Temple Altar Rebuilt, Ready for Use

The Temple Institute has announced the completion of an altar of burnt sacrifice intended for the Third Temple (Breaking Israel News, Mar. 9, 2015). Founded in 1986, the Temple Institute’s objective is “to see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem.” The founder of the Institute, Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, was a member of the paratrooper unit that liberated the Temple Mount in 1967 at the end of the Six Day War. At much expense (tens of millions of dollars have been donated) and based on extensive research, they have fashioned priestly garments, the high priest’s golden crown costing $30,000, the high priest’s breastplate with its 12 precious stones inscribed with the names of the tribes of Israel, a copper laver, an incense altar, silver trumpets, gold- and silver-plated shofars, harps, and many other things. Of special interest is the large menorah that was fashioned from 95 pounds of pure gold, valued at about $2.5 million. The altar of burnt sacrifice, completed last December, is made of bricks fired at roughly 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit). It can be disassembled and reassembled quickly. In July 2012, the Temple Institute published a video entitled “The Children Are Ready,” depicting children building a model of the Third Temple on an Israeli beach. In Jewish tradition, the rebuilding of the Temple is associated with the coming of the Messiah. According to Maimonides (also called Rambam), the highest rabbinical authority, any Jew that starts rebuilding the Temple is a potential Messiah. Shimon ben Kosiba was considered a Messiah in the second century when he led a revolt to recapture Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. He was named Bar Kokhba (“Son of the Star”) based on the Messianic prophecy of Numbers 24:17, and a coin was struck depicting the Temple with the Ark of the Covenant inside and the Messianic star on the roof. By this tradition, it is simple to see how the Antichrist will be looked upon as the Messiah. (For more see The Future According to the Bible, available in print and eBook editions from www.wayoflife.org.)

(Friday Church News Notes, March 27, 2015, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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