Have you ever heard that someday the temple would be 00:00:01.40\00:00:04.37 rebuilt and then Messiah would return? 00:00:04.40\00:00:06.75 Stick around 'cause today on Back To Our Roots 00:00:06.96\00:00:09.74 we're going to be talking about exactly that. 00:00:09.94\00:00:12.42 Welcome to Back To Our Roots. 00:00:33.70\00:00:36.04 I'm Pastor Alex Schlussler and I'm Rachel Hyman, 00:00:36.24\00:00:38.84 minister of music, and we welcome you to our program. 00:00:38.94\00:00:41.63 Today we are going to be dealing with a very controversial topic 00:00:41.83\00:00:47.29 amongst not just believers but even non-believers. 00:00:47.49\00:00:51.19 And it's the idea of will a literal physical temple 00:00:51.29\00:00:55.52 be rebuilt in Jerusalem at some point 00:00:55.62\00:00:59.19 before Messiah returns? 00:00:59.39\00:01:02.32 Rachel, I don't know if you've ever heard people talking about 00:01:02.52\00:01:05.91 this but I know that this is a real hot topic. 00:01:06.01\00:01:08.96 Have you ever run into that with anyone? 00:01:09.16\00:01:10.53 Yeah, probably the most awkward thing I hear is that, you know, 00:01:10.57\00:01:13.55 Jesus can't return until all the Jews return to Jerusalem 00:01:13.75\00:01:17.57 and after the temple has been rebuilt. 00:01:17.77\00:01:19.31 That's been interesting. And I've even received some 00:01:19.61\00:01:22.65 personal criticism for being Jewish and staying in America. 00:01:22.75\00:01:25.86 Well I'm Jewish too, but I haven't had anyone say that. 00:01:27.06\00:01:29.82 But I have heard that. We're going to talk about that view 00:01:29.92\00:01:32.54 because there are several difference concepts, ideas, 00:01:32.64\00:01:36.68 and views about the timing. 00:01:36.78\00:01:38.94 Before we get into that I wanted to take us 00:01:39.15\00:01:41.26 just a little bit through kind of the history 00:01:41.46\00:01:43.78 of how the temple came to be from a Biblical perspective. 00:01:43.98\00:01:47.23 You know, we have to go back to the book of Exodus. 00:01:47.43\00:01:49.67 And the children of Israel... they've made their way 00:01:49.87\00:01:52.27 and they're wandering through the desert. 00:01:52.47\00:01:53.97 And it's God who has this desire and He speaks to Moses 00:01:54.17\00:01:58.83 and tells Moses: "Look, I want you to build Me a dwelling 00:01:59.04\00:02:02.39 place. I want to have a place that I will be able to dwell 00:02:02.49\00:02:06.00 in the midst of My people. " 00:02:06.11\00:02:07.63 Which is such a beautiful thing. Amen. God always has this 00:02:07.93\00:02:12.05 desire to want to be with us, to dwell with us. 00:02:12.15\00:02:15.12 So the scripture tells us that God specifically 00:02:15.32\00:02:18.42 gave Moses a pattern. And it's patterned after 00:02:18.62\00:02:23.36 a heavenly tabernacle - a heavenly temple - 00:02:23.56\00:02:25.97 that exists and told Moses with great detail. 00:02:26.17\00:02:29.72 If you go into the book of Exodus, book of Numbers, 00:02:29.92\00:02:32.42 there's beautiful descriptions of all the things 00:02:32.62\00:02:35.14 that God did. And very particular. 00:02:35.34\00:02:38.43 All the ornamentation of the Mishkan which is the 00:02:38.63\00:02:41.63 tabernacle in the wilderness. In Hebrew the Mishkan. 00:02:41.73\00:02:44.02 And how God stayed with them. And as we progress 00:02:44.22\00:02:48.69 through the Torah... through the Bible - 00:02:48.89\00:02:50.52 remember the Torah is the first five books of the Bible - 00:02:50.72\00:02:53.55 as we progress through this we eventually make our way 00:02:53.95\00:02:59.35 to the time of David. 00:02:59.55\00:03:01.28 The psalmist... David the king. 00:03:01.48\00:03:03.77 And David, scripture tells us, gets a passion in his heart 00:03:03.98\00:03:06.94 that he wants to build a permanent place 00:03:07.14\00:03:09.53 where God's presence can dwell in the midst of the people. 00:03:09.73\00:03:13.06 Because prior that it's a tent. 00:03:13.26\00:03:14.94 You know, and I think maybe David's looking around 00:03:15.14\00:03:17.51 at all the other great civilizations 00:03:17.71\00:03:19.60 and maybe he's got some jealousy for his God, you know? 00:03:19.80\00:03:22.52 Yeah. There's always been that tendency, you know. 00:03:22.72\00:03:25.30 My God's bigger than your god... I don't know. 00:03:25.33\00:03:27.39 So David gets in his heart to do it, and God speaks to David. 