Parashah 39: Chukat (Regulation)

Parashah 39: Chukat (Regulation); Numbers 19:1 through 22:1.

Haftarah (Writings and Prophets): Judges 11:1-33.
B'rit Hadasha (New Testament): John 3:9-21; 4:3-30; 12:27-50.

Summary & Overview

TORAH

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Numbers 19:1 | Ceremony of the Red Heifer

Numbers 20:1 | The Waters of Meribah
Numbers 20:14 | Passage through Edom Refused
Numbers 20:22 | The Death of Aaron
Numbers 21:1 | The Bronze Serpent
Numbers 21:10 | The Journey to Moab
Numbers 21:21 | King Sihon Defeated
Numbers 21:33 | King Og Defeated

Last week we looked at how the enemy attacks from within, through infiltrating
the leadership of Congregations by the spirit of Esau or the spirit of Satan
who wants to keep Israel from entering the Promised Land. This same spirit is
working in the Antichrist that will play a huge part in end time deception. We
also studied the attributes of these bad leaders to identify them and not be
deceived by their rebellious agendas. This week we will look at the
Commandment that associates with the Purification Ceremony that is required
before the construction of the Third Temple. This is another step towards the
border of time as we prepare to enter the Promised Land, which coincides with
the events of the construction of the Third Temple, to fulfil the prophecy in
Daniel.
The name of this Torah Portion is chucat tqx that is found in the opening
phrase of Numbers 19, where YHVH spoke to Moses saying; zoth chukat ha
torah, meaning, this is the decree of the Torah. Chukat means decree and
comes from the root word that means wisdom. Normally , a decree is something
that is beyond human comprehension.

Spiritual Paradoxes
Everything that is Spiritual is paradoxical;
meaning that things that are spiritual have two
or more meanings that contradict or oppose
one another. This is one of the attributes of the
Hebrew Language, where one word can have
two or more different opposing meanings.
To illustrate what a paradox is, take a picture of
someones face, someone you do not know and
ask yourself, is this person truthful or a liar? You might think he is an honest
person where someone else might think he is dishonest. Different people can
look at the same face and have different opinions about the person they see.

This is called a paradox where one thing can have two or more meanings that
are total opposites, which can be influenced by the observer. The same
paradox exists with spiritual things as well as within Scripture, where one verse
can have different meanings to different people, even when they read the same
verse from the same translation. The paradox exists within the spiritual nature
of the text as well as the spiritual state and perception of the reader.

