Post by Tom Green on Oct 3, 2007 19:47:40 GMT -5
The ordinance of the Red Heifer is found in Numbers Chapter 19. I suggest that you stop and read the chapter and then continue reading this posting. I will not print the whole chapter here but will refer to it as we progress.
Verse 2 tells us that the cow is to be red, "without defect, in which there is no blemish.." and it is to be a cow which has never had a yoke upon it. This does tell us some things but not all. There are oral traditions surrounding the cow and the requirements. It is generally accepted that the cow must be 3 years of age before it is eligible for sacrifice. The orthodox rabbis also say that 3 black or white hairs on the animal will render it invalid....there is some apparent disagreement about this point.The cow is to be a heifer, which by definition is a young cow which has never borne a calf.
There have been stories published about a number of red cows. Reports of cows being bred in Sweden, Switzerland, Texas and Mississippi have been published in various media. The latest is an article in the Jerusalem Post, International Version, dated June 14, 1997. It tells of Clyde Lott from Mississippi and his breeding of a pure red cow. There have also been reports of red cows being born in Israel. One cow , which has had some media attention, was artificially inseminated and there are reports of some black hairs appearing....this cow may be invalid. The other cow is not spoken of much, and may be a valid "Red Heifer" . I am still waiting for confirming reports on this cow. According to oral traditions, when a red cow was required, one simply "appeared" in the herds of Israel. The last one was in the herd of a Gentile, during the first century, before the destruction of the Temple. I have also been told there are two counts as to the number of red cows sacrificed. One says there have been 9 and another source says only 7. Either way it is a rare sacrifice. My personal opinion is that God is well able to provide His own sacrifice when needed. Breeding a cow and attempting to bring it to Israel is a little like Abraham taking Hagar in his effort to "help" God fulfill His promises. I would be very skeptical of this being acceptable......and again there is the possibility that the unacceptable nature of the cow would be a part of the end-time problems.
Regarding the cows in Israel; one is said to have been born in the fall of 1995 and one in the winter of 1996. It is also considered, by the rabbis, that a cow is one year old at birth. This would mean that the cows are not too far from being acceptable by age, if the dating is correct. You see, there are several areas that lead us into speculation. The primary goal of prophecy and looking at the "end-times" should not be to try to predict the future but to locate our point in history.
So, now, what does this have to do with us? As we read in Numbers 19, the Red Heifer is to be taken to a place outside the camp, verse 3, and be slaughtered there. Verse 4 tells us that some of the blood is to be taken and sprinkled toward the front of the tent of meeting. Then the cow is to be burned; it's skin, flesh, hide, dung and blood. It is to be burned with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet stuff and cast them into the midst of the fire. The fire would have to be built and continued to burn the whole cow into ash. This would create a fairly large quantity of ash. Again from rabbinic sources, we are told that there were several portions of ash that were collected. This ash was mixed with water to create the water of purification and was used to cleanse those who came into contact with the dead or were otherwise defiled.
Verse 9 tell us that a man who is clean must gather the ash and put it in a "clean place outside the camp" . This is a specific place. During the Temple periods this place was/is on the Mount of Olives. The altar of sacrifice and place of burning for the Red Heifer was at or near the top of the Mount of Olives.
The gates of Jerusalem are named for their use. The Dung Gate leads out to the Hinnom Valley where the refuse of the city was deposited and burned. Jaffa Gate leads to Jaffa. Damascus Gate lead to Damascus and so on.....
In Nehemiah 3:31 we read about the Gate Miphkad (KJV). Looking at the word Miphkad we can see that it means "appointed" and is translated so in several renderings. The word Miphkad appears in Ezekiel 43:21 also where it is translated appointed. This is referring to a specific place not a place in general. The rabbis have named the altar of sacrifice for the Red Heifer as the "Miphkad Altar". It is interesting that the passage in Ezekiel is speaking about the sin offering. There is a connection there, but I will not try to go into it right now.
The significance for us is in regard to the rebuilding of the Temple. The Temple Mount has been trodden down by Gentiles for nearly 2000 years. The Temple was destroyed after it was defiled by Titus and has laid waste until covered over by Islam. Before a Temple can be rebuilt, the site must be cleansed. Before animal sacrifice can be reinstated, the site and stone altar ( of course an altar must be constructed first) must be cleansed.
This is why a Red Heifer is required. I still see a problem. Before a Red Heifer can be sacrificed and burned, there must be access to the altar site and place of burning on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is nearly all controlled by Arabs. The approximate site of the altar and place of burning is under Arab control and is "trodden down by Gentiles" and must be cleansed prior to any sacrifice or offering being made. Remember the requirements mentioned in Numbers 19:9..... a clean place outside the camp. There is no clean place outside the camp, it has been defiled. I, therefore, believe that a quantity of ash from the last cow or "Ash of old" must be found and used to purify the site before a new cow can be offered.
NOTE: See the old Arab woman? She is sitting under what is known as "The Dome of the Spirit" smack dab in the middle of the Temple Mound! Remember the scripture: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled." Luke 21:24 (KJV) (This is a photo that I took in Israel and it appears on HaY'Did's 97-98 (Jewish year 5758) calendar that you can order for a limited time.)
There is a search on to find ash of the Red Heifer. Several people are actively searching and you hear reports of various articles being located and spectacular finds being made. Most claims are without proof. There are no artifacts that are verifiable and surprisingly no photographs or independent lab reports to back up claims. There are some legitimate scholars and archeologists searching for the truth. The feeling is that when it is God's timing, everything will come to light. Until then the search continues. The search for artifacts, just like the search from scripture, needs to be done to seek truth, not to verify preconceived ideas.
All of this is fascinating to me and of great interest. I look to these things to help place us in our point of history. To learn more about my Messiah, Jesus. My goal is to be an accurate servant. Part of that goal is to alert the "Church" to the nearness of the return of Jesus and the beginning of His kingdom here on earth unlike what we now know. The time is short. In my lifetime, Israel has become a nation, returned to it's geographical location. The Jews of the world are returning to their land as promised in the Bible. Jerusalem has been reunited. Nearly every day there is newly uncovered evidence that God's word is true, and He is seeing His will performed. What are we going to do with this knowledge? How are we going to respond? How are we going to live our lives with the knowledge that the end of the age is imminent? We are now nearing 2000 years from the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord could return at any moment....even if He doesn't come for another 30 or 40 years, it is still very close when you factor in time overall. I am driven and compelled by Matthew 28:18-20.
Potter's Clay Ministries
417 NW 42nd St
OKC, OK 73118
shalom2@home.com
Verse 2 tells us that the cow is to be red, "without defect, in which there is no blemish.." and it is to be a cow which has never had a yoke upon it. This does tell us some things but not all. There are oral traditions surrounding the cow and the requirements. It is generally accepted that the cow must be 3 years of age before it is eligible for sacrifice. The orthodox rabbis also say that 3 black or white hairs on the animal will render it invalid....there is some apparent disagreement about this point.The cow is to be a heifer, which by definition is a young cow which has never borne a calf.
There have been stories published about a number of red cows. Reports of cows being bred in Sweden, Switzerland, Texas and Mississippi have been published in various media. The latest is an article in the Jerusalem Post, International Version, dated June 14, 1997. It tells of Clyde Lott from Mississippi and his breeding of a pure red cow. There have also been reports of red cows being born in Israel. One cow , which has had some media attention, was artificially inseminated and there are reports of some black hairs appearing....this cow may be invalid. The other cow is not spoken of much, and may be a valid "Red Heifer" . I am still waiting for confirming reports on this cow. According to oral traditions, when a red cow was required, one simply "appeared" in the herds of Israel. The last one was in the herd of a Gentile, during the first century, before the destruction of the Temple. I have also been told there are two counts as to the number of red cows sacrificed. One says there have been 9 and another source says only 7. Either way it is a rare sacrifice. My personal opinion is that God is well able to provide His own sacrifice when needed. Breeding a cow and attempting to bring it to Israel is a little like Abraham taking Hagar in his effort to "help" God fulfill His promises. I would be very skeptical of this being acceptable......and again there is the possibility that the unacceptable nature of the cow would be a part of the end-time problems.
Regarding the cows in Israel; one is said to have been born in the fall of 1995 and one in the winter of 1996. It is also considered, by the rabbis, that a cow is one year old at birth. This would mean that the cows are not too far from being acceptable by age, if the dating is correct. You see, there are several areas that lead us into speculation. The primary goal of prophecy and looking at the "end-times" should not be to try to predict the future but to locate our point in history.
So, now, what does this have to do with us? As we read in Numbers 19, the Red Heifer is to be taken to a place outside the camp, verse 3, and be slaughtered there. Verse 4 tells us that some of the blood is to be taken and sprinkled toward the front of the tent of meeting. Then the cow is to be burned; it's skin, flesh, hide, dung and blood. It is to be burned with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet stuff and cast them into the midst of the fire. The fire would have to be built and continued to burn the whole cow into ash. This would create a fairly large quantity of ash. Again from rabbinic sources, we are told that there were several portions of ash that were collected. This ash was mixed with water to create the water of purification and was used to cleanse those who came into contact with the dead or were otherwise defiled.
Verse 9 tell us that a man who is clean must gather the ash and put it in a "clean place outside the camp" . This is a specific place. During the Temple periods this place was/is on the Mount of Olives. The altar of sacrifice and place of burning for the Red Heifer was at or near the top of the Mount of Olives.
The gates of Jerusalem are named for their use. The Dung Gate leads out to the Hinnom Valley where the refuse of the city was deposited and burned. Jaffa Gate leads to Jaffa. Damascus Gate lead to Damascus and so on.....
In Nehemiah 3:31 we read about the Gate Miphkad (KJV). Looking at the word Miphkad we can see that it means "appointed" and is translated so in several renderings. The word Miphkad appears in Ezekiel 43:21 also where it is translated appointed. This is referring to a specific place not a place in general. The rabbis have named the altar of sacrifice for the Red Heifer as the "Miphkad Altar". It is interesting that the passage in Ezekiel is speaking about the sin offering. There is a connection there, but I will not try to go into it right now.
The significance for us is in regard to the rebuilding of the Temple. The Temple Mount has been trodden down by Gentiles for nearly 2000 years. The Temple was destroyed after it was defiled by Titus and has laid waste until covered over by Islam. Before a Temple can be rebuilt, the site must be cleansed. Before animal sacrifice can be reinstated, the site and stone altar ( of course an altar must be constructed first) must be cleansed.
This is why a Red Heifer is required. I still see a problem. Before a Red Heifer can be sacrificed and burned, there must be access to the altar site and place of burning on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is nearly all controlled by Arabs. The approximate site of the altar and place of burning is under Arab control and is "trodden down by Gentiles" and must be cleansed prior to any sacrifice or offering being made. Remember the requirements mentioned in Numbers 19:9..... a clean place outside the camp. There is no clean place outside the camp, it has been defiled. I, therefore, believe that a quantity of ash from the last cow or "Ash of old" must be found and used to purify the site before a new cow can be offered.
NOTE: See the old Arab woman? She is sitting under what is known as "The Dome of the Spirit" smack dab in the middle of the Temple Mound! Remember the scripture: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled." Luke 21:24 (KJV) (This is a photo that I took in Israel and it appears on HaY'Did's 97-98 (Jewish year 5758) calendar that you can order for a limited time.)
There is a search on to find ash of the Red Heifer. Several people are actively searching and you hear reports of various articles being located and spectacular finds being made. Most claims are without proof. There are no artifacts that are verifiable and surprisingly no photographs or independent lab reports to back up claims. There are some legitimate scholars and archeologists searching for the truth. The feeling is that when it is God's timing, everything will come to light. Until then the search continues. The search for artifacts, just like the search from scripture, needs to be done to seek truth, not to verify preconceived ideas.
All of this is fascinating to me and of great interest. I look to these things to help place us in our point of history. To learn more about my Messiah, Jesus. My goal is to be an accurate servant. Part of that goal is to alert the "Church" to the nearness of the return of Jesus and the beginning of His kingdom here on earth unlike what we now know. The time is short. In my lifetime, Israel has become a nation, returned to it's geographical location. The Jews of the world are returning to their land as promised in the Bible. Jerusalem has been reunited. Nearly every day there is newly uncovered evidence that God's word is true, and He is seeing His will performed. What are we going to do with this knowledge? How are we going to respond? How are we going to live our lives with the knowledge that the end of the age is imminent? We are now nearing 2000 years from the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord could return at any moment....even if He doesn't come for another 30 or 40 years, it is still very close when you factor in time overall. I am driven and compelled by Matthew 28:18-20.
Potter's Clay Ministries
417 NW 42nd St
OKC, OK 73118
shalom2@home.com