Yes, the Red Heifer Sacrifice that took place in Israel in July could be it

Red heifer being burnt 1 July 2025
(Screenshot from Israel National News via Israel365News)

On December 28, 2024, I speculated, based on certain statements from the Temple Institute as well as the age of some red heifer candidates, that they could sacrifice one of the ‘red heifers’ they had in 2025 (see Red Heifers, 2 disqualified, 3 potentially left–might one be sacrifices in 2025?).

And they did so on 1 July 2025 (Israel365 News originally reported 8 July, but it now looks like 1 July).

Now, officially, that sacrifice was not that one.

Why?

Because of the claim by the Temple Institute that the animal sacrificed was disqualified.

But could it have counted?

Is another ‘red heifer’ sacrifice necessary?

Michael Snyder posted the following:

There Is Debate About Whether The Red Heifer Sacrifice That Took Place In Israel on July 1st Was The Real Thing Or Not

August 14, 2025

A number of people have asked me about the red heifer sacrifice that took place in Israel on July 1st, and so I decided to look into it. I had heard that it was just a “practice run”, and so I didn’t understand why some people were making such a big deal about it. Well, it turns out that those that actually conducted the red heifer sacrifice did not consider it to be a “practice run”. That definitely shocked me. Meanwhile, the Temple Institute is insisting that the ceremony on July 1st used “a disqualified heifer” and therefore could not be the real thing. …

Byron Stinson helped bring five red heifers from Texas to Israel in 2022, and he organized the sacrifice of one of those red heifers on a remote hilltop in northern Israel on July 1st at 6 PM…

Stinson told RNS about the details of the practice ritual, which was held at 6 p.m. local time July 1, and released photos and video of the ceremony. That video shows a flaming pyre on a remote hilltop with what looks like the animal carcass engulfed in flames. A rabbi led the ceremony after the heifer was driven there from Shiloh in the West Bank, where the selected red heifers have been kept.

Plans for the ritual have been years in the making. Stinson, who has a home in Israel and lives there part of the year, funded a search to find heifers that would fit the exacting requirements found in the biblical text. Those requirements include having no flaws or blemishes, even from the ear tags commonly used by ranchers in the United States.

I mentioned this “practice run” in a previous article.

But to Stinson, it wasn’t a “practice run”.

On Facebook, Stinson claimed that “it was real and the first in 2000 years”…

This is the burning from July 1. It was not on the Mount of Olives and some Jewish leaders feel it does not pass all requirements they support. But it was real and the first in 2000 years. Some will say all you need is to follow the Torah. We did that. Others have a higher standard under the Oral Torah. Many will never agree. But the world is changing fast. And I believe this ceremony changed something in the world. So it should be recognized as the first in over 2000 years. Will there be more?

Yes.

Will everyone agree that those will be the “right” one.

No.

Many will continue to question and fight against the ceremony. I just think the world needs to know. The ceremony went perfect. With a perfect Priest. In a place outside of the camp. And, in the opinion of those I respect, we used a perfect red heifer.

But not all of the Jewish traditions about a red heifer sacrifice were satisfied.

So the Temple Institute and other Jewish authorities are never going to recognize the sacrifice that occurred on July 1st.

However, there are some Jewish voices that are embracing what just happened. For example, Adam King had a sample of the ashes of the red heifer that was just sacrificed sent to him, and he showed that sample off on Tim Pool’s podcast. King is claiming that people that have been sprinkled with the ashes of this red heifer have actually been healed…

Apparently the recent sacrifice produced 10 and a half gallons of red heifer ashes, and samples have supposedly been sent all over the world.

But the Temple Institute, which will actually be overseeing the future Temple in Jerusalem, says that all of the red heifers that had been brought to Israel ended up being disqualified and thus the ceremony that took place on July 1st was just a “test run”….

And I am sure that the Temple Institute will eventually conduct their own sacrifice when they feel that they have found a suitable candidate. https://endoftheamericandream.com/there-is-debate-about-whether-the-red-heifer-sacrifice-that-took-place-in-israel-on-july-1st-was-the-real-thing-or-not/

This is no surprise to me. I posted here a couple of times that the Jews could decided that this particular sacrifice could be considered valid. Yes, the Temple Institute could have another sacrifice in the future, but there is a chance, though, that they may accept this one. But even if not, many Jews are willing to resume daily sacrifices without an officially sacrificed red heifer. Biblically we know that the daily sacrifices will be re-instituted because the Bible shows they will be stopped (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).

Let me add that a massive Jewish Temple is NOT needed to perform those sacrifices. The Jews only need an altar, a priesthood, a tent or other structure, and permission to conduct them from the government.

They already have the first three (watch Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent)–and representatives of both the Sanhedrin and the Temple Institute told me that they DO NOT need a temple for resuming sacrifices.