The text of the Torah Scroll only contains consonants (on the left), and the
reader must insert the vowels (on the right) to give the meaning. When you
change the vowel points under the same consonants, you will get different
meanings of the same word.
Example: The word codesh
means holy, but if you change the
vowel points, it becomes, cadash
that means, a male temple
prostitute. If you only have the consonants sdq, then either of these
meanings is possible. The question is, which one do I pick? The one
meaning of being holy, could not be further removed from the other
meaning, which is to be a prostitute in a pagan temple, but this is the
paradox within that word, and YHVH has placed it there for a reason.
The verse is made up of these words and different people who read it, actually
translates another meaning from that particular verse. The text of the Torah
interacts with the reader, who adds the vowels, creating meanings for this
words, different to each reader. The interpretation of that verse is then unique
to that reader and YHVH can speak a specific message to that reader.
Example: Ps 62:11 says; One thing Elohim has spoken, two things I have
heard: Power belongs to you, Elohim.
Hebrew: Echad Davar Elohim shayim zoo shema kee oz elohim
Direct English translation: One Word Elohim two which hear and strength
leader
This same passage can be translated as follows: Elohim is one (echad)
with His Word, two will hear and obey, that is strength to the Leaders.
This verse can then be interpreted as follows; There is power in YHVHs Word
and strength in unity among leaders if they become one with the Word and
obey.
This illustrates the power and paradox within the Word and because different
words can mean more that one thing, and can be translated and interpreted
differently, but still contain truth. YHVH uses Teachers to interpret His Word so
that He can speak to different Congregations over different time periods. He
initially used the Levites and later the Rabbis to teach His Word, but now uses
His Spirit to reveal it to everyone. To make this possible the reader needs to be
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anointed and led by the Spirit of Truth. This will allow them to receive the
revealed Word from YHVHs Spirit, for that time, for a particular group of people.
This makes the Torah timeless and applicable to all generations and nations.
This principle holds true for traditional English translations, but is more powerful
when reading the original Hebrew Text or the English translation with the help of
a Strongs Hebrew Dictionary.
YHVH created by speaking (davar) and things (davar) came into being. The
spoken words and the things they create share the same word, and that gives
us the insight that words have power to create things. Whatever YHVH spoke
from the spiritual, was translated into something tangible, in the physical, but its
origin and nature is spiritual. The concept of a paradox exists in spiritual things,
as well as material things, including man.
Personal Application: There exist a paradox within every one of us; you are
a righteous person but also a sinner. How can it be that two opposing
attributes can exist in one body? It is because your essence is spiritual,
created from things that were created through YHVHs words.
The paradox of the Torah and the Two Trees: YHVHs words are spiritual,
and have the nature to create both good
and evil, as seen in the Garden of Eden
where the Tree of Knowledge had both
good and evil fruit, different to the Tree that
contained Life.
The paradoxical nature exist within these
Two Trees as well where the Tree of
Knowledge carried both good and evil fruit.
Man ate from this tree and transferred its
paradoxical attributes to humanity. This is
called the fallen nature. In saying this, we need this fallen nature to exercise
free will and choice in order to love. Free will and choice will not be possible
without the existence of good and evil. Man could only have free will if this
paradox exists inside of him. YHVH wants us to have free will so that we can
love Him out of choice and not because we are wired to do so, this would have
made us slaves or robots, not human beings that is made in His image.
YHVH wants us to become like Him, like the Tree of Life. The process to
become like this Tree and eat from its fruit is to make all the right choices that
leads to life. This is achieved by eating from all the good fruit that comes from
the Tree of Knowledge, and avoid all the evil fruit that leads to death. This is
the power of choice. The good news is that we all have the potential to become
holy and righteous, just like Him, but have the battle raging inside of us, against
the paradox that makes us human.
Q What do these Two Trees represent?
The Torah is the Tree of Knowledge, and the Messiah is the Tree of Life. To
become like YHVH you have to eat from both Trees. Paul says in Rom 5:20 that
sin abound because of the Torah that entered the world. Why is this? Satan
knows the Torah very well and has knowledge of what offends YHVH. He uses
the good of the Torah and turns it into something evil. Satan leads people in
doing the opposite of what is Commanded and people are led astray if they do
not partake in the good fruit, thus turning it into evil fruit.
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This does not mean that the Torah is evil, but rather the knowledge contained
within it, that can be used for evil. The fruit of the Tree of Life can only be
taken after you have encountered Messiah and had access to His Spirit. These
are called the fruit of the Spirit, that is similar to the good fruit found in the
Tree of Knowledge, that leads to life. The knowledge contained in the one
Tree, connected to the power of YHVHs Spirit, will transform your fallen nature
into life or a new nature.

Knowledge of Good + Spirit of YHVH = New Nature

A paradox exists within YHVHs Torah, being both the Tree of Knowledge and
the Tree of Life, because Torah = Messiah = Life. The Torah is interpreted as
knowledge to the person who reads it through physical eyes, but becomes a
Tree of Life when reading through spiritually opened eyes. The reader
determines from which Tree he/she eats, depending on their spiritual developed
state, or changed nature. This makes the one Tree (Torah), two Trees; one that
is life that liberates, and the other that is a burden that binds. How do you
perceive the Torah and from which Tree are you eating?

The Mystery of the Red Heifer

YHVHs Decrees contain paradoxes that make them very
difficult to understand; that can mean different things to
different people, depending on their spiritual state and as
seen from each ones perspective. YHVHs Words are
spiritual, so is wisdom, if we need an interpretation of his
Word, we just have to ask for wisdom. [James 1:5] Wisdom
is required to understand the deeper spiritual paradoxes within
His Commandments and His Decrees, especially the Decree of the Red Heifer.
Num 19:2 This is the ordinance of the Torah which YHVH has
commanded, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring
thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which
never came yoke:
This Parashah starts off with the Decree of the Purification Ceremony that
requires the ashes of a Red Heifer (parah adumah) that is one of the most
mysterious rituals described in the Word. The Rabbis speak of the ritual of Red
Heifer and the Purification ceremony, um'at HaMet, as the greatest of
mysteries: it makes the impure pure but makes the pure impure. It is believed
by many (Jews) that this ritual will be performed by the Messiah when He
comes because we have all suffered the defilement of contact with the dead.
They also believe that the appearance of a Red Heifer is a possible sign of the
coming of the Messiah since there have not been a Red Heifer in Israel for over
2000 years. This makes this Commandment one of those decrees that are
beyond human understanding. We have to ask YHVH to open our eyes so that
we can see what the purpose and meaning are behind this Sacrifice.

