Ready to Rebuild?
It started all in May 1948, that was the year that Israel became a nation.
That was when the hour glass was turned over. Slowly the sands of time have
been trickling through. Now somewhere during this time, I believe that the
Jews are going to rebuild their Third Temple in Jerusalem.
How do we now that the Jews are going to rebuild the temple?
In 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (KJV)
" Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called
God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of
God, showing himself that he is God..."
This is where the Anti-Christ goes into the Temple and defiles it. This
is during the mid-point of the Tribulation (first 3/12 years). I believe
that we are coming very close to this time and that we are living in the
Last Days. The Temple will have to be built for this to happen.
So how long is it going to take to rebuild the temple?
A meeting was held in November 1990 with religious leaders, political leaders,
scientists and archaeologist in Israel to discuss the building time of the
temple. This was needed in order to work out details for the Oslo 3 treaty
talks that will be held in 1996. These are the negotiations which will deal
with directly with what will be done with Jerusalem. The time determined
to rebuild the Temple was 1-2 years. This does not include all the ornamental
work that would be needed, this is just get the temple up. A alter will
be raised somewhere west of the temple construction site to start daily
sacrifices. Once the priests resume daily sacrifices, the construction of
the Temple itself will begin.
The site for the Jewish temples of the past has been the Temple Mount, but
there is a problem... The Dome of the Rock is there. The friction between
the Jews and the Muslims has gotten (in my opinion) worse during these "Peace
Accords" rather than better. Seeing things in that light, it will probably
take the diplomatic skills of the Antichrist to make development of this
temple to come about.
There is also another key aspect and that is the Jews are already preparing
some of the vessels to be used in the next temple, and are currently training
priests in the their use. They at least feel the next temple is to be built
in the VERY near future.
Location
On the Temple Mount there are NO archaeological digs going on because the
Muslims will not permit it. But extensive excavations have been made around
the outer perimeter of the area and under the Temple Mount site. In this
light, Scientist, Scholars and Archaeologist have come up with 3 main theories/sites
as to where the Temple should be rebuilt.
The 3 Proposed Temple Site locations are:
* Southern Site, placing the Holy of Holies over the Al Kas
Foundation.
(Bagatti Theory)
* Traditional Site, placing the Holy of Holies over the As-Sakhara
(Dome of the Rock)
* Northern Site, placing the Holy of Holies over the Dome of the Tablets/Spirits
(Kaufman Theory)
The theory that I will look at in this article is the Northern site or refereed
to as the Kaufman theory. I hope to look into the other theories in later
issues.
In 1969 there was some Arab construction work going on around the Dome of
the Rock. A man by the name of Dr. Ze'ev Yeivin (now deputy director of
the Department of Antiquities) happened upon this Arab constructions site
and made some drawings of an exposed ancient wall near the Dome of the Rock.
Sense you cannot have archaeological digs up there, this was a very important
find.
In the Early 70's a man named Asher Kaufman published a very interesting
theory. After studying evidence proposed by a Dr.Bagatti (His theories are
for a Southern Site) and other evidences, Asher Kaufman identified the section
of this wall, seen by Dr. Yeivin, as the eastern wall of the Temple's Court
of the Women.
Based on ALL these different works from Bagatti and other Archaeologist
and the records left by the British studies from a 100 years ago, Kaufman
concluded that the site of the Temple was at the northwest corner. He determined
that the east-west line aligning the Mount of Olives and with the Eastern
Gate and the Temple exactly bisect on this small cupola. He noted that the
bedrock inside the cupola is the only such bedrock appearing on the temple
mount, it sticks up from the surface. The rest of the area around the Dome
of the Rock has been paved. Now is this the "Even Shetiyyah" (Foundation
stone) that protruded in the ancient Holy of Holies?
