perhaps that is now controversial as it is made to be considered abusive as it is portrayed in the TV show.

As a matter of fact, in the first episode one of the boys so longed to be outside and to walk on grass that he did, and then this young child was ruthlessly shot in the head by the weird, cult-ish, evil, homicidal "Christians." It was extremely sick how Christians are portrayed on the show, which unfortunately is not unusual for Hollywood. But no worries, they have another boy to take the first one’s place – an identical boy, no doubt a clone.

Anyway, back to real life: Here is one article I found about the training of priests to serve in the rebuilt Temple. (It does not mention the restriction from touching the ground though.)

• Hanukkah at Temple Institute: Working to Rebuild the Temple (Nov 25, 2013)

Image from IMDb.com 

At any rate, whoever is behind this TV show has done some deep research which I find fascinating. It's just too bad they are doing so much ugly with it.

*As I said, we watched two and half episodes. I'm pretty sure it was the third episode that opened with a sex scene (not the first one in the series) that was more graphic than we care to watch – between the main character/FBI Agent (Jason Isaacs) and his boss (Anne Heche). We sat through that reluctantly, but later in the same episode there was a short scene in a gay bar (yeah, in Jerusalem) followed by a scene where two men were ripping their clothes off and we didn't stick around to watch any more of that.

So we're done with the TV show Dig at my house and I can't recommend that you watch it. But it opened up a good opportunity to discuss some little known information about Bible prophecy of the rebuilt Temple. (Tweet that!) We'll talk about it more in the next post.

Will the “Framework Agreement” with Iran be the False Peace Treaty in Bible Prophecy?

"Negotiations about Iranian Nuclear Program - 
the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Other Officials 
of the P5+1 and Ministers of Foreign Affairs 
of Iran and EU in Lausanne" 
by United States Department of State
Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

I had a friend ask me the other day if the "framework for a deal with Iran," which seems to be coming to be known as the "Framework Agreement," which the Obama Administration has worked out via Secretary of State John Kerry could be the "false peace treaty" in Bible prophecy. (Tweet that!) I had to admit I was kicking myself that I had not thought of that possibility.

Let me explain what my friend was referring to. The Bible speaks of "weeks" which we understand to be "weeks of years," in other words 7-year segments of time. In Daniel 9:20-27 the prophet Daniel saw a vision of the angel Gabriel, whom Daniel had seen and met with before. This time, Gabriel gave Daniel insight and instruction about "seventy sevens." We understand these to be 70 weeks of years.

Then in Daniel 9:25 Gabriel speaks of "seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.'" That totals 69 sevens. Which means there is one more "seven" left: the 70^th seven, or one more "week of years," a 7-year period.

There are, of course, different ideas about this, but many (if not most?) scholars believe there was an indeterminate gap of time between the 69^th week in Daniel and the 70^th week. And this final 70^th week of 7 years will be the final 7 years of history on earth as we know it now.

Then Daniel says this about that 70^th week of years:

"He [that is the Antichrist] 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." (Daniel 9:27, NIV 1985)

As you can see, there is a covenant with "many." I believe most scholars think this is the Jewish people. I wonder if it isn't the majority of people on the earth?

This covenant is for one seven-year period. But in the middle of this seven – in other words, at the 3½ year point – the Antichrist breaks the covenant. (Tweet that!) This means the Antichrist never really meant for there to be lasting peace and so it was a "false peace." (Tweet that!)

We know the Jewish Temple has been rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem at this point because sacrifices are going on, and that is the only place Jewish sacrifices can take place. (Tweet that!)

Then, in the middle of this seven-year so-called peace deal, the Antichrist puts an end to sacrifice, meaning he stops the Jewish sacrifices going on at the Temple.

When he, the Antichrist, breaks that covenant at the half-way point through the seven years, all hell breaks loose quite literally. The Antichrist sets himself up as God in the Jewish Temple or "on a wing of the temple" and this attempt to usurp God's rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords is the last straw: the abomination that causes desolation.

So, for prophecy watchers, we are watching for these two things:

• the Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount where sacrifices resume for the first time since 70 A.D., and

• the start of a “peace” deal which we know will be killed after 3½ years.

So the question is, could this so-called deal with Iran that the United States and other nations are painfully claiming to be negotiating with Iran be that Biblically prophesied false peace deal? And furthermore, considering the previous post, I’m wondering might this "peace deal" be made on the 9^th of Av? (Tweet that!) It's something to watch.

Related Article:

• Previous post: Can this Date be Biblically Prophetic? Important Events in Jewish History on the 9th of Av

Muslims Claim the Mahdi Will Rule for Seven Years - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 8 -- Plus Easter Moments Countdown Days 21 & 20

End Times Eyewitness:
Israel, Islam and the Unfolding
Signs of Messiah's Return

This another interesting parallel between the Islamic "end of days prophecies" and the End Time prophecies in the Bible. (Tweet that!)

I hope you understand there is no coincidence in all these parallels. (Tweet that!) The evil one, Satan, is very well aware of what God has predicted in His Word, the Bible. Satan has been around since before the Bible was written and he is well aware of what it says. (Tweet that!)

Also, Satan is very good at counterfeiting what God has created (because Satan cannot create anything on his own). (Tweet that!) So all the so-called "prophecies" that Islam teaches and believes are counterfeited and twisted from what God has done.

For example the true God is one God expressed in the Father, the Son which is Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. (These three are known as the Trinity.) According to the book of Revelation in the Bible, in the End Times Satan will mimic this holy Trinity with his own unholy trinity: The Beast (Satan himself), the Antichrist, and the False Prophet. (Tweet that!)

So it's no coincidence at all that the "prophecies" of Islam also talk of a 7-year rule of Antichrist, as the Bible does. (Tweet that!)  Here is another byte from the "End Times Eyewitness" DVD:

[Joel Richardson's introduction to this portion of the DVD:] "To discuss the Muslim expectations concerning their two primary Messiah figures, I sat down with two Muslim leaders. The first was Adnar Oktar of Istanbul. And the second was Sheikh Ekrima Said Sabri. Sabri is the President of Quranic and Islamic Studies at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem." 

[A little later, Joel Richardson narrating on the DVD:] "Because the Bible teaches that the Antichrist will rule for a period of seven years, many Christians are surprised to find out that according to Islamic prophecy the Mahdi will also rule specifically for a period of seven years." 

[Sheikh Ekrima Said Sabri, translated in captions on DVD:] "There is more than one tradition concerning how long the rule of the Mahdi will be. The most common version is seven years."

(Tweet that!)

When the Bible speaks of the last 7 years, these seven years are divided into two: the first 3.5 years of a "false peace" when everything appears to be going great under the rule of the Antichrist (although anyone who follows and worships the true God will be persecuted and, if they don't denounce Him, will be killed. So it's really not so great after all.)

The Antichrist will then set himself up as "God" in the Jewish rebuilt Temple, which is the Abomination that Causes Desolation. During the second 3.5 years then all hell breaks loose leading up to the Battle of Armageddon -- in which God and his people are victorious over the Antichrist and all evil -- and the end of all as we know it. 

Here are some Bible prophecies about the last 7 years of life on earth as we know it now:

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11:1-3, ESV)

Remember that on the Hebrew/Jewish calendar a month is 30 days, so 1,260 days equals 42 months which equals 3.5 years. (Tweet that!)

