Red Heifer: Coming of the Messiah?

[CMZ]

I see that this discussion has died out but it is interesting that my last comment was sent right before heading to church and when my wife and I got there we were sitting in the foyer talking with a 14 yr. old kid out there and out of the blue he started talking about the red heifer.

[Stargazer]

On 9/10/2018 at 7:41 AM, Robert F. Smith said:

Biblical law requires that a red heifer be killed and burned, then the ashes spread on the ritually unclean Temple Mount, before a Jew can enter the Mount.  Once that has been done, construction of the new temple can begin.  It is God's commandment.  His Law.

Perhaps they can kill it, then freeze it until the Temple Mount is available, and then burn it.  Or burn it now, and hang onto the ashes until it's available.

[Jracforr]

The rituals and symbolism of the old Temple are now redundant, as they pertain to the initial blessing of Abraham's seed.The current era apply to the GLOBAL population that MAY be interested in the teachings of the Old and New Testament , ie it's moral code of conduct.This is Abraham's second blessing/ mission,  to be a light unto the world, which his Hebrew offsprings,  the Apostles of Christ, have initiated by their Evangelical Missions. Of what significance, would then be, ancient rituals in a New Temple, if Abraham's mandate has changed.

 

[Robert F. Smith]

3 hours ago, Jracforr said:

The rituals and symbolism of the old Temple are now redundant, as they pertain to the initial blessing of Abraham's seed.The current era apply to the GLOBAL population that MAY be interested in the teachings of the Old and New Testament , ie it's moral code of conduct.This is Abraham's second blessing/ mission,  to be a light unto the world, which his Hebrew offsprings,  the Apostles of Christ, have initiated by their Evangelical Missions. Of what significance, would then be, ancient rituals in a New Temple, if Abraham's mandate has changed.

We shall eventually see, Brother, just what is in the offing.  Meantime, read Romans 11.

[Robert F. Smith]

12 hours ago, CMZ said:

Does this mean they are born with the priesthood or that they have the right to receive the priesthood?

They are born with the priesthood, the Aaronides having the right by lineage and seniority to the office of kohen "priest," and the remainder of the Levites having the right to the office of deacon "helper."  The latter assist the kohanim in sacrificial activities, sing in the Levitical temple choir, etc.  Currently, even without a temple, only a kohen can "redeem" a first born son, or bless the congregation on Yom Kippur "Day of Atonement," etc.

https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/676133/jewish/Birchat-Kohanim.htm .

 

[aquie5t]

On 9/9/2018 at 9:07 PM, Stargazer said:

Several of the signs of His coming are centered around Israel: the return of the Jews to the Holy Land (already done); the rebuilding of the temple (they're getting ready for this); and the Dead Sea being made fresh.  I am not sure what to make of the "walls of Jerusalem" -- in former times walls around cities were legitimate defensive structures, but with modern artillery they are such no longer.  The city of Jerusalem is in fact already rebuilt, and is a major world city.  But then, even in Joseph Smith's day the city was not abandoned, and while I think there were more Arabs than Jews in the city, they were certainly not absent.

 

Israel has built the Iron Dome which I feel could be rebuilding the 'walls of Jerusalem' 

[Bernard Gui]

7 hours ago, Stargazer said:

Perhaps they can kill it, then freeze it until the Temple Mount is available, and then burn it.  Or burn it now, and hang onto the ashes until it's available.

In the article it mentions that the ashes are preserved and used over a long period of time.

[Stargazer]

6 hours ago, aquie5t said:

Israel has built the Iron Dome which I feel could be rebuilding the 'walls of Jerusalem' 

That's a very satisfying interpretation! 

[PacMan]

On 9/15/2018 at 3:32 PM, MiserereNobis said:

Catholic ordination is indelible (like baptism), meaning it cannot be taken away. A priest can be laicized (defrocked), which means he is not allowed to act as a priest, wear vestments, be called father, etc, but that doesn't remove the fact that he is a priest. A laicized priest can also be reinstated.

A laicized priest is still under the obligation of celibacy, unless he has also been released from that by the Pope. Almost all laicized priests are also released from celibacy.

Do you know the scriptural basis for this?  I don't intend to argue the point -- I'll clearly disagree.  But I am curious.

[MiserereNobis]

5 hours ago, PacMan said:

Do you know the scriptural basis for this?  I don't intend to argue the point -- I'll clearly disagree.  But I am curious.

Here is a good article in the Catholic Encyclopedia about Holy Orders (the priesthood), including lots of scriptural references, as well as references to Ecumenical Councils and Papal decrees (since we are not sola scriptura).

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11279a.htm

 

[theplains]

On 9/14/2018 at 4:21 AM, Stargazer said:

Famine has been a feature of life, like forever.

You don't believe in miracles?

I believe in miracles.

[Alaris]

On 9/16/2018 at 8:50 PM, Robert F. Smith said:

They are born with the priesthood, the Aaronides having the right by lineage and seniority to the office of kohen "priest," and the remainder of the Levites having the right to the office of deacon "helper."  The latter assist the kohanim in sacrificial activities, sing in the Levitical temple choir, etc.  Currently, even without a temple, only a kohen can "redeem" a first born son, or bless the congregation on Yom Kippur "Day of Atonement," etc.

https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/676133/jewish/Birchat-Kohanim.htm .

 

Yom Kippur begins tomorrow at sunset. 

I recently taught gospel doctrine where King Hezekiah cleanses the Levites and eventually these helpers called in as there are not enough levites. I thought this account was very interesting given the prophecy is Malachi 3 regarding the purification of the sons of Levi. 

[Robert F. Smith]

56 minutes ago, Alaris said:

Yom Kippur begins tomorrow at sunset. 

All Jews are supposed to fast (no food, no water) for 24 hours, from sundown to sundown.  But not only fast, but participate with the entire Jewish community in the major standing prayer (the 18 Benedictions) fully five times, in addition to the rest of that long liturgy.  A very hard day, indeed.  It was on Yom Kippur, by the way, that Joseph Smith went out and retrieved the Plates from the hollow log he had hidden them in.

56 minutes ago, Alaris said:

I recently taught gospel doctrine where King Hezekiah cleanses the Levites and eventually these helpers called in as there are not enough levites. I thought this account was very interesting given the prophecy is Malachi 3 regarding the purification of the sons of Levi. 

Yes, very relevant.

[Robert F. Smith]

On 9/17/2018 at 11:17 AM, PacMan said:

Do you know the scriptural basis for this?  I don't intend to argue the point -- I'll clearly disagree.  But I am curious.

Since Roman Catholic priesthood is of the order of Melchizedek, it is naturally a forever priesthood -- see Hebrews in the NT.