Philadelphia Church of God

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Jerusalem, Temple Mount, and the Third Temple

Will the pope act like Belshazzar or Cyrus?
Will Rome learn from history and receive instruction from the Bible or harden their hearts and be destroyed like pharaoh and Babylon?

A House of Prayer For All Peoples?
Jewish guards prevent Christians and Jews from exercising their religious right to pray on the Temple Mount? That's right! Only Muslims have unlimited access to Judaism's most holy site. Only the Koran is permitted within. The Tanach (Jewish Scripture, known to much of the world as the "Old Testament") and Christian Scriptures (the New Testament) are forbidden. Yet Israel claims to respect the religious rights of all people.

Major Upheaval in Israel?
Will an EARTHQUAKE shake Israel to its foundations and rock the world? Would the destruction of the Western/Wailing Wall and the demolition of the "Dome of the Rock" and Al-Aksa mosques—by an ACT OF GOD—serve further notice that it's time to build the Temple?

Third Temple Coming Soon to Jerusalem!
"And let them make me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them" (Ex. 25:8). This holy command in the Scriptures seems clear enough, so what's the problem? Why has Israel tolerated Jerusalem’s "abomination of desolation" — a Temple Mount without a Temple? Why haven't the religious leaders encouraged the people to do what they can in fulfilling this mitzva?

The Temple of God in Holy Jerusalem
Paul, speaking of the imminent Third Temple, the holy TEMPLE OF GOD (the Temple of God - not just of the Jews or any other conspiracy theory that contradicts Scripture), that Europe's wannabe divine emperor will pollute, coveting it since Satan knows (even if some religious folks don't) it is the TEMPLE OF GOD...

Jews Must Demand Rights to Temple Mount
During a 1995 Root and Branch lecture in Jerusalem, Professor Nahum Rakover, author and then Deputy Attorney General of Israel, publicly agreed with me that it isn't illegal for Christians or Jews to pray upon the Temple Mount, even though it is forcibly prevented by the police.

The Issue of the Temple Mount
The common knowledge of our time is that the vast majority of Rabbis of this generation have prohibited the Jewish people from entering the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit), the holiest site in Judaism. The Temple Mount is the site of where the Beit HaMikdash (the Jewish Temple) once stood and the place where the Moslems have erected one mosque, the al-Aqsa and a site of pilgrimage, the Dome of the Rock.

Restore Israeli Sovereignty Over Temple Mount
The Wakf, the militant Muslim authority that oversees Jerusalem's Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site and Islam's alleged third holiest site (following Mecca and Medina) continue to show blatant disregard for Jewish, Christian and biblical history and non-Muslim sensitivities.

Where's the Temple On the Temple Mount?
Something's missing. Rome is synonymous with the Vatican, Mecca with the Kaaba, and Jerusalem's known for its Western Wall. But why should we stand before the wall, letting it obstruct our vision, when we could be praying in a Temple? Why should Jews continue to bow before an illegitimate Gentile decree that tells them where to pray? (Isaiah 10:1).

The Vatican Must Return the Temple Treasures
The Jews have prayed for 2,000 years to again see the Temple upon the Temple Mount. It's past time for prayers alone: ACTION is necessary to put faith into practice!

G-d Doesn't Listen to Jewish Prayers at the Western Wall
Gershon Salomon warned Israel and its leadership that as long as the shameful situation on the Temple Mount continues, and as long as they do not obey the call of G-d, peace will not come to the land. The enemies of Israel will continue to desire her land and will pressure those in power to divide it. Obedience to the call of G-d will bring peace, all of Israel's enemies will be removed and no one will wish to divide or desire the land.

Why Edward Abington, Jr. Must Be Investigated!
"The American Diplomat in Arafat's Corner," published in The Jerusalem Report, came as no surprise to me. It was referring to Edward Abington, Jr., the United States' former consul general in Jerusalem who is now "guiding the Palestinians through the labyrinths of Washington. And his firm is being paid $2.25 million for his expertise."

