The Temple Vessels
the Temple vessels
Southwestern corner of the TempleMount walls in Jerusalem
Shalom John from Yerushalayim,
“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus [Yeshua] was in the Temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.” (John 10:22-23)
Recently, a group of Jewish people on the TempleMount reported that they witnessed ancient beams dated to the First and SecondTemple period being used as firewood on the TempleMount, which is currently managed by the Islamic Waqf.
A view of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem with Islam’s golden Dome of theRock covering the Foundation Stone, which is believed to be the placewhere the Holy of Holies was located in the Holy Temple.
The beams, which appeared in the 1930s after the Al-Aqsa Mosque was refurbished, are thought to have survived this long because they had been part of the HolyTemple‘s roof structure. Byzantine-era designs were also discovered etched on some of these beams.
"It appears that this is part of the systematic attempts by Arabs to destroy all connections between the Jewish people and the TempleMount," a spokesperson from one of the groups trying to secure Jewish rights on the TempleMount said (Arutz Sheva).
Despite limited Jewish rights to the TempleMount and Arab opposition to the prophesied ThirdTemple, many Jews and Christians are planning for the ThirdTemple. In fact, the vessels for Temple worship have already been created and are on display at the Treasures of the Temple exhibition in Jerusalem.
“They shall make for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)
The Temple Institute’s Treasures of the Temple exhibition onMisgav Ladach Street in the Old CJerusalem.The Temple Institute
Just beyond the courtyard of the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Misgav Ladach Street, a sheltered cobblestone road leads Israelis and tourists alike to the Temple Institute (Machon HaMikdash) where visitors can witness with their own eyes Temple treasures that have not been seen in over 2000 years.
While the Temple Institute entices people passing by with a sign that promises to show them the "Treasures of the Temple," it also offers group tours that can be organized ahead of time and given in Hebrew, English or other languages so that anyone can take in the well-documented history of the Jewish Temple.
Walking through the small entrance into the building, visitors step into a gift shop with Temple-themed books, videos, puzzles, games, computer software, and replicas.
However, these items pale in comparison to the actual treasures the Institute has invested 25 years into creating and are displayed in a series of museum type rooms.
Water and Wine Libation Cups: Two silver cups were fixed on the topsouthwest corner of the Altar, one for water libation and the other for thewine. While the wine libation was to be poured every day, the water waspoured only on Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).
These are no mere models or replicas. They have been created for use in the ThirdTemple which could possibly be constructed within our lifetime on the TempleMount above the Western Wall plaza, to which Yeshua (Jesus) will soon return.
"All the vessels are built as the Torah and the Talmud specify. The dimensions are accurate and all the materials are real," a sign in an Institute exhibit states.
"Everything is made of pure gold, silver, copper, etc. These vessels [kelim] can be used in the ThirdTemple when it is rebuilt."
Every dazzling piece in the Institute's collection has been made after lengthy research into the designs and practices of the original Temple.
The silver vessel for the Wine Libation Ceremony: wine was poured outtwice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening during thedaily service.
The Institute relied on dozens of people-rabbis, scholars, scientists and other experts-who contributed their talents to recreate the Temple vessels. Researchers not only studied the Bible and Talmud but also images on ancient coins and other items that survived the SecondTemple era.
One of the Temple Institute's mandates is to raise awareness "of the importance of the HolyTemple in the life of all mankind, both Israel and the nations of the world."
In keeping with this mandate, brief descriptions of Temple practices, which will be re-established in the ThirdTemple, provide information about various priestly duties.
As well, a variety of paintings, which were commissioned by the Temple Institute, cover the exhibit walls to provide a rich context for understanding the various knives, golden bowls, jugs for sanctified oil, Golden Altar, Showbread Table, and other tools used for cleaning or preparing sacrifices that line the rooms.
Priestly garments and the Incense Altar, which is madeof wood and overlaid with pure gold.
The TempleTreasures on Display
The first room visitors enter displays the clothing of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest).
Other items on display in this room are specific to prayer, sacred assembly and musical worship.
This includes silver-plated shofars (ram's horn) for fast days and gold-plated shofars for blowing on Rosh HaShanah (literally, Head of the Year, Jewish New Year), which is just around the corner now, and begins on September 16, 2012 at sunset.
"On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of Sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet [shofar] blasts." (Leviticus 23:24)
Temple Institute displays, showing lyre (left), harp and silver trumpets (right).
Silver trumpets used for public prayer and multiple lyres also line the walls. The lyres have 10 strings based upon verses in the Psalms.
"Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre." (Psalm 33:2, see also Psalm 144:9 and Psalm 93:3)
Indeed, music played an important role in worship.
"Every day, the Levites would play a special song for that day of the week, that could be heard from afar," an exhibit states.
"All the Levites who were musicians-Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives-stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets." (2 Chronicles 5:12)
The lyre (kinnor) is frequently mentioned in the Book of Psalms.
Symbolic Treasures: a Journey to Wholeness
"Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening." (2 Chronicles 13:11)
The Institute also highlights three pieces from the Holy Sanctuary that are linked symbolically:
ÔÇó the Menorah (Exodus 25:31ÔÇô40), signifying spiritual blessing;
ÔÇó the Shulkan (Exodus 25:30), which held the Lechem HaPanim (Showbread), signifying physical blessing; and
ÔÇó the Golden Altar(Exodus 30: 1ÔÇô9) between them, on which the Ketores (Incense Offering) burned as a physical element that was "transformed into spiritual."
