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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Traditions; The Temple in the City of David;The Gihon Springs

“Because of our traditions we have kept our balance for many, many years”; Fiddler on the Roof.  Let’s think about that for a moment. Those who extol the virtues of tradition do so because they feel it keeps them and the others around them balanced. What they are really saying is that there is no disruption in their daily lives with things that might be new or things that one would have to think about. Really, traditions void us from thinking. People just follow the yellow brick road, no need to wander off the path, just stay on the path. What if traditions hold us back from the greatness of what God has for us? What if traditions end up binding us rather than allowing our hearts to connect with God? Jesus was not about tradition but about tender, connected hearts with God. Jesus was the most rebellious teacher ever as he didn’t teach or follow tradition.

Sometimes tradition takes a more harmful twist than simply unwashed hands or unwashed feet. While ceremonial washing was symbolic to bathing with the word of God, what if traditions held people in such bondage that those who daily wish for a closer walk with God are held back because their elders refuse to learn and grow. Specifically, I am speaking about the location of the Temple in Jerusalem. There have been rumors for many years regarding the location of the Temple of Solomon. What if the elders who refuse anything that is non-traditional do the necessary research and find something new? Not that what they find would be new to God, or other people, but new to themselves because tradition has held them back. If then, new knowledge allows growth and a closer relationship with Yahweh Elohim, then wouldn’t it be wise to drop traditions and dive into the heart of God? The Temple location is not the Temple Mount, but the City of David. More on that shortly.

Here is a definition of the word tradition from Easton’s Bible Dictionary, and Strong’s Concordance.

Tradition — any kind of teaching, written or spoken, handed down from generation to generation. In Mark 7:3,9,13; Col 2:8, this word refers to the arbitrary interpretations of the Jews. In 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6, it is used in a good sense. Peter (1 Peter 1:18) uses this word with reference to the degenerate Judaism of the "strangers scattered" whom he addresses (comp. Acts 15:10; Matt 15:2-6; Gal 1:14(from Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

NT:3862 paradosis (par-ad'-os-is); from NT:3860; transmission, i.e. (concretely) a precept; specifically, the Jewish traditionary law: KJV - ordinance, tradition.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

The word tradition only appears in the New Testament, and it means a way of conducting one’s self. The Pharisees loved to annoy Jesus regarding their traditions. The Scribes and Pharisees could not believe the Messiah would not follow the traditions that were instituted by their forefathers. The first thing that tells us, is that Jesus wasn’t interested in following traditions. Instead, Jesus wants to know why they instituted traditions to get out of following the law.

Matt 15:1-20 THEN FROM Jerusalem came scribes and Pharisees and said, 2 Why do Your disciples transgress and violate the rules handed down by the elders of the past? For they do not practice [ceremonially] washing their hands before they eat. 3 He replied to them, And why also do you transgress and violate the commandment of God for the sake of the rules handed down to you by your forefathers (the elders)?

People bent the rules to suit their own desires. Instead of taking care of their parents, people made a new “rule” that if they dedicated everything they had to the temple, they didn’t have to take care of their aging parents.

Matt 15:4 For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely come to his end by death. [Ex 20:12; 21:17; Lev 20:9; Deut 5:16.] 5 But you say, If anyone tells his father or mother, What you would have gained from me [that is, the money and whatever I have that might be used for helping you] is already dedicated as a gift to God, then he is exempt and no longer under obligation to honor and help his father or his mother. 6 So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect].

There are many reasons why people would do this. If we look at our modern world today, we can see that families are not perfect, and many times parents have mental issues and personality disorders, while some may also be lazy and selfish, and not interested in serving God. Not wanting to take care of one’s parents because of constant conflict is likely the reason the new “rule” was made. This led everyone into a tradition of deciding to care for the elderly or not. Jesus did not discuss this other than pointing out to them their redesigning of the laws to suit their needs. Jesus then gives us the key to this idea of traditions. The people’s hearts were far from God. They did the works of traditions without their hearts being in what they were doing.