Israel's Unjust Deportation of David Ben-Ariel
As a Christian-American member of the Temple Mount Faithful Movement, I had been privileged to participate in their legal demonstrations during my 10-month stay in Jerusalem awaiting dual citizenship. Israeli television often showed me with my Jewish friends carrying Israeli flags throughout the Old City.

Blow Up the Mosques or An Expired Visa?
Once again, an attempt to spread DISinformation about my unjust deportation from Israel, only provides me with another opportunity to clearly state my case and continue to highlight the plight of the Temple Mount suffering under a Nazi-Muslim occupation...

From Toledo to Jerusalem
You could say I have a God-given love for the Jews and the nation of Israel (Isaiah 62:6-7). That sacred bond has been strengthened over the years by the fact that I've been blessed to have lived all over Israel, getting to know its land and people quite well.

Dangerous Ideas?
During my brief appearance before Israel's High Court, the prosecution charged that I hold "dangerous ideas." I suppose the short-sighted prosecution would ban the Bible if he could since it contains the "dangerous ideas" that millions believe in! What are those "dangerous ideas?"

American Detained in Jerusalem's Russian CompoundNobody arrested me. I was detained when I faithfully reported to the police office at 9 a.m. Monday morning, January 9, 1996 (day before my birthday) the day after The Jerusalem Post published on their front page an article shedding light on what they were doing in the dark: "GSS Seeks to Deport American Citizen for Plot to Blow Up Al Aksa Mosque."

Temple Mount Faithful

Temple Mount Faithful Succoth and Hanukkah 2008

Be'Ezrat Hashem
With the Help of G-d

The Temple Mount Faithful Feast of Tabernacles Celebration - 5769/2008

In the midst of a critical time of redemption in Israel -- and during a very complicated time of trouble all over the world, the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement held one of its most exciting events in its campaign to build the Third Temple in our lifetime. Now, more than any other time in the past, our materialistic generation needs the G-d of Israel to dwell in the midst of our daily lives. This generation needs the light of G-d to shine into the darkness that is now spreading to the four corners of the earth. As was prophesied through the prophets of Israel, G-d chose this time to bring about His plans with Israel in order to begin the endtime redemption of the entire world.

In a time when so many people in the world are searching and seeking after materialistic achievements and serving the "Golden Calf", the Faithful Movement has been involved in intensive endtime activities. We have been seeking the spirit, the morals, the values and the word of the G-d of Israel. We have been demonstrating for the rebuilding of His Holy House in Jerusalem and for the coming of Mashiach Ben David in our lifetime.

This most recent event took place on Thursday, 17 Tishrei 5769/October 16, 2008, during the Feast of Succoth -- the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Succoth Festival is one of the most exciting holidays in the life of Israel. It is one of the three festivals during which G-d commanded Israel to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to His Holy Temple. He called Israel to come that they would know His love for His people, and that they would show their love to Him. In this festival G-d calls His people to be filled with joy in the land that He gave them in an eternal covenant. As we marched to the Temple Mount on this day, we felt the Spirit of G-d covering us with great love. We felt like we were in heaven when we walked on the Holy Ground, the most holy place in all the world. This is the same place where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, King Solomon and all the prophets of Israel, along with many millions of Israelites, walked to show their love to their Father G-d. This is also the festival during which King Solomon completed the building of the First Temple. He dedicated and anointed it in an exciting ceremony, during which the Ark of the Covenant was brought up from the Tent of David and located in the Holy of Holies, on the Holy Rock of Abraham and Isaac (1 Kings 7:51; 8:12).

On the Temple Mount we could feel that time is short. We knew that the day of the rebuilding of the Temple is soon to come. Gershon Salomon called on the people of Israel to prepare themselves for this great day. He called upon them to stop praying and worshiping in the front of the Western Wall. He said to the people of Israel that G-d can no more accept the prayers outside of His Holy Hill.

He called the leadership of Israel to remove the pagan Muslim enemy and his shrines from the Holy Mountain of G-d, and to do it without delay. This is the call of G-d at this time, and we must answer His call without delay.

