Eternal Connection: The Jewish People and the Temple Mount

"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me, And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts" (Mal.3:1).

Hey Gang:   If I were asked the question, “What is the most dangerous place in the world? One place that could initiate a war that would end all wars?”  I would answer "The Temple Mount".  The Jewish people have a historical, religious, spiritual, and national connection to the Temple Mount area dating back to antiquity – King David. It  has been, and continues to be, of profound importance - a place they are willing to die for!    

For the Jewish people, it is the holiest site on the entire planet. Maybe the location of the creation of Adam; certainly the place of the binding of Isaac; of course, the site of both the First and Second Temples.  When the Jewish Temple existed, all Jewish men visited there to perform sacrifices to God three times per year, as commanded by God.  It was the sacred building that housed the Ark of the Covenant in which the Ten Commandments were stored.

The thirty-five acre platform, nestled in the eastern corner of the Old City of Jerusalem, has been termed the most explosive acreage on earth.    It is called the Temple Mount by Jews and Christians, but al-Haram ash-Sharif (the Noble Enclosure) and Masjid al-Aqsa (the far mosque) by Muslims.

The Temple Mount is currently home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Dome of the Chain, all Islamic structures built in the late 7th century.  The Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered to be the third holiest site in Isalm after Mecca and Medina.

Muslims believe Mohammed was carried from Mecca to Al-Aqsa during a Night Journey. The Dome of the Rock is a shrine built where many Muslims believe Mohammed ascended into heaven  and met all the prophets who had preceded him.    History can find no record that Mohammad was ever in Jerusalem.

Aside:  We have been privileged to visit Israel on several occasions and have visited the Temple Mount on a couple of those trips.    In one the earlier trips, when the Dome of the Rock was still open to visitors, I accepted their invitation and went into the mosque.  I truly cannot describe the feelings of oppression and darkness that I felt as I walked into the building; but can say, I did a U-turn and exited the building almost immediately.

Three thousand years ago it became the site of the First Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1), and for 3,000 years it has attracted the enemies of Israel.  In the past they came to destroy it, because it represented Israel's independence, and today, even though no Temple has occupied this sacred ground for 2,000 years, it continues to be the fuse that ignites explosive conflicts in the Middle East.

In Jerusalem it is possible to move from 2015 to ancient days by going down a flight of stairs. On the lower level is a very unique organization called the Temple Mount Institute.  The Purpose of the Institute is to prepare for the building of third Temple.  We were privileged to see the clothing that is prepared and waiting for the reborn priesthood, the instruments and the utensils and all the items to be used in Temple Worship.  It was recently reported that the Sanhedrin of old has also been reestablished and has been meeting in Tiberias, where it met in ancient days.  A class for training the future priesthood has been established.

The Temple Movement is of particular interest to those who take a future and literal interpretation of the biblical prophecies concerning the second coming of Yeshua and of Israel's restoration.  The New Covenant predicted by Jeremiah (Jer. 31-32) and (Ezekiel 36-37) included a renewed Davidic rule and Temple priesthood, including the rebuilding animal sacrifices (Jer. 33:15-22, Ezekiel 37:27-28).   

Again, I would emphasize everything that can be shaken is being shaken (Hebrews 12), and I sense will continue to be shaken until God says, “Enough” and sends His warring angels to clean up our mess.  In the next blog we will look at some of the really neat things that God is doing in the midst of the chaos. Time to get excited!

Blessings,

Gramps