And a Temple Institute member told me when I visited the Temple Institute that they would resume animal sacrifices once they attained government permission–he said they would start basically immediately after gaining that permission. He did NOT say that they needed a qualified red heifer for that (see my 2014 post: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/red-heifer-discovered-in-usa-temple-institute-wants-it/).

Consider that after the first Jerusalem temple was destroyed and left in ruins, the Bible itself specifically shows that sacrifices were made in the time of Ezra BEFORE the second temple was ready:

1 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. 5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid. (Ezra 3:1-6)

There was NO mention of a red heifer being needed for this. There is no direct mention of any heifer in the Book of Ezra. Sacrifices can be done without a red heifer.

Now notice something I posted here July 11, 2025:

The fact that the Temple Institute claims they do not currently accept that sacrifice does not mean that they cannot change their mind.

How come?

Well, it has also long been my view that even if there were a couple of non-red hairs, the Jews, biblically-speaking, could accept that if they felt the need.

Notice something posted here on July 12, 2024:

Getting back to the Temple Institute, it also posted:

Promise Of The Red Heifer! …

The red heifer is a cow that is reddish-brown in color. …

The burning of the red heifer is one of the 613 Jewish commandments. In the words of Maimonides, [1] “He commanded us to prepare the red heifer, so that its ashes be ready for one who needs it for purification from the impurity of a corpse.”

The complete renewing of all aspects of the Holy Temple service, and the revival of complete ritual purity among Jews, is contingent upon the preparation of the red heifer. …

In our generation, in which we look forward to the reinstitution of the service in the Holy Temple, …

The heifer must be completely red, meaning, there must be no other colored hairs among the red ones. … The Jewish law pertaining to the red heifer hair color requirement is as follows: If the cow has two white or black hairs next to each other – it is invalid. [5] Even if those hairs are plucked – the heifer is still invalid. [6] The eyes of the heifer, teeth, and tongue do not have to be red. However, if the horns and hooves are black, they must be removed without harming the flesh of the heifer, in order for the red heifer to be valid for this commandment. [7]

Before going further, let me state that the Bible DOES NOT SAY THAT THE HEIFER CANNOT HAVE ANY OTHER COLORED HAIRS. The Bible also says nothing about the color of hooves or horns being removed. The references, which can be found at this link: https://templeinstitute.org/para-aduma-the-red-heifer-5/#7 are to Jewish sages and traditions–they are not literal biblical commands, but Jewish interpretations.

While many of the Orthodox Jews cling to tradition, some are more flexible when they see a reason to avoid it, particular if it is not required by the Bible.

Now, going to the Bible itself, here is what the Hebrews scriptures say about a red heifer:

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. 3 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; 4 and Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood seven times directly in front of the tabernacle of meeting. 5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening. 9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. It shall be a statute forever to the children of Israel and to the stranger who dwells among them. (Numbers 19:1-10)

While the red heifer is to have no blemish or defect, the number of possible hairs not being fully “red” is not mentioned. Jews have interpreted Numbers 19:1-10 to mean that another red heifer needs to be sacrificed for sacrifices to be resumed or for the Messiah to return. While that is not directly stated above, it could be implied from that one is again needed for those who do not accept Jesus came as the Messiah. And if those who want to sacrifice will not do so until they have a red heifer, then in that respect a red heifer is important. Certain Jews, like those of the Temple Institute, have added non-biblical requirements for the ‘tenth red heifer’ that while not biblically essential (and Jesus complained that the Jews in His day did that as well as is recorded in Mark 7:9-13), may be humanly necessary for the Jews to accept a particular red heifer as rabbinically valid.

Now, presuming that the Temple Institute kept some of the ashes from the burning this week, it does have the ashes of a red heifer. That does not mean that they will not sacrifice a future red heifer, but let’s just say that they have ashes of a red heifer should they feel they are necessary for some of their objectives. (Thiel B. Temple Institute had a red heifer sacrificed and burnt, but . . . COGwriter, July 11, 2025)

Now notice something I posted here August 6, 2025:

Israel365News reported the following:

Temple Institute Announces: All Texas Red Heifers Disqualified

August 6, 2025 …

That said, notice something posted here on July 12, 2024:

Getting back to the Temple Institute, it also posted:

Promise Of The Red Heifer! …

The red heifer is a cow that is reddish-brown in color. …

The burning of the red heifer is one of the 613 Jewish commandments. In the words of Maimonides, [1] “He commanded us to prepare the red heifer, so that its ashes be ready for one who needs it for purification from the impurity of a corpse.”

