by Irvin Baxter
Less than a half hour later, David headed the car toward the small lakeside restaurant where he knew they could talk undisturbed. He reached over to take Sharon’s hand in his own. He didn’t remember ever feeling this right in his entire life. He couldn’t completely explain how he knew, but he was completely certain that his life was being directed by God Himself. What a secure and exhilarating feeling!
At the restaurant, Sharon ordered grilled salmon, and David ordered steak. When the waitress left, Sharon looked at him and said, “Don’t make me wait any longer. What are you thinking about for our future?”
David smiled as he began, “Sharon, I didn’t mean to keep you in suspense. But this is so important, I wanted to have time to really bare my feelings to you. When I heard Roger Cornell’s first sermon on prophecy, I was very deeply affected. Of course, I know that you were as well. While away from you and the kids, I’ve had time to go through all of Roger’s material and also study a lot in the Bible. Sharon, I believe these prophecies to the very core of my being. There are just too many incredibly accurate fulfillments for them to be coincidental.
“I am totally convinced that we are in the endtimes right now. Since that it true, I can’t stand the thought of giving the rest of my life to selfish pursuits. Sharon, I really want to devote the rest of my life to working for the Kingdom of God.”
Sharon’s eyes were brimming with tears. She was so proud to hear what David was saying. She said to him, “Darling, I feel exactly the same way. The temporary things of this world simply don’t matter to me anymore. Do you have a specific area of God’s work in mind?”
“Yes, actually, I do,” David admitted. “You know how much understanding the prophecies has done for us. I feel like God is calling us to spend the rest of our lives helping others to understand these same things.”
“Oh, David, that is wonderful! I would love for us to be able to help others in that way. But how do we go about this?” Sharon asked, puzzled.
“I’ve been giving that a lot of thought,” David said slowly, “and I think I know what we are supposed to do. Did you notice how swamped with people Roger was the night we went to hear him? It was like there wasn’t enough of him to go around. I believe God is calling us to begin working with Roger’s ministry. Together we could reach twice as many people. You know, we wouldn’t have to make a lot of money, since we have an income from my military pension. It’s like God has arranged everything so that we can do this work.”
Sharon was growing more and more excited! She could see it all in her mind. They could write letters, duplicate tapes, help set up conferences…there was just an endless number of things they could do!
The next day David placed the call to Roger Cornell in Texas and discussed with him what he felt on his heart. Roger immediately responded, “My wife and I have been so overwhelmed. We have just being praying that God would send someone to help us with this work. I’m sure your calling me is an answer to prayer.”
The “For Sale” sign went up in the front yard the very next day. Sharon hated to leave family and friends, but what a thrill she felt at beginning to fulfill the very purpose for which she was born! She had never experienced such joy and peace in her entire life.
One week after the sign went up, a nice family came to look at their house. It seemed to be everything they needed. Sharon had to admit that it seemed awfully final when they said, “We’ll take it.” Nevertheless, her peace and joy remained at seeing God’s plan for their lives coming together!
One month later, David and Sharon kissed family and friends good-bye. David drove the rented moving van, and Sharon followed behind in the family car. There was a song in David’s heart as he drove toward Dallas, Texas, and his life’s destiny.
Chapter 13
The morning of the new Temple’s dedication, Moshe Ben-Eliezer arose before daybreak. He wanted to visit the completed temple before all the hubbub and bustle violated the sacredness of this day. As the sun peaked over the Mount of Olives, Moshe stood in breathless awe at the splendor of the Third Temple. It was so beautiful! Never had he seen anything like it. He actually wondered if Solomon’s First Temple could have been any more beautiful. At the sight, Moshe could not resist. He dropped to his knees and placed his forehead to the ground in worship to Almighty God. He knelt there in overwhelming reverence for a long time.
The crowd began to gather very early. Each person hoped to secure for himself a spot where he could observe this incredible and historic occasion. By mid-morning there was no room for even one more person on the entire Temple Mount. It seemed that all of Israel had made the ascension up to Jerusalem. The only access remaining was the corridor that had been roped off for the entrance of Israel’s dignitaries.
While the crowd waited with great anticipation, the sound of prayers rose and fell as the religious gave thanks to God for the miraculous restoration of Israel to her land and now of the holy temple. The Hasidic Jews in their black suits and hats swayed back and forth as they recited from their prayer books. When not praying, the crowd was abuzz with excitement concerning the planned events of the day.
Exactly at the appointed time, everyone on the Temple Mount was brought to a sudden and total silence by a mighty blast on the shofar. First to arrive were the different members of Israel’s government. Once they were seated in their assigned places, Michael Arachev, the Pope, and Israel’s Prime Minister slowly walked up the corridor to the special area prepared for them.
The popularity of Arachev had climbed meteorically ever since it was agreed that Israel could build her Third Temple. As work on the temple progressed, popular support for Arachev reached unprecedented heights. There were even whisperings throughout Israel that perhaps Arachev himself was the Messiah.
When the crowd caught sight of the rising world leader, spontaneously, applause broke out. It continued to build as he walked toward his seat, eventually reaching an unbelievable decibel level. Moshe Ben-Eliezer couldn’t help but wonder if King David himself had ever been greeted any more enthusiastically. Arachev finally had to stand and motion for the crowd to stop so that the ceremony could continue.
When the priests entered, much of the crowd stood with tears unashamedly coursing down their faces. Many had hoped to someday witness this occasion, but most had not dared to believe that they actually ever would. The Levites, blowing on their silver trumpets, led the way. The priests chosen to assist in the ceremony came next. They were carrying the vessels and utensils that would be dedicated to God’s service, along with the temple itself. Then came the High Priest. As Israel’s highest religious authority, he would preside over the temple dedication.
When the last part of the procession appeared, a murmur swept through the crowd. Many were surprised by what they saw. Several of the young priests were leading a calf along behind the High Priest. “They’re actually going to offer an animal sacrifice?” someone inquired.
“Well, of course,” came the reply. “That’s what was done at the dedication of the First and Second Temples. Why should the dedication of the Third Temple be any different?”
Another voice was heard to say, “But this is the 21st Century! What about the animals? Animals have rights, too!”
Moshe Ben-Eliezer could not resist glancing at Michael Arachev as the calf was dragged toward the place of sacrifice. Moshe was sure he detected a shadow of disapproval crossing the world leader’s face. But then it was quickly gone.
Once everyone had taken their appropriate positions, the newly formed Temple Choir began to sing. The songs of praise and worship that filled the air were absolutely beautiful. This is what we have struggled for over the past two thousand years. This is what we were dreaming of each Passover when we would in unison say, “Next year in Jerusalem.” This is the hope that kept us clinging to life during the darkest days of Hitler’s horrible holocaust, Moshe thought.
As the choir finished its last song, the priests moved into position to begin the offering of the sacrifice. Each
of them had gone through the elaborate process of purification from contact with a dead body. Each priest was dressed in the linen garments that had been carefully made according to the instruction given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. On each priestly forehead was the required frontlet inscribed with the words, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.
Several of the strong young priests led the calf toward the brazen altar. Together, as they had been trained, they flipped the calf to the ground, binding the front feet and the hind feet securely together. Quickly they hoisted the calf onto the brazen altar. The animal struggled momentarily, then lay still.
High Priest Cohen approached the altar brandishing the long sacrificial knife that was dedicated to the temple worship. He was very much aware that the attention of the entire world was upon him at this moment, and he fully understood the implications of what he was preparing to do. The debate over the planned sacrifice of a calf had become more heated in the last few days. The High Priest felt nothing but contempt for the hypocrisy of those animal rights activists who crusaded against the killing of animals while at the same time championing the cause of abortion. In his opinion, they were “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel”! High Priest Cohen believed today’s resumption of sacrifices, after two thousand years, marked the completion of Israel’s long journey back to the holy nation God had intended her to be. This would surely serve to trigger the appearance of Messiah Himself.
