breakthroughmn

Day 4 – Israel

 

Wednesday, Oct 7           Day 4     Old City and City of David (HOUSING @ GLORIA)

          • Temple Mount
          • Pool of Bethesda
          • Western Wall
          • City of David-movie, Ruins, Warren’s shaft and shaft, Hezekiah’s tunnel
          • Western Wall tunnels (Night visit)

Alright, this morning started out after a good night sleep.  Probably the best I have had since arriving – Praise the Lord.  I still didn’t have much of an appetite so I skipped breakfast all together opting only for coffee.  We gathered in the hotel lobby and left at 7:30 am.

Today was all about Jerusalem most of which was in the Old City as you can see from our itinerary above.  We headed out North on David’s street toward the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall outside of Temple Mount.  The Wailing Wall is the most Holy place to the Jew as it is the closest accessible place to where the original temple was located.  We entered the Temple Mount through security.

 

Temple Mount – Educational

  • The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism, the third holiest site in Islam, and a revered site to Christians. To the Jews it is known as Har HaMoriyah (“Mount Moriah”) and Har HaBayit (“Temple Mount”); to Muslims it is known as Haram el Sharif (“the Sacred Noble Sanctuary”). In the Bible it is also called Mount Zion (Psalm 48:2; Isaiah 4:5). Because of its importance to three major religions, its ownership has been hotly contested for nearly two thousand years. Today the Temple Mount is under the control of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a trust that was established in 1187 to manage the Islamic structures in Jerusalem. Under their current rules, access to the holy sites is prohibited to all non-Muslims.According to the Bible (Genesis 22:1–14), God told Abraham to bring his son Isaac to the land of Moriah (meaning “Chosen by Yah”) and offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain there. As Abraham was about to complete the sacrifice, God stopped him and provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice. In this same location, nearly 1,000 years later, God led Solomon to build the First Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). David had identified this location as the place for worshiping God because it was here the plague was stayed when he confessed his sin, and he purchased the place so he could build an altar (1 Chronicles 21:18–26). Solomon’s Temple stood until the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 BC. Zerubbabel led the efforts to build the Second Temple, which was completed in 516 BC, then enlarged by Herod the Great in 12 BC. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, fulfilling Jesus’ words in Mark 13:1–2.As the Roman Empire was fading, Mohammed and his teaching of Islam was rising in the Middle East. According to the Quran (Surah 17:1), Mohammed made a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in AD 621. There he led worship at “the farthest mosque,” was lifted to heaven, and returned to earth to carry on his teachings. At that time there was no mosque in Jerusalem, but 15 years later, Caliph Umar built a small mosque to commemorate the prophet’s night visit. The Al Aqsa Mosque (“the farthest mosque”) was built in AD 705, then rebuilt in 754, 780, and 1035. The Dome of the Rock was built in AD 692 over the place where Mohammad supposedly ascended to heaven. This rock is also identified by Christians and Jews as the place where Abraham offered Isaac and the location of the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. During the Crusades, Christians took temporary control of the Temple Mount, and the Al Aqsa Mosque was used as a palace and church in 1099.

    The Temple Mount continues to be the center of controversy today. Though they are barred from entering the Muslim areas, Jews pray at the Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall), part of the remaining structure of the Temple Mount from the time of the Second Temple. The Islamic Waqf has created controversy with their decision to allow major renovations to the underground areas of the Temple Mount without regard to archaeological artifacts. Huge loads of earth have been removed from the area and dumped elsewhere. Archaeologists sifting through the dumped earth have recovered several artifacts of Jewish origin, though nothing that can be directly tied to the Jewish temple. Many Jews are making preparations for the Third Temple to be built on the site, and Christians also look with interest on those preparations. According to the prophecy of Daniel 9:27, it appears that there will be another temple built, for there will be sacrifices that are stopped by the Antichrist. Since the other parts of Daniel’s prophecies were fulfilled literally, leading up to Jesus’ life and death, we look for this part to be literally fulfilled also.

As we went up and through security we stopped just inside to see some of the original pieces of the Temple that have been discovered through archeology.  You can tell they were authentic primarily because they were made of marble which was imported.  Also, when you look closely, you see gold which these would have been covered with.

There has been a lot of unrest in the region as the Palestinians have been protesting the Jews who enter.  It has resulted in at least three deaths since we have been here in the Old City.  I mention this because as we moved to the courts of the gentiles, loud chanting erupted and the Israeli police moved to cover three Jews who were walking through.  I took video of this.  From there, we moved up to the courts of women where the Holy Temple once stood.  Currently, the Dome of the Rock sits in the general location.  The Muslims keep a close eye on us as we move about.  Women must be covered (Long sleeves & and dresses that go to the ground) and men are not allowed to touch women.  You are also not allowed to pray.  Someone offered to take our picture and so I naturally put my arm around Christine and they yelled at me – they are serious.  Our guide Andrey pointed out something interesting.  He said the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, The original “Beautiful Gate”, the Eastern Gate, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the place believed to be where the ascension of Jesus occurred are all in a straight line.  If that is the case, then the place that the Muslims built the Dome of the Rock is just east of what some believe was the Holy of Holies location within the original temple.  Now, they don’t know for certain but if that is the case, then we stood in the very location of the Holy of Holies and took that picture (when we were hollered at).  It seems so wrong that Islam occupies this location.  Of course, they have had it a very long time – but still, just seems wrong.   As I spoke of above, the Daniel prophesies that a Temple will occupy the spot – but, it will obviously come at a great price.