In some Bible verses this 3.5 years is said this way:

• "a time, and times, and half a time"
• interpreted as a year plus two years plus half a year ( or 1 + 2 + 1/2 = 3 1/2 years)

Also, for more please take the time to look at these verses:

• Daniel 7:25
• Daniel 12:7
• Revelation 12:6
• Revelation 12:14

Related Articles:

• Amazing Bible and Islamic Prophecy Parallels - Part 1
• Muslims' Teach the Lie that Jesus Will Deny the Cross! -Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 2
• All Inhabitants of the Earth Will Worship the Beast - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 3
• Peace, When There is No Peace - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy -Part 4
• Sacrifices Being Performed at the Rebuilt Jewish Temple - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 5
• Will the Muslim Caliph Rule from the Temple Mount? - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 6
• Muslim Mahdi Will Rule with Help of Djinn Demons - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 7

Easter Moments:

• Countdown Day 21: He was Crucified

• Countdown Day 20: Jesus, Though Sinless, was Numbered As One of the Sinners

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Sacrifices Being Performed at the Rebuilt Jewish Temple - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 5 -- Plus Easter Moments Countdown Days 27 & 26

In this segment, Joel Richardson continues his discussion of the Muslim expectations concerning their two primary Messiah figures with Adnar Oktar of Istanbul, Turkish Muslim Leader, a controversial television host.

Mr. Richardson asks Mr. Oktar about the Muslim view of important Bible prophecy about the resumption of sacrifices at the Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (Tweet that!)

[Joel Richardson speaking on the DVD]: "I also asked Mr. Oktar about his belief that during the time of the Mahdi's reign, sacrifices and offerings will be reinstated on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. His response was very revealing." 

[Adnar Oktar, Turkish Muslim Leader, Television Host, translated and captioned on DVD]: "At this moment in time, neither Christians, nor Jews, nor Muslims can slaughter their sacrifices there. At the time of the Mahdi -- and we believe that we are at that time -- both offerings and sacrifices will be freely performed there. This will be among the first acts of Mahdi; the rebuilding of Prophet Solomon's House of Worship so that all believers may freely offer their sacrifices, offerings and prayers there."

This is the first I have heard of Islam religion having any kind of sacrifices. What are the Muslim sacrifices anyway? Is there any such thing? (Tweet that!) There are not different sacrifices for different religions doing whatever sacrifices they want on the Temple Mount. Doing such a thing is a perversion. (Tweet that!)

Of course this also reveals the ignorance of a Muslim leader who thinks Christians offer sacrifices on the Temple Mount. Christians do not. We do not because Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb slain for us. (Tweet that!)

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:8, (emphasis added)

Bible prophecies do state that in the End Times, the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and sacrifices will resume there temporarily...until the Antichrist puts a stop to them. (Tweet that!) The Antichrist will confirm a 7-year covenant but will break it half way through, after three and a half years. That prophecy is found here:

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 at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” 
Daniel 9:27

“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

Daniel 11:31

Here are some important realities:

• The pattern of the Tabernacle (in Moses' day) and the later Temple (in David's son Solomon's day) in Jerusalem is a working picture of the Messiah's work to redeem mankind from sin to the One True God. 

• The picture of the Temple was completely fulfilled in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ when He, Who is God come in flesh, came. (Tweet that!)

• This same Temple will be rebuilt and the Hebrew/Jewish sacrifices will resume just before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in flesh to the Temple Mount. This is Bible prophecy. (Tweet that!)

(I taught more about the Temple and the sacrifices picturing the Lord Jesus Christ in my book Prophecies Fulfilled in the Life of Jesus. There are still a few copies of that book available. To get yours, follow that link, click "See All Buying Options," and purchase from Connect Books.)

Any other sacrifices -- other than those given to the Jewish people to perform in the Old Testament of the Bible -- are a perversion and an abomination. (Tweet that!)

Related Articles:

• Amazing Bible and Islamic Prophecy Parallels - Part 1
• Muslims' Teach the Lie that Jesus Will Deny the Cross! -Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 2
• All Inhabitants of the Earth Will Worship the Beast - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy - Part 3
• Peace, When There is No Peace - Bible vs. Islamic Prophecy -Part 4

Easter Moments:

• Countdown Day 27: They Hate Him Without Reason

• Countdown Day 26: All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us…!"

(Tweet that!)