Highlights of the Temple Mount:
- Solomon built the first temple here on Mount Moriah. (1 Kings 6)
- The Holy of Holies was built over the place where Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac before God provided a lamb. (Genesis 22)
- This is the current site of the Dome of the Rock (built in 700 AD) – a Muslim shrine commemorating the site they claim Muhammad ascended to heaven and where they claim Abraham intended to sacrifice Ishmael.
- On the south end of the mount is the Al Aqsa Mosque.
More on the Temple Mount:
Mount Moriah was where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac. Much later, David purchased this area, just north of Jerusalem, but could not build a temple because he had shed too much blood in battle (1 Chronicles 22:8; 1 Chronicles 28:3)
His son, King Solomon, built the first temple on Mount Moriah. (1 Kings 6) It was pretty basic, although it did include all the required elements. Within the first wall of the temple was the Court of the Gentiles. Everyone was allowed into this area. Beyond that, only Jews were allowed, and beyond that, only men. The Holies were then reserved only for priests and inside that was the Holy of Holies – where only the high priest could enter once per year.
The Babylonians destroyed this temple in 586 BC. The people of Israel were exiled to modern day Iraq. After seven years, Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem although most stayed. They eventually began rebuilding the temple, known as the “second temple.”
Hundreds of years later, and right before the birth of Jesus, King Herod the Great expanded and embellished the second temple in 20 BC. He built huge walls around the edge of the mountain and greatly extended the plaza area. This was the temple that Jesus experienced.
Jesus came to the temple when he was an infant and also when he was twelve years old. (Luke 2:22,27,41-52) He cleansed the temple twice. (Luke 19:45-48; John 2:12-25)
The early church met at Solomon’s Portico which was a covered area at the temple. (Acts 2-4) Peter and other apostles preached at the temple (Acts 3:2, 11; 5:21)
The Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. For centuries, the Temple Mount was rubble.
In 638 AD, Muslims captured Jerusalem. They built the Dome in the early 700’s as a shrine to commemorate where they believe Muhammad ascended and where Abraham sacrificed Ishmael.
Jewish Israelites captured the Temple Mount in 1967, but in fear that they could spark a holy war against them, they have not taken the mount from the Muslims.
The temple will be restored again, according to prophecies. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 9:27)
Other notable events:
- Eastern Gate of the Milleniel Temple will be shut because the Lord walked through it. The Eastern Gate is called the Golden Gate. (Ezekial 44)
- Paul was seized by the Jews at the temple. (Acts 21: 17-23; 23)
- Jesus predicted the destruction of temple in the Olivet discourse. (Matt 24-25)
- Also see Jerusalem, Rabbi’s Tunnel, and Southern Steps
The Holy Land 