The amazing history of Jerusalem
ONE of the sites in Israel which plays a very prominent role in God’s prophetic events mentioned in the Holy Bible is Temple Mount known as Mount Moriah by the Jews and Noble Sanctuary by the Muslims. Many consider Temple Mount the most contested and religious site in the world. Mount Moriah is also remembered by Christians as the place where Abraham’s faithfulness and obedience were tested by God by mandating Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering (see Genesis 22:2).
In 2 Chronicles 22:2, we see King Solomon, building the temple to the Lord on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. It is on this same Biblical site that the Al Aqsa Mosque, a Muslim temple is standing today. Many people are trying to unravel the mystery of the Biblical prophecy that the Temple, of God will be rebuilt on this same site where the present Al Aqsa Mosque is located. Puzzling maybe for many of us but not impossible for our God as nothing is impossible for Him.
*** Let me share with you some Biblical and historical references about Mount Moriah:
• In 1 Chronicles 21-22 and 2 Samuel 24, we see King David of Israel ordering a census of the people. In 1 Chronicles 1, “Satan provoked David to number Israel.” God was displeased and He sent pestilence upon Israel. King David repented and as part of his repentance before the Lord, he purchased a piece of property of Ornan (or Araunah) where King David erected an altar there and offered sacrifices. King David paid 600 shekels of gold and an additional 50 shekels of silver for the threshing floor. On the threshing floor, King David erected an altar and offered sacrifices. While Ornan was giving the land for free, King David insisted on paying, said King David: “I will surely buy it for the full price for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord nor offer burnt offerings without cost.” (1 Chronicles 21:24). In 2 Chronicles 3:1, we find the following verse: “Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.”
• King David intended to build a temple to the Lord on the property on Mount Moriah – but the word of the Lord came to David, saying: “Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.” (1 Chronicles 22:8) God chose David’s son Solomon instead, although God allowed David to accumulate the material resources needed to build the temple.
• In 2 Chronicles 3:1, we see that in 957 BCE, King Solomon began to build the temple in the threshing floor of the property in Mount Moriah in Jerusalem bought by King David from Ornan. Solomon’s Temple was built within a period of seven (7) years. This temple replaced the Tabernacle built by Moses in the Sinai Desert;
• Solomon’s Temple in Mount Moriah - the center of worship for the Kingdom of Judah was later destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 587 BC. The Babylonians led by Nebuzaradan, commander of the Army of King Nebuchadnezzar burned down the temple (3 Kings 25:8-17);
• After the Babylonian exile, King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple. This Second Temple was completed in 515 BC. This Temple was a smaller version of Solomon’s Temple and less magnificent too. The temple stood for about 500 years;
• The Third Temple built by King Herod the Great around 20 BCE was known as Herod’s Temple. Herod’s Temple was completed on AD 64. It was larger and more magnificent than Solomon’s temple. King Herod the Great wanted to gain the favor of the Jews who were his subjects and at the same time to impress the Roman authorities. Barely six years after its construction, Herod’s temple was destroyed and so was Jerusalem by Titus and his Roman warriors in AD 70.
• There is a Biblical prophecy that on the same site of Mount Moriah where the three temples once stood, the Temple of God will be rebuilt and the Antichrist will sit in the temple as God. The temple (after the Herod temple that was already destroyed) will be known as the Tribulation Temple because the temple will be built during the tribulation period. (To be continued)
*** This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 LRV Building, Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred.