I
had breakfast early today around 7:15AM, and then headed out to the
Temple Mount. I entered through the
Dunk Gate. While waiting in line I met a young couple from
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were on their
honeymoon. David and Rachel! David was quite
zealous in his faith in Jesus, his being a Christian, and his love for the
Jewish People. We talked about the
Temple Mount, world events, the coming visit to Israel by President Trump. David seemed to think there would be a Third
Temple.
As
soon as I got to the Temple Mount, I was approached by an elderly man who
offered me to be my Temple guide. It seemed to me that
he wanted me to realize that he was the supreme tour guide for me. He then made his
intention known when he asked for twenty dollars. During this time I
repeated no thank you, no thank you, and no thank you. It was not until I
bowed and said "no thank you," when he said do not bow to me, bow to
God. I do not think he understood that I was showing him kind
respect. In fact, I was acknowledging God the creator and merely
showing charity of heart with no bitterness in my heart for perhaps his trying
to take advantage of me.
I
tried to take pictures from the corners in sets of three. I captured young
people playing soccer. I took shots of some
of the gates, including the Eastern Gate. I walked, I sat, I
prayed. I made it to the Dome of the Rock, when the Temple
security escorted people off the Temple Mount. I was able to take a
few pictures before leaving the Mount. I later ran into
another American couple that was on their honeymoon. They were from
Michigan. We were then joined by David and Rachel and we all talked
until we departed. I remember something
that the woman from Michigan said. She had brought a shaw
to cover her shoulders, but the security told her that she would need to use
one of the coverings that they provided and that she would have to pay, which
she did. A Couple last things, I enjoyed just sitting, reflecting,
and looking at the olive trees and cedar trees. It seems there are
presently at least two groups that can worship God freely on the Temple Mount: Muslims, the trees
and vegetation.
I
later walked around the walls of the old city. I took picture of
gates, the Mount of Olives, and people. The Mount of Olives
is interesting! It seems that there
are three little mounts that make up the top. When I looked at the
mount and wondered where Jesus would have ascended from. It seemed uncertain! What was more certain
was that it did not take place on the Temple Mount or Mount Zion.
If
Israel would have accepted Jesus would things have been different? Was Jesus meant to
ascend from the Temple Mount?
It
is interesting that according to Moslem tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven
from the Mount. Is this for real or an
imitation? If the first, it would have been a miracle! If the later, it
would be a forgery. Did anyone witness Muhammad's
ascent? According to Luke-Acts, Jesus' ascension had witnesses
who returned to Jerusalem and to the Temple.
On
a more humorous note, after talking with the two couples who were on their
honeymoons from America, I checked my pockets to make sure I had my wallet, but
when I checked my pockets they were empty! All of them! I thought how did
they do that? Someone took my
wallet. Then I remembered that I had to change my shorts when I
arrived to the Temple Mount. They had me go into a
little shed in which to change into pants.
 |
| Two Olive Trees and Two Lamps on a Stand |
 |
It seems there are presently at least two groups
that can worship God freely on the Temple Mount:
Muslims, the trees and vegetation.
|
Later
in the evening I met and conversed with a former Rabbi from Temple Israel in
Minneapolis, MN. We talked briefly and
exchanged pleasantries. I asked him what he
thought about the Temple Mount. He said there is not
going to be a Third Temple. It is political and
not religious.
No comments:
Post a Comment