Furthermore, a passage from the Mishneh Torah by Rambam quotes Jewish Talmudic
writings from the times before the Temple in 70 AD being destroyed. Eyewitness
declare that the Temple was not built in the center of the temple mount
(location where the Dome of the Rock is) Rambam states that " the Temple
Courtyard was not situated directly in the centre of the Temple Mount. Rather,
it was set off farther from the southern wall of the Temple Mount that from
the wall of any other direction" The reason is because worshipers would
normally enter and exit from the southern Hulda Gate. The people needed
room to congregate on that area. Rambam continues to quote sources that
declare that the Temple itself was situated directly opposite the Eastern
Gate in the northern part of the Temple Mount. *
" These five gates were placed in a strait line " from the Eastern
Gate into the entrance hall of the Holy of Holies. These gates were as follows
" the Eastern Gate, the gate of Chayl, the gate of the Women's Courtyard,
the gate of Nicanor and the gate of the entrance hall. So if the temple
was built on flat ground, one would have been able to see through all the
gates at once" (Mishneh Torah, Commentary Halachah 5 and 6)*
Over a century ago there were some archaeological digs conducted by the British,
these digs and surveys produced some other very relevant new discoveries.
When this evidence is looked at in conjunction with Kaufman's, the pieces
start to fit. Of importance was a particular rock mass near the Northern
steps leading up to a small Muslim Cupola on the Temple Mount.
Point: A person standing on the Mount of Olives can look over the Eastern
Gate into a huge area north of the Dome of the Rock. If you give this person
a surveyors laser, it would cut right through the Eastern Gate (if it was
not sealed) and through the center of this small cupola or known by the
name of the Dome of the Spirits / Tablets.
Another point to look at while discussing this stone, which Kaufman believe
is the Foundation Stone (Even Shetiyyah). The stone in Dome of the Spirits
/ Tablets. is very pitted, this detail also agrees with a 4th century pilgrim
of Bordeaux who calls in his accounts the "Pierced Stone" because
of its numerous imprints of the hobnailed of Soldiers.
Further importance about this stone is the name of this site, Dome of the
Spirits/Tablets. Arabic titles often preserve original place names. Were
these dual titles reminiscent of the Divine Presence that accompanied the
Ark and the tablets of the law stored within it which once rested in the
Holy of Holies?
Looking at all these sources, information and the writing from the Mishneh
Torah and a bit of triangulation we can see that the Temple could have very
well been located where Mr. Kaufman believes, and that is over Dome of the
Spirits / Tablets.
OK, now one last point of evidence. Knowing the measurements of the Holy
of Holies, all the courtyards and walls, and working your way from the center
out from the Dome of the Spirits / Tablets, the Dome of the Rock falls within
the courtyard of the Gentiles
So after telling you all of this, you ask SO WHAT???
THIS FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT REVELATION 11: 1-2 STATES !
Rev 11:1-2 (NIV)
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go
and measure the temple of God and the alter, and count the worshipers there.
But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given
to the Gentiles."
So you still say SO WHAT!!!
This is the only theory that enables the Jews to rebuild the Temple TODAY!
The only thing that needs to be done is the negotiations. In 1996, like
I stated earlier, are the Oslo 3 discussions regarding Jerusalem. It is
in my opinion that Israel has given up so much land to the Arabs and have
not gotten anything back in return of substance for this land. At this time,
I believe that they will pull this ace out from under their sleeve and demand
the rebuilding of the Temple and to share the temple mount, all in the name
of peace.
IMPORTANT!! None of these theories are acceptable to the orthodox Jews because
ANY Muslim or other temple, shrine, mosque, etc will desecrate the Temple
Mount and make it unclean. So ALL the mosques and monuments have to be taken
off the Temple mount before the Temple can be rebuilt. This is according
to orthodox Jews. This is a big stumbling block that needs to be overcome.
Interesting thing that has recently come about because of Rabin's death
is that Israel's Cabinet has agreed to "crack down" on extremists.
Extremists largely being right wing orthodox Jews.