Matt 15:7 You pretenders (hypocrites)! Admirably and truly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said: 8 These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me. 9 Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men. [Isa 29:13.] 10 And Jesus called the people to Him and said to them, Listen and grasp and comprehend this: 11 It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

The Pharisees and Scribes were doing what someone told them was tradition and expected others to follow along so this did not please them.

Matt 15:12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were displeased and offended and indignant when they heard this saying? 13 He answered, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be torn up by the roots. [Isa 60:21.] 14 Let them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch. 15 But Peter said to Him, Explain this proverb (this maxim) to us.

The Heavenly Father did not create traditions and those things will be torn up by the roots. Yet the disciples didn’t quite get it.

Matt 15:16 And He said, Are you also even yet dull and ignorant [without understanding and unable to put things together]? 17 Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited? 18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech. 20 These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]. AMP

Traditions lead people so far astray from the heart of God that religious leaders put requirements on people’s actions but did not teach people to have a pure heart towards God. Mark gives us a little more insight into what this specific tradition entailed.

Mark 7:1-5 NOW THERE gathered together to [Jesus] the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 For they had seen that some of His disciples ate with common hands, that is, unwashed [with hands defiled and unhallowed, because they had not given them a ceremonial washing] —  3 For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless [merely for ceremonial reasons] they wash their hands [diligently up to the elbow] with clenched fist, adhering [carefully and faithfully] to the tradition of [practices and customs handed down to them by] their forefathers [to be observed]. 4 And [when they come] from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions [oral, man-made laws handed down to them, which they observe faithfully and diligently, such as], the washing of cups and wooden pitchers and widemouthed jugs and utensils of copper and beds —  5 And the Pharisees and scribes kept asking [Jesus], Why do Your disciples not order their way of living according to the tradition handed down by the forefathers [to be observed], but eat with hands unwashed and ceremonially not purified? AMP

At the time of the first century, people’s lives had gone from freedom of heart, like we see in Abraham, to so many rules no one could get it all right. Not only that, Jesus didn’t care about these traditions, and for him to do miracles and heal people, and have a following became confusing to the religious leaders who expected the traditions to be followed. While they themselves were not doing miracles and healing people, they were keeping the traditions, but Jesus blew their minds by pointing out that their traditions were nullifying the very law that God gave them.

Paul tells us to now walk in unity and conformity to Jesus, not to traditions.

Col 2:6-9 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. 7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). 9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. AMP

We are not to be lead away from unity and conformity with Jesus by philosophy, or intellectualism, or traditions. These things are crude concepts that disregard the living and vital relationship we are to have with Jesus himself. The whole Godhead is encompassed in Jesus and our hearts should connect with Him rather than ordering our behaviors to be compliant with man’s ideas and traditions. Paul gives us the answer here in Galatians.

Gal 1:11-24 For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. 12 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 13 You have heard of my earlier career and former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted and abused the church of God furiously and extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it and destroy it. 14 And [you have heard how] I outstripped many of the men of my own generation among the people of my race in [my advancement in study and observance of the laws of] Judaism, so extremely enthusiastic and zealous I was for the traditions of my ancestors.

Paul was so very zealous to do the law and follow traditions that he excelled beyond his peers. Paul learned under Gamaliel, a Pharisee mentioned in the Bible who advocated that the rulers not be harsh on the Apostles because if what they were preaching was not from God it wouldn’t amount to anything. It is odd that Paul, as a student, set about to kill Christians instead of taking the advice his teacher gave him in Acts 5. Paul was probably one of those self-promoter types who enjoyed pats on the head from the religious leaders and teachers. But his heart was hollow, not knowing Jesus but instead knowing traditions and rules. 

