Volume 19, Issue 1 _________________________________Bible Prophecy Ministry


The Temple Mount Dilemma



      Mount Moriah in Jerusalem has been the scene of numerous historical Biblical landmarks. It was here, upon this mountain that Abraham came to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice before God. Contrastly, on the other hand; the Muslims claim that it was in fact Ishmael that Abraham actually offered.

      Genesis 22:2 says: And he said, Take now thy son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one (specific) of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

      In verse 14; Abraham called the name of this one mountain "Jehovah-Jireh; or the Mount of the Lord, whereupon God would provide a lamb, sacrificed for the entire world in open view.

      Today, the entire world is focused on the Middle East region and the ongoing peace process. During the years since the Persian Gulf War, a resolution to the dilemma between the Arabs and Jews has been a high priority for the powers of the world.

      Little by little the peace process has inched slowly forward, all the while delaying the inevitable subject of Jerusalem and its Temple Mount. Everyone knows that the object that makes peace such an elusive endeavor in this region is the controversy over the possesion of Mount Moriah.

      Both Israel and Arafat have repeated demands that Jerusalem shall be their national capitols. Thusly, it would seem to be virtually impossible to find a solution to this very serious problem. But, actually each side is demanding possesion of only certain portions of the metropolitan area that surrounds the Old City.

      Within the "Old City" is the 37.5 acres known as the Temple Mount. It is this small hill ridge that is actually the impediment to any conflict resolution. A quick review of the history on this mountain shall follow to help the reader to understand the significance of Mount Moriah to impending endtime events.

      Of course nobody knows for a certainty where the ancient Garden of Eden was located, but most folks estimate that it was probably in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley. However, Jewish legend claims that the foundation stone of creation is actually Mount Moriah. There is actually some support for this notion in the Bible.

      In Genesis 4:16-17 we are informed that Cain was driven from the land of Eden and settled to the eastward side of Eden, building cities that are known to have existed in the Euphrates Valley, which is in modern day Iraq. This bit of information would suggest that the actual Garden of Eden was therefore located, not in the fertile crescent region, but to the west of the area of Iraq. Then we read in Genesis 2:8 that God placed Adam eastward from the spot of his creation; which Jewish sages say denotes Jerusalem as the spot where God breathed breath into the first man. This analogy does at least have some geographical support.

      With the Garden of Eden perhaps being west of Cain's cities in Iraq, and coupled with the fact that Adam was placed eastward from the spot of his creation in the garden, we can rightfully surmise that the original Garden of Eden must have been somewhere between Israel and Iraq. This would give credence to the theory that Adam might have been created near Mount Moriah.

      The exposed bedrock on Mount Moriah is referred to by Jews today as "Even ha-Shetiyah", which in Hebrew means, "the foundation stone". This spot is in fact the very same location where the temple of Solomon was built, and later, the temple of Zerubbabel, also built when Israel returned from its exile and which King Herod lavishly expanded before Jesus day.

      The Arabs refer to Moriah as; "Kubbat es-Sakhra", or the stone of foundation. Inscribed on the western side of the Dome of the Rock Mosque is this statement; "The rock of the Temple from the Garden of Eden".

      Needless to say, both the Arabs and Jews place a great deal of attachment to this particular mountain and it is vitally important to the religions of each.

      Isaiah 28:16 makes this statement: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.

      Jerusalem actually sits upon three mountains. They include Mt. Zion and the Mount of Olives as well as Mount Moriah.

      Zion is where Jesus will reign one day, Moriah is where he was sacrificed, and Olivet is the mountain from where he ascended into Heaven, and will also descend back down to when he returns from heaven, whereupon he will proceed to walk straightway over to the other mountains passing through the eastern gate of Moriah's Temple Mount.

      In Exodus 25:28 God said to Moses concerning the nation of Israel; Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. In verse twenty-two; God informs Israel that he would personally communicate with them from above the mercy seat which was to be situated inside the tabernacle.

      The Hebrew word for sanctuary is "miqdosh" which means a "Holy Place". Leviticus 26:11-13 indicates that God did indeed dwell with Israel. He abode first in the wilderness tabernacle and then in the Temple of Solomon which was constructed according to specified plans in Ist Chronicles chapters 22 and 28-29, and in II Chronicles 3-4. II Chronicles 3:1 indicates that the site for constructing the temple was to be specifically Mount Moriah.

