CHAPTER 30

PRESENT DAY, ISRAEL

Tassie stood with Ben Akeena on the terrace of his parents’ home in the hills of Jerusalem. No longer did the golden dome of the mosque reflect the sun, but the walls and stones of Jerusalem glowed with the amber of the sun’s luminescence. It warmed her heart. Ben Akeena warmed her heart, but the best lay in front of them: the foundation for the new Temple, the third Jewish Temple, also known as the Temple of prophecy, the Temple of the last days, was being laid. The excitement at every phase infused the Jewish people with laughter and joy.

“As our prime minister said, the Scripture tells us in the Psalms that our mouths would be filled laughter as we see our captivity disappearing. Seeing this makes me want to shout and dance and sing.” Ben picked up Tassie in his arms and swung her around before gently setting her down and placing a kiss on her cheek. “Oh, Tassie, here we are, almost Passover, and the Temple is being built. And your family, with the relic diamonds and gold, and your oil wells, have financed the lion’s share of it.”

Tassie smiled. “I’m so happy to be a part of it. God really did all of this.”

“True enough, but to be a part of it, to be able to see it . . . it’s history and prophecy all together.” He reached down and took her hand.

“Ben, I know the Bible indicates, or prophecy does . . . ” Tassie paused. “I don’t know enough . . . but I think the Christians believe that Jesus will return when the Temple is built, and the Jews believe that the Messiah can’t come until the Temple is built. Is that right?”

“Well, my parents always told me God’s ways are higher than our ways. That’s in Isaiah. And all through the Holy Writings, God talks about His wonders. I think it’s all culminating right now into God’s plan from the beginning of time.” Ben chuckled. “And it’s a little different than everybody thought, but it’s pretty much what we hoped would happen. What so amazes me is that so much of our country is starting to see that Jesus is the Messiah, that He already came.”

“So, does that mess up the rebuilding of the temple? I mean, if the Jews are Christians now, do they want or need the Temple?”

Ben put his arm around Tassie. “Interesting, huh? Your uncle, Rabbi Welcker, said that it is something only God could do.”

“Wait, wait, we want to hear this.”

The young couple turned to see Ben’s mom carrying a plate of bread and hummus and fruit, while his dad brought a pitcher of iced tea to the little table on the terrace.

“Please, come sit with us. We want to hear as well.”

Tassie hugged Ben’s mother and sat in the chair his dad pulled out for her. Mr. Akeena squeezed her shoulder and sat down.

Ben continued after having a sip of tea. “Rabbi Welcker said ‘Only God could fulfill everyone’s hopes and dreams and theology, as well as His own plans, in such a short time’.”

“We’re listening, son.”

“The Temple provides the means for sacrifice. That is the work of the Temple. Sacrifice covered our sins, so the Jews believe we are still in our sins until the sacrifice is restored. But they know that the Messiah will fulfill all the requirement of the law, which is sacrifice. Now they are beginning to see . . . their eyes are being opened . . . to what the Christians held, that Jesus’ death on the cross was the sacrifice needed once for all.”

“So, will they still do animal sacrifice like we’ve been taught?” Ben’s mother sat with her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands.

“Rabbi Welcker says . . . he’s been studying the New Testament of the Bible . . . that our sacrifice now is praise.”

“Praise? You mean like singing?” Tassie now mirrored Ben’s mother with her chin in her hands.

“Think of the Psalms. Praise was singing, praying with shouts, dancing, bowing, lifting hands. It’s exuberant and reverent at the same time. Kind of what people are doing as they see the foundation coming together.”

Tassie pursed her lips. “Okay, but what about Jesus returning or the Messiah coming?”

“Well, the Messiah is coming . . . into the hearts of the Jews. Maybe when the temple is rebuilt it will signal the time for what they call the second coming of Jesus.”

“Son, I think where we Jews got hung up was that we thought the Messiah had to come in power and glory. We missed the humility and sacrifice part. And don’t the Christians believe the second coming is in power and glory?”

