– DVD video chapter – Temple History

– Location –

The Western Wall Tunnels may be described as a time machine, taking us back through 2,500 years of Jerusalem’s history.  Parallel to the western wall of the Temple, the underground tunnel reveals the Hasmonean (Greek) water system carved out in the second century BC and a Herodian street -- possibly the very same stones on which Jesus once walked.  In addition, there are huge subterranean vaults built in the 14th Century during the Egyptian Mamluk Period and a medieval cistern and gateway to the Temple Mount reconstructed by early Muslim inhabitants of the city and later rediscovered by British archeologist Charles Warren in 1867.  When Solomon built the Temple (1000 B.C), he enlarged the top of the mountain by surrounding it with buttressing walls and stones from these walls are visible today.  When Herod the Great constructed the Temple (30 B.C) he enlarged and strengthened the supporting walls with massive hewn stones.  In 70 A.D. Titus destroyed Jerusalem, tore down the Temple and pulled down most of the walls surrounding the city.  However, part of the wall surrounding the Temple complex on the western side remained standing, and since this wall stood closest to what once was the Temple sanctuary, the Jews began coming to the wall to grieve the loss of the Temple.  The Jews were denied access to Jerusalem until the Byzantine period when they were allowed to come once a year, on the anniversary of the destruction, to weep over the ruins of the Temple and the scattering of their people.  Thus the Western Wall became known as the Wailing Wall.  From 1948-1967 the wall was in the Jordanian sector of the city, and again the Jews were not allowed to visit their most holy site.  Israeli soldiers conquered the Old City and united Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967.   

– Scripture –

– Questions –

1.     What did Jesus mean when He said ”Destroy this Temple and in 3 days I will raise it up”?  (John 2:18,19)

2.     Does Peter answer Jesus own question regarding the New Temple?  (See I Peter 2:4-10.)

3.  In the light of these scriptures do you think the Temple is physical or spiritual? 

 – Map (from www.anova.org) – http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/112.htm