For those who study biblical prophecy, few topics ignite as much discussion as the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.
Mondo Gonzales of Prophecy Watchers believes we are living in unprecedented times, pointing to the recent arrival of five red heifers in Israel as a significant development in this prophetic timeline.
“Every person that studies prophecy,” Gonzales explains, “is going to come to grips with the idea that the Bible says in several locations that the Antichrist will stop offerings and sacrifices. But how can he stop sacrifices if there’s no temple?” This leads to the inevitable conclusion: a Third Temple must be rebuilt.
The red heifer plays a crucial role in this process. According to Numbers 19, its ashes are needed to purify the site and the people before temple sacrifices can resume.
“Everything is completed to rebuild the Third Temple,” Gonzales states, “except for one thing—the red heifer.”
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This brings us to Sept. 15, 2022, when, in what Gonzales calls a “boom moment,” five red heifers arrived in Israel. Since then, two have been disqualified, leaving three candidates. “For the first time in 2,000 years, they have a qualified red heifer,” he emphasizes. “We are living in unprecedented times prophetically.”
/**/But why does this matter for Christians? Gonzales sees this as an opportunity for evangelism.
“When this ceremony happens, we need to be educated about it, but also use it to reach people for Jesus,” he says. He views these developments as evidence that biblical prophecy is unfolding, reinforcing the truth of the Gospel.
Critically, he notes that Jewish rabbis are not trying to fulfill Christian prophecy; they are following Mosaic law.
“For them, Moses is the most important human that ever existed. They’re not thinking about Jesus or the New Testament.” Their stringent requirements for the red heifer—including disqualification for having even two non-red hairs in the same follicle—reflect their commitment to purity in temple rituals.
Gonzales is careful not to claim divine endorsement of these events but sees them as part of God’s providence. “God allows a lot of things to happen,” he explains, “but that doesn’t mean He’s endorsing them. The Jewish rabbis see these heifers as a sign, but we understand from a New Testament perspective that Jesus was the final sacrifice.”
So where are we in biblical prophecy? “I think we are in Revelation chapter 3,” Gonzales asserts, referring to the Laodicean church era—a time characterized by spiritual lukewarmness. “The church, for the most part, is very apostate. It’s not standing up for truth, it’s not evangelizing, and it’s not sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity.”
While no one knows the exact timeline, Gonzales believes that the pieces are falling into place.
“We don’t know the day or the hour,” he cautions, “but everything is completed for the temple, and now they have three qualified red heifers. I think we’re getting close.”
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