"The three vessels of the Sanctuary thus signify the correct balance of life; a mixture of the spiritual and physical worlds that brings the human soul to wholeness," an exhibit sign explains.
The gold Menorah is on public display and overlooks the Western Wall
Plaza, across from the TempleMount. It weighs a half a ton, is made of24 karat gold, and is worth millions of dollars. It is encased in glass andmonitored by security cameras and the OldCity police station.
The Menorah
Although the table and vessels for the oil and incense are on display inside the Temple Institute, the Menorah stands outside in full view in the OldCity's Jewish Quarter, which is fitting since its light would have been visible during Temple times.
The Menorah had a central role because it is a sign of God's Shekhinah among B'nai Yisrael (Children of Israel) and is symbolic of spiritual illumination. It was, therefore, the first sacred vessel to be recreated since the SecondTemple was destroyed in AD 70.
Although the Menorah is outside the Temple Institute, the Menorah's two-litre oil pitcher, used to replenish oil in the jug that feeds the golden menorah, is on display inside the Institute.
Along with the Menorah, this was the vessel involved in the miracle of Chanukah (December 8-16, 2012).
"Such a pitcher was found by the Hasmonean priests after they defeated the Greek invaders. It was the only pitcher that was found sealed which proved its purity," the exhibit states.
The tall jug contains enough menorah oil for all seven lamps. That oil ispoured into the smaller gold jug (bottom left), which replenishes theindividual lamps. The bowl with the tongs and brush is for cleaningthe Menorah.
The Table of the Showbread
Exodus 25 provides instructions for the design of the Table of the Showbread, which stood within the Sanctuary in Jerusalem.
Twelve loaves of bread called Lechem HaPanim (Bread of the Presence) were to be on this table to stand before God at all times.
"This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant." (Leviticus 24:8, see also Exodus 25:30, Numbers 4:7, 2 Chronicles 2:4, 1 Kings 7:48 and Hebrews 9:2)
Leviticus 24 describes how these loaves were to be made and placed on the Golden Altar.
"Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Set them in two rows, six in each row, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. Along each row put some pure incense as a memorial portion …." (Leviticus 24: 5├ö├ç├┤7)
The Talmud (oral tradition) states that these loaves miraculously remained fresh and hot all week-just like freshly baked bread, and that this was taken as a confirmation of the Divine Presence (Shekhinah).
The bread symbolized, among other things, God's providence and physical provision.
The Table of the Showbread stood on thenorthern side of the Sanctuary. It is made ofwood overlaid with gold.
The Incense Offering
Like the light of the Menorah shining forth from the Temple windows, the incense offering also had a palpable presence during Temple times. It is believed that its aroma would travel 25 miles beyond the Temple itself, connecting the greater community with this offering of worship.
An institute sign explains how the incense was offered:
"Once the coals were on the Golden Altar [Mizbach HaZahav], one priest would pour the incense spice mixture from the chalice into the second priest's hand. The second priest would then sprinkle the incense over the coals and a wonderful aroma would fill the sanctuary."
This incense was sacred, and its formulation was a closely guarded secret, passed down through the generations.
The incense chalice (left), and the shovel (right) forbringing coals from the outer altar to the GoldenIncense Altar.
Exodus 30:34 identifies four of the 11 ingredients: balsam, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. The Bible does not identify the herb that caused the smoke to rise in a straight column, which is called Ma'aleh Ashan, or the other spices.
The Torah makes it plain why this formulation was guarded:
"Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:33)
For that reason, even though the priest offered it on the Golden Altar, according to the Talmud (oral tradition), only one family-the Avtinas-knew the identity of the spices, as well as the exact amounts and the manner they were prepared.
Copper vessels: On the left is the Abuv, a three-tiered stand used forroasting the Omer on Passover. The middle tier contains coal for roastingthe barley. On the far right toward the back is the copper vessel used inpreparing the meal offering.
Rebuilding the Temple in the Last Days
"My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." (Isaiah 56:7)
The Temple Institute's ultimate goal is highly controversial.
It is entirely dedicated to the rebuilding of the Temple on the TempleMount, although a major obstacle to the realization of that goal is the presence of two Islamic structures now occupying part of the TempleMount: the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
A scaled model of the Temple within the Temple Institute inspires awe for the magnitude and reality of the Temple's existence. Seeing it ignites the hope for its restoration among Jews and Christians alike.
Ezekiel 40 ÔÇô 42 describes the ThirdTemple in detail.
This particular model of the HolyTemple is on display on therooftop balcony of the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva. Down below is theWestern “Wailing” Wall and directly behind it you can see theMount of Olives where Yeshua departed and will return.
The Anti-Christ
2 Thessalonians 2 states that in the Last Days, the "man of lawlessness" will ÔÇï"oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
Revelation 11 also speaks of the ThirdTemple in the Last Days.
The Temple Institute and other organizations dedicated to the restoration of the Temple and training the future Priests for the Temple services are all in place.
However, the major thing left to do is to construct the ThirdTemple.
A painting inside the Temple Institute that depicts Temple worship.
Here in Israel, construction is taking place in almost every city. You can see cranes lifting materials as construction workers build 20 and 30 story buildings.
So to build the third Temple is not an issue, as the whole nation of almost six million Jews here in Israel would rally around this idea. The problem is that the Al-Aqsa Mosque constructed in the eighth century is in the vicinity of where the Temple must be built. As wells, Islamic rulers around the world are opposed to its construction.
Many people believe that a war with Iran might be the eventual catalyst or cause of the destruction of the Mosque, leading to the building of the ThirdTemple and the Messiah's soon return.
