Can the Temple of Jerusalem be Built Now??

There are plans for a third temple to be built and it is possible for Israel to start building today.  What is stopping this from happening?  The problem is that we do not know where the location of Solomon's Temple was.

There are three possible locations that we will talk about here.  All three have their advocates and all three locations have evidence to back them up.

The Dome of the Rock.  Many believe that the rock, which the Dome of the Rock Mosque covers was the location where the Ark of the Covenant sat within the Holy of Holies.  The mosque sits on the Temple Mount, dominating all of Jerusalem.  When you see a picture of Jerusalem the golden dome of the mosque stands out.  This is the third most holy place to the Muslims and they are very aggressive in protecting it. If the Jews were to destroy this mosque all of the surrounding Arab countries would go to war.  One answer to this problem is for God himself to sweep His hand across the Temple Mount and destroy the Dome of the Rock.  If God wants the temple to be built in this location, He will somehow have to destroy it by natural means, by an Arab missile or bomb, or some means not connected to the Jews.  However, if God wants the temple built here, no one will stand in His way.

The Dome of the Spirits. 330 feet north of the Dome of the Rock is a small dome called the Dome of the Spirits, or the Dome of the Tablets.  This northern site on the Temple Mount is in the hands of the Arabs who aggressively guard the Temple Mount, but it might be possible for the Muslims to keep the Dome of the Rock while the Jews built a temple next to it.  How likely is this?  It would take an act of God to accomplish this, but with God all things are possible.

The Southern Location.  The Southern location would put the Temple south of the Temple Mount in the old city of David.  There are problems with the first two sites that if the temple was located there, those problems would be answered.  For example: The Temple needed living water, which is running water and could not be water from a cistern.  Solomon's Aqueducts would have been 20 meters too low to service the Temple Mount.  So where did the water come from?

Let's look at this location tomorrow and see what Biblical reasons and historical documents say about the actual location of Solomon's Temple.  If this is the actual location, there is nothing at all stopping Israel from building the temple at this very hour.

CLICK HERE for part 2 on the location of the Temple.
To read Part 3 in this series, CLICK HERE.

Photo Credits: The Temple Mount by J. Griffin Steward and Dome of the Spirits (facing north_1889 by James Emery

The Netanyahu Prophecy

Robert Mawire and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Arabs are coming to Christ because of dreams they are having.  God is bringing them to the knowledge of Christ, so is it that hard to believe that God might speak to the Jewish Prime Minister?  I believe it is not only possible but very likely that God would speak to the man who leads His Chosen People.

Benjamin Netanyahu became the youngest person to achieve the post of Prime Minister in June of 1996.  During his first term, he visited the United States.  While in Dallas a Christian African minister named Robert Mawire met a man who introduced him to Netanyahu.  The Prime Minister agreed to give Robert a minute for the prophetic word that Robert said he had for him.  Netanyahu joked to Robert, "Have you not read in the Bible that we stone our prophets?"

Robert was undeterred and told the Prime Minister, "I have placed you in this position, says the LORD.  Do not give up my land.  If you do give up my land, I will remove you from this position."

Netanyahu laughed and didn't take it seriously.  Later President Bill Clinton pressured Netanyahu to give up some land to PLO leader, Yasser Arafat.  It was soon after that when Benjamin Netanyahu's government collapsed and he lost his seat as Prime Minister.

Years later ex-Prime Minister Netanyahu was at a Florida gathering of supporters for Israel.  The same African minister tried to meet him saying, "I have another word.  I have to speak to him again."  Netanyahu meets with Robert and remembers him.  This time Netanyahu takes Robert seriously.

"You will once again become Prime Minister of Israel.  If you honor His covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding Israel, he will honor you and exalt you.  But if you disregard His covenant and give away His land, he will dishonor you.  Be strong and of good courage, for unto this people you shall divide an inheritance, the land that I swore to their fathers that I would give them.  Do not ever negotiate land for peace...God is not done with you.  You will be Prime Minister again in a critical time of history."