The complete renewing of all aspects of the Holy Temple service, and the revival of complete ritual purity among Jews, is contingent upon the preparation of the red heifer. …

In our generation, in which we look forward to the reinstitution of the service in the Holy Temple, …

The heifer must be completely red, meaning, there must be no other colored hairs among the red ones. … The Jewish law pertaining to the red heifer hair color requirement is as follows: If the cow has two white or black hairs next to each other – it is invalid. [5] Even if those hairs are plucked – the heifer is still invalid. [6] The eyes of the heifer, teeth, and tongue do not have to be red. However, if the horns and hooves are black, they must be removed without harming the flesh of the heifer, in order for the red heifer to be valid for this commandment. [7]

Before going further, let me state that the Bible DOES NOT SAY THAT THE HEIFER CANNOT HAVE ANY OTHER COLORED HAIRS. The Bible also says nothing about the color of hooves or horns being removed. The references, which can be found at this link: https://templeinstitute.org/para-aduma-the-red-heifer-5/#7 are to Jewish sages and traditions–they are not literal biblical commands, but Jewish interpretations.

While many of the Orthodox Jews cling to tradition, some are more flexible when they see a reason to avoid it, particularly if it is not required by the Bible. …

Certain Jews, like those of the Temple Institute, have added non-biblical requirements for the ‘tenth red heifer’ that while not biblically essential (and Jesus complained that the Jews in His day did that as well as is recorded in Mark 7:9-13), may be humanly necessary for the Jews to accept a particular red heifer as rabbinically valid.

Now, presuming that the Temple Institute kept some of the ashes from the burning of one it did last month, it does have the ashes of a red heifer. That does not mean that they will not sacrifice a future red heifer, but let’s just say that they have ashes of a red heifer should they feel they are necessary for some of their objectives. …

The Temple Institute intends to further set the stage for the daily sacrifices to start–which they will.

How do we know that?

Because the prophet Daniel was inspired to write numerous times that they would be stopped:

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering … (Daniel 9:27)

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. (Daniel 12:11)

Since the sacrifices will be stopped, they must start. And that is something that the Temple Institute and Sanhedrin are working towards.

Furthermore, we see that after a deal is made and 3 1/2 years later (middle of the week) sacrifices will be stopped. …

Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled.

Animal sacrifices will be part of that. (Thiel B. Temple Institute disqualifies ALL its Texas red heifers. COGwriter, August 6, 2025)

Notice something I posted on July 5, 2025:

The last page of a post from the Temple Institute had the following:

The Tenth Red Heifer Will be Prepared by the Messiah

In recounting this historical record in his commentary to the Mishna, the great Maimonides ends with the enigmatic statement: “… and the tenth red heifer will be accomplished by the king, the Messiah; may he be revealed speedily, Amen, May it be G-d’s will.” …

It should be noted that the Jews, of course, should accept Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus is not going to sacrifice a red heifer upon His return. Nor does the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, teach that. This is another Jewish tradition that is not from the Bible. A Midrashic teaching is a Jewish tradition, not a biblical command. (Thiel B. Temple Institute writes about the need for a red heifer, but . . . COGwriter, July 5, 2025)

So, OFFICIALLY it looks impossible for the Temple Institute to accept any red heifer sacrifice since Jesus will not be doing that upon His return.

But also OFFICIALLY, the Temple Institute does NOT need a red heifer for animal sacrifices to be resumed.

Because of the following scriptures: “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14), Christians do not a red heifer sacrificed.

Nor do the Jews need one to resume daily sacrifices.

UPDATE 08/17/25: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:58

The Last Red Heifer?

The Last Red Heifer? What does that mean? On 1July 2025, a red heifer was sacrificed in Israel. Over ten gallons of ashes of that red heifer were reportedly collected. Some believe this sacrifice fulfilled the requirements in the Old Testament, whereas others said this was only a practice run. The Book of Numbers teaches that the ashes of red heifer are required to be added to the waters of purification for the purifying of sin. Certain Jews want the ashes for reasons including another temple and animal sacrifices, whereas others assert that the sacrifices can be resumed without a red heifer approved by the Temple Institute or the reconstituted Sanhedrin. “So what?” you say? “Who cares if some Jews want sacrifice animals again?”, you ask? Well, what if animal sacrifices are prophesied to begin again prior to the return of Jesus Christ? Would that make a difference? If all prophecy must be fulfilled, and it must, could their be any connection to the ashes of a red heifer? Since the Temple Institute disqualified the red heifer that was sacrificed 1 July 2025 as being ceremonially disqualified because of 2 or 3 non-red hairs, could it change its mind? Would never accepting that sacrifice delay the return of our Messiah? After all, all prophecy must be fulfilled. Dr. Thiel contends that the position of the Temple Institute regarding a few non-red hairs, as well as its posted position that the Messiah would be the one to sacrifice the last red heifer, are simply not biblical. Dr. Thiel also points to the sacrifice of Jesus as eliminating the need for Christians to have the ashes of a red heifer for purification. So, now what? Watch this video and listen as Dr. Thiel shines the light of Biblical prophecy from the pages of the Bible on the Jewish need for the ashes of a red heifer and the resumption of animal sacrifices.