We are going to start this Op off with a bang right from the beginning, so be prepared…:) Routinely I have read from many Christian websites over the years that the Temple of HaShem along with all the animal korbonot (Offerings) were ended by Christendom’s Jesus. Further, I have read where the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem is literally been rendered to be a place of blasphemy and deception now, again because of Christendom’s Jesus.
Consider the following comparison: What I find very interesting is Christendom’s Jesus, per the doctrine, ended the korbonot along with the Temple, and then we read about in the End where this False Messiah comes onto the world stage and per the prophecies of this guy, what does he do? He is prophesied to enter into the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, declare himself to be HaShem and will end the daily korbonot! Imagine the uproar of fanatical support this guy will get from Replacement Theology Christendom when he does this? So, how is this guy any different from Christendom’s Jesus? They both teach lawlessness i.e. the Torah has ended/been replaced by the law of grace, they both teach change i.e. the Feasts of HaShem are now replaced by Christmas/Easter/Etc, Shabbat is changed to Sunday, etc; they both point to themselves and declare they are HaShem in the flesh and they both seek to accomplish the same goals i.e. end the need for the Temple and end the korbonot. They both are operating from the same playbook so to speak.
With this said I thought it might be prudent to examine more closely what korbonot specifically the False Messiah is targeting in stopping per the prophesies and perhaps get a better understanding of why he is doing so. This will require an in-depth examination into the specific korbonot so be prepared.
Consider the prophesy HaShem gives about the rebuilding of His Temple in Jerusalem per Malachi 3 which says “Who can bear the day of His coming and who can survive when He appears? For He will be like the smelter’s fire and like the launderers soap. He will sit smelting and purifying silver; He will purify the Children of Levi and refine them like gold and like silver, and they WILL be for HaShem presenters of korbonot in righteousness. Then the korbonot of Judah and Jerusalem WILL BE PLEASING to HaShem as in the days of old and in previous years. I will draw near to you for the judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers; against the adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who extort the wage of the worker; the widow and the orphan; and against those who wrong the stranger and do not fear Me, says HaShem, Master of Legions.” Interesting! So, we see the animal and grain korbonot resume with Levi officiating the Temple Services as of old and HaShem is pleased with it!! Further, HaShem says in Malachi 3:6 “For I HaShem, have NOT CHANGED; and you, the sons of Jacob, you have NOT perished.” Again, tosses out Replacement Theology and its Jesus once more! I digress.
But, as always, before we jump into this, always remember the following eternal, unchanging characteristics of HaShem:
- HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
- His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
- He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
- He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
- He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
- He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
- He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
- He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
- He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
- He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
- He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
- He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
- He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
- He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
- He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
- He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
- He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
- He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
- He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
- He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
- He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
- He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
- He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
- He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
- He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
- He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
- He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
- He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
These verses in 2 Thessalonians above, aptly describe what we see in society today, in my opinion! Truth has gone out the wayside and been tossed out. Further, many in Replacement Theology have been presented with truth but have rejected it in favor of the deceptions and lies Replacement Theology presents. What is again interesting are these verses in 2 Thessalonians use one overriding word to describe this coming False Messiah and that is being ‘Lawless’ who comes ‘with all the power of Satan performing signs and wonders of falsehood, and with all deceit of unrighteousness.’ This guy’s message is completely antithetical to the Torah of HaShem! He teaches a doctrine the Torah is now tossed out, replaced and no longer valid while performing all signs and wonders of unrighteousness i.e. without the Torah. But the disturbing part is how the people flock to this guy because they ‘did not receive the love of the truth.’ We have to ask then ‘What is the truth per the biblical definition?’ The Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142 and many other places in His Word! Keep this in mind as we progress.
With all this said, let’s quickly determine what type of korbonot exactly is being prophesied to be stopped by this False Messiah figure. We read in Daniel 12:11, discussing this False Messiah, it says “And from the time the DAILY SACRIFICE was removed and the mute abomination was emplaced…” Okay, now we are getting somewhere. The daily sacrifice, had a specific name and category of korbonot, it is called the ‘Tamid Korbonot’ or the ‘Daily Korbonot’ and it is an Olah Korbonot i.e. a Burnt Offering.
