From ancient Persia to Hitler�s Germany to modern Iran, Purim reminds us of God�s love for & protection of the Jewish people from those who seek to �annihilate� them.
Israel and the Jewish people face many threats these days -- from a nuclear Iran, from terrorist rocket fire out of Gaza, from Syrian chemical weapons, and from rising anti-Semitism and a global movement to isolate and delegitimize Israel, especially pernicious in Europe, to name just a few.
Sometimes Jews wonder, "Why are we the Chosen People? How has that worked out well for us? The Pharoah chose us. Hitler chose us. Stalin chose us. The ayatollahs chose us. Choose someone else, Lord, please!" It's a sad but understandable sentiment.
As we see current threats -- and as we remember the horrors of the Holocaust and the Nazi regime's determination to annihilate all the Jews of Europe -- we need to remember that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has never forgotten or forsaken the people He sovereignly chosen. We have, all too often, forgotten Him. But He has never forgotten us.
Indeed, that is why His Word commanded us to celebrate Purim, which takes place this weekend.
Purim is the Jewish holiday that celebrates the remarkable story of how the God of Israel used two faithful believers � Esther and Mordechai � and a movement of prayer and fasting to rescue the Jewish people from an evil Persian regime determine to annihilate them.
Remember: the evil Persian leader Haman literally used the language of annihilation all those years ago. As we read in Esther 3:13, "Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day...."
The Bible tells believers throughout the ages to celebrate this important holiday. This weekend, I will be teaching at a Baptist church in Tampa about the Jewish holiday of Purim, and why it is so important, and how from ancient Persia to Hitler's Germany to modern Iran, Purim reminds us of God's faithful love for and sovereign protection of the Jewish people from those who seek to destroy them.
May the Lord bless you, and all of Israel, and all of the Persian people this Purim season.
Let me offer you my speculation about this Temple:
Brothers,
I would like to consider today another prophecy related to the end time events which says that the Anti-Christ will establish his reign on earth before the Second Coming of God Jesus and before the Third World War. According to the prophecy the Anti-Christ should sit in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. But how is it possible if the First and the Second Jewish Temples were destroyed by the ancient Babylonians and the Romans. Since the destruction of the Second Templein AD70, religious Jews have expressed their desire to see the building of a Third Temple on the Temple Mount.
On the place of the Temple is just one Wall- the Wailing Wall and Al Aqsa Mosque which is one of the holies places for the Muslim world.
Will this reconstruction of the Temple wage another Muslim war in Jerusalem?
Let�s consider it today.
I said the other day:
God describes the Third Temple in details and mentions that even priests will eat offerings.
It was said not in vain. I believe that this Temple will be constructed and even re-constructed in future.
Also, I remember I have discussed before with Jewish scholars animal sacrifices in Israel. I asked them: why did you stop bringing these sacrifices after death of Jesus (Orthodox Jews do not believe that Jesus is God and the Messiah. They actually are waiting for the coming of the Messiah according to the prophecies said in the Torah).
Was the only reason that you stopped bringing these sacrifices that the Second Temple was destroyed?
No one knows any reason....they just stopped and they think there is no need for such sacrifices!!!
But why not, if God ordered to do it?!
No one knows the answer...
What is interesting, that even Christians think that there is no need for such sacrifices any more.
I would like to offer you my own theory.
I have meditated the other day on the Scripture and I would like to share with you what I think.
May be I am wrong, who knows, but it is such interesting issue that I would like to discuss it today.
What was the reason for animal sacrifices in Israel?
God commanded to perform them to get forgiveness of our sins and to purify/cleanse people of Israel of sins/iniquities because God separated Jews to be a HOLY people.
God said that He was dwelling among His people Israel.
Jews brought to the Temple animal sacrifices and grain offerings and the Priests should burn them according to the order given by God to Moses.
The majority of Jews in Israel do not believe in God Jesus.
But they believe in God of Israel.
They pray Him and respect Him, they worship Him in synagogues and in families.
We will consider today one of the Jewish prayers.
We, Christians, do not need any animal sacrifices anymore because the Son of God took the sin of the world on the cross and saved THOSE who believe in Him.