00:03:27.52\00:03:32.07 Says: "You know what David? Your heart is great 00:03:32.28\00:03:34.39 that you want to do this but you're not going to be able 00:03:34.60\00:03:37.18 to do it because you're a man of war. 00:03:37.28\00:03:38.65 But David, your son, Solomon, I will use him. " 00:03:38.84\00:03:42.75 And of course we know that Solomon brought all of the 00:03:42.95\00:03:46.65 resources together and built this beautiful temple - 00:03:46.75\00:03:50.29 sanctuary - for God. 00:03:50.49\00:03:52.83 Which by the way I think in other programs 00:03:53.03\00:03:55.58 we may delve deeper into everything that has to do 00:03:55.68\00:03:58.38 with that but not in this particular program. 00:03:58.48\00:04:00.89 Then unfortunately, as happened so often, 00:04:01.29\00:04:06.07 the Hebrews are judged for so many reasons, 00:04:07.10\00:04:11.09 and God uses Babylon to judge them. 00:04:11.29\00:04:14.00 And the beautiful temple that was built by Solomon 00:04:14.20\00:04:17.20 is destroyed and the Jews are put in captivity. 00:04:17.40\00:04:20.67 And it's a period of time that they spend there in captivity. 00:04:20.87\00:04:24.17 And then finally God moves upon Babylon... upon the hearts 00:04:24.27\00:04:28.17 of the king and the leaders there and the Jews begin 00:04:28.27\00:04:32.65 the process - through Ezra and Nehemiah - to head back 00:04:32.85\00:04:36.49 and to start rebuilding the temple. 00:04:36.69\00:04:39.55 Um-hmm. And they do rebuild it, but it's never quite like it was 00:04:39.65\00:04:43.11 until we get right around that first century period: 00:04:43.31\00:04:46.28 the time of Herod... king Herod the Great. 00:04:46.58\00:04:49.39 And he really goes over the top. 00:04:49.59\00:04:53.26 And that's why that temple which is the second temple 00:04:53.46\00:04:57.07 is known as Herod's temple. 00:04:57.17\00:04:58.54 And this is the temple that existed in the time that Jesus 00:04:58.68\00:05:02.12 walked the earth. And all the narratives and all 00:05:02.32\00:05:04.30 the stories that we see in the gospels really center around 00:05:04.40\00:05:07.35 that temple. And then, of course, once again 00:05:07.55\00:05:11.97 there is judgment that takes place. 00:05:12.17\00:05:14.46 And in 70 AD Rome completely destroys the temple. 00:05:14.66\00:05:19.09 And not very... shortly after that the Jews are all banished 00:05:19.29\00:05:23.66 from Jerusalem. And it's really not until modern history 00:05:23.86\00:05:27.59 that they're able to return and, you know, Israel as a country 00:05:27.69\00:05:32.05 is established. And we still have the Temple Mount, 00:05:32.25\00:05:35.45 the place that many people see pictures of. 00:05:35.65\00:05:38.58 We see the Jews against what's know as the Western Wall. 00:05:38.79\00:05:42.44 And this is actually the outside retaining wall 00:05:42.64\00:05:46.76 of the Temple Mount. 00:05:46.96\00:05:49.93 There's lots of controversy exactly where the temple itself 00:05:50.13\00:05:53.61 existed during the time... And again, 00:05:53.81\00:05:58.35 we're not going to go really deep into that. 00:05:58.55\00:06:00.03 But at this point I'd love to bring out our scholar: 00:06:00.23\00:06:05.51 Alexander Bolotnikov. He's been with us on our shows. 00:06:05.91\00:06:09.80 We know him as Sasha. 00:06:10.10\00:06:12.24 Brother, why don't you come on out and join us? 00:06:12.55\00:06:14.53 'Cause Sasha will add a whole 'nother level of depth 00:06:14.73\00:06:19.24 to our discussion. Good to see you Alex, Rachel. 00:06:19.44\00:06:23.32 Good to see you, Sasha. Good to have you once again. 00:06:23.45\00:06:25.57 Sasha, today we're talking about this idea of the temple 00:06:25.67\00:06:29.55 and the possibility or the probability 00:06:30.60\00:06:33.89 that many people think some day in the future 00:06:34.09\00:06:37.22 the temple is going to be rebuilt. 