A unique ceremony - probably only the second of its kind in the past 1,600 years - took place in Tiberias on Oct 14, 2004: the launching of a Sanhedrin. Consisting of Temple priests and headed by the high priest of Israel, this was the highest ruling body and court of justice among the Jewish people in the time of Jesus. This ceremony raised the interests of prophecy teachers all over the world. The reason is because Bible prophecy calls for a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the last days. In II Thessalonians 2, it is projected that there will be a man whom God calls "Antichrist" to seat himself in that Temple in order to declare himself as being God. Prophecy further reveals that Jesus will slay this "Antichrist" at His return (II Thess. 2:8).

There has been no Sanhedrin for 1,600 years. The Jewish Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. and the Sanhedrin eventually dissolved accordingly. The Jewish people were scattered all over the world. All hope for a Jewish Jerusalem and a Temple on its Temple Mount seemed remote at best. Now, 1,600 years later, there is new vigor and zeal to rebuild the Jewish Temple. There are several organizations working toward this end.

One that is at the forefront of this vision is the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. It has been working for many years now restoring the lost Temple utensils used for worship and sacrifices in the destroyed Temple. Much of what was destroyed has been restored and is now on display there. Strong zeal to restore Temple Mount worship in a rebuilt Temple continues to drive the Institute on.

Another organization working toward this end is the Temple Mount Faithful. Every year this organization, with its own zeal to see the Temple rebuilt and Temple Mount worship restored, symbolically lays a cornerstone for a new Temple.

Also, a new Tabernacle, just like the Moses Tabernacle, has been constructed near Jericho and priests are being trained in it for restored Temple worship and sacrifice.

This zeal for a rebuilt Temple and restoration of Temple Mount worship has now resulted in the restoration of the Sanhedrin in October of 1994. Adding to the wonder of it all, this new Sanhedrin met on February 9, 2005 to discuss where on the Temple Mount a restored Temple might be placed. Several views were discussed but the one emerging as most likely was the view that calls for a rebuilt Temple on the Temple Mount but to the north of the present Dome of the Rock. If this is the site selected, then a destruction or removal of the Dome of the Rock as some have suggested before a Jewish Temple can be built, becomes unnecessary. There is presently a large open space on the north side of the Temple Mount plaza. The Dome of the Rock can easily sit right where it is, on the south side of the Temple Mount, and a Jewish Temple placed to the north. Historically, the "Court of the Gentiles" was on the south side of the Temple. A rebuilt Temple to the north would place the "Court of the Gentiles" closest to the Dome of the Rock. This is a very interesting development because prophecy has forecast this exact scenario. Revelation 11:1&2, talking about that future Temple states, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations;...". The stage is set for this prophecy to be fulfilled.

No other generation since the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. has come close to seeing things like this develop. If a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem is close at hand, then the return of Jesus is also. Bible prophecy calls for the rebuilding of the Temple and the return of Jesus to both occur inside a coming seven year period, known by many from the Bible as the Tribulation. We draw very close to this period. We are living in interesting times! It is a good time to be right with the Lord! If you are not right with Him, get right! If you've never made peace with Him, Romans 10:9-10 tells you how.