      The materials assembled for the temple included 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver. The estimated value of this material today would fall in the 56 billion dollar range. This is about double the world production of gold today for a whole year. The United States today produces about 40 tons of gold per year, or about 1% of the amount utilized in the construction of Israel's first Temple. Solomon employed 180,000 laborers for seven years to complete the intricate and detailed construction that his father King David, left for the Temple on Mount Moriah.

      The present walls surrounding the "Old City" were built by the Muslim Sultan Suleiman in 1537-1541. These walls were built on top of the foundation of the walls that were built by Solomon. The Golden Gate is the most impressive gate to Jerusalem and the only visible one from the east. This Eastern Gate was walled shut by the Arabs in 810 AD and has remained sealed to this very day.

      This ancient gate is probably the one described in Acts 3:2-10 as the beautiful gate. The Golden Gate has long been identified with Jesus triumphal Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:4-5 would clearly suggest that Israel's Messiah will return unto Jerusalem through this gate after lighting on the Mt. of Olives, which is about 1/4 mile to the east of the gate.

      Since Jews expect a Messiah to enter this gate one day, the Arabs sealed the gate shut to negate anyone from being able to pass through it! But in reality it was God himself who had it shut!

      Ezekiel 44:1-2 Then he broght me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and behold, it was shut!

      Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut!

      Now then, when do you suppose the Lord passed through this gate?

      A filled in causeway led directly from the peak of the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate which was utilized as the processional from the altar of the red heifer straight through the beautiful gate and into the Temple sanctuary. This is exactly the same path Jesus will take upon his return.

      Rubble and earth, not to mention a Muslim cemetery now extend high up on the Eastern wall of the old Temple Mount.

      Jewish tradition and also the Bible indicate in fact that the Temple Mount has been set aside for some special purpose in God's providential plan.

      Ezekiel 43:1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:

      And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory.

      The glory of God shall indeed fill the land from the hill of Zion. Does the earth shine with his glory today, as depicted in this description? No, of course it does not, but that day will soon come.

      Verse five of Ezekiel 43 says that the glory of the Lord shall enter into the house of the Lord by the way of the gate on the east.

      When will this occur?

      Exekiel 43:7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor by their kings, by their whoredoms, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places.

      Notice that God says that he will dwell with them in his holy place "Forever". This event has never yet come to fruition. It will only commence after Israel has abandoned its idolatry and accepted Jesus as their Messiah

      Ezekiel 43:12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most Holy. Behold, this is the law of the house!

      In Hebrews 8:10 and Ezekiel 37:26-28 God says that he will write his law upon the hearts of his people, and it will be a new covenant between them; and that also a new sanctuary shall be set amongst them for him to tabernacle with his people Israel; and this sanctuary will endure Forever!

      The land of Israel, which heretofore had been left desolate shall in that day become like the Garden of Eden! ( Ezekiel 36:35 )

      Malachi the prophet predicted that the Messiah of Israel would come into this very temple bringing it honor and glory far beyond the wealth of Solomon. Malachi 3:1 Behold I will send my messenger, and he will shall prepare the way before me : and the Lord whom ye do seek, shall suddenly come to his Temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

      Jesus is the literal foundation stone laid in Zion for the ultimate completion of his Holy Temple. The majesty and the glory of that future temple will excede by far anything heretofore existing on Mount Moriah!

      Listen to Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give Peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

      This is precisely the reason that the Devil today is attempting to influence the nations of this world to acquiesce to Muslim demands regarding the Temple Mount, and the city of Jerusalem. Lucifer knows the time is soon approaching when God will send his son to rebuild the waste mountain. Satan seeks to offer to Israel an imposter Christ to grant to them the worlds permission to reconstruct their Temple on Moriah.

      Mount Moriah is the logistical site of supernatural contention. The reason that the Muslims shall fight for its possesion; and the reason the Jews stubbornly cling to the idea of not giving it away; and the reason that the Roman Papacy seeks it as an international religious capitol; is simply because it has been destined by God to become His Throne. The Devil utilizes all the contenders for Moriah to enable and empower himself to place his own Antichrist on a throne in Israel's Temple in the city of Jerusalem.

      This has always been Lucifer's pattern throughout all of history. Lets quickly review some of his prior record regarding Mount Moriah and Israel's Temple.

      The Western Wall, where many Jews today gather to pray is a 1/4 mile long retaining wall. It was built by Herod the Great; a puppet King of the Jews by proxy from Rome. This retaining wall is all that still remains of Israel's second temple. About 50% of this wall is below ground, leaving only 185 feet open to the present prayer area plaza.

Continued page 2. . .


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