00:06:37.32\00:06:39.05 And you know, it's very interesting that 00:06:39.25\00:06:41.44 there's... from a Jewish perspective and from a Christian 00:06:41.64\00:06:45.30 perspective... you know, there's a lot of divergence. 00:06:45.40\00:06:47.60 I know that the orthodox Jews 00:06:47.80\00:06:50.46 believe that for the temple to be rebuilt 00:06:50.66\00:06:53.37 that Messiah has to come back first... 00:06:53.57\00:06:55.60 which is exactly the opposite of a large part of Christianity, 00:06:55.81\00:06:59.45 correct? Exactly. The difference between... 00:06:59.65\00:07:03.16 and many Christians do not realize this... 00:07:03.19\00:07:06.16 that there is a totally different mindset in Judaism 00:07:06.36\00:07:11.24 regarding the rebuilding of the temple. 00:07:11.44\00:07:13.14 In fact, the person who actually developed this 00:07:13.54\00:07:18.37 whole idea in Judaism, his name was in the European style 00:07:18.57\00:07:23.08 Moses Maimonides. He lived in the 12th century... 00:07:23.18\00:07:26.97 11th, 12th century. 00:07:27.18\00:07:28.55 Very famous scholar/philosopher. 00:07:28.73\00:07:30.67 He was the one who actually presented this idea 00:07:30.87\00:07:34.60 that there has to be a war going on between Israel and Arabs. 00:07:34.80\00:07:39.70 And he was actually talking, encouraging the Jewish community 00:07:39.90\00:07:43.62 which at this time was scattered across 00:07:43.83\00:07:45.86 that Jews will be able to gather back to Israel, 00:07:46.06\00:07:51.54 to the Promised Land and then there will be a great war. 00:07:51.74\00:07:54.48 And at the climax of this war Messiah shall come. 00:07:54.58\00:07:58.39 And He shall set His foot on the top of this 00:07:58.59\00:08:02.84 golden dome on the rock, and this golden dome will 00:08:03.15\00:08:07.85 evaporate and He will rebuild the temple 00:08:07.95\00:08:11.80 as an act of a miracle. 00:08:12.00\00:08:13.79 Wow! So, OK... 00:08:13.99\00:08:16.52 Is there? Did he get these ideas from scripture? 00:08:16.83\00:08:21.77 Was there any scriptural - you know - basis behind it? 00:08:21.97\00:08:26.29 Maimonides doesn't have... There is no literal scripture 00:08:26.49\00:08:30.63 foundation for this. And often these words - 00:08:30.83\00:08:34.90 especially in today's ultra orthodox Judaism - 00:08:35.10\00:08:39.09 they're considered as prophetic. OK. 00:08:39.29\00:08:42.70 In fact, there are some ultra orthodox Jews 00:08:42.80\00:08:45.75 who are so dead set against the current state of Israel 00:08:45.95\00:08:49.45 just because they believe that until Messiah comes 00:08:49.65\00:08:53.43 they... it cannot happen. 00:08:53.63\00:08:55.74 Wow! Interesting; interesting. So, Sasha, let's talk about 00:08:55.94\00:08:59.30 what the Bible does have to say 00:08:59.50\00:09:01.52 about whether there will be a rebuilding of the temple 00:09:01.72\00:09:05.73 or not. I know that there are some specific things. 00:09:05.93\00:09:09.30 Ezra has things that he says prophetically 00:09:10.97\00:09:15.08 that seem to talk about the temple. 00:09:15.28\00:09:18.00 What can you tell us about that? 00:09:18.50\00:09:20.49 Well, the largest piece of information that talks 00:09:20.69\00:09:24.75 about the rebuilding of the temple is found 00:09:24.85\00:09:27.92 in the book of Ezekiel. This is a very, very large 00:09:28.12\00:09:31.52 magnificent prophecy that spawns from 00:09:31.72\00:09:35.71 Ezekiel chapter 40 to the end of the book - chapter 48. 00:09:35.92\00:09:41.08 It takes time and effort to actually read through this 00:09:41.28\00:09:44.74 because Ezekiel literally documents his vision. 00:09:44.94\00:09:48.93 And Ezekiel is a prophet of Babylonian captivity. 00:09:49.13\00:09:53.05 The people are there in Babylonian captivity. 00:09:53.25\00:09:55.42 And basically Ezekiel is taken in his vision 00:09:56.78\00:10:02.09 to the destroyed Jerusalem. Um-hmm. And he is led by 00:10:02.29\00:10:07.75 a heavenly being - an angel - who has a measuring rod. 00:10:07.78\00:10:13.20 And basically this heavenly being measures the dimensions 00:10:13.40\00:10:17.95 of the future temple. So like 3-4 chapters 00:10:18.05\00:10:21.85 is meticulous details about... which basically outline 00:10:21.95\00:10:27.30 the blueprint of the future temple. 