Before we can proceed, we need to very quickly explore what the meaning of the word ‘Korbon/Korbonot’ is. ‘Korbon/Korbonot’ in Hebrew means ‘To draw near, to come close’. So, to bring a korbonot to HaShem, means we are drawing near to Him. Further definition says, ‘the truest offering is when the owner brings himself as the offering. The owner of the animal or grain offering, sets himself apart to HaShem to make himself subservient to the teachings of His Torah. The animal or grain offering is secondary in that it is an indication of what the owner feels and what the owner is striving for!’
What should be stressed is NOT all the korbonot are for atonement and sin and any korbonot that is for atonement and sin can ONLY be applied for UNINTENTIONAL sin! There is no korbonot for intentional sin…these types of sins, HaShem deals with on Yom Kippur by His Own decision, which is why on Yom Kippur during the Temple Service the Kohanim (Priests) would tie a scarlet thread to the Temple building in view of everyone and if/when it turned white, it meant HaShem had forgiven their intentional sins, but I digress.
So, we see per the prophesy in Daniel the specific korbonot being stopped by the False Messiah is the Daily Tamid korbonot. We then need to explore what is required for the Daily Tamid.
Everything is important when we are dealing with the Temple of HaShem and I mean everything! Locations, directions, how many times of this or that is done, who is authorized and who isn’t, from where something is brought, the liturgy spoken, where something is placed or sprinkled, etc! It is all very, very important and cannot be ignored. This is why HaShem commands us in Ezekiel 43:10-11 to study His House i.e. His Temple in Jerusalem to include the korbonot, the avodah (Temple Services), the tavnit (Blueprints), the gates and doors, etc…it is not a suggestion, it is a command from Him and why? Because when we study His House, we learn about Him and we learn what kedusha (Holiness) really is!
In order to continue, we need to quickly explore what was done at the morning time when the daily services were to begin. First, it must be understood, the duties of the Kohanim were selected each day by lottery, not like the lottery to win the PowerBall, but the official would gather the qualifying Kohanim around himself and HaShem would give him a number in his mind. The official would then have the Kohanim hold up one or two fingers, no more, and then he would count from a starting location until he reached the number HaShem gave him and that is how the Kohanim were selected, by HaShem, to perform that days services.
After this was done, the official would “Announce, go and check if the proper time to slaughter the morning Tamid has arrived! If it had, the Kohen who saw this would answer, ‘The entire eastern horizon has lit up!’ The official would then ask him further, ‘Has the light reached the city of Hebron?’ And the Kohen would answer him, ‘Yes'” as per Rambam, Hilchot Temidin U’Mussafin 1:2. Why would they wait until the sun has lit up Hebron? Because that is where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives are buried and it symbolizes the resurrection which is said to begin with HaShem resurrecting Abraham, Isaac and Jacob first.
This said, in Vayikra (Leviticus) 1:10-13 says “And if one’s offering is from the flock (Sheep, goats), from the sheep or from the goats, for an Olah (Burnt) korbonot: he shall offer an unblemished male. He shall slaughter it at the NORTHERN SIDE OF THE MIZBE’ACH (Altar) before HaShem; and the sons of Aaron, the Kohanim, shall throw its blood on the Mizbe’ach, all around. He shall cut it into pieces, its head, and its fat. The Kohen shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire that is on the Mizbe’ach. He shall wash the innards and the feet in water; the Kohen shall bring it all and cause it to go up in smoke on the Mizbe’ach, it is an Olah korbonot, a fire offering, A SATISFYING AROMA TO HASHEM.“
So, we see the Tamid Olah Korbonot MUST be a male and it MUST be slaughtered north of the Mizbe’ach. Why? Because HaShem decreed the most holy korbonot can ONLY be slaughtered north of the Mizbe’ach due to their kedusha (Holiness). Very, very, very important to remember this! Further, as a Olah Korbonot, the meat is wholly burnt on the Mizbe’ach, the owner nor does any Kohanim eat of it…all of it goes up in smoke to HaShem as a satisfying aroma! Additionally, an Olah Korbonot is NOT for sin, again it is solely to be a satisfying aroma to HaShem! Finally, the Olah Korbonot is a COMMUNAL korbonot and NOT an individual, meaning, this Tamid korbonot belongs to ALL of Israel to HaShem and can only be brought as a communal korbonot!