We are saved through our FAITH in God Jesus.
All our sins are forgiven and we can BOLDLY come to the presence of God in our prayers and supplications because God Jesus redeemed us from our sins and God�s Judgment against our sins. Jesus is the High Priest for Christians.
But Jews like Muslims are NOT saved by God Jesus from God�s WRATH against their sins. That�s why they will be judged.
How Jews are going to get forgiveness of their daily sins they commit?
They TRY to live righteous life!
They TRY to repent not by words but by heart.
That�s all.
Do they pray God to get forgiveness daily as we Christians do it?
NO.
Why?
Jews observe one a year a Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Just prior to Yom Kippur, Jews will ask forgiveness of those they have wronged during the prior year (if they have not already done so). During Yom Kippur itself, Jews fast and pray for God's forgiveness for the transgressions they have made against God in the prior year. Sincere repentance is required, and God can forgive one for the sins one has committed against God. This is why it is necessary for Jews also to seek the forgiveness of those people who they have wronged.
"It is forbidden to be obdurate and not allow yourself to be appeased. On the contrary, one should be easily pacified and find it difficult to become angry. When asked by an offender for forgiveness, one should forgive with a sincere mind and a willing spirit. . . forgiveness is natural to the seed of Israel." (Mishneh Torah, Teshuvah2:10)
This means that in Judaism a person cannot obtain forgiveness from God for wrongs the person has done to other people. In Christianity we should be reconciled the same way.
Before the Yom Kippur Jews recite this prayer:
"I know that there is no one so righteous that they have not wronged another, financially or physically, through deed or speech. This pains my heart within me, because wrongs between humans and their fellow are not atoned by Yom Kippur, until the wronged one is appeased. Because of this, my heart breaks within me, and my bones tremble; for even the day of death does not atone for such sins. Therefore I prostrate and beg before You, to have mercy on me, and grant me grace, compassion, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all people. For behold, I forgive with a final and resolved forgiveness anyone who has wronged me, whether in person or property, even if they slandered me, or spread falsehoods against me. So I release anyone who has injured me either in person or in property, or has committed any manner of sin that one may commit against another [except for legally enforceable business obligations, and except for someone who has deliberately harmed me with the thought �I can harm him because he will forgive me']. Except for these two, I fully and finally forgive everyone; may no one be punished because of me. And just as I forgive everyone, so may You grant me grace in the eyes of others, that they too forgive me absolutely."
A perfect prayer!
All prayers in Israel are perfect because they are offered to God of Israel!
However, Jews in Israel commit sins! Countless number of sins!
These sins should be forgiven.
In the past Jews brought offerings to God and sacrifices.
Today they do not do it.
How to get forgiveness then if they do not believe that Jesus is God and the Lamb of God killed on the cross instead of people ONCE and FOREVER.
He set us FREE of our sins and gave us salvation.
Amazing, Jews who believe in God of Israel do not know and recognize God�s Son/the Messiah/Jesus!
Will God reject these TRUE BELIEVERS/Jews and condemn them to death in hell for that?
I do not know the answer to this question!
I think this is the reason why God gave to Jews the prophecies through the prophet Ezekiel about the construction of the Third Temple of God in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40-47).
I think (but may be I am wrong) that God gives a chance to Jews to be righteous too and be forgiven during the Judgment Day through animal and grain offerings which Jews can offer to God as they did it before. Before the birth of Jesus on earth Jews could be saved from God�s judgment if they would repent and bring to God offerings as a substitution of their sins. Animals of these offerings where killed (symbolic) instead of these sinners. Because one of God�s laws reads, �Punishment for sin is DEATH�. That�s why the Lamb of God/Jesus was killed on the cross instead of us. Orthodox Jews (the true Jewish believers) are NOT redeemed by God Jesus. Because THROUGH FAITH in Jesus we receive His forgiveness of our sins. Jews do not believe in Him and they still need God�s forgiveness. May be this is the reason why God gave to Jews plans and detailed description of the Third Temple in Jerusalem!