00:10:27.50\00:10:29.56 So what temple is this prophecy speaking about? 00:10:29.76\00:10:32.75 I guess that's the big question. 00:10:32.95\00:10:34.41 Yeah, that's the big question and there is lots of discussion 00:10:34.51\00:10:38.64 about this because first of all 00:10:38.74\00:10:42.04 this temple is way, way much bigger 00:10:42.34\00:10:46.91 than the one which we know as Herod's temple. OK. 00:10:47.11\00:10:51.19 One other... And that's why many Christians who read this 00:10:53.24\00:10:58.74 they believe that there will be another temple 00:10:58.84\00:11:01.17 after the destruction of Herod's temple in 70 AD. 00:11:01.37\00:11:05.40 This is that idea of a third temple that will be rebuilt. 00:11:05.50\00:11:08.17 Yeah, that's the source. 00:11:08.37\00:11:10.83 Well, there is another source. We may talk about this later - 00:11:11.11\00:11:14.08 in the letter of Thessalonians - 00:11:14.28\00:11:16.23 but it's a little bit different issue. 00:11:16.43\00:11:18.55 But the main source of the Old Testament prophecy 00:11:18.75\00:11:23.03 is taken from that large prophecy because they see that 00:11:23.24\00:11:27.70 such a huge temple was never built. 00:11:27.90\00:11:30.52 But for a Christian to think that there will be a rebuilt 00:11:30.72\00:11:35.31 temple it will present a major problem. Right. 00:11:35.51\00:11:39.07 If you compare the size of the altar... 00:11:39.21\00:11:42.59 They have this dimensions of the altar 00:11:42.79\00:11:45.73 which is going to be in the new temple. 00:11:45.93\00:11:48.53 This is a huge altar. It's like somewhere in the vicinity of 00:11:48.73\00:11:53.24 ten by ten by ten feet. 00:11:53.44\00:11:56.75 This is huge! 00:11:56.95\00:11:58.38 The original was like... no, twelve by twelve feet. 00:11:58.58\00:12:04.31 The original was basically six by six by six feet. 00:12:04.51\00:12:08.87 So it was much, much smaller in dimension. 00:12:09.07\00:12:12.00 And then it goes into all the ordinances of sacrifices. Right. 00:12:12.40\00:12:17.57 Which that in itself presents a huge problem. 00:12:17.78\00:12:20.52 Yeah, for Christians. This is something, Rachel, that 00:12:20.72\00:12:23.39 I have never been able to understand 00:12:23.49\00:12:24.86 you know from many areas within Christianity. 00:12:25.06\00:12:28.38 And they start talking this whole idea that, yes, the temple 00:12:28.58\00:12:31.42 has to be rebuilt - um-hmm - and that sacrifice will be 00:12:31.52\00:12:35.08 re-established. Right away my mind goes to 00:12:35.18\00:12:39.13 OK, so how does this coincide with the idea that 00:12:39.33\00:12:43.74 Messiah is the perfect Lamb, the once-and-for-all sacrifice? 00:12:43.94\00:12:47.75 And things like in Hebrews is how it talks about that. 00:12:47.95\00:12:50.05 This is the perfect sacrifice. 00:12:50.25\00:12:51.62 That it never has to be done again. 00:12:51.73\00:12:53.29 So why would there be any need for the sacrificial system 00:12:53.49\00:12:58.80 to be re-initiated again? 00:12:59.00\00:13:01.05 And such a magnificent sacrificial system. 00:13:01.25\00:13:03.75 What will these lambs and all these sacrifices symbolize 00:13:03.95\00:13:07.82 if Jesus is already alive? Exactly. 00:13:08.02\00:13:10.29 And we know that the epistle of Hebrews talks about 00:13:10.59\00:13:14.36 Him being a High Priest in heaven. Right. 00:13:14.56\00:13:18.18 And even today among the Jews who are actually also planning 00:13:18.32\00:13:22.84 to rebuild the temple but in a little different way. 00:13:22.94\00:13:25.62 I have to notice that there is an institute. Yes. 00:13:25.82\00:13:30.75 It's called Machon HaMikdash: the Temple Institute. 00:13:30.85\00:13:34.08 The Temple Institute. Yeah, I've heard of that. 00:13:34.21\00:13:36.78 And I always take the tour groups to this institute 00:13:36.88\00:13:41.22 and have... My friend, the director of this institute, 00:13:41.43\00:13:43.94 always likes to talk about this. 00:13:44.04\00:13:45.51 And he uses the phrase: "As soon as we get permission. " 00:13:45.72\00:13:50.88 And that shows the difference. 