The First Puzzling Paradox
Made Clean by what is Unclean: The Red Heifer
Let me take a moment and share some news from the Temple Mount Institute in Jerusalem, known in Hebrew as Machon HaMikdash (מכון המקדש). This is an organization in Israel focusing on the hope of establishing the Third Temple.
A week ago, Thursday, Sept. 15th, at 5pm, a day they call an historic prophetic day, Israel received 5 red heifers, which they say are perfect and unblemished. They arrived from the U.S. and they are so excited about it that they held a ceremony at Ben Gurion airport, a ceremony you can watch on Facebook under Temple Mount Institute.
Now why are they so excited about it and how important is the red heifer? A perfect and unblemished red heifer is the last item they needed to have, before a functioning Third Temple could begin. The Temple requires the ashes of a red heifer. This we learn from the Book of Numbers, chapter 19. Of course, the very, very last thing that is required is the Temple building itself which could be built within a few months’ time. So, if the red heifers, or just one of the 5 is indeed perfect, then this is a breakthrough for they have waited for so many years for it.
And there is a legend about the heifer. The Mishnah, the Jewish Oral Law which devotes a whole book for it, called Parah, meaning cow, relates that up to the 1st century, there have been 9 heifers, and tradition says that the 10th heifer would be the one which would usher the coming of the Messiah.
Maimonides, one of the most respected medieval rabbis wrote: “… and the 10th red heifer will be accomplished by the king, the Messiah; may he be revealed speedily.” Since the first century, there has not been any red heifer. One of the 5 they received last Thursday, may be the 10th. This is very exciting.
In the Scriptures, the red heifer may be viewed as a type of the Messiah, describing His redemptive work. The paradox with the red heifer in Numbers 19 is that one who received the water of purification made out of its ashes, was cleansed but the one who applied it was considered unclean; the question which Rashi, Abarbanel and many other rabbis asked is this: How can a clean thing come out of an unclean? How could an unclean thing make something clean? They could not resolve this puzzle.
But look unto Yeshua and you will understand.
He was sin for us yet He cleansed us and made us whole and holy. We read in in 2Cor.5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. There is the red heifer fulfilled; you need not look for another.
And so, let us follow this exciting news and see if one of these red heifers is indeed the 10th one, fulfilling prophecy further towards that great day before the Lord returns.
The Second Puzzling Paradox
War and Peace
Another paradox we see that is leading us to acknowledge even more these end time days, is the two faces of the Middle East. On the one hand there are preparations for war and on the other, there are preparations for peace. But this again is according to what ancient prophets have predicted.
As for the war preparation, it is reported that recently Israel has ordered one billion dollars’ worth of refueling tankers from the US. Why would such a tiny country as Israel spend so much money and why would it need so many refueling tankers? Which far country threatens its existence?
The news media see this as Israel’s plans to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, that she is preparing for it. These tankers will arrive in 2025. Furthermore, these past couple of months, Israeli F-35 stealth fighters, the latest top of the line jet fighters, penetrated Iranian airspace multiple times.
On the one hand we see the preparations of the War of Gog and Magog involving Iran, Russia and many other countries. On the other hand, there are talks of peace and of much economic exchanges between countries who were, just a couple of years ago, enemies of the State of Israel.
Just this past year, from July 2021 to July 2022 trade between Israel and Morocco has increased by 213%. And this past week, for the first time in history, an Arab military head arrived in Israel on a public visit; he is from Morocco. And here is another interesting statistic. Trade between the United Arab Emirates and Israel reached 1.4 billion dollars in July 2022, marking an increase of 116% from July 2021. Also, trade has increased between Israel and Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan.
The Bible speaks of a 3.5-year time- period of peace, a time of supposed calmness before the wars are then fully triggered. Paul brings out a recurring phenomenon which happens before great wars. He said, in 1 Thessalonians 5: 3a For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them.
This peace, which really is a false peace will be enhanced by a peace treaty the Antichrist will sign with Israel, which may happen very soon, which causes us to expect the Rapture even sooner.