Messianic preparations underway as 3rd Temple planned

Temple Mount, Jerusalem

For the first time in hundreds of years, there are serious preparations underway to build the Third Temple prophesied in Scripture.

This week, the nascent Sanhedrin, a group attempting to revive the ancient Jewish legal institution, reportedly selected an individual to serve as high priest if the political situation allowed Jews to access the Temple Mount for Yom Kippur.

The high priest would bring the sacrifices which would be offered in such a situation.

Rabbi Baruch Kahane declined the nomination to serve as "Kohen Gadol," or high priest. Instead, Kahane has reportedly been nominated to serve in a different clerical role.

However, he also told Breaking Israel News preparations must be made so a Temple service can be performed if the political situation permits it.

"It is clear that we need to be prepared, to prepare the priests, to have everything ready," he was quoted as saying.

Other preparations are also being made. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, a group dedicated to physically constructing the Third Temple, used crowd funding to raise over $100,000 to create architectural plans for building the Third Temple. The same organization also reconstructed the Altar of the Lord. There are even attempts to breed the special red heifers suitable for ritual use.

Mark Biltz, the author of "God's Day Timer" and a Christian pastor passionate about connecting believers with the Jewish roots of their religion, was enthusiastic about plans to rebuild the Temple.

"We are definitely living in Messianic times!" he exclaimed to WND. "We have been without a Temple for too long. This is the fulfillment of a prophecy in the book of Hosea."

He quoted a verse which said in the Last Days the "children of Israel" would return and renew the sacrifices in the Temple.

Biltz said he believes this prophecy will be inaugurated soon. He called on the Israeli government to do what is necessary to make it happen.

"All that is really needed is an altar and the political will of the Israeli government to have a greater fear of heaven than of man," he argued.

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Jonathan Cahn, subject of the smash documentary film "The Harbinger Man," and author of the new book, "The Book of Mysteries," says he finds the news "fascinating."

"We know that according to biblical end-time prophecy, the Temple of Jerusalem must be rebuilt," the messianic rabbi told WND. "The Temple requires a priesthood. A priesthood requires a high priest. Though the Sanhedrin and priesthood right now lacks official legal authority and the rebuilding of the Temple will require a very dramatic turn of events, the very fact that in 2016, there is talk and movement toward the appointing of a high priest over the future Temple is quite striking."

Cahn also said it is remarkable that it is only now, through modern technology, can the Jewish people fulfill the laws and rebuild the ancient Temple priesthood according to the law.

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"Another piece of the puzzle involves modern DNA technology," he explained. "Only the blood descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, can serve as priests in the Temple. It is only in the last few years, with the development of DNA analysis, that the descendants of Aaron can be identified. In an amazing development, scientists were able to identify 'the priestly gene,' a genetic code carried by the sons of Aaron that goes back about 3,000 years, just about the same time as lived Aaron, the first high priest of Israel."

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Bill Cloud of Shoreshim Ministries, the author of "Esau Rising," said it is fascinating "religious Jews in Israel are obviously anticipating the coming of Messiah."

"Their readiness to reinstitute Temple Service is predicated upon their belief that the Messiah will soon be revealed," he told WND. "Of course I believe He has already been revealed and will return in the not-to-distant future."

However, Cloud sounded a note of caution about whether a Temple built in Jerusalem would actually qualify as the Third Temple.

"Revelation 11 strongly implies that another temple will be built in Jerusalem, however, I'm not convinced that this is the messianic Temple," Cloud said. "I'm not convinced that this particular temple alluded to in Revelation 11 qualifies as 'the Third Temple.' I think there is a very good chance that this Temple referred to in Revelation 11 is simply man's attempt to force the issue. As a matter of fact, based on things we read in Revelation 11 and in Daniel chapter 9, this attempt to rebuild might be squashed by the one the Bible calls 'Antichrist.'"

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Carl Gallups, author of "Be Thou Prepared" and the upcoming "When the Lion Roars: Understanding the Implications of Ancient Prophecies for Our Time," said Christians should not be distracted by details. Instead, he called on believers to focus on the core truth at the center of the debate. Regardless of who is appointed high priest, the details of construction or even if any of these projects are making progress, Gallups said the fact the discussion is happening at all is hugely important.

"The implications of the continual talk, planning, construction and even conspiracy theories coming out of Israel concerning the possible construction of a Third Temple in Jerusalem are monumental!" he exclaimed. "It is a fact that many orthodox Jews believe this event is necessary for their 'messianic understanding' to come to fruition. The very talk of such a thing has huge geopolitical implications as well. Many believe that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism would somehow have to either come together on the project – or go to war over the matter. Others believe that the Antichrist himself will somehow be involved in bringing at least Islam and Judaism and, perhaps, some brand of Christianity to a melding point with the construction of a Temple structure in the 'Holy Place' of Jerusalem – and the Temple Mount.

"All of the debates, discussions, plans and headlines are indicative of the profoundly prophetic times in which we are now living. If the 'Temple Talk' invokes increasing global discussions and awakening to the biblically prophetic nature of our times, I welcome it!"

Gallups said ultimately, what is to happen is foreordained – and he urged Christians to become rededicated to their faith. As he lays out in "When the Lion Roars," the Florida pastor argues the end times are coming soon and the proof can be found in the unique events this generation has witnessed.

"In the end of it all – it's all about the return of Jesus Christ," he said. "He came the first time, according to the prophecies, and those same prophecies declare He is coming again. Not only that, the prophecies are clear that He would return in the days shortly after Israel returned to the land, Jerusalem was in control of that returned Israel, and the Ezekiel 38 nations began their alignment against Israel. Those days are here, and we are the first historical generation to see it happen – Temple or no Temple."

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