This link from my friend Sandy. The Temple Institute have held what may be the first ever harvest for the tola'at shani, or crimson worm, for around two thousand years. A few weeks ago, the Temple Institute revealed that they had begun the manufacturing process of one hundred and twenty priestly garments, which are to be used in the administration of the Third Temple. The organization published photographs of the 'Kohanim', the priestly tribe, being measured for their garments. The garments are being woven using flax imported from India, and are being dyed according to methods that would have been used in Old Testament times. The priestly garments are to be spun using three different colours of thread, purple, crimson and blue. The crimson dye is obtained from a certain type of insect, a crimson worm, that has recently been rediscovered in Israel. On the 16th of July, Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute lead a group into Samaria to harvest the crimson worm, which is necessary for the completion of the priestly garments.

Quote: "ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 13TH OF TAMMUZ (JULY 16TH), the Temple Institute organized an historic event: the first tola'at shani - crimson worm - harvest in the land of Israel in perhaps 2000 years. The location of the harvest was the Samarian hilltop village of Neve Tsuf. The immediate purpose for the event was the need to gather the crimson worms for the purpose of creating the avnet - the sixteen meter long belt for the bigdei kehuna - the priestly garments now being produced by the Temple Institute. The long-term goal was to educate a new generation about the elusive tola'at shani, how to harvest it, and how to produce from it the crimson dye prescribed in the Torah for a number of Temple related purposes, including the priests' avnet - belts, the scarlet wool tied onto the se'ir l'azazel - the scapegoat - on Yom Kippur, and one of the essential ingredients for producing the ashes of the red heifer.

I was emailed recently by a man from the US who said he had attended a meeting held by Rabbi Chaim Richman regarding the rebuilding of the Temple. At that meeting, Richman said words to the effect that Israel already has the Red Heifer, but he did not elaborate further. Many of you may remember the Red Heifer that was born in Israel around 11 years ago. That heifer was later found to be imperfect after a few white hairs were discovered in her tail. It has now been revealed that Israeli scientists have apparently 'cracked' the genetic code for producing a pure Red Heifer. So it seems there is some truth to Richman's words. Israel may already have a Red Heifer, albeit unborn as yet. All that remains to be done is to train up priests who will be able to handle the animal in the manner prescribed in Numbers 19. 

Quote: "Late last week, on the eve of the Shabbat in week the Torah portion Hukkat is read, in which the red heifer is mentioned, it became clear that the people associated with the Temple Institute, who for 25 years have been researching the Temple and its rituals, creating vessels for future use in the Temple and maintaining contact with scientists and research institutes worldwide, believe they have cracked the genetic code that will make it possible to clone a red heifer. The "recreation" of the red heifer is likely to have a far-reaching effect on the view of rabbis who at present forbid the entry of Jews to the Temple Mount, partly because of the latter's status as "tamei met." This status describes any Jew who has ever come into contact with a human corpse or with people or objects that have touched a corpse. In terms of halakha (Jewish religious law), we are all in effect tamei met. Will the people of the Temple Institute therefore begin to clone the red heifer now?

The ashes of a pure Red Heifer are necessary for cleansing the priests and the Temple Mount for the recommencement of the sacrificial system. The animal was to be killed by the priests outside the city walls. Those who slew the Red Heifer were made impure according to the Biblical law, yet the ashes of the animal were used to cleanse the priests (Numbers 19:7). How can this be? This is the question that Rabbi Chaim Richman once asked in one of his Temple Institute newsletters. The answer is simple. This was a perfect picture of the sacrifice of God's Son, Jesus Christ. The Red Heifer had to be pure, without spot or blemish, or the sacrifice of the animal would not be acceptable to God (Numbers 19:2). Jesus Christ was the One without spot or blemish (1st Peter 1:18-19). He knew no sin (2nd Corinthians 5:21), He did no sin (1st Peter 2:22) and in Him is no sin (1st John 3:5). Just as the Red Heifer was sacrificed outside the city walls in order to sanctify the people (Numbers 19:3), so our Lord would suffer outside the gate in order to cleanse us from our sins (Hebrews 13:2). Just as those who slew the Red Heifer became unclean until the evening (Numbers 19:7), so God made Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, "to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2nd Corinthians 5:21). Just as the ashes of the Red Heifer were put in a clean place outside the camp (Numbers 19:9), so our Lord's body was placed in a tomb in which never a man was laid (Luke 23:53). There could be no taint of sin or corruption where He was placed (Psalm 16:10). And just as the Red Heifer had to be completely red or its sacrifice would not be acceptable, so the blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to cleanse us from all sin (1st John 1:7).

There are many pictures of Jesus Christ throughout the Old Testament. The sad thing is, many observant Jews are still blinded to the identity of their Redeemer. Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour? He died for you. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Source Arutz 7, Temple Institute, Haaretz

This link from my friend Kathie. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem have revealed that the production of 120 priestly garments to be used in the administration of the Third Temple is now in full swing. The Temple Institute began production of the priestly garments in March of this year. Their production follows the recent completion of the Golden Crown of the High Priest in November of last year, and the blue ephod of the High Priest in 2005. It also closely follows the relocation of the Golden Menorah to the Temple Mount steps, which I was privileged to view during my recent trip to Israel. The garments of the priests are being created using special flax imported from India. The flax is then spun onto larger spindles in Israel, after which it is woven into priestly garments according to the manner prescribed in the Torah.

Quote: "PRODUCTION OF THE SPECIALLY WOVEN LINEN FABRIC for the making of the lay-priests garments is in full swing. Concurrently, the Temple Institute has enlisted master clothing designer Aviad Jeruffi to help in the design of the garments. Jeruffi has spent fifteen years studying the art of creating biblical era garments at the feet of a Yemenite master of the discipline, who himself has received the ancient tradition from his elders. MASTER DESIGNER JERUFFI can be seen in the photographs below modelling the priestly garments. The garments shown in the photographs are "mock-ups" only, and are not made with the "twined linen - shesh mushzar" that will be used in the actual garments when they are produced.

The woollen and linen belts that are to be worn by the priests are being woven using purple, crimson and blue thread, dyed according to methods that would have been used during the First and Second Temple eras. The blue colour, or 'techelet' in the Hebrew, is obtained from the gland of a specific sea snail mentioned in the Scriptures, which has recently been identified under the name of 'murex trunculus'. The crimson colour comes from a specific mountain worm which has been identified as 'kermes biblicus'. My friend Jim Clint wrote a beautiful article on this worm, how it speaks of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. Whenever this worm reproduces, its offspring feast on the mother's flesh, and as they do so they become covered with the red pigment dye contained within her body. The red dye is permanent, and cannot be erased for the remainder of the worm's life. The parent worm literally gives her life for her offspring, just as Jesus Christ gave His life for us (John 10:11). We can have eternal life because of Christ's death upon the cross. And just as these worms become covered with the red pigment from their mother's flesh, so those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation are cleansed from their sins through His blood (1st John 1:7). If only these dear Jewish people recognized that Jesus Christ is the crimson worm (Psalm 22:6), Who gave His life on the cross so that they may have life. Do you have this eternal life? Have you feasted on the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 6:53-54
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

We do not do this by taking wine and eating bread. These things are merely emblems of our faith in the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. His body has already been broken for us in the sufferings he passed through at Calvary (Matthew 26:26). His blood was shed for us upon the cross to make atonement for our souls (Matthew 26:27-28). The innocent life in place of the guilty. When we say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved", that includes believing in all that Christ has accomplished upon the cross, that He bore God's punishment for your sins and that His shed blood cleanses you from all sin. What a wonderful Saviour we have! Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

The blood that Jesus shed for me
Way back on Calvary
The blood that gives me strength from day to day
It shall never lose its power

Source Temple Institute

This link from my friend Sandy. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem have announced that they have begun the process of manufacturing 120 sets of garments, which are to be worn by the priests in the daily administration of the Third Temple. The priestly garments are being made using special flax imported from India. The spools of thread are presently being spun onto larger spindles in Israel, after which they will be woven into linen garments according to the prescribed method detailed in the Torah. The Temple Institute state that this will be the first time in 1938 years that such garments will have been manufactured in Israel.

Quote: "EACH SET OF PRIESTLY GARMENTS will be tailored to fit its individual purchaser. The garments being created are not museum pieces or collector's items. Their cost is 2,500 shekel, (approximately $695). They will be sold only to true descendants of the High Priest Aharon, who aspire to be fully prepared for the day when they can once again perform the Divine service in the Holy Temple, may we merit to rebuild it soon!

During their presentation of the High Priest's Golden Crown last November, the Temple Institute revealed that they were planning to manufacture the priestly garments. They have also completed the manufacture of the garments of the High Priest, including the breast plate and the blue ephod. On that occasion Rabbi Chaim Richman, head of the Temple Institute and member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, also stated that the organization was working on the blueprints for the construction of the Third Temple. And in May of last year, the Sanhedrin announced they were planning to send a letter to every nation on earth, calling for the speedy rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin believe that the world is heading for a great catastrophe, and that the only way this disaster can be averted is through the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the subsequent return of God's presence to earth. Of course the Temple may be rebuilt in accordance with prophecy (2nd Thessalonians 2:4), but the Shekinah Glory will not return to the Temple at this time. When Christ first cleansed the Temple He said, "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves", Matthew 21:13. But when Christ left the Temple for the last time, just before His public rejection as Messiah and subsequent crucifixion by the nation of Israel, He stated, "Your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until [the time] come when ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord", Luke 13:35. Today the Lord dwells not in a temple made by hands, He dwells in our hearts through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:23). Under the new covenant, our bodies have become God's Holy Temple (1st Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit indwells every believer who has put their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation (Ephesians 1:13).

I believe the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt. But it will not be indwelled by the Lord just yet, for Jesus Christ said that He would not return to His Temple until the nation of Israel recognized Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). The Temple must first be defiled by an impostor, the Antichrist, who will enter it and claim to be God, bringing upon the unbelieving nation of Israel the great catastrophe that they presently fear (Matthew 24:25). As we can see, the day is fast approaching when Israel will be ready to rebuild the Temple. And so the day must also be fast approaching when our Lord will come. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation? Have your sins been forgiven, and does Christ dwell in your heart by faith (Ephesians 3:17)? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source Temple Institute