In the Book of the Mitzvot #401, it explains why the daily Tamid is offered twice a day: “Since the nature of a person is such that he must prepare food for himself at least twice daily, evening and morning, he is commanded to set his focus and his routine to likewise be engaged in the service of his Creator no less than twice daily, by offering the Tamid once in the morning and once toward the evening, so that the service the servant does for himself should not exceed the service that he performs for his Master. And what is the purpose of all this? Why indeed is it important that man consistently engage in the service of his Creator? In order to constantly awaken his intellect and his emotions to remember his Creator, for through this he will improve his actions and will merit to receive blessing from Him. HaShem has specifically instructed us in this regard, for He desires kindness per Micah 7:18 i.e. it is His will to bestow kindness upon His creations.”
Are you beginning to see why the False Messiah would want to stop these korbonot? Let’s continue!
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:1-8 says “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Command the Children of Israel and say to them: My offering, My food for My fires, My satisfying aroma, shall you be scrupulous to offer to Me in its appointed time. And you shall say to them: This is the fire offering that you are to offer to HaShem: male lambs in their first year, unblemished, TWO A DAY, as a continual Olah offering. The one lamb shall you make in the morning and the second lamb shall you make in the afternoon, with a tenth-ephah of fine flour as a minchah (Bread) offering, mixed with a quarter hin of crushed oil. It is a continual Olah offering that was done at MT SINAI, FOR A SATISFYING AROMA, a fire offering to HaShem. And its libation is a quarter hin for the one lamb, to be poured on the holy Mizbe’ach, an intoxicating libation for HaShem. The second lamb you shall make in the afternoon; like the minchah offering of the morning and like its libation shall you make, a fire offering for A SATISFYING AROMA TO HASHEM.” Can you see thus far the Tamid Korbonot is solely for HaShem offered up by ALL of Israel? Keep this in mind!
Where did Israel get the Tamid lambs from? Every year each Israelite male was required to donate one half shekel. This half shekel was used to purchase the Tamid lambs each year as well as other communal korbonot.
These Tamid lambs were inspected for any disqualifying blemishes for FOUR DAYS before they could be offered up. Tractate Arachin 13b in the Talmud Bavli says “No fewer than SIX lambs that have been inspected in the Chamber of Lambs for FOUR DAYS prior to the time of their slaughter. The reserve of six lambs ensured that each lamb would be available for inspection for three days prior to the day of its sacrifice, for a total of four.” Now the Chamber of the Lambs was a room in the NORTHWEST corner building of the Temple complex. This building is called ‘Beit HaMokeid’, but that is a hole separate Op in itself.
Tractate Tamid from the Mishnah says in 3.3 “He (The official overseeing the daily Tamid) said to them (The Kohanim): Go out and bring a lamb from the Chamber of the Lambs. And the Chamber of the Lambs was in the north-western corner. And four chambers were there: One was the Chamber of the Lambs, and one was the Chamber of the Tokens, and one was the Chamber of Beit HaMokeid, and one was the chamber where they would make the Lechem HaPanim (Showbread placed on the Table in the Holy Place each Shabbat).”
In order to perform the Tamid service, the Kohanim had to go get the vessels prepared. Tamid 3.4 says “They (The Kohanim) went into the Chamber of Vessels and took out from there 93 vessels of silver and vessels of gold. They gave the tamid (The lamb to be slaughtered) a drink (Of water) from a golden cup. Event though it had been inspected from the evening, they inspected it by the light of the torches.” Why 93 vessels? Because the Name of HaShem appears 93 times in the prophecies of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi!