Sacrifice of the Red Heifer

The purpose of this ceremony was to purify someone if they were in contact
with the dead. They have to undergo this cleansing ritual in order to enter the
House of YHVH again. The person who was cleansed became clean, while the
Priest, who performed the Ceremony, became unclean. This makes this
sacrifice different to all the other sacrifices conducted by the Priesthood, and
this is why it is such a mystery.
Num 19:11-13 He who touches the dead body of any man shall be
unclean seven days. 12 He shall purify himself with it (water of
purification) on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean.
But if he does not purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he
shall not be clean. 13 Whosoever touches the dead body of any man that is
dead, and purifies not himself, defiles the Tabernacle of YHVH; and that
soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation (water
that purifies) was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his
uncleanness is yet upon him.
Another application of this Ceremony is, during the time of the First Temple, a
red heifer was offered on the Shabbat after Purim, which marked the beginning
of formal preparations for Pesach (Passover). The passage in Numbers 19 is
chosen for reading during this time because of the need to purify oneself for
Pesach, in preparation for the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Temple.
Preparing the Water of Purification: The heifer had to be burned with all its
blood, flesh, hide and refuse. Cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet material were
also cast into the fire with the heifer. After burning, the ashes were beaten and
then gathered which resulted in approximately 3 kg of ashes. The ashes were
then mixed with water and sprinkled in all of the Temple. Everything that could
be immersed was immersed, but what could not be immersed was sprinkled for
purification if in contact with the dead or death. The water with the ashes of the
Red Heifer is called the water of separation or Holiness.

The Red Heifer and the Cleansing of a Leper

The sacrifice of the red heifer is made
outside the camp, where the Lepers and
unclean people were. The leper had to live
outside the city so that he could not defile
the rest of the people. If the individual was
healed through a miracle, he had to present
himself before the High Priest so that he can
undergo the cleansing ritual to be declared
clean in order to be allowed back into the
community. This sounds similar to the
ceremony regarding the red heifer.
Lev 14:4-8 then the priest shall command to take two clean live birds
for him that is to be cleansed, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
(5) And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an
earthen vessel over running water. (6) He shall take the living bird, and
the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and shall dip them and
the living bird in the blood of the slain bird, over the running water.
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(7) And he shall sprinkle on him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy
seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird
loose into the open field.
Num 19:5-6 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its
flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take
cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the
fire burning the heifer.
This cleansing ceremony of the red heifer used similar ingredients as the
cleansing ceremony of the Leper. The two birds are relate to the red heifer and
found within the word for bird or tsippor rpo - that starts with the letter
tsaddik o, that is spelt ;do, that means to cleanse oneself and righteous.
The letter tzadik is followed by two letters pey-resh -rp, that makes the
word par that means, young bull, be fruitful, to bear fruit, heifer.
This relates to the same meaning of the red heifer were the ashes mixed in
water was used to cleanse the person. This connects the two birds to the
red heifer, both used in the cleansing ceremony in order to declare the person
clean or tzadik again. Just like the ashes of the red heifer are put in water and
then sprinkled on the unclean person, so was the blood dripped into the water
and the mixture of water and blood sprinkled on the leper.

The Sacrifice of the Two Heifers

There is another place where two cows were
sacrificed and that is found in the first Book of
Samuel, that recorded the story of the return of the
Ark of the Covenant after it was taken by the
Philistines.
1 Sam 6:7-9, 13-15 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk
cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and
take their calves home, away from them. 8 Then take the Ark of
YHVH and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are
returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it
away, and let it go. 9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own
territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. 13 Now the
people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley;
and they lifted their eyes and saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 Then
the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a
large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the
cows as a burnt offering to YHVH. 15 The Levites took down the ark of
YHVH and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold,
and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered
burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to YHVH.
In this picture, we have two cows or heifers, a wooden cart, the Ark of the
Covenant and a large stone that is used in harvest times. Beit Shemesh means
house of son or house of the servant. The Levites took the Ark of the
Covenant and put it on the large stone.

