The prophetic clock is ticking, and at the center of it all is a biblical mystery—the red heifer. For thousands of years, this seemingly obscure ritual has held deep significance in Jewish law, yet its relevance to prophecy and the future of Israel have never been more critical than they are today.

Gary Stearman, host of Prophecy Watchers, recently sat down with co-host Mondo Gonzalez to discuss the red heifer’s role in end-times prophecy. If you’ve never heard of the red heifer, you’re not alone. As Stearman puts it, “Most Christians are not familiar with it at all.” Yet, its importance is undeniable, particularly when it comes to the rebuilding of the Third Temple.

According to Numbers 19, God commanded the Israelites to bring forth a red heifer—a female cow without blemish, never yoked or used for labor—to be sacrificed. Its ashes would then be mixed with water and used for ritual purification, particularly to cleanse those who had come into contact with the dead.

Without this purification, Jewish law deems it impossible to approach God in the temple. As Gonzalez explains, “The one thing that is not complete yet is the red heifer ritual.” In other words, without the ashes of the red heifer, the Third Temple cannot be fully operational.
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Stearman acknowledges this perspective but reminds us of something crucial: “We live under the blessing of the New Covenant… but the Jewish people don’t know that yet.” They are still striving to restore the temple and its sacrificial system, unaware that the ultimate sacrifice has already been made.

For those following prophecy, the pieces are falling into place. As Gonzalez warns, “The tribulation period is going to be a time when they’re going to be duped by the Antichrist.” Scripture tells us that temple sacrifices will resume, only for the Antichrist to halt them midway through the Tribulation (see Dan. 9:27). In light of this, the renewed push for a Third Temple and the arrival of these red heifers should be setting off alarm bells.