Tractate Tamid 3.5 says “The one who won the Tamid (Lottery) would pull it and walk to Beit HaMitbechayim (The Slaughter area) and the ones who won the limbs would walk after him. Beit HaMitbechayim was on the NORTH side of the altar, and on it were eight dwarf columns, and squares of cedar on top of them, and hooks of iron were fixed on them, and three sets were there for each one, for on them they would hang and skin the Tamid, on the marble tables that were between the columns.” What you must remember is the kosher slaughter process of these animals is performed in such an exact fashion that there is zero fear or pain felt by the animal being slaughtered! HaShem is not a monster! These animals being slaughtered are walking to the slaughter area and are completing their purpose in life in the service of HaShem! There is no cruelty going on as goes on in today’s slaughter houses in which animals are brutally tortured and are slaughtered in horrific, terrifying and excruciating painful ways.
“When the Kohanim had brought the lamb to Beit HaMitbechayim, which was to the NORTH of the Mizbe’ach, they would secure the lamb there, in the area of the rings (Rings which protruded from the floor, were semicircles that were hinged on one side. They would be opened and closed over the neck of the offering. There were 24 rings in the Slaughter Area). They would NOT bind the lambs forelegs or feet at all, it was the practice of idolaters to do that to their offerings, therefore it was avoided in the Temple of HaShem) rather, the Kohanim would hold its foreleg and feet with their hands at the time of shechitah (Kosher slaughter). And this is how they held it: Its front faced SOUTH, and its face was turned WEST towards the Heichal (Sanctuary), as it is written: He shall slaughter it before HaShem'” as per Rambam, Hilchot Temidin U’Mussafin 1:10.
“The morning Tamid was slaughtered in the northwestern corner of the Slaughter Area of the Temple Courtyard, at the SECOND iron ring, so that it would be done opposite the rays of the sun. This is in keeping with the verse from Bamidbar 28:3 ‘Two each day, a continual Olah offering.’ The term ‘Two each day’ literally, two to the day, teaches that the slaughter should be done opposite the day, that is, opposite the sun’s rays. The one who would perform the shechitah (Kosher slaughter) stood to the EAST of the offering, near the neck of the Tamid, with his face toward the WEST (Facing the Heichal because no one could ever turn their back towards the Heichal i.e. HaShem’s throne on earth). The one who was to receive the blood would stand to the WEST of the animal; his back was to the NORTH, and he was facing SOUTHWARD, so that he would not have his back toward the Heichal” as per Yoma 62b from the Talmud Bavli and Rambam, Hilchot Temidin U’Mussafin 1:11
Can you see the amount of attention to detail there must be done while in the Temple of HaShem? This is why I get so dumbfounded when I read various Christian organizations boastfully proclaiming they can enter into HaShem Most Holy Place, figuratively speaking, anytime they wish because of their Jesus. If there were a Temple in Jerusalem today and they attempted to do this, how large would the piles of bodies be where these people attempted to barge in and then were instantly killed because of the Presence of HaShem? HaShem is to be loved and cherished, but He is also to be feared and respected! I digress.
“The Kohen who was to perform the shechitah (Kosher slaughter) held a valid knife (Inspected for any nicks that would invalidate the shechitah) of the klei shareis (Sacred vessel). The Kohen would would receive the blood of the Tamid held a mizrak (A special bowl used to receive the blood), with which to receive the blood” as per Rambam Hilchot Maaseh HaKorbanot 4:7.
“The Kohen who receives the blood must hold the mizrak specifically in his RIGHT HAND, and NOT his left, for it is written regarding the bull offering of ‘The Anointed Kohen’ per Vayikra 4:5: The anointed Kohen shall take from the blood of the bull,’ etc. This refers to receiving the blood, and then the next verse continues: The Kohen shall dip his finger into the blood. Now, the word ‘Finger’ in the second verse refers to the finger of the right hand per Tractate Zevachim 24a from the Talmud Bavli. This teaches that receiving the blood may also be done only with the right hand. The Kohen must also take care that there is nothing between his hand and the vessel. This is also derived from the verse in Vayikra 4:5: The anointed Kohen shall take the blood from the bull; the verse teaches us that the taking must be done directly with the hand of the Kohen” as per Zevachim 24a, Rambam Hilchot Bi’as HaMikdash 5:17-18.
