19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:19–23 (ESV)

This Temple was a holy place. But God’s plan was to replace this box with a living Temple.

In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was conquered by Titus. The devastation was overwhelming. Josephus had acted as a mediator for the Romans and, when negotiations failed, witnessed the siege and aftermath. He wrote:

Now as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be the objects of their fury (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other work to be done), [Titus] Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and Temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as they were of the greatest eminence; that is, Phasaelus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne; and so much of the wall enclosed the city on the west side. This wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison [in the Upper City], as were the towers [the three forts] also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall [surrounding Jerusalem], it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited. This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind.[2]

And truly, the very view itself was a melancholy thing; for those places which were adorned with trees and pleasant gardens, were now become desolate country every way, and its trees were all cut down. Nor could any foreigner that had formerly seen Judaea and the most beautiful suburbs of the city, and now saw it as a desert, but lament and mourn sadly at so great a change. For the war had laid all signs of beauty quite waste. Nor had anyone who had known the place before, had come on a sudden to it now, would he have known it again. But though he [a foreigner] were at the city itself, yet would he have inquired for it.[3]


Let’s try to understand the depth of what happened when the Temple was destroyed. The Temple was the place where sacrifice for sins were made. It was the place where the people of God were made right with God. God dwelled there. Now this had all been destroyed. Could man be made right with God? Where did God dwell now?

This Temple has not been rebuilt. I believe that this is significant because of what God was and is saying.

Paul said:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 2:4–10 (ESV)
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

There are arguments and wars over the boxes that we build over these holy sites, but God is bigger than any box that we can make. God’s plan is to dwell in the hearts of His people. We are the Temple. We are to be the Holy Place where God dwells. He meets us where we are, and He calls this place holy!

Muslims have built the Dome of the Rock on this holy place between 689 and 691. The spiritual significance of this place for the muslim is predominantly based upon the idea that Mohamed flew on a winged horse from Mecca to this place where he ascended to heaven and prayed with Abraham, Moses and Jesus. When he returned to earth he called all men to follow him and be a muslim.

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The Dome is maintained by the Ministry of Awqaf in Amman, Jordan.[11]

Until the mid-nineteenth century, non-Muslims were not permitted in the area. Since 1967, non-Muslims have been permitted limited access, however non-Muslims are not permitted to pray on the Temple Mount.

pastedGraphicIn 2006, the compound was reopened to non-Muslim visitors between the hours of 7:30–11:30 am and 1:30–2:30 pm during summer and 7:30–10:30 am and 1:30–2:30 pm during winter. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering after 2:30 pm and may not enter on Fridays, Saturdays, or Muslim holidays. Entry is through a wooden walkway next to the entrance to the Hebrew Western Wall. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the mosques and accessing the Temple Mount through the Cotton Market. Visitors are subject to strict security screening, and items such as Jewish prayer books and instruments are prohibited. Visits to the Dome of the Rock, however, are currently prohibited to non-Muslims who will be stopped by the guards as they approach the building.

Many Orthodox rabbis regard entry to the compound to be a violation of Jewish law. This is based on the belief that since the time the Temple was destroyed during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the precise location of the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary entered only by the High Priest, is not known. Hence a restriction applies to the entire compound. However, other rabbis believe that modern archeological and other evidence has enabled them to identify areas that can be safely entered without violating Jewish law. However even those opinions forbid Jews from entering the Dome of the Rock.

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I was guided through the Temple Mount area by a fascinating man, Dr. Ali Qleibo. He is an artists, anthropologist, author and all around renaissance man. His family heritage goes way back. In fact he considers himself to be a canaanite. He would take me to exact vantage points to get the best picture. In the above picture you will note a smaller dome over a cistern. Do you see it? This is a very significant place.

I called my mother the evening after I had been on Temple Mount. She remembered her and my father’s trip to Israel in 1992. She asked me about that little dome. She said that her and my father had gone close to that place and began to pray but entered very cautiously because they felt like they were in a holy place.

Earlier that day when we were walking on that hallowed ground, Father Bob Trache, Pastor of St Marks in Ft Lauderdale and the leader of our pilgrimage pulled me aside and told me that that was the place that most scholars believe was the location of the holy of holies. When my mother and father were feeling the presence of God so strong, they were possibly standing at the holy of holies. Although they were unaware of the scholars beliefs they knew what is was to be in a holy place.

Holy Places Move
Iyad Qumri our guide told us several times that holy places move in Israel. This is true, but the reason why holy places move is because the holy place of God’s dwelling is in the lively stones of the Church that God is building with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.

Why do we focus on the box instead of enjoying the transcendence of a Holy God dwelling in His people?

• It starts of innocently enough. We want to remember where God did something important. Thank God for the historical and spiritual land marks.
• To be the holy place, the holy people we have to submit to the architect. Sometimes we don’t want to give up that kind of control.
• To be holy means we have to allow God to chisel away and clean up whatever is not fitting for the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
• To be a lively stone that is fit together we have to get along with other stones. We have to fit in and help others fit in. This wars against our independent spirit. True Holiness is not only expressed in our worship to God but it is found in our relationships with others.