Gal 1:15 But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased [Isa 49:1; Jer 1:5.] 16 To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]. 17 Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus. 18 Then three years later, I did go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and remained with him for fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord. 20 Now [note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth], I write this as if I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie. 21 Then I went into the districts (countries, regions) of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And so far I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea (the country surrounding Jerusalem). 23 They were only hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is now proclaiming the very faith he once reviled and which he set out to ruin and tried with all his might to destroy. 24 And they glorified God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place] in me. AMP

Notice what Paul did, he didn’t talk to anyone about his experience with the Lord. He didn’t see church elders, or priests, or rabbis. Instead he went to Arabia, possibly Mt Sinai, and dug into a relationship with the Lord. Remember, Paul didn’t have his own personal scrolls. He was spending time in the wilderness with Yahweh the Elohim. When he finally connected with people, they were excited about Paul’s conversion to Christianity. This wasn’t like turning on a light, it took time for Paul to figure things out. Paul says he was called by His grace. It is interesting because Jesus never taught grace, but by Jesus’ grace we are called and saved. Repetitive actions, laws, or traditions do not save us. Salvation is a free gift which is not something that one can work for and become prideful over. It simply cannot be earned. We are all called by grace, just like Paul. Paul put off the traditions he learned to dive into a life with Jesus.

Today, the combination of historical documents, archeology, and the Bible, all point to the location of Solomon’s Temple and Herod’s Temple being built over the Gihon Springs in the City of David. Dr. Ernest L. Martin first made this claim, and wrote a book in 1994 entitled The Temples that Jerusalem Forgot. Dr. Martin passed before the accumulation of archeological evidence could prove him correct. Archeologist/Explorer Bob Cornuke took up this information and now confirms Dr. Martin’s findings documented in his new book Temple: Amazing Discoveries That Change Everything About the Location of Solomon’s Temple.

At first thought, some people may scoff because they are rooted in tradition. But think of what this means. Today, the Muslims control the temple mount and no excavation is allowed there. Also, there are no fresh springs on the temple mount which are required for ceremonial washings of the Priests, and the cleaning and drainage of the blood sacrifices. The Muslims do not control the area of the City of David. When I was in Israel in 1999, our guide was careful to tell us that some of the stones we saw at the Wailing Wall and under the ground were re-used from Herod’s temple. Jesus told us that not one stone would be left upon another. Jesus was either mistaken, as we have a wall left, or he was very accurate. The wall we see today as well as the area of the temple mount was from the fortress Antonia built by Herod the Great around 19 BC which held about 10,000 people. It was still standing in 73 AD, three years after the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. While I am not qualified to share all evidences I will site some resources here, and we will look at Jesus’ words.

Ernest L Martin’s Book: http://www.askelm.com/books/book008.asp

Matt 24:1-2 JESUS DEPARTED from the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the buildings of the temple and point them out to Him. 2 But He answered them, Do you see all these? Truly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. AMP

Mark 13:1-2 AND AS [Jesus] was coming out of the temple [area], one of His disciples said to Him, Look, Teacher! Notice the sort and quality of these stones and buildings! 2 And Jesus replied to him, You see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be loosened and torn down. AMP

Matthew and Mark both tell us the same thing, that no stone would be left, but torn down or thrown down. Jesus tells us why this is the case. Every stone of the temple would be torn down because they did not recognize the time of his visitation as Luke records.

Luke 19:37-44 As He was approaching [the city], at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God [extolling Him exultantly and] loudly for all the mighty miracles and works of power that they had witnessed, 38 Crying, Blessed (celebrated with praises) is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven [freedom there from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin] and glory (majesty and splendor) in the highest [heaven]! [Ps 118:26.] 39 And some of the Pharisees from the throng said to Jesus, Teacher, reprove Your disciples! 40 He replied, I tell you that if these keep silent, the very stones will cry out. [Hab 2:11.] 41 And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it, 42 Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace — your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness — depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side. [Isa 29:3; Jer 6:6; Ezek 4:2.] 44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ]. AMP

As we have looked at from Sir Robert Anderson’s work in Daniel, the angel told Daniel the exact day that Jesus would be announced, the day he would come and then be cut off. It is with amazing accuracy that we can now understand how literal this was. There was no approximate time, but an exact date, and the people should have known who he was and the time of his visitation. That is why the temple and the city was destroyed in 70 AD. That is also why the Romans took the stones and used them elsewhere. We also have one more clue from Luke. People were admiring the temple.

