The Temple Mount

Dear friends

The recapture of Jerusalem by Israel in 1967, little noticed by the wise men of this world, was one of the most significant events in all history, setting the clock ticking on God's end-time schedule. Those who know the Bible know that Jerusalem will be a flash point in a final world conflict before Christ returns. As God said through the prophet Zechariah, "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling" (122). It is happening now, as the world and its oil-dependent economies teeter around this tiny piece of real estate, and the Temple Mount, a tiny piece of real estate within a tiny piece of real estate.

Below is a transcript of the original recording of the Israeli Defense Forces entering the Old City of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount and the Wailing Wall during the Six Day War in June, 1967.

"The Temple Mount is in our hands, the Temple Mount is in our hands. All forces cease firing! The time is 1020, the 7th of June. At this moment we are passing through the Lion's Gate. I am at present under the shadow [of the arch] of the gate. And [now] again we are emerging [back] into the sunshine -- Lion's Gate. We are in the Old City! We are in the Old City! The soldiers are standing very close to the walls. We are marching now on the Via Dolorosa, Via Dolorosa. Do we understand [the significance of] this? ...the Old City; we are again within the Old City! Al Aksa Mosque. Al Aksa Mosque. Under the ruling of the [British] Mandate we could not enter here. One moment. Straight ahead is the Kotel [Wailing Wall]. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! We don't have words to express our feelings! (Chant) On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen. (Shofar begins to sound.)"

Few know that a supernatural event also took place at this time. Here is how it is described in the most recent Temple Mount Faithful report

"On the day of the liberation of the Temple Mount during the Six Day War of 1967,a mysterious event occurred. As Gershon Salomon and the soldiers were walking on the Temple Mount, someone dressed in civilian clothing suddenly appeared. He approached the group speaking English and told them that he had come to show them the location of the Temple and its complex on the Temple Mount. He immediately took the group back to the Dome of the Rock, where they stood shortly before with tears in their eyes at the moment of the liberation. He showed the group the site of their Temple, the rock of Abraham and Isaac and the Holy of Holies, the altar, and the Cave of the Spirits. He also explained the function of every place in the Temple complex. He was very excited when he spoke to them and repeatedly blessed the group for the godly liberation of the Temple Mount, as he put it. He told the group that they should immediately rebuild the Temple because that is why G-d had brought Israel back to the Temple Mount with such a great victory. The group asked the man who he was, and he replied that he was an Arab guide for the Temple Mount. However, he did not look like either an Arab or a guide. The group asked him why he had not spoken about the history of Arab occupation on the Temple Mount. He said that he had been sent by G-d to tell the group that the history of the Arab occupation of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, and all the land had passed away forever; it was time to rebuild the Temple in the same location as the First and Second Temples, which he had indicated that day. All this was told to all the Arabs and Moslems by their elders and was even written in their holy books. They knew that one day, in G-d's timing, it would come to pass and that time had arrived so Israel should do what G-d was expecting her to do and G-d would be with her as He always was and also had been in the victory which He had just given her. When the stranger finished speaking, he suddenly disappeared as if he had been blown away by a wind; he was not seen again. All the group were sure that this mysterious "person" was an angel sent by G-d to tell Israel that He was expecting her to immediately rebuild the Temple, to renew the days of Israel as it was in the Biblical times, and to open the door for the coming of Mashiach ben David. Gershon will never forget this event."

Below is an update on plans to rebuild the ancient temple, from Gershon Salomon

"... I want to say that we continue to intensively conduct our campaign for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Very great progress was achieved in our campaign and activities over the last year. Together with you, dear brothers and sisters, we shall soon see the rebuilding of the Temple and the coming of Mashiach ben David.

"All the practical and spiritual preparations for the building of the Temple continue. Individuals in many places in Israel are working to prepare the vessels and the instruments for Temple worship. The red heifers and the incense have been prepared and even the Passover sacrifice has been

renewed. Two months ago, the Temple Mount Faithful Movement held a symbolic Passover sacrifice. Priests and Levities continue to prepare themselves for the worship in the Temple. A few days ago, even the preparations for creating the Sanhedrin were begun.

"The Temple Mount Faithful will conduct a campaign in the near future that will be more intense than any in our history. We feel the presence of G-d and His blessings in all our activities.

"The Renewal of the Sanhedrin on the Temple Mount The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of Israel and was located in the Court of Israel in the Second Temple complex. It was made up of 70 of the most important rabbis in Israel plus the high priest. The Sanhedrin dealt with the major cases whilst the Small Sanhedrin dealt with regular cases. The redemption of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple are strongly connected to the reconstitution of the Sanhedrin. In the Third Temple, it

will be the highest institution once again. All those who desire to see the rebuilding of the Temple in our lifetime have recently commenced activities to reconstitute the Sanhedrin on the Temple Mount. These activities are still in the initial stages, but they symbolize the feelings of everyone that time is short and that we are very close to the rebuilding of the Temple and the renewal of the worship there."

The Tzemach News Service reminds us "G-d sent Abraham to Mount Moriah to test him (Genesis 22). Mount Moriah is the Temple Mount. G-d sent an angel to test King David. David declared "This is the house of the L-rd" (1 Chronicles 22.1). The place where he stood was the threshing floor of Ornan (which King David purchased). The threshing floor of Ornan is also the Temple Mount. King Solomon built the Temple on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3.1). G-d declared to Ezekiel "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever" (Ezekiel 43.7). Zechariah reveals that it is for the sake of Jerusalem that the L-rd comes to fight against the nations (Zechariah 12-14). It is with Jerusalem that He will test His people."

(Biblically aware Christians are naturally excited about all these prophetic events, but let us not forget that it was the Sanhedrin that crucified the Messiah, Mashiach ben David, for whom they now look, and who Himself fulfilled the old system of blood sacrifice, being the final Passover. Nevertheless, the above things may need to come to pass, according to the prophets, before that time, says Messiah, when "they will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo (Zechariah 1210-11).

Jim