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A group of Jews believed to be members of the ancient tribe of Levi gathered in Jerusalem last week to edify one another and to bless Israel. There is more to the gathering than a simple family reunion, however. Moses and Aaron were Levites, and the sons of Aaron were called to be the priests of Israel and to minister in the Temple. These descendants of the priestly line of Israel cannot gather together without awakening the hope for rebuilding the Temple.

The Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and, ever since, the priests of Israel have felt a keen hole in their calling. The sons of Aaron were given the job of ministering in the Temple and serving as priests to Israel, not just for a set period, but forever:

"…and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons."  -Exodus 29:9

"And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." - Numbers 25:13

Yet, for nearly 2000 years there has been no Temple in Jerusalem, and the Dome of the Rock sits on the Temple Mount. Yet, certain groups like the Temple Mount Faithful and members of the Tribe of Levi wait with hopeful expectation for the day when the Temple will be rebuilt.

When that day comes, the Aaronic priests, a "Cohen" in Hebrew, will be necessary to minister in the Temple. They also serve another vital function; no Jew will be able to enter the Temple to worship without first going through ritual purification, which can only be accomplished by a Cohen.

The Cohen-Levi family members who gathered in Jerusalem last week believe that they are direct descendants of Aaron, qualified to perpetuate the priestly holy calling once the Temple is rebuilt. They point to DNA research that has demonstrated that members of the Cohen family scattered across the world have a common set of genetic markers on the Y chromosome - which is passed from father to son without recombination.

Certain religious Jews note that there are many problems still standing in the way of building the Temple, not the least of which is Muslim opposition. There are also questions about the exact location of the First and Second Temples, the precise spot to put the altar, the ability to assemble a Sanhedrin to appoint a high priest, and other vital issues.

They, like us, await the arrival of Elijah and the Messiah, who will answer all questions and put everything right.

The lack of a Temple in Jerusalem is no difficulty for the Christian. Paul pointed out that our bodies are the Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). We have a High Priest who has passed through the heavens, and who sits on the right hand of God interceding for us (Heb. 4:14; 7:25-28; 8:1). We do not need the blood of lambs and goats to cover our sin, for we serve the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Heb. 9:12-14).

We do await, however, the rebuilding of the Third Temple. The Bible indicates it will be will be defiled by the Man of Sin (Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess 2:4) before Christ returns to set up his Millennial Kingdom. There is still a future purpose for the Temple in the service of the LORD, as the throne of the Messiah.

This past week the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series broke sales records to become the fastest selling book in history. The book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, written by British author J.K. Rowling, sold more than 8.3 million copies in the US in less than 24 hours. Since the first book was published in 1997, Harry Potter has become a multi-billion dollar franchise. In the past 10 years the Harry Potter series has sold more than 325 million books worldwide, making it the most popular children's book series ever. However not everyone is a fan of the boy wizard.

The Harry Potter books have received heavy criticism from some Christian circles for its dark content. Not surprisingly, many parents object to the detailed descriptions of sorcery found throughout the books as well as the occasional scenes containing graphic violence. They believe that the subject matter is not only unsuitable for children, but also expressly forbidden by the Word of God. What is surprising, however, is the number of Christians who have actually embraced the Harry Potter phenomenon. Such fans insist that the books are harmless, yet the Bible is very explicit on the subject of witchcraft and sorcery:

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)."

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20)!"

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24)."

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-12)."

Satan is an expert at parading as an "angel of light." If he did not make evil look attractive, people would not be deceived and drawn in by it. Witchcraft is practiced in the real world today and it has been made to look appealing. However, the Bible absolutely condemns witchcraft, sorcery, divination, consulting with "familiar spirits" or attempting to contact the dead. These practices open the participants up to demonic deception and oppression, from which they may not be able to escape.

If you are among those who think that Harry Potter is just kid stuff, and you are wondering what all the fuss is about, read the article on our website titled "Just Wild About Harry" by Julie Foster for a more detailed critique of the content of the Harry Potter books.