Cabinet okays crackdown on extremists
by DAVID MAKOVSKY
Jerusalem Post, Nov.20 1995
JERUSALEM (November 20) - The cabinet yesterday, as expected, approved
the establishment of an ad hoc interagency task force that will coordinate
information and direct an overall effort to crack down on extremist groups
involved in "incitement and sedition..."
"There is no more business as usual," said Environment Minister
Yossi Sarid who, along with Education Minister Amnon Rubinstein, advocated
a tough approach in dealing with extremists. "We want to tell the world
that we have declared all-out war on Jewish terrorism, just as we have an
all-out war on Arab terrorism. No democracy in the world can accept those
who seek and act to destroy it..."
The task force will be coordinated by representatives of the State Attorney's
Office, General Security Service, IDF, and police. Its functioning will
be re-evaluated after six months...
Justice Minister David Liba'i said that law-enforcement bodies would no
longer be working in an isolated fashion, that the more unified approach
would improve effectiveness..."
"One of our major failures was in dealing with a small group of fanatic
rabbis, whose role in incitement is apparent. Anyone opposing stigmatizing
the entire religious community must disassociate himself from such inciteful
rabbis," said Absorption Minister Yair Tzaban.**
I know that this is pure speculation, but if they have the thumb screws
on the right wing orthodox Jews via this crack down, the liberal Jews who
are for giving away the promised land might say "yes" to rebuilding
the temple and sharing the Temple Mount with the Muslims.
Another little bit of information...In 1992 Yitzhak Rabin was approached
by the Vatican and a plan was offered. The proposal is for Jerusalem to
become the second Vatican. The 3 main religions come from Jerusalem, so
why not turn it into a Vatican 2? If this happens, Jerusalem will become
its own city/state. It is also proposed that once this happens, turn Jerusalem
into the international city of peace, in fact there are rumors that if all
of this comes to pass, some people would want the UN to move there . Something
else will happen if this comes about, Israel will loose its 3000 year old
capitol.
One last thing. What about the Ark, and where is it?
Some believe it is in a cave on mount Nebo just as is quoted in II Maccabees
2:5:
"And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave,
wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and
so stopped the door."
Others state that it was in a small chapel in Ethiopia. It was carried there
by Menaleke son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Grant Jeffrey, a leader
in Bible Prophecy, has spoken with a man in a position to know. He told
Grant Jeffreys that the Ark has been flown from Ethiopia to Israel when
the Ethiopian Jews returned to Israel. There are others who believe that
it is under the Temple Mount itself. Behind a walled up area called the
Warren's Gate there is a hidden vault, it is said to be there. Rabbi Getz,
Chief Rabbi of all Holy Places in Israel contends that he knows where the
Ark of the Covenant is hidden under the Temple Mount.
The late Rabbi Getz proclaimed, " The treasures of the First Temple
are under the Mount, and we know exactly where they are...The time will
come when we will enter".(July 18, 1991)***
There are many theories as to where it and the other Temple treasures are,
but that is another article in itself.
(just for your info, in Issue #4 I have a VERY interesting article regarding
the Ark and a Archaeologist who claims to have found the Lost Ark.)
There are some very good books out there right now that deal with this topic.
If you are interested in this topic I highly recommend these following books.
This is also where I drew my information from for this article.
Ready to Rebuild , by Thomas Ice & Randall Price
Messiah, Prince of Darkness, Heaven, by Grant Jeffrey. Grant
Jeffrey's Ministries.
Cup of Trembling , by Dave Hunt
The Bible: Ezekiel 40 - 45, Revelation 11 and 21.
Footnotes
* Heaven, by Grant Jeffrey Frontier Research Publications 1990, Pgs.
63-64
**Jerusalem Post, Nov.20 1995
***Ready to Rebuild, by Thomas Ice & Randall Price, Harvest House
Publications. 992 Pg. 149
Ray Gano's Web Page on Bible Prophecy is Prophe-Zine
Email Ray Gano at ray673@best.com