JD: The fast day of the 17th of Tammuz; now first of all explain that. What is this all about?
WM: Jimmy there are two main fast days in the Hebrew calendar. When I say main I mean they go the full 25 hours from just before sunset to just after sunset. Those are Yom Kippur the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei the Day of Atonement and the 9th of Av that usually comes out at the end of July or the beginning of August more or less which commemorates the destruction of the first and the second Temple.
In addition there are several minor fast days which are from
dawn to evening. One of them as you asked me is the 17th of Tammuz which
commemorates part of the destruction process if I can point it out that way. In
other words it led up to the destruction of the first Temple and we say that
several things happened on that day. Usually they list a list of 5. But it’s
the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem and that brings in for Orthodox
observant Jews a period of 3 weeks of mourning that leads up to the 9th
of Av.
JD: Well you were mentioning that on the 17th of
Tammuz the 3 week period began concluded with Tisha B’av the 9th day
of the Jewish month of Av. Now during those 3 weeks they’re actually simply
praying for the Temple to be rebuilt correct?
WM: Yes, and in another aspect it’s done through a series of
acts of mourning. For example if we were on video chat, Jimmy you would see
that I haven’t been shaving since the 17th of Tammuz and I won’t
until after Tisha B’Av; I won’t cut my hair. In other words expressing mourning
today of course that’s complimented by a strong sense of praying for the return
of the Temple to be rebuilt. And as you and I discuss many times that I belong
to the idea that we should be visiting the Temple Mount as much as possible and
doing other aspects to raise the consciousness of what the Temple service means
and whether things can be done now or at least prepared for the near future
hopefully.
JD: Winkie Medad explaining why Jews are mourning destruction of
one Temple and praying for the next Jewish Temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
We report this information because it is setting the stage
for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
By the way all of the preparations have been made for this
next Temple to be rebuilt which will happen after the Rapture of the Christians
in this world, that’s Daniel 11:45.