00:13:52.17\00:13:54.10 See, there are many Christians and preachers I see 00:13:54.30\00:13:57.98 who instigate Jews to actually attack the Palestinians 00:13:58.18\00:14:02.36 and fight. But let it be known to Christians that 00:14:02.56\00:14:06.26 orthodox Jews are not going to go up to the Temple Mountain. 00:14:06.46\00:14:10.53 They are waiting for the Messiah to actually come 00:14:10.66\00:14:14.14 first and clear this place up. 00:14:14.24\00:14:16.58 You know, it's interesting you bring that up. 00:14:16.68\00:14:18.22 You know, I've been over there as well. 00:14:18.42\00:14:20.46 And they've gone to the pains to build this giant menorah - 00:14:20.66\00:14:24.12 um-hmm - and all the articles that the priests would 00:14:24.25\00:14:27.92 use. And they have the costume for the high priest 00:14:28.02\00:14:30.77 made and the banner that he wore across his head. 00:14:30.87\00:14:35.30 Kadosh L'Adonai: holy to the Lord. Yeah. 00:14:35.51\00:14:38.04 I mean I have seen all of that stuff, and they really... 00:14:38.18\00:14:40.18 They're ready. They're ready. 00:14:40.38\00:14:41.75 They think that this is going to happen. 00:14:41.78\00:14:43.15 And again, even just the logistics that this could even 00:14:43.24\00:14:48.94 happen. It's more probable that the orthodox Jewish view 00:14:49.04\00:14:54.52 that Messiah would come and evaporate the dome... 00:14:54.73\00:14:57.39 You know, because for that to be destroyed or to move... 00:14:57.59\00:15:02.63 can you imagine what the Middle East would look like 00:15:02.73\00:15:05.49 as far as the war and the things that would happen? 00:15:05.59\00:15:07.96 Just when they've tried to go up there 00:15:08.16\00:15:11.20 all kinds of things have happened. 00:15:11.40\00:15:14.04 And the problem is: actually they had an opportunity. 00:15:14.24\00:15:17.79 Remember the 1967 war? Right. 00:15:17.99\00:15:21.23 Moshe Dayan was on the top of the Temple Mount. 00:15:21.44\00:15:25.81 He completely had this area under control. 00:15:26.01\00:15:30.44 And he specifically consulted with the government 00:15:30.64\00:15:34.54 asking: "Shall we blow it up? Is this our chance? " 00:15:34.74\00:15:38.63 And the government, of course, contacted Rabbinate of Israel. 00:15:38.77\00:15:41.96 And the Rabbinate of Israel said - which is the rabbis, 00:15:42.16\00:15:44.84 the group of rabbis - yeah - and they said 00:15:45.04\00:15:47.02 "No way you're going to do it! " 00:15:47.22\00:15:49.39 Because they knew what is going to happen. 00:15:49.59\00:15:52.08 First of all, they understand that by their own hand 00:15:52.28\00:15:56.68 they cannot do it because right by the wall there 00:15:56.89\00:15:59.46 there are graves... there is a big cemetery. Right. 00:15:59.56\00:16:04.40 So you start tearing this thing down 00:16:04.60\00:16:07.29 you will end up in contact with dead bones. 00:16:07.49\00:16:10.99 And that goes against Jewish law. Exactly. 00:16:11.19\00:16:14.43 By Levitical law you make yourself unclean so you build 00:16:14.53\00:16:17.75 a temple which is inherently unclean to begin with. 00:16:17.85\00:16:23.00 They understood it perfectly. 00:16:23.20\00:16:24.68 That's why they're not even trying to do anything 00:16:24.88\00:16:26.98 until Messiah comes. Right. 00:16:27.01\00:16:29.13 Which I think becomes and is the greatest part of this 00:16:29.33\00:16:33.57 is getting the concept of the order 00:16:33.77\00:16:39.50 of how the Bible speaks about what things are going to happen 00:16:39.70\00:16:42.65 when. Well, but coming back to the prophecy of Ezekiel - 00:16:42.75\00:16:47.21 yes - and that's very substantial to understand: 00:16:47.31\00:16:50.59 that it is not only a blueprint of the temple 00:16:50.79\00:16:53.97 but what happens next. 00:16:54.17\00:16:56.20 Because when it goes all the way to chapter 46 and 47 00:16:56.40\00:17:01.90 we have a change of topic from the blueprint and from 00:17:02.10\00:17:07.49 the ordinances of sacrifice we go into the description of 00:17:07.59\00:17:11.63 the transformation of the land. 00:17:11.73\00:17:14.90 And you see that Ezekiel is seeing 00:17:15.10\00:17:18.79 that outside of the temple - right from the Most Holy - 00:17:18.99\00:17:22.63 right from underneath the ark 00:17:22.74\00:17:26.56 there is a little stream that flows down. 00:17:26.76\00:17:30.01 And it flows out of the temple 00:17:30.21\00:17:32.47 and Ezekiel is led in the vision 00:17:32.68\00:17:36.48 by the stream. And he sees that this stream 00:17:36.68\00:17:39.67 gets deeper and deeper and deeper 00:17:39.77\00:17:41.88 and goes all downstream down to Jericho 00:17:42.08\00:17:46.77 through the Judean desert. 