Rebuilding the Jewish Temple

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS
A cornerstone
for 3rd Temple?
As tensions rise in Mideast, Jews set to begin symbolic rebuilding

By Julie Foster

As violence in the Middle East escalates, an Israeli group plans a symbolic effort to begin building the Third Temple of Israel tomorrow in Jerusalem -- a move the Arab-American community calls a "very grave provocation."

In biblical times, the people of Israel worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem -- the hub of Jewish activity. After Israel's enemies destroyed the temple, it was rebuilt only to be destroyed again in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire. The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement announced its plans Friday to lay a cornerstone to the Third Temple in an anointing ceremony.

The event poses a threat to Muslims, as the site of the new temple, the Temple Mount, is also the location of the Dome of the Rock -- a Muslim mosque.

In its "Vision of Redemption," the Temple Mount Faithful Movement states its belief that the creation of the modern state of Israel is "the beginning of the redemption of the world," which is completed with the building of the Third Temple.

Led by Gershon Salomon, the movement explains its reasons for the timing of the plan to rebuild the historic Jewish Temple.

"Two and one-half millennia ago, the Hebrew prophets spoke that in the 'last days' G-d would regather His people from all the lands where He had scattered them," states the group's website. "For the last 100 years the Jewish people have been returning to and rebuilding Zion. Today Israel is again the dynamic center of Jewish life across the world. The regathering is not yet complete. Ezekiel prophesied that G-d would 'leave none of them there any longer.'"

In the Jewish faith, the name of God is so holy that it is never spelled out in its entirety. "It is the view of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful that the redemption will proceed in an orderly fashion according to G-d's plan," the statement continues.

The group plans to anoint a four-and-a-half ton marble cornerstone, which will be covered with Israeli flags and driven to the Temple Mount on a flatbed truck. Participants will also bring "reconstructed vessels for the Third Temple, a priest in the original garments, and Levites who will play music," recreating historical temple activities.

According to a statement by the Temple Mount Faithful, "The event has the approval of the Israeli authorities and will be protected by the Israel security forces."

Reaction by the Arab-American community to the scheduled event is strong. In a letter sent Friday to U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, the American Committee on Jerusalem warned against the "explosive consequence of such an act."

"We urge the United States government to ensure that the government of Israel takes all necessary actions to prevent such a blatant provocation, particularly in view of its failure to do so two weeks ago," when the current Middle East conflict erupted.

Written by ACJ President Rashid Khalidi, the letter conludes, "ACJ stresses with the utmost urgency the importance of the U.S. government taking this matter up immediately with the government of Israel."

The Temple Mount Faithful attempted to lay the cornerstone of the Third Temple more than a year ago but was prevented from doing so by the Israeli government due to the potential for further violence. Some Israelis believe that to begin full-scale construction of the temple, the Dome of the Rock must first be torn down. Others believe the Temple can be built adjacent to the Muslim shrine.

"This effort to go and actually attack the mosque is a very, very grave provocation," said Ali Abunimah, vice president of the Arab-American Action Network, who called the Temple Mount Faithful an "extremist group." "Israel will be solely responsible for any provocation and any consequences," he added.

But Salomon's movement is determined to go through with the ceremony. "G-d is ready for this and He expects Israel to re-liberate the Temple Mount from the pagan Arab worshippers and to rebuild His house to again be the heart, soul and focus of Israel and all the nations," Salomon wrote. "The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement has decided to wait no more and to bring the G-d of Israel back to His rebuilt house ..."

Julie Foster is a staff reporter for WorldNetDaily.

Is there a follow-up to this news item?

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

We have a super network locally that extends to most of the state and it carries religious broadcasting all but just a few hours out of the week. Sometimes I listen to Perry Stone's presentations regarding the past and current events from Israel's point of view. Of late, he has been examining symbols of the sanctuary. While the beliefs are not 100% parallel to ours, he is searching. He suggested last week that the shofar, could be utilized to herald the worship service. It gave me some kind of goosebumps because one Sabbath the head deacon did precisely that. We were climaxing the VBS program; "Palestine A.D."

He was comparing the shofar as how we are as an individual, filled with flesh and blood (as taken from the animal), cleaned out, and used in God's service to call others to come worship. But then while I was extremely interested in the lecture, I was also extremely tired so I missed a lot.

So, has anyone heard if the event has taken place on Friday and if any further problems have erupted as a result of it? Is it possible that all the blood shed of the past 2 or 3 weeks is because of the cornerstone?
Happy Sabbath to all.

I am unable to find any information about whether the The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement made their attempt this past Friday. I think if they had, it would have been in some of the news.

Things are getting worse in the region. Tonight I read that Yemen, Iraq and Libya are calling for war against Israel. The fighting hasn't stopped, and apparently Arafat has lost control of his officials. When trouble brews in this hotbed area of the world, so many people start thinking Armegeddon. Of course, those who allow the Bible to explain itself, understand that any war in Israel or the Middle East cannot be the biblical battle of Armegeddon.

What is bad is that if this turns into a major war it will involve several countries and cost the lives of probably thousands, perhaps more, most of whom will go down to Christless graves. Surely we need to be praying that God's will be done in this situation.

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Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

Yes let us cautiously keep a close eye on the situation there and pray for their safety there.

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

I finally found an update to the orginal story.

quote:

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Due to the situation which currently exists in Israel, the Israeli authorities decided that the anointing and laying of the cornerstone for the Third Temple could not be performed on the 16th October as we had planned to do. Up until the last moment the authorities told us that the event could go ahead but then, because of the events which occurred on that day, they took this decision.

What we were allowed to do according to the new decision of the authorities was to congregate at the Western Wall Plaza at the western gate of the Temple Mount, to march in this area and to bring the testimony of this historical event and to demonstrate. We called on the Israeli authorities not to be in fear of the Arab violence but to trust in the G-d of Israel to immediately prevent these evil attacks on Israel and to lay the cornerstone for the Third Temple on the Temple Mount as G-d expects us to do at this godly time. For three hours we marched in this area in front of the Temple Mount and demonstrated.

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These paragraphs come froma an article published on the website of the Temple Mount Faithful Movement, the group that plans to lay the stone and build the temple.

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________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda