What is a red heifer and why is it significant?

Based on Jewish standards recorded in Numbers 19, the Jewish people could never be purified or able to rebuild their temple without the ashes of an unblemished red heifer. Jewish tradition holds that a red heifer heralds the Messianic era.

For prophecy watchers, it is definitely something to keep your eyes on. The temple will be rebuilt in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, and temple practices will be reinstituted, so we know that there will be a spotless red heifer provided to allow that to take place. The heifer is not determined to be perfect until its third birthday.

Over the past few years, several red heifers have been born around the world. But each one has been either imperfect or not in Israel at the right time.