As High Priest Cohen made final preparations to perform the sacrifice, his eyes swept over Arachev and Pope Peter II. Both of their faces held the perpetual inscrutable mask that politicians learn to wear. But the High Priest read their eyes, and what he saw there was strong disapproval. Although both Arachev and the Pope postured as Israel’s friends, High Priest Cohen suddenly had a strong premonition that this unholy alliance between the world’s foremost political leader and its most influential religious leader would someday spell disaster for the nation of Israel.
As High Priest Cohen stood beside the brazen altar in his beautiful temple garments with the fair miter upon his head, the frightened animal’s eyes rolled wildly about. Another senior priest, Rabbi Akiba, stood beside the High Priest holding the basin with which to catch the blood of the sacrifice.
When High Priest Cohen raised the long knife sky-ward, a holy hush swept over the entire congregation. Every photographer present trained his camera on the dramatic historic scene. The television cameras from WNN zoomed in on the calf, capturing the entire scope of the unfolding drama. All around the world, people huddled around television sets to watch this first Jewish temple sacrifice in two thousand years.
Suddenly the priest’s arm swept downward, cutting cleanly through the jugular vein of the calf. It struggled and thrashed violently for a few moments, then lay still. Rabbi Akiba positioned the basin beneath the calf’s throat as the blood began to gurgle from the animal. Some in the crowd chanted prayers, some averted their eyes in abhorrence, and many felt that they were going to be sick. This, Moshe Ben-Eliezer thought, is going to take some getting used to.
Moshe and many others in the crowd watched expectantly, believing that fire from God would fall out of Heaven upon the sacrifice as it had at the dedication of Solomon’s First Temple. When it didn’t immediately happen, the sick feeling returned to the pit of Moshe’s stomach. “Perhaps God is not involved in this compromise plan after all,” he muttered.
Suddenly, Pope Peter II stood up and walked forward to stand in front of the sacrifice. Raising his hand toward Heaven, the Pope, in a dramatic gesture, swept his arm downward toward the sacrifice. To Moshe’s absolute astonishment, fire came swooping from the sky and consumed the sacrifice. Every person on the Temple Mount shouted and praised God for this incredible show of His approval at the dedication of the Third Temple. Both men and women wept openly as they drank in the supernatural phenomenon that had unfolded before their eyes. Moshe stood in open amazement.
Under the incredible inspiration of the moment, even the High Priest departed from the predetermined schedule and asked the Pope to pray the prayer of dedication for the Third Temple. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
As Pope Peter stepped forward in his flowing white robes, the impressive staff in his hand, he looked every bit the part of a prophet. Then he proceeded to pray like one, too!
“O great God of the universe, thank You for bringing peace to the earth. Thank You for the great leader, which You have sent, Michael Arachev, and thank You for the building of this house of God. This is not merely a place for Jewish worship. You have shown this day that this will indeed be a house of prayer for all nations. Truly You have removed the enmity from among the nations. Even now we are in the process of beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. We are certain that soon the lion will lie down with the lamb, and the bear and cow shall feed safely together. We thank You, O Lord, for these things that You have wrought, and we pledge to follow the direction in which Your Spirit leads. Now we dedicate this house to You. May it serve to make us all one, whether we are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Buddhist. Join Your children together as You intended from the beginning. We give You honor, praise, and glory, now and forever, amen.”
The thousands on the Temple Mount broke into spontaneous worship. It continued to surge over the crowd in waves for quite a long time.
Finally the High Priest stepped forward to complete the prescribed ritual. The putrid smoke from the burning flesh of the sacrificial calf wafted over the Temple Mount, burning eyes and choking those who breathed in the fumes. Moshe Ben-Eliezer thought it was the most wonderful smell he had ever experienced. It was the scent of Israel returning to the offering of sacrifices as she had been instructed to perform.
The High Priest carried the basin of blood everywhere he moved. This was necessary because the basin was pointed on the bottom. It was purposely designed in this fashion so that the priest could never set it down. The motion of the priest’s body ensured that the blood would be moving at all times. This, in turn, kept the blood from clotting, which would make it unfit as an offering for sin. Then the High Priest dipped the thumb of his right hand in the blood. He placed blood on his right ear and on his right big toe as instructed in the Law of Moses. After this, blood was placed on the four cornerposts of the brazen altar.
The next event in the ceremony was at the beautiful fountain called the brazen laver. It was here that the priest was required to wash himself lest he be killed by God when he entered the Holy Place. Carefully, High Priest Cohen washed, then prepared to enter the Holy Place.
Once the High Priest entered through the veil leading into the Holy Place, he was no longer visible to the people. Inside, he lit the seven candles on a beautiful candelabra. This candelabra had been captured by the Roman General Titus in 70 A.D. when he had conquered Jerusalem. The Pope had thrilled the entire nation of Israel when he announced it had been found in one of the secret chambers of the Vatican. As a gesture of goodwill, he had presented it to the nation of Israel one week before the Third Temple dedication.
The candelabra was the only source of light permitted in the Holy Place. After lighting it, the High Priest could see to eat of the shewbread from the table of shewbread and to offer the required spices on the altar of incense. This was done as praise and worship to God.
Once the service of the Holy Place was accomplished, High Priest Cohen moved toward the Holiest of Holies. With great apprehension, he pushed through the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies. Some priests had been killed by God during the First and Second Temple eras when they had entered into the Holiest of Holies in an unholy or inappropriate way. As soon as he reached the other side, the High Priest began to dip his fingers into the blood that had been taken from the altar of sacrifice.
Since the Ark of the Covenant had never been found, a beautiful cabinet had been built as a substitute. One of Israel’s finest sculptors had chiseled the Ten Commandments into two tablets of granite, and they had been plac
ed inside. The lid for the cabinet had been built in the form of a chair, replicating the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
On the original Ark of the Covenant, the mercy seat served as its lid, covering the two stones containing the Ten Commandments, the pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. In ancient times, anyone who looked upon the commandments of God would immediately die. The blood had to be sprinkled on the mercy seat in order to shield sinful man from the righteous commandments of God. Two molded cherubim joined their wings overlooking the mercy seat as though hovering over the very presence of God.
The High Priest was careful to sprinkle the replica of the mercy seat very liberally. After all, this had not been done for 26 hundred years.
When High Priest Cohen reappeared into the outer court where the congregation was waiting, a great shout arose from the worshipers. The choir started to sing its rousing closing anthem.
Before dismissal, the presiding priest announced to the congregation that the daily sacrifice would be offered the next morning at 7 a.m. “The daily sacrifice?!” a woman near Moshe exclaimed. “Do you mean they are going to kill these animals every day?”
“Certainly,” Moshe answered her. “That’s the way they did in the old days, and that’s the way we should do it now.”
“I think this temple thing and these sacrifices are going to cause trouble,” the woman said with considerable trepidation in her voice.
“It will be all right,” Moshe assured her. But in his heart he wasn’t at all sure himself.
On one hand, Moshe was filled with wonderment at all the things he had witnessed this day. And yet, on the other hand, something within him cried out, “It’s not right! It’s not right!”
Chapter 14
As Moshe lay on his bed that night, sleep simply would not come. His mind replayed over and over the events of the day, attempting to comprehend the meaning of everything that had transpired. His clock struck 1 a.m., 2 a.m., and then 3 a.m. Still his eyes stared at the ceiling. His mind scanned the events of Israel’s history as though the past could somehow illuminate the events of the present and provide clues concerning the future.