“Yes, Dad, that’s pretty much it.”

Everyone sat and stared off into the distance for a while. Tassie shook her head. “A year ago, I was only interested in being a powerful, rich lawyer, and I scoffed at anything religious. Now I live in Israel, a completed Jew, amazed that I know Jesus and love the Bible, and I’m a part of God’s plan. Does it get any better than this?”

Ben glanced at his parents. His father winked. His mother smiled and wiped a tear from her eye. “Perhaps, Tassie.”

Tassie looked at each one and squinted her eyes. “What . . . you mean, it does get better?”

Ben scooted his chair back and placed one knee on the terrace. He reached into his pocket and looked up at Tassie. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. “Tassie, I know time may be short, and it may be chaotic, but I believe it will be glorious if you will spend it with me as my wife. Would you do the honor of marrying me?”

Tassie gulped. “Oh, Ben.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I . . . I . . . ”

Ben turned his head slightly and looked at her out of the corners of his eyes. “Is it too soon?”

“No, no, it’s just that . . . I’m, I’m . . . ”

“What?” All three Akeenas asked it together.

“Speechless, I’m speechless.”

Ben’s dad reached over and patted her hand. “Just one word, Tassie, a yes or a no.”

Tassie put her hand over her mouth. Then pulling it away, she blubbered, “Yes, yes, of course yes, a thousand times yes.”

At the ‘of course, yes’ everyone laughed, and Ben picked her up again, twirled her around and kissed her. Then his parents hugged her.

“Welcome to the family, Tassel Lydia Stevens. We are delighted.”

“Wait, wait, the ring!” It was still in his pocket. Ben pulled it out. With tears coursing down her face, Tassie held out her hand. Ben brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it and placed the ring on her finger.

Tassie wiped her eyes and looked at the ring. She wiped her eyes again and brought her hand closer and studied it. Ben and his parents just stood with smiles on their faces.

“Why does this look familiar?” Tassie noticed their grins and stepped back. “What?”

Ben’s mother put her hands to her mouth. “This is so exciting.” She turned to her husband as he placed his arm around her.

Ben took Tassie’s hand. “I went to visit your parents to ask their permission to marry you. Rabbi Welcker was there and he told me a little story.”

“Another story?” Tassie pretended to punch him in the stomach.

“Oh, oh, get engaged and now I get beaten up.” Ben laughed and sat down at the table.

“Okay, tell me the story.” Tassie sat down and picked up the bread, dipped it in the hummus, and took a bite. The sun was high in the sky and the day warm with a slight breeze. She could smell the fragrance of the flowers Ben’s mother planted all around the terrace wall.

“Well, when they went to officially appraise the gold rings, they discovered that a smaller third ring was inside one of the bigger ones. Perhaps it was the wedding ring of the Goldmans or the Liebermanns. Rabbi Welcker asked if they could keep it and place one of the diamonds on it and give it to you since you are the namesake for so much of this.”

Tears filled Tassie’s eyes. She pulled her hand with the ring close to her face. “Are you telling me . . . ” She looked at each of them.

“When I asked permission to marry you . . . by the way, your parents said yes.” Ben laughed. Tassie smiled. “Well, the rabbi got this twinkle in his eye and rubbed his hands together. He told me about the ring and his idea, so we got the ring size from your mother, had it sized, and the diamond placed into the ring. The other rings, and diamonds, per your family’s request, funded the extra oil wells, and they are helping fund the new temple. So, Tassie, does it get any better than this?”

“I’m overwhelmed.” Tassie stood to embrace her fiancé.

“We’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. Tassie, we love you. You are now our daughter. In Jewish tradition, once you are betrothed, you are family. What is ours, is yours, and we are so happy.”

Tassie hugged them both and then walked over to the wall to again gaze across at the temple foundation. Ben stood behind her with his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. “I love you, Tassel Lydia Stevens.”

“And I you, Benjamin Isaiah Akeena.”