Page 32 - Satan in the Sanctuary

34 Satan in the Sanctuary

some Talmudic support for the Messiah having to do the
job in person, but the matter is not completely clear. In any
case, serious objections among the theological powers that!
be in Jerusalem constitute a major obstacle to the rebuild-
ing.
Standing in the way of immediate reconstruction also is
the lack of a proper priesthood to staff the place. The Old
Testament priesthood is extinct, or at least dormant.
Not just anybody can officiate in the Jewish Temple. An
unimpeachable pedigree and strict regulations bore upon!
the Temple priests of the past in order that they be fit for
their ministries. The spirit was continued in the New Testa-
ment, where Christians are admonished to be "holy vessels"
for their Lord.
But in a certain sense the Jewish priesthood has survived
the ages. The Jewish Encyclopedia says that there are Jews
named Cohen in plentiful numbers today, who claim to be
descendants of Aaron, the first high priest (Cohen means
"priests" in Hebrew.) In Jewish life, the Cohens, as well
as the Levites (names Levy, Levine, etc.) enjoy certain
privileges. They are chosen as the first to read the Scrip-
tures in the synagogues, and they officiate at Jewish func-
tions, as is traditional. They also have certain ritual re-
sponsibilities."
Conceivably then, the priestly robes might be handed
down, and the present-day Cohens and Levites might serve
in the roles of their honored ancestors in the third Temple.
Still another Jewish objection to the rebuilding has to do
with the reestablishment of the old Temple practices. Sacri-
fice, in the form of killing animals in the Temple, is abhor-
rent to much modern Jewish thought. The Temple might
well be built, but most Jews, especially Reform Jews, will
not entertain the thought of what they call "slaughter house