The Pool of Bethesda – Educational Piece

  • The Pool of Bethesda is a pool of water in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, on the path of the Beth Zeta Valley. The fifth chapter of the Gospel of John describes such a pool in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. It is associated with healing. Until the 19th century, there was no evidence outside of John’s Gospel for the existence of this pool; therefore, scholars argued that the gospel was written later, probably by someone without first-hand knowledge of the city of Jerusalem, and that the ‘pool’ had only a metaphorical, rather than historical, significance.
  • In the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of a pool fitting the description in John’s Gospel.

What is interesting to me is that this was the start of controversy concerning Jesus.  It was here that after healing the invalid He told him to get up and take his matt.  This occurred on the Sabbath – and was prohibited by Jewish law.  It was one of many miracles Jesus performed on the Sabbath – which seems as though Jesus used the opportunity to show the Religious leaders their lack of understand and knowledge of the Word of God.  To me, I believe I got a taste of what Jesus was up against with the Muslim minders.  The 5th chapter of the book of John describes this very well.

The Catholics built a Church right next to the site as they believe it is the birth place of the Virgin Mary.  We went into the Church and sang two songs in the sanctuary and then toured the place of her birth.

As we were leaving we heard and saw a lot of police zip down our street.  They blocked our entrance and thus we had to walk around the outside of the Old City on our way to the City of David.  The commotion was caused by a Palestinian who stabbed a Jewish women (as we were told) – more evidence of the tension in this region.

City of David, Ruins, Warren’s shaft and shaft, Hezekiah’s tunnel – Educational

The City of David is the birthplace of the city of Jerusalem, the place where King David established his kingdom, and where the history of the People of Israel was written. It is within walking distance from the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, and is one of the most exciting sites in Israel. Visitors come from all over the world to see the strongest physical connection between the stories of the Bible and reality, the place where the Holy City started.

  • In the year 1004 BCE, King David conquered the city from the Jebusites and established his capital there. It was here where the People of Israel were united under King David’s rule, here where the Holy Ark was bought and here where the First Temple was built by King Solomon, King David’s son.
  • Today the City of David is an archeological park that tells the story of the establishment of Jerusalem, its wars and hardships, its prophets and kings, and the history of the Jews during Biblical times. The remains of the city are present in the ancient stones and the thousands of shards that cover the pathways between the buildings. Among the archeological ruins are large elaborate houses that bear witness to the high social status of the city’s residents, Warren’s Shaftleading to the water tunnel that was used to transport water from the Gikhon spring outside the city, and the remains of one of several towers that was used to defend the well. It is thought that King Solomon was anointed and crowned king of Israel at this site. Among the ruins found in the city were personal seals for signing letters and documents bearing the names their owners – people who were mentioned in the bible.
  • One of the most fascinating parts of the City of David is the tunnel of Shiloh – a 533-meter-long tunnel that was carved during the period of King Hezkiyahu. The tunnel extends from the city to the well at Shiloh, and is an astounding engineering feat. Its builders carved the tunnel through solid rock beginning from opposite ends and succeeded in making the two sides meet in the middle. Visitors can walk through the tunnel which is partially filled with water, and come out at the pools of Shiloh.

This was fascinating!  Christine actually walked the tunnel of Shiloh.  I didn’t walk that shaft because the water is ice cold and comes up to your waist – I am just getting over something and didn’t want to risk it.  But, I did walk through a dry shaft and then on our way to meet the others went up to what is thought to be David’s Tomb.  It is empty, but the Bible says that David was buried there and they have found no other evidence of any other tombs – so it is logical to assume this must be his.  Actually, there are two tombs – a smaller one and a much larger one.  I went into the tomb and just wondered if it really was the tomb of King David.

Western Wall Tunnels – Educational

  • Immediately after the Six Day War, the Ministry of Religious Affairs began the project of exposing the entire length of the Western Wall.
  • It was a difficult operation, which involved digging beneath residential neighborhoods that had been constructed on ancient structures from the Second Temple period and were built up against the Western Wall. Some residents used underground spaces as water holes or for sewage collection. The excavations required close supervision by experts in the fields of structural engineering, securing subterranean tunnels, archeology, and of course, Jewish Law.
  • After almost twenty years, and despite enormous difficulties, the Western Wall Tunnels were excavated. This lengthy project unearthed many archeological finds which can only be described as remarkable.  These finds revealed new and unknown details about the history and the geography of the Temple Mount site.

Tonight, we visited these tunnels.  What really fascinated me was the fact that along the base on top of the first layer of foundation sits blocks of rock the length of a city bus weighing 600 tons or more.  How they moved those blocks into position is unimaginable and simply amazing.

 

From there, we stopped off for an ice cream cone and back to the hotel.  It was a great day – and by days end I felt completely back to normal.

Tomorrow – we pack up early and head up to Galilee for four days.  Excited for that adventure.  Below is our itinerary.  Tomorrow would have been my mom’s birthday – our first without her.  I will be thinking about her alot. God is good!

Thursday, Oct 8                 Day 5     Ministry Foundations-to Galilee (HOUSING @ EN GEV)

3 hour bus ride and minimal hiking today

Sea of Galilee over next 4 days.

          • Sepphoris
          • Nazareth Village
          • Nazareth precipice
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