With the Middle East still in chaos and rumors of war in the air, the idea
of rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple on a foundation occupied and administered
by Islamic militants might seem fanciful - even preposterous.
But the author of a new book, "The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth
About the Real Nature of the Beast," returned from Turkey recently with news
that a prominent Islamic teacher and best-selling author and Jewish
Sanhedrin rabbis are hoping to do just that.
In a column penned in WND today, author Joel Richardson reveals the
historically unprecedented development.
Adnan Oktar, who uses the pen name of Harun Yahya, is a controversial but
highly influential Muslim intellectual and author with more than 65 million
of his books in circulation worldwide. Oktar recently met with three
representatives from the re-established Jewish Sanhedrin, a group of 71
Orthodox rabbis and scholars from Israel, to discuss how religious Muslims,
Jews and Christians can work together on the project.
"The objectives of the alliance include waging a joint intellectual and
spiritual battle against the worldwide growing tide of irreligiousness,
unbelief and immorality," explains Richardson, who met in Turkey with Oktar.
"But even more unusual is their agreement with regard to the need to rebuild
the Jewish Temple, a structure that Mr. Oktar refers to as the 'Masjid
(Mosque)' or the 'Palace of Solomon.'"
An official statement about the meeting has been published on the
Sanhedrin's website. Concluding the statement is the following call:
"Out of a sense of collective responsibility for world peace and for all
humanity we have found it timely to call to the World and exclaim that there
is a way out for all peoples. It is etched in a call to all humanity: We are
all the sons of one father, the descendants of Adam, and all humanity is but
a single family. Peace among Nations will be achieved through building the
House of G-d, where all peoples will serve as foreseen by King Solomon in
his prayers at the dedication of the First Holy Temple. Come let us love and
respect one another, and love and honor and hold our heavenly Father in awe.
Let us establish a house of prayer in His name in order to worship and serve
Him together, for the sake of His great compassion. He surely does not want
the blood of His creations spilled, but prefers love and peace among all
mankind. We pray to the Almighty Creator, that you harken to our Call.
Together - each according to his or her ability - we shall work towards the
building of the House of Prayer for All Nations on the Temple Mount in peace
and mutual understanding."
Oktar explained his vision for the rebuilding of Solomon's Temple to
Richardson:
"The Palace of Solomon is a historically important palace and rebuilding it
would be a very wonderful thing. It is something that any Jew, a Christian
or a Muslim should welcome with enthusiasm. Every Muslim, every believer
will want to return to those days, to experience those days again and,
albeit partially, to bring the beauty of those days back to life."
Oktar added that the Temple of Solomon "will be rebuilt and all believers
will worship there in tranquility." During his meeting with the Sanhedrin
Rabbis, Oktar expressed his belief that the Temple could be rebuilt in one
year:
"It could be done in a year at most. It could be built to the same
perfection and beauty. The Torah says it was built in 13 years, if I
remember correctly. It could be rebuilt in a year in its perfect form."
Richardson later met with Rabbi Abrahamson and Rabbi Hollander, two of the
Sanhedrin representatives who conferred with Oktar. Regarding the rebuilding
of the Temple, Rabbi Hollander explained, "The building of the Temple is one
of the stages in the Messianic process." But another possibility that has
been presented is that the Dome of the Rock that sits so prominently on the
Temple Mount be used as "a place prayer for all nations."
"This should be fairly simple," explained Rabbi Hollander. "It is said that
the structure of the Dome in Haram E-Sharrif (the Temple Mount) was
originally meant by (Caliph) Omar to be a House of Prayer for Jews, and the
Al-Aqsa for Muslims."
However, he also explained that religious Jews would not be able to enter
the Dome of the Rock unless it had first been ritually cleansed according to
Jewish halakhic regulations.
This is not the only similar call to rebuild the Jewish Temple, points out
Richardson. Yoav Frankel is an Orthodox Jew who has been deeply involved in
interfaith dialogue with Muslims and also envisions a shared Temple Mount.
The Interfaith Encounter Association is working on a project called "God's
Holy Mountain." It sees the day when the rebuilt Jewish Temple will exist
side by side with the Dome of the Rock.
Richardson sees such plans tying in to Barack Obama's calls for
internationalizing the city of Jerusalem.
A recent poll showed nearly two-thirds of Israelis back the idea of
rebuilding the Temple.
"Meanwhile, the work of the Temple Institute, a group that has openly
dedicated itself for years to rebuilding the Jewish Temple goes on," writes
Richardson.
It has already created many of the most significant priestly utensils and
pieces of furniture necessary for the Temple once it is ready.
"The suggestion of rebuilding the Jewish Temple is deeply significant to
Christians, particularly those who are students of Bible prophecy," explains
Richardson. "According to the Bible, an impostor messiah known as the
Antichrist will someday invade the land of Israel and 'set himself up' in
the 'God's Temple.'"
Richardson's DVD series focuses on the striking parallels between the
Bible's prophecies about the coming messiah and Islam's traditions regarding
the one called "the Mahdi" - Islam's primary messiah figure, who will one
day invade the land of Israel and establish his seat of authority on the
Temple Mount.
Kindest regards (from NZ)
My reply
Thanks for this news, and for your prayers. Dave did have a perforated appendix. They couldn't take care of the "hernia", which turned out to be a fatty tumor, because of the danger of spreading the infection he has in his abdomen. Agape
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