I repeat it is only my theory�my speculation.
So, architectural plans and description of the design for the Third Temple exist in Chapters 40�47 of Ezekiel(Ezekiel's vision pre-dates the Second Temple).
Orthodox Judaism believes in the rebuilding of a Third Temple and the resumption of sacrificial worship, although there is disagreement about how rebuilding should take place. Orthodox scholars and rabbinic authorities generally believe that rebuilding should occur in the era of the Jewish Messiah.
Some 20th and 21st century scholars believe that the Dome of the Rock is not the actual location of the First and Second Temples, and that the Temples were actually located either just north of or just south of the Dome of the Rock. The most recent theory would put the Third Temple in between The Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque. The Third Temple could be built right next to the Dome of the Rock. The Dome of the Rock was built on what the Bible refers to as the Court of the Gentiles. According to Revelation 11:1-2, the rebuilding of the Third Temple was not to include the section of the temple mount known as The Court of the Gentiles. Therefore the Third Temple and the Dome of the Rock could stand side by side without any fights among Arabs and Jews.
Let�s read about it:
Revelation 11:1-2
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod.
And the angel stood, saying,
�Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
But leave out the court which is outside the temple,
and do not measure it,
for it has been given to the Gentiles.
And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
Brothers, Orthodox Jewish prayers include, in every prayer service, a prayer for the reconstruction of the Temple and resumption of sacrifices. Why do they desire to reconstruct the Temple of God? Because the Third Temple, (or Ezekiel's Temple or the third Beit HaMikdash), is a Temple architecturally described by God in the book of Ezekiel/the Old Testament). It is noted by Ezekiel as an eternal edifice and permanent dwelling place of the God of Israel on the temple mount in Jerusalem.
Prayer for reconstruction of the Temple is a formal part of the Jewish tradition of thrice daily Amidah prayer.Amidah (HaAmidah) means in Hebrew "The Standing Prayer" because Jews pray this prayer standing.
How do Jews pray Amidah?
They say during Amidah that:
14. FOR THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM:
Return in mercy to Jerusalem your city, and dwell in it as you have promised. Rebuild it soon in our day as an eternal structure, and quickly set up in it the throne of David. Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.
17. FOR RESTORATION OF TEMPLE SERVICE:
Be pleased, O Lord our God, with your people Israel and with their prayers. Restore the service to the inner sanctuary of your Temple, and receive in love and with favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayers. May the worship of your people Israel always be acceptable to you. And let our eyes behold your return in mercy to Zion. Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.
Some Christians think that this Temple described in the Bible is symbolic.
God does not play in games and He does not deceive us!
He described in details what will be this Temple!
Fishermen are identified as real people and healing of nations by the Trees growing around the River of Life is not a fairy tale too.
Let's look at the facts that this Temple will be NOT in the New Jerusalem (on a new planet created by God for Christians) but on earth!!!!
So, the Temple in Ezekiel 4-48 should be yet constructed on earth because there is no the river of life and trees of life yet. In the New Jerusalem there will be NO SEA!!!!! The trees of life will be planted after the coming of God Jesus during the Muslim Third War. Look at that:
Zechariah 14:8
And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be�
� The LORD is one,�
Yes, I admit that it is very strange to make animal sacrifices after death of Jesus!
But I described above a reason for that.
Also the Scripture does not say that the sacrifices will be offered to God after the coming of God Jesus during this war!
What the Scripture says is that:
Also note:
2 Thessalonians 2
The Great Apostasy
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Second Coming) and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
So, who is this man of sin who will sit in the Temple which is even not reconstructed yet?
In this chapter we clearly see that this man is the Anti-Christ!
The fact is: here we clearly see that the Anti-Christ will sit in the TEMPLE!!!
Bibleguy, you sound familiar. I would like to remind you of the forum rules, and also the biblical ones.
2 Timothy 2
24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Matthew 5
46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
I would like to remind you that rules are made to be enforced justly. That is, they are to be enforced upon all in the same way and NOT selectively, as you might see fit. Do not offer a reminder to one person that you are NOT willing to offer to ALL. Unless you want to act as a Pharisee/hypocrite. Are you a modern Pharisee, sir? If not, please refrain from HYPOCRISY. This is the Biblical way.
If you want to talk about Biblical principles, you must first know the Bible rightly. Your self profession as a Seventh Day Adventist rules out the possibility for you, as SDA deviates from Biblical orthodoxy.
Listen, brother, I will share with you what one great christian told me before. He was teaching me to be polite and respectful in conversations with Christians because God promised to PUNISH those who disrespect His CHILDREN:
"Thanks so very much for your kind words Versavia..
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
It is a great privilege that God allows me/us with all our faults and failings to be salt and light for one another.
I know that you have a real passion for God and are courageous in proclaiming His truth in this valley of the shadow of death... to build and establish His coming kingdom.
I too have learned much from you my friend.
God bless "
Our God Jesus said:
"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones (Christians) to stumble. Luke 17:2
Ezekiel 45:22: On that day the prince is to provide a bull as a *SIN OFFERING for himself{??} and for all the people of the land Every day during the 7 days of the feast he is to provide 7 bulls and 7 rams without defect as a burnt offering to the Lord, and a male goat for a SIN OFFERING???
This is absolute proof that the Ezekiel Temple is only symbolic since Jesus put an end to all sacrifices and offerings for sin.
Hebrews 7:27: Unlike the other high priests, He {Jesus} does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people. HE SACRIFICED FOR THEIR SINS *ONCE FOR ALL* WHEN HE OFFERED HIMSELF!!
Hebrews 9:15,26b-28: Christ is the mediator of a NEW COVENANT so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant...But now He has APPEARED ONCE FOR ALL at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the **SACRIFICE** of Himself... so Christ was **SACRIFICED ONCE** TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF MANY PEOPLE, and He will *APPEAR* a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
Hebrews 10:10: �We have been made holy through the **SACRIFICE** of the body of Jesus **ONCE FOR ALL**!!�
Hebrews 10:11,12,14,17,18: Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can **NEVER** take away sins! But when this **PRIEST** {Jesus} had offered *ONE SACRIFICE* for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God...By *ONE SACRICE* He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy...God says, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY *SACRIFICE* FOR SINS !!
Isaiah 53:5,6: He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all!!
DOES A JEWISH TEMPLE WITH BIBLICAL SPECIFICATIONS HAVE TO BE REBUILT??
Some End-Time Groups who wrongly interpret Daniel 9:27a, and who believe in a 7-year Tribulation, {Starting with a New Jewish Temple} are now spreading false rumors that religious Jews are now building a Temple or are planning to tear down the Muslim Dome of the Rock in order to rebuild a Jewish Temple to Biblical specifications and will then REINSTITUTE animal sacrifices??? However there are several big problems with this scenario:
All 21 Arab Muslim nations including Pakistan which has many nuclear bombs would then immediately declare an all-out Holy War on Israel, and the Israeli government fully understands this. I know this for I was a missionary in Israel. A Jewish Temple built to Biblical specifications would then take at least 7 years to build during this continuous war with the 21 Muslim nations. Most of these same End-Time Groups also teach that a pre-trib rapture could occur TODAY {Not at least 7 years from today} which of course makes the ridiculous *IMMINENT* pre-trib belief {That Jesus could come TODAY} a big joke.
Now all those who believe in a 7-year Tribulation only because of the wrong interpretation of Daniel 9:27a also believe that immediately following a CONCEALED pre-trib rapture of the Church saints that the Anti-Christ will make a Covenant with Israel; allowing the Jews to make animal sacrifices in a Jewish Temple built to Biblical specifications. They believe that at the end of 3 1/2 years in the middle of the 7 years the antichrist will put an end to all animal sacrifices in this Jewish Temple.
However, for over 1,000 years religious Jews have believed that when their Messiah comes He will bring with him the New Jewish Temple and the required Ark of the Covenant. And then the Messiah will re-establish the Levitical priesthood; who will then offer animal sacrifices according to OT Law.
For according to OT Law {See Numbers 3:5-10} all Jewish Priests must prove that they are direct descendants of Levi and these Levitical genealogies were completely destroyed when the last Jewish Temple was destroyed in AD 70. Therefore, no Scriptural OT animal sacrifices could possibly occur before then; since no Jew can now prove that he is a Levite!! And so if you are waiting for this Jewish Temple to be built to Biblical specifications by Jews who will then offer animal sacrifices; you are going to have to wait until this bogus Jewish messiah comes. Please do not hold your breath until this time!
Did Herod the Great completely destroy the 2nd Temple including its foundations around 17 BC?? The following is a quote from "Antiquities of the Jews" by Josephus, Page 334, Para 1 & 3: "And now Herod, in the 18th year of his reign undertook a very great work, that is, to build of himself the temple of God and make it LARGER in compass, and to raise it to a most significant altitude, as esteeming it to be the most glorious of all his actions and this would be sufficient for an everlasting memorial to him....so Herod TOOK AWAY THE OLD FOUNDATIONS AND LAID OTHERS, and erected the temple upon them. Herod's 3rd Temple was 100 cubits {150 feet} long." {The first two Jewish temples were both 60 cubits {90 feet} long as per 2 Chronicles 3:3 & Ezra 6:3.} So then Herod's Temple was the 3RD TEMPLE which according to John 2:20 took "46 years to build".
There are some who believe that a {4th} Jewish Temple built to Biblical specifications will appear during the End-Times and is suggested in Revelation 11:1. The TEMPLE IN HEAVEN is mentioned 12 times in Revelation where worshipers are present: Rev 3:12;7:15;11:19(2X);14:15,17;15:5,6,8(2x); & Rev 16:1,17.
The only other time that a temple is mentioned is in Rev 11:1; where worshipers are present; so this could also be a reference to the TEMPLE IN HEAVEN. Let us compare Rev 11:1 with Rev 7:15 and Rev 8:3-5:
Revelation 11:1: I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the TEMPLE OF GOD and the ALTAR, and count the worshipers there."
Rev 7:15:"They {martyrs as per Rev 7:9-14} are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in HIS TEMPLE."
Rev 8:3-5: Another angel, who had a golden censor, came and stood at the ALTAR. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden ALTAR before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.
Ephesians 2:19b-22: "You are members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the Chief Cornerstone {Of the 4th and LAST TEMPLE}. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built {Living Stones-1 Pet 2:5} together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. 2 Cor 6:16 "For *WE are the TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD!"{See Revelation 11:1 above!!}
Acts 17:24: The God who made the world and everything in it ...does not live in temples built by hands. The �outer court� of the TEMPLE OF GOD in Rev 11:2 would be the saints on earth who are also the TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD.
Galatians 3:23-25: "Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, *WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!!"
*WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!!
Galatians 2:14-16,20,21; 3:2,5,10-13;23-25: Paul said, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is NOT justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.!"
Galatians 2:20,21: The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Galatians 3:10-13: "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us!
Galatians 3:23-25: "Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, *WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!!"
Hebrews 7:18,19: The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was weak and useless; for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.!
Hebrews 8:8,9,13: "The time is coming." says the Lord, "when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah".... By calling this Covenant "NEW", He has made the first one OBSOLETE; and what is OBSOLETE and aging will soon disappear."
Hebrews 8:6: But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is Mediator is SUPERIOR TO THE OLD ONE, and it is founded on better promises.
Colossians 2:16,17: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you **EAT** or drink, or with regard to a religous festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a *SHADOW* of the things that were to come, the reality, however, is found in Christ!!!
All of the OT sabbath laws have been eliminated. Both Jesus and His Father have declared all foods are now clean. All of the OT sacrifical and temple laws have been eliminated. All of the stoning to death laws for breaking the law have been eliminated. All of the laws concerning an eye for an eye and making oaths have been eliminated. Circumcision laws have been eliminated. Loving one another as Jesus loved us has replaced loving one another as you love yourself.
Their about 400 NT laws to be obeyed with *LOVE* in the hope of countless eternal rewards for faithful and loving service has replaced the 613 OT laws.
