Understanding the End of Days and the Red Heifer
What is a red heifer, exactly? Well, before attempting to understand the prophecy of the red heifer and what it is, it’s first important to recognize the significance of the “end of days” in both Christianity and Judaism.
Essentially, the end of days is seen as a promise from God. When that time occurs, true believers will be removed from hell on Earth and brought to be with God in heaven. So while the apocalypse may seem terrifying to those outside of these religions, to true believers, it is something to look forward to.
The Bible’s Prophecies Are Numerous
While the end of days is certainly one of the most important prophecies in the Bible, it’s not the only one that matters.
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Other ancient prophecies, including those made by the prophets John, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, state that three crucial events must occur before the Messiah can return to Earth. These include the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, Jerusalem returning to the hands of the Jews, and the restoration of the nation of Israel, not to mention the relation to the red heifer and Israel.
The Rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem
Technically, two of these three prophecies have already come true: The nation of Israel exists once again, and Jewish people control Jerusalem.
However, while some reconstruction has been completed, the third temple construction has not been rebuilt in the way it needs to be to fulfill the prophecy.
What Does the Red Heifer Mean in the Bible?
For centuries, those in the Jewish and Christian faiths believed that these were the only three prophecies that needed to be completed before the Messiah could come down to Earth and take the true believers to heaven.
However, in 1989, everything changed when a Pentecostal preacher established that there is a fourth prediction that must be fulfilled before the Messiah can return: The red heifer prophecy.
Understanding the Red Heifer Prophecy
The Bible’s book of Numbers, Chapter 19, describes an interesting ritual in which God asked the children of Israel to find and sacrifice a “red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke.”
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The significance of the red cow in the Bible speaks to sacrificing the unblemished red heifer, which would purify a person who has been contaminated, and essentially, make them pure in the eyes of God.
What Is the Red Heifer?
The red heifer is a concept from Jewish religious tradition, detailed in the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible. It involves a ritual where a completely red heifer, never yoked or blemished, is sacrificed, and its ashes are used for purification, particularly for those who have come into contact with death. The red heifer must meet strict criteria, being entirely red and without any physical defects.
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This ritual, significant in Jewish tradition for maintaining ritual purity, has not been performed since the destruction of the Second Temple. In some Jewish and Christian beliefs, the emergence of a red heifer aligns with eschatological events, including the coming of the Messiah and the potential rebuilding of the Israel Third Temple in Jerusalem.
For Centuries, No One Quite Understood the Story of the Red Heifer
What does the Bible say about the red heifer, exactly? While theologians have studied the Bible from cover to cover for centuries attempting to understand all of God’s messages, deciphering the story of the red heifer has eluded many.
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So, what does the red heifer symbolize? Apparently, even King Solomon did not understand the significance of the ashes of the red heifer sacrifice, even though he was considered exceptionally wise. But finally, one Pentecostal preacher took it upon himself to decipher the text.
Clyde Lott’s Red Heifer Research
In 1989, cattle breeder and Pentecostal preacher Clyde Lott decided to dedicate his time to finally understanding the story of the red heifer in the Book of Numbers.
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The first thing he noted was that cattle described in the Old Testament were usually brown or spotted, and he wondered why God would request a heifer that was genetically improbable compared to the typical cattle of the time.
The Red Heifer Is Essential for the Messiah’s Return
Lott came to the conclusion that the challenge of finding and sacrificing an unblemished red heifer was actually essential for the Messiah’s eventual return and the final end of days.
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The purification was necessary to prepare God’s followers to be ready for their ascension to heaven, and according to his research, the red heifer is necessary for the final rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem.
Many Believed the Red Heifer Prophecy Had Finally Come True After 2,000 Years
Understanding the red heifer prophecy was the first piece of the puzzle, but even more importantly, those who believed in its value needed to find a red heifer that met the Bible’s specifications.
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And almost unbelievably, only seven years after Lott’s research was completed, a red heifer that fit the description was found in Israel. The birth of the cow became big news among Christians and Jews who believe in its importance, and a special committee got to work assessing whether or not this red heifer could be the red heifer they were waiting for.
Assessing Melody to Find Out if She Met the Bible's Criteria
So, what’s a heifer as it relates to modern times? It’s important to note that red heifers technically aren’t rare. However, ones that meet the exact description from the Bible are. So the red heifer in question, who was named Melody, needed to be meticulously examined.
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Melody remained under armed guard at all times during her long assessment, and the world was both excited and afraid that she would turn out to be the cow God had prophesied would initiate the end of days.
What Are the Five Red Heifers in Israel?
In September 2023, five red heifers were brought to Israel, sparking excitement among those who see them as vital for building the Third Jewish Temple. These heifers, currently between 1 ½ and 2 years old, are in a secure location in Israel, with plans to move them to Shiloh. To fulfill biblical prophecy, they must be at least 3 years old without blemish, including a single non-red hair.
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The ceremony, requiring unblemished heifers and pure priests, is planned to be held on the Mount of Olives, facing the site of the ancient Temple. Byron Stinson, who helped find these heifers in the United States, anticipates the ceremony could occur around Passover or Shavuot in 2024, marking the first such event in 2,000 years and a step toward building the Third Temple. This event, significant for those who believe in its religious and prophetic importance, is being carefully prepared and watched by various communities.
The Quest for the Red Heifer Continues
It was ultimately determined that Melody did not meet the specifications for the red heifer prophecy, so the search for the prophesied red heifer or red calf continues.
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Clyde Lott and other rabbis and priests plan to ensure Israel’s cattle are well-cared for and are even sending embryos over to increase the chances of the red heifer’s birth. The Jewish and Christian populations following the story are now waiting patiently for any red heifer news or red heifer update as to the true red heifer to appear and for their Messiah to take them to heaven.