Page 39 - Eschatology - Masters revised

The end of “times of the Gentiles” is a commencement sign or marker in history that concludes one age
and initiates another. Again, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all
things take place." (Luke 21:32).

This idea is reinforced by the passage in Matthew 24:32-34. A prophetic clock started ticking in the
countdown to the coming of Messiah. A fig tree would bud or come alive again. What is this fig tree?

In both the Old and New Testaments, the symbol of the fig tree is used EXCLUSIVELY for Israel (Judges
9:10, I Kings 4:25, Luke 13:7, John 1:50). A very early Jewish/Christian commentary on Jesus’ Mount of
Olives prophecy, the Apocalypse of Peter (AD 110) addresses the identity of the fig tree. The writer said,
“It is the nation and house of Israel.”

The importance to Orthodox Jews of rebuilding the Temple lies in its role in the redemption of the
world, which they believe can only take place once the Temple is rebuilt. Gershon Salomon is director of
the Temple Mount Faithful, an organization that has been trying to prepare Israeli society to accept and
promote the rebuilding of the Temple through demonstrations at the Temple site, the construction of a
cornerstone for the Third Temple, and the making of various Temple-related utensils. Salomon has said:
“[Building the Third Temple] is an act which must be done to complete the redemption of the people of
the Bible in the Land of the Bible. I cannot imagine an Israeli State or Israeli life in this country without
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the Temple Mount in the center of this life.”

Concerning the preparations for the Temple service, the Sanhedrin has taken steps necessary for
reinstating future Temple service. One project of the group has been the planting of the Biblical Temple
forest which will serve the agricultural needs of the Third Temple. Rabbi Hillel Weiss, spokesman for the
Sanhedrin, explained that the Temple provided a link between the land and the Divine: “When people
think about sacrifices, they think about animals and blood, but most were from plants grown around
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Israel.”

Garments for Priests

For the first time in 1,950 years the linen garments of the lay priests are being produced in preparation
for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service. The last priestly garments to
have been worn were those worn by the priests who were martyred by the Roman legions who brutally
invaded and destroyed the Holy Temple on the ninth day of the month of Av, in the year 70 CE. The
Temple Institute has spared no effort in procuring the necessary materials for the performing of this
Torah commandment, and once again has enlisted 21st century technology in order to do so in a
manner befitting the Torah injunction that these priestly garments be "both dignified and beautiful".
(Exodus 28:40) Specially prepared flaxen thread, wound into six-ply strands, according to the Torah
prescribed requirement, ("twined linen - shesh mushzar"), has been imported from India. These
individual spools of thread are presently being spun into larger 1.7-meter-long spindles in order to
accommodate the next step: the weaving of bolts of fabric 1.7 meters wide. Before commencing this
process, (known in Hebrew as hashtayah), of creating the 1.7-meter spindles, Rabbi Yisrael Ariel,
founder of the Temple Institute made the traditional shechechiyanu blessing expressing gratitude to G-d
" ...for keeping us alive and preserving us and permitting us to behold this day." In addition, before every
step of the manufacturing process, a special statement of intent must be uttered in Hebrew: "L'shem
mitzvat assei assiyat bigdei hakehuna: for the sake of the positive commandment to make the priestly
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garments."
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