Luke 21:5-6 And as some were saying of the temple that it was decorated with handsome (shapely and magnificent) stones and consecrated offerings [laid up to be kept], He said, 6 As for all this that you [thoughtfully] look at, the time will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. AMP

It looked beautiful even in their day (remember this was Herod’s temple), and people thought this was a beautiful building. We don’t see that today, nor do we see any type of inlays, or places where precious stones were inlaid. We don’t see any decoration on the stones of the temple mount that come from that era. There seems to also be the problem of the living waters, the spring. There are no springs on the temple mount, and the priests had to have flowing water, not stagnant water. Let’s look at Easton’s Bible Dictionary regarding Gihon.

GIHON— a stream. … (2.) The only natural spring of water in or near Jerusalem is the "Fountain of the Virgin" (q.v.), which rises outside the city walls on the west bank of the Kidron valley. On the occasion of the approach of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, Hezekiah, in order to prevent the besiegers from finding water, "stopped the upper water course of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David" (2 Chron 32:30; 33:14). This "fountain" or spring is therefore to be regarded as the "upper water course of Gihon." From this "fountain" a tunnel cut through the ridge which forms the south part of the temple hill conveys the water to the Pool of Siloam, which lies on the opposite side of this ridge at the head of the Tyropoeon ("cheesemakers'") valley, or valley of the son of Hinnom, now filled up by rubbish. The length of this tunnel is about 1,750 feet. In 1880 an inscription was accidentally discovered on the wall of the tunnel about nineteen feet from where it opens into the Pool of Siloam. This inscription was executed in all probability by Hezekiah's workmen. It briefly narrates the history of the excavation. It may, however, be possible that this tunnel was excavated in the time of Solomon. If the "waters of Shiloah that go softly" (Isa 8:6) refers to the gentle stream that still flows through the tunnel into the Pool of Siloam, then this excavation must have existed before the time of Hezekiah. (from Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Let’s look at the information concerning where the city of David was. Take note that this is where Jesus was born.

CITY OF DAVID The name of two cities in the Bible: 1. The stronghold of ZION, the fortified city of the Jebusites, later known as Jerusalem. King David and his men captured it (2 Sam 5:7,9). The Jebusite fortress of Zion was situated on a hill overlooking the pool of Siloam, at the junction of the Kidron and Tyropoeon valleys (later in southeastern Jerusalem). The account of the capture of Zion implies that David's army entered the fortress by surprise (2 Sam 5:8). The "water shaft" mentioned in this passage was apparently a tunnel leading from the underground spring of GIHON into the citadel. Joab was the one who went up the shaft first (1 Chron 11:6), true to his promise, David made him the commander, or "chief," of the armies of Israel.
After the capture of Zion, "David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David" (2 Sam 5:9). Not only did David establish his residence here, but he also strengthened the city's fortifications (1 Chron 11:8). Solomon further strengthened the defenses of the city (1 Kings 11:27). The site of Solomon's Temple was on the neighboring Mount Moriah, part of the same strong rock outcropping as Mount Zion.
2. Bethlehem, the birthplace or home of David (Luke 2:4,11; John 7:42).(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. KJV

The area seems to be significant because the Bible also tells us that the Lord dwells in Zion. Not only was he born there, he was worshipped there as well. The millo gives us another clue.

MILLO [MILL oh] (mound) - a fortification or citadel near Jerusalem. The Millo of Jerusalem was probably part of the fortification of the Jebusite city that David captured. It may have been either a solid tower full of earth or a bastion strengthening a weak point in the wall. It was already in existence when David's army captured the Jebusite city (2 Sam 5:9).
The Millo was one of the building projects included in King Solomon's expansion program in Jerusalem in later years. He strengthened the Millo by using conscripted labor (1 Kings 9:15). Centuries later, King Hezekiah had the Millo repaired in preparation for an invasion and siege by the Assyrians (2 Chron 32:5). King Joash was killed "in the house of the Millo" (2 Kings 12:20) - the victim of a conspiracy.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

And the Pool of Siloam is another place of interest. While there may have been more pools, we have this one mentioned. It seems silly that Hezekiah would not protect the temple, but only protect the springs and his residence from the Assyrians.

