Ancient Jerusalem Main Street at the Temple Mount

Mark 11:15

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

John 2:15

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

When the guide told us that we were standing on the "Once Upon A Time ..." main street of Jerusalem, it was really hard to believe that in the midst of all these ruins, this place was once filled with activities and noise of people moving about their daily business of buying and selling very much like our wet market in KL.

And when the guide told us that one of the 4 arches found at the side could have been the shop of the Money changers that Jesus had their tables overturned, I could not picture the scene at all in my mind. From what I have seen in movies before, the tables that Jesus overturned was more like the tables of our Pasar Malam traders. Here, I am looking at the possibility of the Money changers'  tables being in one of these "shops".

As I stood in the midst of all the ruins around me, I can't help feeling a tinge of sadness that nothing that was once so beautiful and majestic is left standing for us to admire today. Why didn't God allow His beautiful Temple to be preserved? It would be a fantastic testimony to His power and greatness.

As I stood there, I actually "questioned" the wisdom of God. If the Temple was still standing today, I would be so proud to associate myself with it's grandeur and magnificence. Now all I have are pictures of a pile of stones that is not even nice or valuable, to go back with. How can I declare the glory of God with these photos? 

But at the end of our guide's briefing, he said, "This is exactly as Yeshua had said ..." Now who can question what Jesus has already said will happen? My apologies Jesus. I shall not question your wisdom. Jesus had already said that this would happen and it is recorded in the Bible.

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

Mark 13 

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Matthew 24

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 21                                                                                                                                      5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

Video 1 : Introduction to the Ancient Jerusalem Main Street

Video 2 : Explanation on the Walls along the Main Street

Video 3 : How the Jews declared the start of Sabbath back then

Video 4 : The personal markings of the ancient builder on the wall

Video 5 : Intro to the underground road from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount.

Western Wall on Temple Mount

I have very often heard from people that the Western Wall has a special effect on a person when they are standing in front of it. I was told that tears automatically falls when we stand there. Is that why this wall is also called the Wailing Wall?

Well I have been there and I have joined in the ranks of those people whose tears fell automatically while standing in front of it. 

I learned something unique about the way the Jews pray. Most of them will be nodding like rocking front and back while they are praying. Ever wondered why?

We were told that they do this because they are telling God that they are alive and worshipping Him. They are not standing in His presence like statues that has no life but they are living beings worshipping Him. WOW!!! From now on, I must make it a point to move a bit during worship time. I want to tell Him, I am alive and worshipping and I am not standing as a "statue" in His presence.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 This video is our Tour Guide's explanation on the Western Wall

This video is a compilation of photos at the Western Wall with 

Ps Chris Choo's explanation on the Wall

Temple Mount

The Videos below are the explanations given by our Israeli Tour Guide about the Temple Mount. We were standing in line to go into the Temple Mount for about 1 hour. Our waiting time was made bearable by our Guide's commentary.

Video 1 : Introduction to the Temple Mount

Video 2 : Intro to the Walls surrounding the Temple Mount 

Video 3 : Intro to the "Wall Street" 

Video 4 : A brief  on the security control on the Temple Mount

Video 5 : A brief on the 2nd Temple or Herod's Temple

Video 6 : A brief on the 1st Temple or Solomon's Temple

Video 7 : A brief on the Western Wall

Video 8 : A brief on the West Bank

Video 9 : A brief on the difference between an Israeli citizen and a resident

Video 10 : A brief on Solomon's Stables & Mt of Olives

Video 11 : A brief on the Dome of the Rock

Video 12 : A brief on the Russian Orthodox Church and their Cross

Video 13 : 1st Clip : The Gate of Mercy or Palm Sunday Gate

Video 14 : Continuation from the above and a little on Gethsemane at the end

Video 15 : Continuation from the above and a little explanation on the Olive Tree

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This is a drawing of the Temple Mount where Solomon's Temple was located.

 This is another drawing giving the names of the different locations on the Temple Mount

 This is an aerial view of the present Temple Mount

This is the present site of the Temple Mount

 This is a drawing with names of the locations on the Temple Mount

Please note : The above pictures have been taken from other online sites. This is to give us a better understanding of the Temple Mount. 

Below is the voice of Ps Chris Choo's explanation on the significance of the Temple Mount to us Christians. 

Ps Chris on the Temple Mount Part 1

Ps Chris on the Temple Mount Part 2

The Golden Gate

Mark 11 (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

John 12:12-15 (NIV)                                                                                                                                12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;

    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”

Zechariah 9:9

The Coming of Zion’s King

 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

Luke 19:35-38 (NIV)

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”                                                “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

These were the verses that Jesus and his disciples chanted while entering into the Temple grounds through the Golden Gate.

Psalms 118 24-26:

24 The Lord has done it this very day;

    let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us!

    Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you. 

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Out of all the Gates found around the Walls on the Temple Mount, the most significant Gate to us Christians would be this Golden Gate. Through these gates, Jesus entered Jerusalem being welcomed as King by the people 2000 years ago.

That day, I stood there looking at the gates that are sealed by bricks on the outside and with iron gates from the inside, I had mixed emotions. In fact I was a bit confused. Why did God allow this very significant gate to be sealed by others? To add salt to the wound, there lies a muslim gravesite right next to the gate which actually blocks the entrance. Most of us pilgrims actually stood there shaking our heads as we looked at the "devastation" and "desecration" of this "once upon a time ..." beautiful, triumphant Gate which Jesus is supposed to walk through again the next time He comes.

While we all tried to encourage each other by saying, "Nothing is impossible with God" and asked "Do they really think that bricks and stones can prevent Jesus from coming through again?" 

We found our answer and encouragement only when we arrived home and sat down to piece our trip together. Thanks to my fellow pilgrims' research, I was told that it had already been prophesied in the Old Testament that this gate would be sealed and only will be opened again when Jesus comes again the second time.

Ezekiel 44:1-3 (NIV)

Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.” 

View of the Golden Gate from Gethsemane on Mount of Olives

This is a Chart showing the directions of the Gates situated around the Temple Mount.

From this Chart, I see that Malaysia and Singapore are situated in the direction of  the Golden Gate. It is up to us as individuals to seek God and discover if there is a divine purpose as to why we are in the Golden Gate Zone.

After I came back from this trip, I was asked to listen to a series of messages that had connection with the Holy Land. I was both humbled and burdened by the message as the preacher said we in Malaysia has a calling and a mandate from God in the last days, before Jesus actually comes again to walk through the Golden Gate.

You may listen to the messages I am referring to by clicking on the links below :

Sat, 15 February 2014

FIND your destiny, FOLLOW your destiny, FULFILL your destiny

Speaker: Dr George Annadorai
Date: 15-02-2014 (Sat Svc)

Direct download: 15-02-2014_Sat_Svc.mp3
Category:Sermon -- posted at: 8:00 AM

Sun, 16 February 2014

Understanding the Times and the Season

Speaker: Dr George Annadorai
Date: 16-02-2014 (1st Svc)

Direct download: 16-02-2014_1st_Svc.mp3
Category:Sermon -- posted at: 8:00 AM

Sun, 16 February 2014

The Isaiah Highway

Speaker: Dr George Annadorai
Date: 16-02-2014 (2nd Svc)

Direct download: 16-02-2014_2nd_Svc.mp3
Category:Sermon -- posted at: 8:00 AM