Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
The following is an article and series written by Whitney Webb of mintpressnews.com.
In Part I of this multi-part series, MintPress examines the growth of extremist movements in Israel that openly promote the destruction of Al-Aqsa, from a relatively isolated fringe movement within Zionism to mainstream prominence in Israel today; as well as how threats to the historic mosque have grown precipitously in just the past month. MintPress interviewed Israeli author and activist Miko Peled; Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta in New York; Imam and scholar of Shia Islam, Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, of the Islamic Institute of America; and Palestinian journalist and academic Ramzy Baroud for their perspectives on these extremist groups, their growing popularity, and the increasing threats to the current status quo at Haram El-Sharif/Temple Mount…
Click on the link below the picture for the details of the article.
Rabbi Harry Moskoff has been digging into the exact location of past Temples. His research and findings are calling into the question the status quo and consensus opinion regarding the exact Temple location.
“At first, I thought it was in the northern end of the Temple Mount,” Rabbi Moskoff.
2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
“The verse states that it was on the mountain. It does not specify that it was at the top of the mountain. The Temple was located on a threshing floor bought by King David. These (threshing floors) are not located on mountain tops. In the days of Solomon, the peak of the mountain was located where the Dome of the Rock is.” -Rabbi Moskoff
Oral traditions not found in the Bible state the Temple was not built on what is considered today’s Temple Mount. Oral traditions are consistent with Biblical texts, ancient rabbis, and historians.
2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.
The city of David is a specific location within greater Jerusalem. The city of David is located south of what is known as the Temple Mount in modern day Jerusalem. The city of David is down the hill, below, and south of the modern day Temple Mount. The distance between the two locations is approximately 600-1000 feet.
Rabbi Moskoff pointed to the historical account of 12th century Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, aka Maimonides or Ramban. The Rabbi went to the Temple Mount and entered the golden Dome of the Rock. Again, the Dome of the Rock is a top the Temple Mount.
“The Rambam would not have entered the building if he thought it was the location of the Holy of holies,” Moskoff.
Rabbi Moskoff now thinks the Holy of Holies of the Temple is located southwest of the Dome of the Rock.
First century AD Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus noted the Temple was located below a fortress. The Temple was not located on the top of the mountain. The Temple was located below the Temple Mount and below a recently unearthed fortress.
“…he built a citadel in the lower part of the city, for the place was high, and overlooked the Temple; on which account he fortified it with high walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians.” -Flavius Josephus
Historians and books written in the first century say the Temple site was south in the city of David. This is below the modern day Temple Mount area.
Then, there is the issue of water. The only local source of water is the Gihon Spring. It is located south or below the modern day Temple Mount. Remember, these folks did not have access to modern day plumbing. They would have pumped water uphill 1,000 feet to the modern day Temple Mount.
Amos 9:11 In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old;
Political support continues to grow for the building of the third Jewish Temple. It is believed that the two structures, the Dome of the Rock and the Jewish Temple, can be built side by side on the Temple Mount.
Israeli Chief Rabbi David Lau believes there is room for everybody to worship on the Temple Mount. Rabbi Lau has changed his tune on the topic. Previously in October 2015, he was opposed and believed in preventing Jews on the Temple Mount.
Included in the link below is an interview with Rabbi Law. He expresses his views on the topic.
The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau stated the third Jewish Temple could be built on the Temple Mount without removing Muslim places of worship. He says there is plenty of room for all to worship.
As of June 2016, Yehuda Glick is now a member of the Israeli Knesset. This is the same Yehuda Glick who took multiple gun shots from an intended assassin and survived. He is the same rabbi who was the head of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. He believes Jews should be able to pray on the Temple Mount. Previously, Glick has stated a vision of three faiths (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) sharing the Temple Mount. This idea is gaining traction among Jews in Israel. Some believe it could be the key to a future solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
There are multiple places where the Temple could be built on the Mount. The main focus appears to be in the olive grove on the north end of the Temple Mount. This location is particularly interesting. Straight east is the Golden Gate or the Eastern Gate. This is the Messiah’s gate. It has been closed for centuries.
Ezekiel 44:1-3 Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.”
This location would also align with Revelation 11:2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
A temple constructed in the north end of the Temple Mount would allow for the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque to be in the outer courtyard of the Jewish Temple.
Zechariah 14:4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.
On the Mount of Olives east of the Temple Mount on Monday, April 25, 2016, a Passover sacrifice ceremony was held. Over 400 people attended the event. Multiple public figures and officials stated hope for the day the Dome of the Rock and al Aksa Mosque would be removed from the Temple Mount. They believe the time is now to raze the area and purify the land.
You can bet your last shekel those attending this Passover ceremony know the verse in Zechariah (name means: Yahweh remembers).
The Mount of Olives is roughly 3,000 feet or a little over ½ mile from the Temple Mount. As the crowd looked across to the Temple Mount, they see the Eastern Gate or the Golden Gate. Currently the gate is considered the property of the Muslims. They have sealed it with brick and mortar. In front of the gate is a Muslim cemetery. Little do they know, they are the instruments of prophecy fulfillment.
Ezekiel 44:1-3 Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.”
The prophet Ezekiel was told by the LORD. The Hebrew word for LORD is Yahweh, The Existing One. This is the definitive name of God. And He says only the Prince may enter this gate. This is His gate. It is stated four times in Ezekiel 44:2, the gate is to remain closed to others. Yahweh is in charge of this gate.
Fast forward roughly 500-600 years from the prophets to the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives. He is promised to return in the same manner.
Acts 1:11-12 …and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