“Just before the Kohen receives the blood, the Kohen recites the blessing on the mitzvah of kabbalah: Blessed are You, HaShem, Our Elohim, Master of the universe, Who consecrated us with His mitzvos and commanded us regarding the mitzvah to receive the blood” as per Vayikra 1:5.
“When the Kohen receives the blood and goes to bring it close to the Mizbe’ach for zerikah (Throwing on the Mizbe’ach), he would first approach the NORTHEASTERN corner of the Mizbe’ach, for the initial application of the blood of an Olah must be adjacent to the Mizbe’ach’s base, as is stated in Vayikra 4:7: and all the blood of the bull he shall pour onto the base of the Mizbe’ach of the Olah. And this is how the zerikah was done:
“The Kohen performing the zerikah (Throwing of the blood) stands on the floor of the Courtyard, at the NORTHEASTERN corner of the Mizbe’ach. He would recite the Berachah: Blessed are you HaShem, Our Elohim, Master of the universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvos and commanded us regarding the mitzvah of zerikah. He would throw the blood in the mizrak from a distance against the corner, creating a diagonal streak extending in both directions against the corner, creating a diagonal streak extending in both directions, as it says in Vayikra 1:5: And they shall throw. He would do so with the intention that the blood would spread from the force of his throw to the two sides of the corner, to the EAST, as well as to the NORTH, beneath the red line that was at the midpoint of the Mizbe’ach’s height. He would then walk with the mizrak, circling around the Mizbe’ach to his right, counterclockwise, until he would reach the SOUTHWESTERN corner of the Mizbe’ach. There, he would once again throw the blood from the mizrak against the corner beneath the red line and the blood would spread to either side of the corner, this way and that. The zerikah was done in this manner to fulfill that which the Torah says: and they shall throw the blood on the Mizbe’ach all around” as per Rambam Hilchot Maaseh HaKorbanos 5:6
I could go on and on describing this ceremony, but the point I am attempting to drive home is, is it any wonder the False Messiah would want to stop the Tamid korbonot Temple Service? Look at all the detail required just for this one service performed twice a day, offered to HaShem solely as a satisfying aroma to HaShem? If he were to allow this service to continue, he would in effect be acknowledging HaShem is higher than he is and he, per the prophesies, just sat down in the Temple and declared himself to be HaShem and then he stops the daily Tamid and then erects his image, which I am convinced will be the Crucifix of Jesus on the cross, but that is another Op in itself.
On a quick side note, why is it so important for us to know in these prophesies that the False Messiah will sit in the Temple? Because, in the Temple, no one is allowed to sit except for one person…the King of Israel who is of the line of King David! So, for the False Messiah to sit in the Temple is his way of usurping the kingship and making his claim that he is HaShem in the flesh. I digress.
In summary, the twice daily Tamid, again a communal korbonot from ALL of Israel to HaShem as a satisfying aroma, which in truth is an acknowledgement of HaShem and His authority. It is in effect submission of Israel to HaShem twice a day, again and in my opinion, the main reason the False Messiah would want to stop these specific korbonot. He wants all the glory, honor and praise directed to himself.
Be a lover of HaShem’s truth i.e. His Torah, and He promises we will not fall into the delusion and believe the lie of the Man of Lawlessness and his deceiving message that the Torah has been done away with, the Temple is blasphemy and the habitation of Satan; HaShem’s Feasts and Shabbat are changed and now everyone is under grace, not law.
There is a ton of info I have thrown into this Op, but I just wanted to give you a small glimpse as to just how gigantic and detailed the topic of the Temple of HaShem truly is and how awesome He is which in turn reveals precisely why Replacement Theology Christendom is NOT from Him!
So much to consider!
Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS
- The Scriptures from the Institute for Scripture Research
- The Book of the Mitzvos by Artscroll
- Tractate Arachin from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
- Tractate Zevachim from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
- Tractate Tamid from the Kehati Mishnah
- Rambam/Mishnah Torah
- Avodas HaKorbanos by Artscroll