00:17:46.97\00:17:48.44 And Ezekiel describes how the Judean desert 00:17:48.64\00:17:51.76 turns into a blooming garden. 00:17:51.96\00:17:55.50 And then it flows straight into the Dead Sea. 00:17:55.70\00:17:59.34 And if you - Alex - have been at the Dead Sea 00:17:59.54\00:18:03.26 you probably haven't seen any single living organism. 00:18:03.46\00:18:06.62 No, of course not. There's nothing. 00:18:06.72\00:18:08.09 That's why it's called dead. Yeah, 'cause there's so much 00:18:08.12\00:18:10.65 salt in it, you know. It's the result of Sodom and Gomorrah 00:18:10.75\00:18:13.94 judgment. You know what's an amazing thing 00:18:14.04\00:18:16.84 about the Dead Sea? Not to cut you, but... 00:18:16.94\00:18:19.42 I know the first time that I was there 00:18:19.62\00:18:21.30 and you ride the road that's heading down. You see it 00:18:21.51\00:18:24.25 and let me tell you: it is the most beautiful-looking body 00:18:24.45\00:18:27.36 of water. It's got this amazing color of blue, 00:18:27.46\00:18:30.61 right? Um-hmm, yeah! And then when you get up to it 00:18:30.81\00:18:34.51 first of all the stink is unbelievable 00:18:34.71\00:18:37.75 because of the salt and the sulphur. 00:18:37.85\00:18:40.01 You get out of the tour bus and start making your way there 00:18:40.21\00:18:42.87 and it's like: "What is that smell? " 00:18:43.07\00:18:45.50 And then you get down and, you know, you've seen pictures 00:18:45.70\00:18:48.50 of people floating. The salinity is so high 00:18:48.60\00:18:50.86 and, of course, there's nothing living in the water. 00:18:50.96\00:18:53.54 To me that's one of those great ironies: something that 00:18:53.74\00:18:56.61 looks so beautiful yet is completely dead. 00:18:56.71\00:18:59.52 But in the prophecy of Ezekiel 00:18:59.72\00:19:01.55 the water from that stream enters the Dead Sea 00:19:01.75\00:19:05.56 and makes it livable. It desalinates. 00:19:05.76\00:19:08.96 And it ends up with this vision that he sees 00:19:09.16\00:19:12.58 in the area of Ein Gedi all the way down to the south 00:19:12.68\00:19:16.80 fishermen fishing the fish there. 00:19:17.00\00:19:19.40 So you can see that this was a great plan 00:19:20.50\00:19:24.75 that God had for the people of Israel after their return 00:19:24.95\00:19:28.90 from Babylon. So that's what the idea was? 00:19:29.00\00:19:32.35 And that's what this prophecy is? 00:19:32.55\00:19:33.92 Yeah, we talked about the old covenant. How the temple, 00:19:33.98\00:19:37.81 how the land of Israel was supposed to become 00:19:37.91\00:19:40.85 center of the entire - I would say in Christian lingo - 00:19:41.05\00:19:46.37 preaching of the gospel across the world. Right. 00:19:46.57\00:19:49.36 Israel was supposed to be an example 00:19:49.50\00:19:52.63 for all people to follow so that everybody according to Isaiah 00:19:52.66\00:19:57.11 would go up to the mountain of the Lord so that from Zion 00:19:57.31\00:20:00.90 the Torah would come. 00:20:01.00\00:20:02.49 So God had this... God was giving to the people of Israel 00:20:02.69\00:20:07.10 this chance, after all these troubles of idolatory 00:20:07.30\00:20:11.61 they went through... You know, come back, 00:20:11.72\00:20:14.53 come clean, and He would again bless the nation 00:20:14.73\00:20:19.34 so that they would become that model country for the 00:20:19.54\00:20:23.71 entire world. And there in the midst is this picture 00:20:23.81\00:20:28.46 that Ezekiel has of this temple - exactly - 00:20:28.56\00:20:30.52 that provides rivers of living water and so on. 00:20:30.62\00:20:33.73 The only problem was that it required unity. Hmmm. 00:20:34.06\00:20:39.19 Everyone was supposed to leave Babylon 00:20:39.33\00:20:43.39 and go to Jerusalem and start working. 00:20:43.59\00:20:47.71 But you know, in the book of Ezra 00:20:47.91\00:20:50.63 there is an episode when they laid the foundation of the 00:20:50.73\00:20:53.90 temple - um-hmm - the older people who were there 00:20:54.00\00:20:57.33 when they saw the Solomon's temple they started weeping 00:20:57.53\00:21:00.38 'cause it's just so small. In comparison to what? 00:21:00.49\00:21:04.25 Because such a small number actually left the comforts 00:21:04.45\00:21:09.80 of Babylon. That's the thing that a lot of people don't 00:21:09.90\00:21:12.10 realize also is that when... 00:21:12.20\00:21:13.57 When the Hebrews, when the Jews 00:21:13.60\00:21:16.31 left Babylon there was a large percentage that didn't leave 00:21:16.41\00:21:20.28 because they were comfortable. And wow! 00:21:20.48\00:21:25.23 You know, that again paints such a picture for us. 00:21:25.43\00:21:28.89 You know, how so many people... they don't want to come out 00:21:29.09\00:21:31.55 of the world. They don't want to come out of Babylon 00:21:31.65\00:21:34.13 and go to where God has for them. 00:21:34.33\00:21:36.83 Which God was promising to them this beautiful place 00:21:37.03\00:21:39.82 with this beautiful temple with the waters that would 00:21:40.02\00:21:43.01 turn the Dead Sea alive and all of this 00:21:43.11\00:21:45.87 yet they remained where it was comfortable. 00:21:46.07\00:21:49.45 Because of a lack of faith. Yeah. And comfort. 00:21:49.65\00:21:52.70 Yeah, but on the other hand the prophecy is being fulfilled. 00:21:52.84\00:21:56.10 And it's modified... that's where the new covenant comes. 00:21:56.40\00:22:00.77 The new covenant is not only making a centralized 00:22:00.97\00:22:05.05 country of Israel. The new covenant through salvation 00:22:05.25\00:22:08.92 which is offered on Calvary provides the transformation 00:22:09.12\00:22:14.55 not only of the Dead Sea and the Judean desert 00:22:14.66\00:22:16.99 but the entire world. Exactly. 00:22:17.09\00:22:19.30 A new heaven and a new earth. 00:22:19.50\00:22:20.87 So John the Revelator sees 00:22:20.94\00:22:25.67 the river the same as Ezekiel. 00:22:25.88\00:22:28.25 And on both sides of the river there are trees 00:22:28.45\00:22:33.54 that provide fruit for food and for medicine. 00:22:33.64\00:22:37.38 He sees the same thing, but he sees it 00:22:37.58\00:22:40.28 on a scale of the entire world 00:22:40.48\00:22:43.02 not on a scale of only one small country. 00:22:43.22\00:22:46.63 Wow! God's plan is always so much better. 00:22:46.83\00:22:48.74 Right. And you know, it's such a shame that people take 00:22:48.94\00:22:53.58 this idea of God's plan being so much bigger 00:22:53.68\00:22:56.19 and have to distill it down to see it the way... 00:22:56.39\00:22:59.46 you know, in such a limited... Because really when you're 00:22:59.66\00:23:02.15 thinking about: OK, they're going to build some kind of 00:23:02.25\00:23:04.73 re-established temple - physical - on the Temple Mount 00:23:04.93\00:23:08.86 as opposed to what you're describing it is once again 00:23:09.06\00:23:12.50 it's humankind putting God in a box. 00:23:12.70\00:23:15.75 Limiting and not seeing how huge God... what He really 00:23:15.78\00:23:19.98 is going to do. So you know we're getting close now 00:23:20.08\00:23:25.16 to ending it. And I want to... just the last thing here 00:23:25.36\00:23:30.68 again. You know, is... Sasha, does there really need to be 00:23:30.82\00:23:35.18 a new physical temple rebuilt? 00:23:35.28\00:23:37.71 Absolutely not. 00:23:37.91\00:23:39.48 We have a High Priest - our Lord, Yeshua, Jesus - 00:23:39.68\00:23:44.56 who is now ministering in the great heavenly temple 00:23:44.76\00:23:48.60 that cannot... is not susceptible to destruction. 00:23:48.80\00:23:51.88 Right. Rachel, I know you have another wonderful song for us 00:23:52.08\00:23:54.76 today. Why don't you go over and get ready. 00:23:54.86\00:23:56.23 And Rachel's going to be singing a song all about Miriam 00:23:56.42\00:23:59.75 and how as the children of Israel had made their way 00:23:59.95\00:24:03.57 through the Red Sea Miriam led the women 00:24:03.77\00:24:07.59 as they danced and they prayed. 