It was at about this time that Barak Obama became president of the United States and Benjamin Netanyahu became Prime Minister.  Obama pressured Netanyahu to give up land, but he refused.  Netanyahu would not give up any land because God had told him not to.   Obama despised Netanyahu and even tried to get him removed from power.  It looked like Benjamin Netanyahu was going to lose the re-election but miraculously he won and retained office.

When Robert had given the prophecy at the second meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he said, "This is what it is all about." and pulled out a picture of the temple of Jerusalem and held it up.

"You will be the Prime Minister for the restoration of the tabernacle of David."

Is this story true?  From my research (I am a skeptic at heart) I have found it to be very true.  Is this a word from God?  I believe so.  He also gave a similar prophecy to Ariel Sharon telling him he would become Prime Minister in 6 months.   Ariel Sharon was also told that if he gave land away God would strike him. At the time it looked like Sharon would be on trial for war crimes and his political career was over.  Six months later he was Prime Minister but he gave away land for peace. A few short months after removing Jews from settlements in the Gaza, Ariel Sharon had a minor stroke.  He was scheduled for an operation but the day before it he had a major stroke and went into a coma.  Eight years later he died, never having come out of his coma.

So what does this all mean?  If Benjamin Netanyahu is to be Prime Minister of Israel for the restoration of the tabernacle of David, it must not be far in the future.  The Tabernacle of David was where the Ark of the Covenant was kept in Jerusalem while the Temple was built.  Could it be long before the sacrifices start up?  Can the Temple be built soon?  What about the Temple Mount and the mosque on it?  Let's talk about that tomorrow.

What is ahead for 2018

Happy New Years everyone.  I hope your past year has been a good one and that God blesses you with an even more wonderful 2018.  God promises to be with those who follow Him. There are many, many verses about how God is with us.  In Isaiah, Jesus is named Immanuel which means "God with us."

2017 has been called "A year of disasters" for good reason.  The Red Cross said it was a record year for disaster response. We had hurricane after hurricane almost right on top of each other this year.  We have the largest forest fire in California history.  Worldwide the story is the same. Natural disaster after natural disaster.

Wars and rumors of wars are increasing.  Today Russia, Iran, Turkey and others are within a few miles of Israel's borders and their armies are growing larger.  President Trump declared that the United States is moving the embassy from Tele Viv to Jerusalem and the Arab countries are having a fit.  The UN is up in arms about it, but President Trump is standing firm.  This could be the spark to set off the Ezekial 38 war. (click here for more on that)

Will 2018 be better?  That depends on you.  According to the Bible, all these events are like birth pains.  The closer to the birth (In this case the return of Jesus Christ) the greater and more frequent come the pains.  These signs will keep increasing in number, strength, and frequency.  Just like when a woman gives birth, it will not end until the end.

If you are a Christian, you need only trust God with your life and well being.  He will care for you and be with you.  Also, I believe the rapture will occur before the seven-year time which begins when the Anti-Christ comes forth with an agreement with Israel and ends when Jesus returns.  This will be a time of God's wrath upon the earth.

Personally, when I look at where the world sits prophetically, I don't think Christians will see 2019 while still on this earth.  I firmly believe the rapture will occur any day now.  This is not from God but from me, but looking at the signs of the times, your next breath might be of Heavenly air.

This means that the time is short.  Satan knows this and his demons are working overtime.  We also should be working to tell others that the time is short and they must come to Christ.  This is not the time to relax, sell everything and sit on a mountain to pray.

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look to the fields, that they are white for harvest." John 4:35

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

What Color is Snow?

The LORD says within Isaiah 1:18, "Though your sins be as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;"

I have been turning over ideas of what to write today.  I was looking out the window at the falling snow as I asked God what I should say.  The portion of Isaiah 1:18 concerning snow kept coming to mind. 

