‘Expert: Gold Dome of the Rock Not Where Jewish Temples Stood’

Dome of the Rock (Pixabay)

Breaking Israel News reported the following:

Expert: Gold Dome of the Rock Not Where Jewish Temples Stood

January 9, 2019

A Temple Mount expert, a rabbi who has been studying the subject for years, combined his knowledge of Jewish sources and archaeology and arrived at the conclusion that the Jewish Temples did not stand where visitors now see the prominent golden Dome of the Rock.

The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism. To be more precise, the site draws its sanctity from the two Temples that once stood there. Their precise location is a source of great debate and many Jews refrain from entering the site lest they enter areas that were restricted to Kohanim (priests) who were on the proper level of ritual purity. Knowing the precise location of the Temples would permit all Jews to ascend to the site as well as pave the way for a Third Temple to be built. Jews who ascend the Temple Mount frequently look to the golden dome as the focal point, believing the two Jewish Temples stood precisely there with the large stone, the centerpiece of the Muslim shrine, as the base for the Holy of Holies.

Rabbi Harry Moskoff, the author of the A.R.K. Report, has come to a different conclusion; the Dome of the Rock is close but not on spot. His 20-year search has led him through many possibilities.

‘At first, I thought it was in the northern end of the Temple Mount,” Moskoff told Breaking Israel News. He based this on the research of Professor Asher Selig Kaufman of Hebrew University, who was considered one of the leading experts on the subject until he passed away. Moskoff corresponded with the professor regarding his theory. “He believed the Holy of Holies was located where the Dome of the Spirits now stands.” …

“When it was built in the seventh century, the Caliph Abd al-Malik ordered it built. He asked the Jews of Jerusalem where the Temple had stood. He saw the ruins of the ruins of the Roman Temple of Jupiter that was built by Hadrian after the second Bar Kochba Revolt in the second century. The Jews intentionally misled him, telling him that those ruins were indeed the remains of the Jewish Temple.”

Moskoff emphasized that the Dome of the Rock is shaped like a Byzantine shrine and not like a typical mosque and does not face Mecca. He noted that the layout of the Dome of the Rock in relation to Al-Aqsa Mosque is identical to a temple of Jupiter found in Lebanon. … The Mishnah (oral law) states explicitly that the Holy of Holies was not in the center of the Temple Mount. …

If proven accurate, Moskoff’s theory would permit the construction of a structure for Jewish worship without infringing on the Muslim structures currently at the site. Moskoff is working to bring his theory to the attention of Israeli politicians. …

Moskoff’s theory would permit Jews to ascend to the Temple Mount without fear of wandering into forbidden areas. https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/120064/gold-dome-rock-jewish-temples-stood/

Let me add that there are several views and theories as to the location of the ancient temples.

The Jewish group know as The Temple Institute (which has ties to the Nascent Sanhedrin) believes that the Dome of the Rock must be cleared for it to build a temple:

When will the reconstruction of the Holy Temple Commence?

There are two approaches to answering this question.

One approach is based on the geo-political dynamics of the Temple Mount, and the other approach is based on the desire of the nation of Israel and her fellow nations to rebuild the Holy Temple.

Geo-politically, the Temple Mount has to be cleared of the Dome of the Rock and the mosques which are presently located upon it before the physical rebuilding of the Holy Temple can begin. Many scenarios can be imagined which would accomplish this, the most promising, and not necessarily the most far-fetched, would entail Moslem recognition of the Mount as the intended location for the rebuilt Temple. With the acquiescence of the Moslem world the Moslem structures currently on the Mount would be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere. traditionally, Moslem texts, beginning with the Koran, accept the prophecies of the return of the Jewish nation and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Today, of course, radical Islam holds sway over the Moslem world, and until this phenomenon is defeated, the likelihood of a peaceful preparation for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple remains nil. http://www.templeinstitute.org/frequently-asked-questions.htm accessed 01/09/19

Our sages teach that the stone under the Dome of the Rock is called the “Foundation Stone,” for it is the very foundation of creation. It is the spiritual center of the world and the starting point of creation; all the prayers of all mankind assemble in this place before ascending on high to G-d. It was here that the Ark of the Covenant was placed within the Holy of Holies. http://www.templeinstitute.org/ctl_articles_2.htm accessed 01/09/19

So, some Jews believe that the Dome of the Rock is the correct location. Various ones may need to change their opinions about the location.

Now, former WCG writer Dr. Ernest Martin, writer Robert Cornuke, and others have long questioned the generally accepted view of the location of the ancient Jewish temples.

Having read both Dr. Martin’s and Cornuke’s books a couple of times, I do believe that they have also brought up some points to consider. However, I have also read scholastic criticisms of their writings, which also suggest other things to consider (see some details in the article Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?).

All that being said, it is not necessary for a massive ‘third temple’ to be built in Jerusalem for biblical prophecies to be fulfilled prior to the coming of Jesus.

Notice what happened in the days of Ezra:

6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. (Ezra 3:6)

One may argue that since it takes the participation of Jewish religious leaders in order for Jewish animal sacrifices to be resumed in the 21st century, that the above scripture is a moot point.

And it might be if there were no Jewish religious leaders that thought that they could not sacrifice without a temple.

Yet the fact is, that although they are in the minority, there are significant numbers of Jewish religious leaders who are intent on starting animal sacrifices as soon as possible. And these Jewish leaders do not believe that they have to wait in order for a temple to be rebuilt in order to do so.

This includes the Temple Institute and the Nascent Sanhedrin–they only believe that they need to sacrifice in the vicinity of the old temples, which does not require the removal of the Dome of the Rock (though currently they would prefer a temple and demolishing the Dome of the Rock–but their willingness to perform sacrifices, exceeds their desire to first destroy the Dome of the Rock). Not only have representatives of those groups told me that they are willing to resume daily sacrifices without needing to remove the Dome of the Rock, they actually performed a burnt offering sacrifice last month (watch Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!).

Furthermore, it may well be that the Temple Institute and the Nascent Sanhedrin will consider theories, such as Rabbi Harry Moskoff’s as even more justification for not being precisely on the Dome of the Rock.

Since the Bible teaches that daily sacrifices will be taken away (Daniel 9:27; 11:31), they must first start.

And I believe that they will start someplace other than under the Dome of the Rock.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to a sermon titled The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work.
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to two related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World.
Hanukkah: Jewish Christmas and Hidden Key to Prophecy? Originally a Jewish national holiday, has Hanukkah morphed into a Jewish Christmas? Does it hold hidden secrets to prophecy? Here is a related video: Hanukkah, Tradition, and Prophecy.
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
What Does the Catholic Church Teach A
Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle, which is located on a Mount Zion, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building? There is also a video titled Might the oldest church building have prophetic ramifications?
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编：谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful among all real Christian groups to the word of God.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel.
Nascent Sanhedrin structure and high priest: The plan is to start animal sacrifices this would fulfill prophecy! The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. Two related videos are available: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar! and Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices.