You need make for me only an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your offerings of well-being, your sheep, and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. Exodus 20:24.
The Temple Mount Institute has started construction on the stone altar. This construction began on the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av, 2009. The 9th of Av is very significant in Jewish history (though it is also a sad event in their history), for it commemorates the destruction of the first temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C. Albeit, it is a reminder of the destruction of the second temple in 70 AD. The building of the altar that the Temple Mount Institute is constructing is momentous since we are living in the end times. This altar was foretold in the book of Daniel.
This altar should have a prophetic impact on the Christian world as well as wake us up spiritually. In nature, we are witnessing political events, and world events, which are beginning to line up with the Bible. However, there are two Judaic organizations Jehovah has raised up for the end of days. They are the Temple Mount Faithful, and the Temple Institute. It is important to note that these two organizations are dedicated to rebuilding the third temple.
The Temple Institute has recreated all of the sacred vessels and have made things such as David’s harp, the priestly robes, and a copper vessel that will be used in preparation for the meal offering. In addition, the Temple Mount Faithful has successfully created two cornerstones both weighing 13 tons (26,000 pounds).
Over the years they have purposely tried to position the cornerstones at the Temple Mount so they can start rebuilding the temple.(Then, Jews believe this will usher in the Messiah Ben David). This altar they are currently constructing will be smaller than the previous two altars. Multimedia director of the the Temple Institute, Yitzchak Reuven, mentions that the “base of the altar will be three and a half meters wide, the height of it three and a half meters wide, and the ramp ten and a half meters long.” The organization purposely created it small for the mere fact that it would be easily transportable to the third temple.
The Messianic publication Yavoh is Hebrew for “He Is Coming.”
Monte Judah, founder, director, and editor, describes the size of this altar in Yavoh. “It is six meters square at a height of four meters. It will have a ramp extending some thirty-six feet.
In imperial measurements this altar will rise more than twelve in the air and sit on a base nearly twenty feet by twenty feet.” The Lord made a commandment to Moses and the children of Israel about building the altar. The God of Moses stressed about not using any type of tools that could chip or chisel or break away any part of His stone altar.
Deuteronomy 27:5, “There you are to erect an altar to Adonai your God, an altar made of stones. You are not to use any iron tool on them, but are to build the altar of Adonai your God of uncut (unhewn) stones; and you are to offer burnt offerings on it to Adonai our God.”
In adhering to God’s direct order, the Israelites were to collect stones for the altar that would please YHWH. For inasmuch as, no iron tool or any iron tool of warfare was permitted to touch these stones. For, He knew iron tools have been used for warfare and for killing people. Therefore, any iron tool touching the altar stones would invalidate those stones. A similar correlation would be the inspection of the Passover lamb.
Any blemish would disqualify it for being the perfect corban (gift). In the Mishnah, a New Translation by Jacob Neusner, on page 879, it states, “For iron is created to shorten man’s days, and the altar is created to lengthen man’s days.”
Our next phase of writing will shed some light about the future anti-messiah, and the altar. Prophecy, in the book of Daniel, reveals to us that the Jewish Temple will be properly functioning. For it has to be fully functional for the anti-Christ to stop the burnt offerings and to commit the utter blasphemy against the holy stone altar. The anti-Messiah will then pledge his allegiance to Satan and claim that he is God in the Third Jewish Temple.
Paul reveals to us the character and evil nature of Satan’s anti-Christ. However, the extremity of his true character and his evil nature takes its apparent form once the three years of peace (false peace) has ended. After the three years expire, that will begin the days of Jacob’s Trouble. There are many theories out there explaining the ethnicity of the anti-Christ. Some scholars and pastors say he has to be Jewish since Jewish people will only accept a Jewish savior, and others believe that he will be of Muslim origin.
For now, until the time comes, it is difficult to be absolute about his ethnicity, whether he (anti-Christ) will be a Jew or Muslim. Many Jews have rejected Judaism and turned to Islam. Therefore, there is a chance for the anti-Christ to have Jewish origin, and his religion be that of Islamic nature.
For me, I am leaning towards the possibility of the anti-Christ being Muslim, with Jewish origin, just for the fact that the book of Revelation tells us that there will be many beheadings of innocent people who rejected the mark of the beast or who did not worship the beast. (In Islam we can truly see this prophecy coming to pass about the anti-Christ).
Paul tells us in Revelation 20:4, “ Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.”
From the historical figure of Antiochus Epiphanes, God has given us clues about the upcoming anti-Christ. Epiphanes was a despicable person who was basically a blueprint for the anti-Christ. The anti-Messiah will have similar spiritual components as Antiochus Epiphanes. God reveals that both of their natures are destructive, rebellious, murderous, and anti-God. Below is a list that reveals the anti-Christ’s nature. They are compared to Antiochus Epiphanes in 1 Maccabees, chapter 1 verse 10, 37, 44 through 47.
1.Antiochus came out of a wicked root. 1 Maccabees 1:10
2.The Anti-Christ will come from a wicked root.(Satan will possess the anti-Christ).
3.Antiochus shed innocent blood. 1 Maccabees 1:24
4.The Anti-Christ will shed innocent blood.Revelation 20:4
5.Antiochus changed the seasons and laws,and profaned the temple Sabbaths. 1Maccabees 1:49
6.The Anti-Christ will change the sacred seasons and the law. Daniel 7:25
7.Antiochus stopped the grain offerings and the altar.
1 Maccabees1:59 8.The Anti-Christ will stop the grain offerings and the
altar sacrifice. Daniel 9:27
9. They erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees1:54 10. The Anti-Christ will set up the abomination
that desolates. Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 11:31
11. Deceitfully, Antiochus spoke peaceable words to them,
and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the
city, dealt it a severe blow and destroyed many people
of Israel. 1 Maccabees 1:30
12. He (Anti-Christ) shall make a strong covenant (False
Covenant) with many for one week. Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 20:4
Whenever the Bible talks about Satan possessing the anti-Christ, it reminds me of when Judas Iscariot was briefly possessed by Satan. The author of John 13:27, gives us clues about Satan entering into Judas Iscariot. “After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.” However, once Satan enters into the anti-Messiah, it will not be as brief. It will be a longer duration, that is, until Satan and his anti-Christ completes the prophecies which are spoken of in the Bible.
Then, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever and ever. In Revelation 20:10, Paul tells us this important fact, “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The book of Matthew speaks of the anti-Christ standing in the holy place. Then, after this, disaster will strike Jerusalem, especially in Judea, where sweeping persecutions will take place. It will be so devastating that Matthew 24:21-22, warns us, “For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”
So, when all of the people of Judea and Israel see or hear that the anti-Christ is now standing in the holy place (Holy of Holies), they are to immediately flee into the mountains away from their houses. They are not even to grab any clothes or any supplies that are in their homes. In Matthew 24:19-20, “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.” The author of Matthew gives us an expedient warning (to flee now).
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must have given the apostle John a glimpse of the future. It seems God had given him an urgency that quickened his spirit to write what he did as an emergency plan for the people of the future who will witness the incumbent anti-Messiah. The emergency plan is to flee from your homes and businesses, synagogues, and churches and buildings of any type.
Where will the Israelites flee? Common knowledge says they will escape to the mountains of Petra and Bozrah for safety. During the hard times of the anti-Christ’s rule, the Jewish people who believe in Jesus Christ as their Jewish Messiah will be fleeing to these two ancient cities.
Their travel from Judea to Petra will be approximately 120 miles (193 kilometers). Unfortunately, no one will be using vehicles as a means to escape the anti-Christ and his forces. They will be fleeing by foot to Petra and Bozrah.
An important fact to consider is during the wintertime in Jordan the temperatures can get down into the thirties and even colder at times. This is possibly one of the many reasons why the author of Matthew has said, “Pray that your flight may not be in winter.”
It would be physically challenging for everyone, especially for pregnant and nursing woman walking this long, treacherous journey to Petra and Bozrah during the wintertime. Matthew 24:19, “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!”.
Typically, their winters last from December through January. I believe the author of Matthew was actually alluding to something more serious than the temperature of wintertime; though, it will have an effect on the people who have to actually traverse to these two places during those days.
The anti-Christ’s takeover of the Third Temple would be especially tragic if it occurred on the important Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the 25th of Kislev. Hanukkah is a time of rededication of the temple. It is called the Festival of Rededication and the Festival of Lights.
Here is a brief but very important history lesson about the Maccabees. A wonderful website: Written by Les Turvey. I will paste his website below. http://www.biblestudy.org/question/what-is-hanukkah-and-can-christians-celebrate-it.html(All words in Italics are from Les Turvey).
“Antiochus IV Epiphanes became ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire in 175 B.C. In an effort to unify the Greek elements of his empire he initiated a campaign to FORCE the Greek culture upon those living in Judea. In 167 B.C. Antiochus orders an altar to the Greek god Zeus be erected in Jerusalem's Temple. Pigs (a Biblically unclean animal) are brought in the Temple and sacrificed on the altar of Zeus. In the same year the altar is erected a Jewish priest named Mattathias starts a revolt against the Seleucid overlords by refusing to worship the Greek gods imposed on them.
Mattathias dies about a year after he started the revolt. One of his sons named Judas, however, becomes the military chief of the rebellion. As a recognition of his ferocity in battle, Judas is referred to as Judas Maccabaeus (or Judah the Maccabee), which when translated means ‘Judah the Hammer.’ Judas Maccabeus leads an army of Jewish dissidents to victory over the Seleucids. After his victory he enters Jerusalem in triumph and religiously cleanses the Temple (which was profaned by the pagan Seleucids).
The temple is rededicated in 165 B.C. on the twenty-fifth day of the Jewish month of Kislev. According to tradition, although there was only one day's supply of oil for the Temple's menorah (which was required to burn throughout the night every night), it miraculously burned for eight days. Eight days was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh oil for use in the Temple.”
Here, God gives the Jewish community and the Christian community a blueprint from the very words of the Maccabees found in the Apocrypha. He shows us what might possibly take place again, history repeating itself. God is basically saying His words very clearly as He reveals them to the remaining believers of the Messianic community and the Christian community fleeing Judea. They need to take His words to their very heart. “Pray that your flight may not be in winter.” When we see these events forming and taking shape before our eyes, we ought to look up for our redeemer is seven years away from rapturing the remaining believers up unto Him..
Written by Michael Jones
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