SILOAM[sigh LOW um] (sent) - a storage pool and water tunnel that provided a water supply for early residents of the city of Jerusalem. The pool and tunnel drew water from the GIHON spring outside the city wall.
Under the peril of an impending invasion by the armies of Sennacherib, king of Assyria (reigned about 705 B.C. - 681 B.C.), King Hezekiah of Judah "made a pool and a tunnel [or conduit] and brought water into the city" (2 Kings 20:20). The parallel account in 2 Chronicles says he "stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David" (2 Chron 32:30).
Hezekiah's tunnel was discovered accidentally in 1838 and was explored by the American traveler, Edward Robinson, and his missionary friend, Eli Smith. They found the Siloam tunnel to be about 518 meters (1,750 feet) long, although the straight line distance between the storage pool and the Gihon spring is only 332 meters (1,090 feet). The course has numerous twists and turns. Some scholars have suggested that by following such a crooked course, the tunnel builders were trying to avoid the royal tombs cut into the same area through which the conduit was cut. But it is just as possible that more accurate surveying methods were unavailable to Hezekiah's technicians. By any standards, however, Hezekiah's tunnel was a notable achievement.
The tunnel was explored in 1867, but it was not until 1880 that an important Hebrew inscription was discovered near the entrance to the reservoir. It gave a graphic description of how the tunnel was built. Two work crews cut the tunnel through solid rock, working from opposite ends until they met in the middle.
It may have been through another tunnel or gap such as this that David's warriors entered the ancient city of Jerusalem about 1002 B.C. The city was known as Jebus at that time. David captured it and turned it into the capital city of his kingdom.
The Bible does contain some puzzling references to a more ancient pool. The prophet Isaiah, for instance, speaks of Hezekiah's "reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool" (Isa 22:11). Perhaps Hezekiah and his craftsmen used an existing reservoir and linked it to his tunnel and pool.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Whether we understand this or not, we have a minor issue as “the Lord dwells in Zion”. Does he dwell on the temple mount with a rock and a dome, or does he dwell in the very place he was worshipped and came to earth? He dwells in a place that we are only beginning to rediscover and uncover.

Ps 9:11 Sing praises to the Lord, Who dwells in Zion! Declare among the peoples His doings! AMP

Ps 102:16 When the Lord builds up Zion, He will appear in His glory; AMP

Isa 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and wonders [that are to take place] in Israel from the Lord of hosts, Who dwells on Mount Zion .AMP

Joel 3:21 And I will cleanse and hold as innocent their blood and avenge it, blood which I have not cleansed, held innocent, and avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion. AMP

There is a great history here that goes back to the time of Melchizedek/Shem, who taught and ministered to the Lord in that same place.  It is very simply clear from the Bible itself that the place David bought from Onan was this place, then called the city of David. It is the place Solomon was anointed at his coronation, and the place Hezekiah built the pool of Siloam so that the Assyrians would not find water. It is also the place that Nehemiah and Ezra came back to (from their captivity), to re-build the Temple along with governor Zerubbabel. Herod the Great took 46 years to build the temple again. That was the temple that was in existence in the first century alongside the fortress Antonia. The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, but not the fortress. This temple is the place where Simeon prophesied over Jesus as a baby. And this is the place that the temple will be built again just before, or in the beginning of, the tribulation years.

The Apostle Paul is our example, as he dug into scriptural understanding rather than man’s understanding, when he first learned about Jesus. Tradition may get in the way for the time being, but most certainly a people will rise up and search out the Temple remains. Then, the time of the end will be near as there is nothing stopping the rebuilding of the temple but tradition. The Millennial temple will be built in this place as well. That will be a glorious time. As the days and times unfold, we must remember that we are called by grace, and our hearts should be close to His. If Jesus is our example, we must put off traditions as he did.


Ps 50:1-6 THE MIGHTY One, God, the Lord, speaks and calls the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people: 5 Gather together to Me My saints [those who have found grace in My sight], those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens declare His righteousness (rightness and justice), for God, He is judge. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! AMP