Standing on such a powerful and prophetic spot, overlooking the entire Jerusalem, I couldn’t help but marvel: this is the place Abraham came to with his son Isaac, willingly obeying God to go up to Mt. Moriah (Temple Mount) and bring Him the ultimate sacrifice: Abraham’s only son.
Can you imagine? Before Jerusalem was ever built before it was ever Jerusalem, it was an area surrounded by hills and mountains and not much else, Abraham stood on what we know today as Temple Mount and leaning solely on his faith, he was willing to sacrifice the most precious thing he had — his son.
Mt. Moriah later became the Temple Mount, where the first and second temples were built, and where a third one will be built according to the book of Revelation.
Every time I go up here, despite it being a sunny beautiful day, there’s always a religious tension in the air, you can almost feel the spiritual warfare taking place over Temple Mount.
An interesting and little-known fact is that technically Jews and Christians are allowed to go up to the Temple Mount on specific days, however, they are NOT allowed to pray on the Temple Mount! It is tightly controlled by the Muslim guards as they are watching the visitors closely. You cannot even take your Bible with you to Temple Mount.
Have you ever wondered why? Can it be that someone acknowledges the power of prayer and is afraid of the prayers of Christians and Jewish people?
Yes, the spiritual battle is fierce. But the good news is: so many prophecies were fulfilled precisely on the Temple Mount. Jerusalem was built and destroyed time and time again, but God’s promises withstood the test of time, and we know that the 3rd Temple will be built.
Most importantly, God’s kingdom is being built and established in Israel. Political and religious tensions have a reason: Lord Jesus chose this specific place to be His throne, from which He will reign over Israel and the Nations.
The story of Temple Mount dates back all the way to Abraham, King David, Our Lord Jesus — its thread weaves through the biblical timeline of historical events and fulfilled prophecies.
However, it also reminds us of future prophecies that are to come, and spiritual warfare is a big part of it. Our part is to keep praying for Jerusalem, for the fullness of God’s Word to come over Jerusalem and His promises be fulfilled, not just for Israel, but for the nation’s sake.
Beit Hallel is a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ashdod, led by pastor Israel Pochtar, serving holocaust survivors and the poor and needy locally and throughout the nation of Israel, while building up the body of Messiah in the promised land of Israel.