Jerusalem Day 5771

Jerusalem Day 5771: celebrating the 44th year since Israel's recapture of the city of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. This year we were there. And this year everyone said it was much more exciting than ever. Why? I believe it is because it came on the heels of President Obama's speech calling for Israel to return to the 1967 borders. This action would literally rip the city of Jerusalem right in half, giving East Jerusalem to the "Palestinians," - including the Western Wall and Temple Mount areas. As Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly communicated, "This is unthinkable. This will not happen!" And so on June 1 the younger generation of Israelis converged by the tens of thousands upon the city of Jerusalem for an uproariously jubilant celebration. It was as if this younger generation truly grasps the meaning and value of this city - the City of the Great King - the place where YHVH put His Name forever.

John and I were unspeakably blessed to and privileged to march through the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old City that night, from the Damascus Gate all the way to the Western Wall, singing songs and chants in Hebrew, dancing, and clapping along with all the young Israelis who proudly and joyfully waved their Israeli flags. When we reached the Western Wall there was a sea of blue stars of David, and a unified rejoicing that made our hearts soar. It felt like a foretaste of the rejoicing in the streets that will someday welcome and celebrate the return of Messiah Yeshua!

But even more incredible than all of this was the rare, even historic opportunity we had to go up on the Temple Mount that Jerusalem Day morning with Rabbi Chaim Richman, Director of the Temple Institute. Jews are not allowed up on the Temple Mount, currently controlled by the Muslims. And the last Jew they want up there is Rabbi Richman, since he is literally the man in charge of all preparations for the building of the 3rd Temple! By the grace of God we were invited to be part of this small group that got to go up to the Temple Mount with this learned and revered Rabbi (after he was detained for two hours attempting to get clearance to pass through security). It was an opportunity of a lifetime - and what I learned about the Jewish temples up there far surpassed a history lesson.

Make no mistake - according to Scripture, the 3rd temple will be rebuilt. And in our tour of the Temple Institute, we were blessed to see the menorah, the showbread stand, the bronze laver, the altar of incense, the High Priest's garments, and many other utensils and furnishings of the temple, constructed exactly according to the instructions given to Moses in the book of Exodus, and ready to be placed in the 3rd Jewish temple. But when this temple is destroyed after being desecrated by the Anti-Messiah, a 4th temple will be rebuilt for the Millennial kingdom; and it was in the description of this Temple in the 44th chapter of Ezekiel that I received such powerful revelation about what the Temple really means in the eyes and the heart of God. I'll let the Lord speak it Himself, as He spoke it to Ezekiel, His prophet: "Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider the plan, and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make it known to them the design of the temple - its arrangement, its exits and entrances - its whole design and all its regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations. This is the law of the temple: All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy. Such is the law of the temple." (Ezekiel 44:10-12).

This is exactly what happened to me as Rabbi Richman took us over every part of that holy mountain and showed us where the inner court was, where the brazen altar stood, where the Holy of Holies was. My heart was overwhelmed with the holiness, the awe, the mercy of the God of Israel - and I was deeply ashamed of my sin. I wanted to fall facedown on the hard stone. I knew that above everything else my God was calling me to repent (teshuva), return to Him, and keep His instructions (His Torah), which truly is the law of the temple - and which gives me life and freedom!

As Rabbi Richman pointed out the exits and entrances, the design of the temple, it came alive for me. I understood in some deep chamber of my heart the words that God Himself proclaimed for all the generations upon the earth: "This is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever." (Ezekiel 43:7) O God, may it be so! May it be in our day!