The wooden cart was destroyed so that its wood could be used as fuel for the
Burnt Offering, where the two cows (para) were sacrificed unto YHVH.
Prophetic Application: All of these symbols in this picture relates to
Messiah Yshua. He is owner of the House of the Son, the Temple or Body
of Messiah. Yshua represents the cart as well, the wooden earthly vessel
that was broken and used in the Sacrifice unto YHVH. The cart carried the
Ark of the Covenant that contained the Commandments and the Testimony
of YHVH. Yshua is the Word that became flesh, and He is the living Torah
and the Testimony of the love of the Father. Yshua represents the Rock as
well, the large stone Who was rejected but became the chief corner stone.
This Stone describes His office as Judge where He will come to process the
harvest in order to separate the grain from the chaff, the righteous from the
unrighteous. Lastly, Yshua also represents the two heifers, the two sacrifices
that were conducted outside the Temple; the red heifer used for the
purification sacrifice, as well as the goat, the sin sacrifice done on Yom
Kippur, both burned outside the Temple as Burnt Offerings.

The Red Heifer and Sacrifice of Yshua

The greatest paradox exists within the death of Yshua; because the greatest
sin ever committed, killing the Son of God, became the greatest work of grace,
extending salvation to mankind. There is a lot of speculation exactly where the
place was where Yshua was crucified, but some believe it to be the Mount of
Olives. Matt 27:33 reveals the place where Yshua was sacrificed as Golgotha,
or Place of the Scull. This is the same location where the red heifer and the
goat were sacrificed. [Lev 16:27]
The Temple mount
looked very different
before the Temple was
destroyed. The whole
section of what is
called Solomon's
Stables left of Triple
Gate, did not exist at
the time of the Temple.
A bridge connected the
Temple and the site
where the red heifer
was sacrificed. This
site is at the lower part
of the Mt of Olives and the Holy of Holies could be seen through the East Gate,
and through the Temple door, seeing the veil that hung before the Holy of
Holies. This was the exact same place where Yshua was crucified and where
the red heifer was sacrificed as a purification offering. This confirms that Yshua
was the Red Heifer and is found in the Book of Hebrews as well.
Heb 9:11-14,19-22 But when Messiah came as High Priest of the good
things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more
perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is
not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of
goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his
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own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and
bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially
unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much
more, then, will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself unblemished to YHVH, cleanse our consciences from acts
that lead to death, so that we may serve the living Elohim! 19 When
Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he
took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches
of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, This is
the blood of the covenant, which YHVH has commanded you to keep.
21 In the same way, He sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and
everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly
everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness.
Prophetic Application: The fullness of the Word can only be revealed if you
embrace all the Truth revealed at that point in time. The Jews do not accept
Yshua as the Messiah, and that makes them limited in their understanding of
the true meaning of the Red Heifer Sacrifice. Their eyes are blinded
regarding this Truth, and will only be understood after the fact and with the
help of His Spirit.
Yshua fulfilled this prophetic sign of ritual purification through the water of
separation that came from His side, when He died on the cross. This water
was sprinkled on the unclean on the third day (Yshuas death and
resurrection) so that the person could be cleansed on the seventh day
(seventh Millennium), allowing them to enter the House of YHVH (Promised
Land New Jerusalem).
Q - Why is a heifer (female) the symbol of Messiah (male)?
When we think of Yshua, we see Him as male and cannot associate Him with a
female animal sacrifice. This is yet another paradox explaining a spiritual
concept, that is hard to understand, if you do not have your spiritual eyes
opened.
The male represents the source or potential, the one who can produce
an unlimited number of seed throughout his lifetime. A female
on the other hand, only has a certain number of seeds that
she receives at birth, and she will stop one day, once all
the seed are used. The unique ability the female has, is
to take one seed and bring it to life, into its full potential.
A mans work is done within minutes, but it takes the
woman nine months to bring one seed into the fullness of
life.
The Sages believe that you have a male and a female stage in your life. The
male stage is where you have all the potential and unlimited possibilities. This
phase is similar to when you were a child, when you were asked what you want
to be when you grow up. You had multiple opportunities and wanted to become
a teacher, a fireman, a doctor, etc. The Sages teach that when you reach the
age of about 18, you should close the circle and select one idea and bring that
into maturity or to its full potential. This is the female stage of your life; to
bring one seed into its fullness, finding your true purpose.
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This is the paradox that exists in each one of us; having male and female
stages in your life. A big problem that men have, is that some of them never
close the circle and always want to have all their options open, not wanting to
commit or grow up so to speak.
It says in Scripture that Yshua has been crucified from the foundation of the
earth, which represents the male phase His life. This male phase is all the
prophetic pictures and possibilities of Him being the Lamb, the Goat, the High
Priest, the Ark, the Word, the Commandments, the Rock, the wooden cart, the
Saviour, the Messenger, the Judge, and the King. When He came to the earth
in the flesh, Yshua reached His female stage or mature stage of His life
when He became the Red Heifer (female) Sacrifice. He closed the circle and
took one idea (the will of His Father) and brought it to its fullness, reaching His
full potential and His ultimate purpose.