From the Temple Mount the Faithful, together with many Israelis and friends from outside of Israel, marched to the ancient City of David. We marched to the historic Pool of Siloam that was re-discovered a year ago. This pool and the accompanying tunnel were dug by King Hezekiah 2,800 years ago. This march renewed an exciting event that was celebrated by our forefathers during the Feast of Succoth, in the time of the First and Second Temple. At that time, thousands of pilgrims marched from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam to draw the Holy Water from the pool, while offering prayers to the G-d of Israel. They then marched back to the Temple to pour out the water on the altar, and to pray for a blessed year with much rain for the crops. This exciting event is described in the historical sources as the most joyful and most exciting event in the lives of the people of Israel:

"All the streets of Jerusalem were lit up with many lights. The High Priest and all the other priests, dressed in their beautiful garments, walked in front of the pilgrims, together with the King of Israel. The priests were followed by the Levities playing on the musical instruments, playing and singing songs. Jerusalem was emptied of people as they joined the marchers and danced all the way from the Temple to the pool."

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement renewed this exciting event. The City of David, which again is being settled by Israelis, experienced this joyful and exciting event after being destroyed almost two thousand years ago. The surrounding mountains were once again witnesses to great godly events carried out by the children of Israel. They watched as the G-d of Israel regathered them back to the Holy Land and to Jerusalem, to rebuild His House and His Holy Kingdom.

The traditional ceremony at the Pool of Siloam started when a priest with the Faithful Movement drew the water using vessels that were especially made for use in the soon coming Third Temple. This was then followed by prayers, songs of the psalms and thanks to the G-d of Israel Who gave us the privilege of living in such an exciting generation.

After this joyful ceremony the Faithful marched again to the Temple Mount, carrying the water that was drawn from the pool, just as our forefathers had done. The water was poured on a large group of heavy stones which had been thrown down by the Romans when they destroyed the Temple in 70 CE. This is only a temporary measure; we will do everything we can to make sure that on the next Feast of Tabernacles the water will be poured on the altar in the rebuilt Temple, exactly as our forefathers did.

The Revival of the Holy Assembly of "Hakhel"

One of the most holy events held in the Temple was the "Holy Assembly of Hakhel". This assembly was held every seven years on the Feast of Tabernacles, after the "Smitah" year was finished ("Smitah" is the sabbatical year of the ground, when fields are left fallow every seventh year). It was a very exciting and holy event. Hundreds of thousands pilgrims, along with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, gathered on the Temple Mount and inside the Temple. They would listen to the High Priest as he read the Commandments of G-d from the book of Deuteronomy, in the Holy Torah.

The event of "Hakhel" was one of the most exciting events during the times the Temple stood. Every one could feel the presence of the G-d of Israel so strongly, just as if G-d Himself was speaking to His beloved people Israel. The desire today of the people of Israel for the rebuilding of the House of G-d is also an expression of desire to once again experience this most exciting godly event.

From its very beginning, the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement decided to renew the events that are connected with the worship in the Temple so that we shall be ready to fulfill all of them when the Temple is rebuilt. The event of "Hakhel" was an important step towards this fulfillment. Because we could not do it this year on the Temple Mount, we held the event in front of the walls of the Temple Mount and the stones of the Temple itself. Our faces were directed to the Holy of Holies as we read the Commandments of Deuteronomy with great excitement. Two thousand years after the destruction of the Temple, the G-d of Israel could hear His People Israel reading His Word, with prayers that came from the bottom of their hearts. These were prayers for the rebuilding of the Temple in our lifetime, and for holding this exciting godly event next year in the right place, in the rebuilt Temple. We would like to present some of the Commandments that were heard at the Holy Hill of G-d on this special event of the Faithful Movement. Hopefully, this will express the godly atmosphere that covered us with love and blessed our hearts:

"You stand this day all of you before the LORD your GOD; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Yisra'el, your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood to the drawer of thy water; that thou shouldst enter into the covenant of the LORD thy GOD, and into his oath, which the LORD thy GOD makes with thee this day: that he may establish thee today for a people to himself, and that he may be to thee a GOD, as he has said to thee, and as he has sworn to thy fathers, to Avraham, to Yizhaq, and to Ya'aqov. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that stands here with us this day before the LORD our GOD, and also with him that is not here with us this day" (Deuteronomy 29:9-14)