00:24:07.79\00:24:09.25 Miriam Danced. 00:24:09.45\00:24:10.89 And the women dancing with their timbrels 00:24:20.21\00:24:23.95 followed Miriam as she sang her song. 00:24:24.15\00:24:27.49 Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted. 00:24:27.69\00:24:31.35 Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long. 00:24:31.55\00:24:35.88 And Miriam was a weaver of unique variety. 00:24:37.78\00:24:41.44 The tapestry she wove was one which sang our history. 00:24:41.64\00:24:45.14 With every strand and every thread she crafted her delight. 00:24:45.34\00:24:48.96 A woman touched with spirit, she dances toward the light. 00:24:49.16\00:24:55.13 And the women dancing with their timbrels 00:24:55.33\00:24:59.52 followed Miriam as she sang her song. 00:24:59.72\00:25:03.13 Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted. 00:25:03.33\00:25:07.02 Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long. 00:25:07.23\00:25:11.96 When Miriam stood upon the shores and gazed across the sea 00:25:13.33\00:25:17.10 the wonder of this miracle she soon came to believe. 00:25:17.30\00:25:20.93 Whoever thought the sea would part with an outstretched hand 00:25:21.13\00:25:24.59 and we would pass to freedom and march to the Promised Land? 00:25:24.79\00:25:30.72 And the women dancing with their timbrels 00:25:31.54\00:25:35.15 followed Miriam as she sang her song. 00:25:35.35\00:25:38.81 Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted. 00:25:39.01\00:25:42.59 Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long. 00:25:42.79\00:25:47.49 And Miriam, the prophet, took her timbrel in her hand 00:25:48.94\00:25:52.66 and all the women followed her just as she had planned. 00:25:52.86\00:25:56.43 And Miriam raised her voice in song. She sang with praise 00:25:56.63\00:25:59.41 and might: "We've just lived through a miracle! 00:25:59.51\00:26:02.13 We're going to dance tonight. " 00:26:02.33\00:26:06.73 And the women dancing with their timbrels 00:26:07.03\00:26:10.82 followed Miriam as she sang her song. 00:26:11.02\00:26:14.44 Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted. 00:26:14.64\00:26:18.20 Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long. 00:26:18.40\00:26:22.96 And the women dancing with their timbrels 00:26:23.16\00:26:26.73 followed Miriam as she sang her song. 00:26:26.93\00:26:30.31 Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted. 00:26:30.61\00:26:34.11 Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long. 00:26:34.14\00:26:38.62 Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long. 00:26:40.73\00:26:46.70 Amen! Rachel, what a great song! 00:26:48.81\00:26:52.49 God is good. Amen; amen. 00:26:52.59\00:26:54.61 Martin, thank you once again for joining us. 00:26:54.71\00:26:56.83 It's been a wonderful program today. 00:26:58.15\00:27:00.44 You know, I want to recommend to those of you watching 00:27:00.64\00:27:03.62 that the next time someone comes up and says: 00:27:03.82\00:27:07.28 "What do you think about the temple being rebuilt? " 00:27:07.41\00:27:09.73 you just look 'em right in the eye and say: 00:27:09.93\00:27:12.02 "The temple will not be rebuilt because our Messiah 00:27:12.22\00:27:16.45 is the perfect Lamb and we don't need 00:27:16.55\00:27:19.26 the sacrificial system again. " 00:27:19.36\00:27:21.28 So we look forward to having you join us. 00:27:21.48\00:27:24.36 Our next program is going to be all about the Shabbat. 00:27:24.56\00:27:28.23 It's going to be exciting. Rachel, thank you so much 00:27:28.43\00:27:30.61 for being with me once again. No problem. It's always a joy. 00:27:30.82\00:27:34.65 Sasha, Martin: again thank you so much. 00:27:34.75\00:27:37.30 And may the Lord bless you and may He keep you. 00:27:37.50\00:27:40.23 May the Lord make His face to shine upon you 00:27:40.43\00:27:42.44 and be gracious to you. 00:27:42.54\00:27:43.91 May the Lord lift His countenance upon you 00:27:43.94\00:27:45.31 and bring you His peace. 00:27:45.45\00:27:46.82 Bless you. Shalom. 00:27:56.35\00:27:58.82