The Red Heifer and the Miracle at the Marriage Feast

Q Why was this the first miracle Yshua did, turning water into wine?
The Marriage Feast is connected to
the End Times and the Millennium,
where we as the Bride will enter the
Marriage Feast (five virgins with oil),
celebrating it with Messiah. Yshua
being the Aleph-Tav, the Beginning
and the End, reveals the end at the
beginning. He reveals what will
happen at the end with this first
miracle at the start of His ministry.
Q How is the Marriage Feast connected to the Purification Ceremony and the
Red Heifer?
Joh 2:6 And there were six stone waterpots there, according to the
purification of the Jews, each containing two or three measures.
Yshua told them to bring water and guess which water they brought? The term
purification of the Jews refers to the waters of separation of the cleansing
water that contained the ashes of the red heifer. This was the cleansing water
that was used for purification purposes after someone has been in contact with
the dead. This allowed them and gave them access to enter the House of
YHVH again, after being declared clean.
Prophetic Application: The purpose of Yshuas Ministry was to cleanse
the people and take them through the process of becoming wine, in order
to enter the Marriage Feast He has prepared for His Bride. Another meaning
is found looking at the gematria of water pot or vessel. Vessel in Greek has
the gematria of 515, that is linked to me, my, mine, virgin and linen cloth.
This is related to the Hebrew gematria of 515, that is associated with;
possession, inheritance, Kohathites, given of YHVH, afflicted of YHVH.
The ashes of the Red Heifer represent Messiah, Who is; the afflicted of
YHVH and gift from YHVH. He is the One who possesses the
inheritance that is eternal life. It also represents; me, the vessel that
becomes a virgin or holy, when I undergo the cleansing process, using the
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purification water (wine, blood of Messiah). I use this water to rid my

garments or linen clothing, from blemishes, that represents my actions. I
have an inheritance because I am given to YHVH. Then I will be like one
of the Kohathites, who carry the Character and Commandments (Ark), that
will be visible in my life.
The purification water that is turned into wine, symbolises the process man will
go through to change him, this process will not always be pleasant, but in the
end, will bring joy. Wine originally starts with water that is absorbed by the vine.
The vine extracts nourishment from the soil and produces fruit or grapes. To
make wine, the grapes needs to be squashed and then undergo a fermentation
process to produce wine (joy at Wedding Feast).
The final process the grapes have to go through
before becoming wine, is called a winepress that
symbolises the judgement of YHVH, as described in
the following verses.
Jer 48:33 "So gladness and joy are taken
away From the fruitful field, even from the
land of Moab And I have made the wine to
cease from the wine presses; No one will tread
them with shouting, The shouting will not be
shouts of joy.
Lam 1:15 YHVH has rejected all my strong men In my midst; He has
called an appointed time against me To crush my young men; YHVH has
trodden as in a wine press The virgin daughter of Judah.
Rev 14:17-20 And another angel came out of the temple which is in
heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who
has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud
voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle
and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are
ripe." So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters
from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of
the wrath of God.
We all have to go through the Winepress or Judgement of YHVH in order to
become virgins. The first stage of the winepress is found within the Wilderness
experience that we have been discussing throughout the book of Numbers.
The last stage of this Winepress will be the Great Tribulation and final
Judgement of YHVH, to separate the sheep from the goats and the Bride from
the rest of the Believers. Then the Bride will celebrate the Marriage Feast with
Messiah in the presence of the Guests who came to faith prior and during the
Tribulation.

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The Red Heifer and the Building of Temple

According to Judaic holy law, it is forbidden for
Jews to set foot on the Temple Mount until it has
been purified by sprinkling the ashes of a purebred red heifer over the site. There can only be
a functioning priesthood in Israel once a red
heifer has been sacrificed and its ashes used for
purification. The priesthood cannot function
without the ceremony of the red heifer's ashes
mixed with water from the pool of being
sprinkled on each of the individual priests.
Qualifying a Red Heifer: According to Mishnah Parah, the presence of two
black hairs invalidates a red heifer, in addition to the usual requirements of an
unblemished animal for sacrifice. The animal must be entirely of one colour, and
there is a series of tests listed by the rabbis to ensure this; for instance, the hair
of the cow must be absolutely straight (to make sure that the cow had not
previously been yoked, as this is a disqualifier). The absolute rarity of the
animal, combined with the detailed ritual in which it is used, have given the red
heifer special status in Jewish tradition.
Because the state of ritual purity obtained through the ashes of a red heifer is a
necessary prerequisite for participating in Temple service, efforts have been
made in modern times by Jews wishing for biblical ritual purity and in
anticipation of the building of The Third Temple, to locate a red heifer and
recreate the ritual. In recent years, the institute thought to have identified two
candidates, one in 1997 and another in 2002. The Temple Institute had initially
declared both kosher, but later found each to be unsuitable but currently claim
that they have a third candidate.
Identifying the Place of Sacrifice: According to the Mishnah, the ceremony of
the burning of the red heifer itself took place on the Mount of Olives. A ritually
pure Kohen slaughtered the heifer, and sprinkled with its blood in the direction
of the Temple seven times. In recent years, the site of the burning of the red
heifer on the Mount of Olives has been tentatively located by archaeologist
Yonatan Adler.
The Tenth Red Heifer: The Mishna teaches that up until the destruction of the
Second Temple, ashes had been prepared from a total of only nine red heifers.
The very first red heifer was processed by Moses himself - as the verse
states, "... have them bring you a red heifer." The second was done by the
prophet Ezra in the days of the First Temple, and during the entire era of the
Second Temple, only seven more heifers were used for ashes. This was
enough to provide for the nation's needs for purification throughout all those
years.
The names of all the High Priests who prepared those seven heifers during
Second Temple times are recorded by the Mishna: Simon the Just and
Yochanan each made two; El'yhoeini ben Hakof, Chanamel HaMitzri and
Yishmael ben Pi'avi processed one heifer each. Thus, from the time that Moses
received the commandment of the red heifer from the Holy One, blessed be He,
until the destruction of the Second Temple, purifying ashes had been produced
by the hands of these great leaders from a total of nine red heifers.
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There have been two candidates for the red heifer and a current third. This is
evidence of the first occurrences of this happening in the last 2000 years.
Religious Jews saw this as a sign of the Messiah that is to come and the need
for constructing the Third Temple. Temple-sacrifices may only be started once
purification ceremonies are conducted with the using of the ashes of a kosher
Red Heifer. The starting of daily sacrifices as prophesied in the Word will signal
the beginning of the starting of the Great Tribulation, and this makes the sign of
the red heifer and important one to look out for, that must precede these events.
This sign will be confirmed by two witnesses; when they stop the daily
sacrifices and put up the Abomination of Desolation in the Holy place which
can be the Temple mount, prior to the construction of the Temple.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily
sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
desolating abomination set up, a thousand
two hundred and ninety days shall occur
(tribulation).
Mar 13:14-19 But when you see the
abomination of desolation, that spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought
not (let him who reads understand), then let
those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
(19) For in those days shall be affliction (tribulation), such as has not
been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and
never shall be.
I Maccabees 1:57 On the fifteenth day of the month, Casleu, in the
hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of
desolation upon the altar of YHVH, and they built altars throughout all
the cities of Juda round about.
The red heifer was also considered sacred to the Greek god Apollo as well. Red
heifers are featured in many myths. So we see the man of sin or man of
perdition, referred to in Revelation 9 and 2 Thessalonians 2. Perdition is the
Greek word apoleia that is linked to Apollyon, better known as Apollo, the
Greek god that is associated with a Red Heifer as well. Coincidence or
relevant? We have to see how the end time story unfolds to see the validity of
this relation.
Rev 9:11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit,
whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name
Apollyon.
2 Thes 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not
come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin] is revealed,
the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is
called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God] in the temple of
God, showing himself that he is God.
Apollo is definitely connected to the Abomination of Desolation as confirmed by
the history recorded in the Book of the Maccabees, where an image of Zeus
was placed in the Holy Place in order to defile the Temple.

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