"Lord, what can be said about snow?  When our sins are forgiven they turn from scarlet and sinful to white like snow.  Lord, there isn't that much to the verse to write about."

It then occurred to me (To give credit where credit is due: The Lord reminded me) snow is not white.  That's right, snow is not really white.  Snow is actually transparent.  Snow is ice crystals with no color at all.  Snow is transparent and it reflects all light which makes it appear to be white.

We are to be white like the snow.  Our lives are to be transparent, with no sin found within.  When we are transparent and sin-free then we will reflect the light and become dazzling white reflectors of the Glory of God.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Joy to the World

One of the great Christmas Carols is "Joy to the World"  It is a fun, upbeat hymn that lifts your heart up in praise.

Joy to the world, The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

In the little town of Bethlehem our King, Jesus the Christ, was born.  He was announced by Angels to the shepherds,  He was greeted by the wise men from the east.  The King of the Universe, God Himself had come to Earth.  Even though there was no room for him and his parents that night, this song asks you to prepare a place for him in your heart.    The King desires to dwell within you.

This hymn is actually speaking of the second coming of Christ, when he comes to rule the world for one thousand years and beyond.  But the truth of the hymn is that it also applies to us today.  We are to be joyful to have Him as our King.   He wants to be our king.  He wants to bless us with His presence in our lives.

What greater Joy can man experience than the Joy of Christ as King.  Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

Photo Credit: Joy to the World by Art4TheGlryOfGod by sharon

The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

I am not sure Christians know what gentleness is.  I have written comments on Facebook, where Christians who I know and respect, have become vile and angry in their replies.  The subjects of the matter are not the issue, but the response.   Our response in all cases should reflect the Fruit of the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."  Galatians 5:22-23

All people, non-Christian as well as Christian, should behave in this manner simply out of politeness, but Christians should because The Holy Spirit dwells within us and His fruit should be shining forth from us.

I have a sister in the Lord who wrote a post about Obama and got many nasty replies.  The vileness of them was threatening.  What are we becoming when we shun the fruit of the Spirit for angry words which display hate and evil?  We are to be Children of the light, Children of God, but we sink to become Children of the darkness and Children who speak the words of Satan himself.

Matthew 10:16 says that Jesus is sending us out like sheep among wolves.  The Christian is to be like a harmless sheep among vicious wolves.  The world wants to tear us apart.  Let us not help the world by tearing each other apart as well.

We also are not to stop speaking the truth of God or against people, laws, or anything else which is a Godless abomination against the will of God.  Matthew says Jesus is sending us out.  He is not keeping us in a safe barn but sending us out among the wolves to proclaim what is true and good.

Speak forth the truth Christians.  Speak the truth with love and gentleness and shine forth the light of God.  You are not called to be silent, but to tell the world about righteousness and salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Photo Credit: Fruit of the Spirit Graphics by Sapphire Dream Photography

The Arch of Titus

The background of this blog is a picture of the carvings on the Arch of Titus in Rome.  It was an arch built to honor Titus' victory over the Jews and taking Jerusalem and capturing the temple.  On the arch, you can see the seven-branch menorah taken as part of the spoils of war.  It was a trophy that stood out from all others to show that the Jews were utterly conquered.

There were many nations conquered by Rome who never came back into power.  After almost two thousand years Israel became a nation again.  Their national seal for Israel is the Menorah and where did they find a picture of the Menorah?  The Roman Empire, who sought to wipe out the Jewish nation actually helped to preserve an image of Israel's precious sacred golden Menorah.  Even when nations try to destroy God's people, God uses them to help preserve them.

You can never stop the plans of God.  What He purposes, He fulfills.  God turns destruction into victories and death into life.  Curses become blessings and darkness becomes light.  The things which man designs to destroy and kill, God can turn around to bless His people and destroy His enemies.

Never doubt God.  He is always faithful.  When the mountains before you look too great, look to Jesus instead.