"Hear, O Yisra'el: The LORD our GOD; the LORD is one. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy arm, and they shall be as frontlets between thy eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thy house, and on thy gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

"For if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your GOD, to walk in all his ways, and to hold fast to him; then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and you shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness to the Levanon, from the river, the river Perat, to the uttermost sea shall be your border. There shall no man be able to stand against you: for the LORD your GOD shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that you shall tread upon, as he has spoken to you" (Deuteronomy 11:22-25)

"For thou art a holy people to the LORD thy GOD: the LORD thy GOD has chosen thee to be a special people to himself, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, or choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples: but because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, has the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Par'o king of Mizrayim. Know therefore that the LORD thy GOD, he is GOD, the faithful GOD, who keeps covenant and troth with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; and repays them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hates him, he will repay him to his face. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them" (Deuteronomy 7:6-11)

This Word of G-d has a special significance at this time for all the nations in the world that still do not recognize and accept the godly event of the rebirth of Israel in the Land of Israel. These nations do not accept that G-d gave Israel this land by an eternal covenant for an eternal purpose: to be a holy nation, a kingdom of priests and a light to the nations (Exodus 19:5-6). This is the answer to all of those who want to divide the land of Israel and Jerusalem, and to establish a foreign anti-godly so-called "Palestinian State" of terror that will destroy the kingdom of Israel. This is also a lesson to the people of Israel to not trust any nation, power or human being; instead they must trust only in G-d, exactly as He called them to do. He promised to stand and protect them and to give them eternal life.

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement will continue her godly campaign to build the endtime Temple of G-d on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem; and to remove from the Temple Mount -- without delay -- the pagan enemy of G-d and the people of Israel. The Faithful Movement will continue to educate the people of Israel to be a biblical nation in order that it will fulfill the mission that G-d gave them. Everyone in Israel and all over the world is called at this godly and critical time to give his hands, help, and support, and to stand with and participate in the historical campaign of the Temple Mount Faithful Movement.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Hanukkah 2008

On Hanukkah, December 2008, the Temple Mount Faithful Movement will hold a very special and exciting event. This event will start at the ancient city and tombs of the Maccabees in Modi'in (25 miles from Jerusalem) and continue all the way to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. We shall bring to mind the heritage of the Maccabees, who liberated the Temple Mount, Jerusalem and all of the Land of Israel from the control of the pagan Greeks. They purified the Temple and renewed the Holy worship to the G-d of Israel. This will be a lesson to the people of Israel and to all the world. More details and date will be shared later. Everyone that would like to participate in this important and exciting event is called to keep in touch with us and will be welcome and appreciated very much. Don't miss it!

Please contact us in Jerusalem:

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
P.O. Box 18325, 4 Aliash Street, Jerusalem, Israel
Telephone: 02.625.1112 / FAX: 02.625.1113
gershon@templemountfaithful.org
http://www.templemountfaithful.org/
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Tmflist mailing list
Tmflist@temple-mount-faithful.org
http://lists.temple-mount-faithful.org/mailman/listinfo/tmflist

Veteran's Day

God works in and through and for people at the same time. God has blessed us with the preservation of our freedoms through our veterans. Blessed be God and thank you veterans!

Onward Christian Soldiers!
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn't have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?

Separation of Church and State? Says Who?
God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men.

God's One Government Has Two Branches!
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that remains faithful to the plain truth of the Bible that Herbert W. Armstrong taught) has heard a lot about government, but many seem to have forgotten that God's ONE government has TWO branches: Church (Priest) and State (King).

Should Christians Judge?
All judgment must be tempered with mercy. Jesus clearly taught that we can see others imperfections (the "mote" in their eye) and help to remove it once we have first gotten the "beam" out of our own eye. The purpose is to help and not hurt: constructive criticism, not self-righteousness or sinister motivations.

www.davidbenariel.org