After an exhaustive study into the details surrounding the oil used to anoint the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and kings of Israel, the Sanhedrin is moving forward to prepare enough to anoint the Messiah from the House of David who, when he returns, will rule over Israel in the Messianic era. 

The anointing oil was described in the Bible to be used in the consecration of the Tabernacle:

Make of this a sacred anointing oil, a compound of ingredients expertly blended, to serve as sacred anointing oil. Exodus 30:25

Originally, the oil was used exclusively for the priests and the Tabernacle articles, but its use was later extended to include prophets and kings:

Shmuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Shaul‘s head and kissed him, and said, “Hashem herewith anoints you ruler over His own people. I Samuel 10:1

It is expressly forbidden by the Bible to recreate the oil for any other purpose, punishable by kareth, the most severe punishment described in the Bible. The ingredients as described in Exodus 30:23-25 are as follows:

• Pure myrrh, 500 shekels weight (about 6 kg)
• Sweet cinnamon, 250 shekels weight (about 3 kg)
• “fragrant cane” (sometimes translated as calamus) 250 shekels (about 3 kg)
• Cassia, 500 shekels (about 6 kg)
• Specially prepared olive oil, one hin (about 6 liters, or 5.35 kg)

All of the ingredients must be prepared in total purity. The Sanhedrin has already overseen the production of ritually pure olive oil suited for use in the Temple Menorah. 

Normally, olive oil is made by crushing the olives and then pressing them. As per the Biblical commandment, olive oil for use in the Temple and for anointing is made by smashing the olives by hand and then allowing the oil to drip for several days.

You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling  lamps regularly. Exodus 27:20

This produces a very small quantity of oil, only about two percent of the volume of the olives as compared to 20 percent by pressing. But the method described in the Bible produces oil that is vastly superior to that produced by any other method. The initial trial run by the United Temple Movement prepared about 450 pounds of olives, producing 25 quarts of oil. The husks are then pressed and the oil can be consumed or used for adding to grain offerings.

As much as possible, the ritual purity of the olives is preserved. As soon as the olives are pounded, they become open to impurity. They are therefore processed in an area open to the sky and the workers wear surgical masks, as saliva can transfer impurity. The hammers are made of plastic and the surface is marble, materials that cannot receive ritual impurity.

It is important to note that the oil was called in Hebrew שמן המשחה (shemen ha-mishchah), literally translated as oil of anointing. The Hebrew word for Messiah is משיח (Mashiach), literally the anointed one though this term is also used in the Bible for anyone who has been anointed. 

Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin, announced the beginning of the anointing oil project last week appropriately enough just before the holiday of Hannukah in a sermon he gave on the Temple Mount. Rabbi Weiss emphasized that a Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and Temple utensils will be anointed when the Temple service begins, which does not need an actual Temple structure, only an altar.

“The Temple and the Temple service benefit all the nations,” Rabbi Weiss explained. “For that reason, we made the announcement on the 27th of Cheshvan, the day that Noah exited the ark and made a sacrifice to God. At that time, God made a covenant with the entire world, promising never to bring another such catastrophic flood but also requiring that mankind perform the Seven Noahide Laws.”

Rabbi Weiss noted that this is also the end of the season for harvesting olives and the beginning of preparing the oil.

“In order for the Temple service to return, the nation of Israel must begin to observe the laws pertaining to the land which include the laws of ritual purity,” Rabbi Weiss said. “But in order for the nations to take part in this, they must observe the Seven Noahide Laws.”

“The nations must purify themselves,” Weiss explained to Israel365 News. “This is a process of purifying your thoughts from idolatry. It also includes removing the sin of murder from their midst, which is expressed today through abortion and euthanasia. This also includes sexual purity.”

“Christianity is especially susceptible to the impurity that is flourishing under the idolatry of liberalism. To their credit, they have a deep connection with chesed (loving kindness). Liberalism grew out of this. But chesed can be taken too far. Christianity must engage in justice which is one of the Noahide commandments. They must judge that some things are impure and unacceptable.”

“Today, a person can choose to do good or evil. But in the end-of-days, only those who choose to take part in the Temple will survive,” Rabbi Weiss said, quoting the Prophet Zechariah.

All who survive of all those nations that came up against Yerushalayim shall make a pilgrimage year by year to bow low to the King lord of Hosts and to observe the festival of Sukkot. Zechariah 14:16

“We are now entering the time when the preparations for the Temple are almost complete,” Rabbi Weiss said. “Now is the time for people to act, to show whether they will be part of the Temple or stand against the reappearance of God’s house in Jerusalem.”