God's Holiness and Judgment

The other day we went to Jerusalem again (I've been there at least 5 or 6 times in the last week!) and this time we did something quite extraordinary--we stepped foot on the Temple Mount...and the Muslim's didn't shoot us! jk

The place was so unique. So large and filled with all kinds of ancient ruins of stone, modern stone constructions, and a beautiful blue mosque with a golden dome on top. It was quite the site. It's difficult to describe what it was like being on there. So much history is there, from the time of Abraham (maybe, tradition is pretty strong) up until AD 70 and even now it's a place of such political and religious feuding.

The temple was built by Solomon beginning in 967 BC and lasted until 586 when the Babylonians destroyed it. In 539, the monumental decree of Cyrus the Great allowed Jews to return to their homeland and begin reconstruction of a Second Temple (completed 516) under Zerubbabel. This temple, not as grand as the previous (though greatly refurbished by Herod the Great 37-4 BC), lasted until AD 70 when it was destroyed by the Romans beacuse of a Jewish Revolt. Another Jewish Revolt occured in 135, but the Jews failed and were expelled from Jerusalem on pain of death. Jerusalem became a small, sad town with the presence of the Lord, signified by the great temple of the Most High. In 640 the Muslims gained control of Jerusalem, and most of the Middle East, and built their great Dome of the Rock in about 700 (which is still standing!). Not until 1917 did things begin changing. These changes ended with the land of Israel coming under authority of the Jews again. Jerusalem is continuing to be built up and archaeology is discovering more and more about the city and the temple.

So the First Temple existed for roughly 380 years; it was destroyed for roughly 70 years.
The Second Temple existed for roughly 580 years; it has not been rebuilt.
And the Muslim Dome of the Rock has existed for 1,300 years and counting.


This is the place where the temple of God was built and where the Ark of the Covenant rested during the First Temple period. These signify the holy presence of God amongst His people. In His grace, God chose to dwell amongst His people through the temple and grant access to those who would obey. And despite the sins of Israel, which lasted for centuries, God remained gracious to them. But enough was enough and the Lord destroyed the temple through the Babylonians, as a warning and as a rod of discipline, with promises to have it rebuilt. This is God's judgment on His people. But as He said, the temple was rebuilt to signify the presence of God with His people again. But after the nation crucified their Messiah, God destroyed the temple, and the whole city, through the Romans, as a chastisement and final call of repentance. This time, God, through Ezekiel and other prophets, foretold of another temple to be built. And He promised to rebuild the temple in three days after it was destroyed--refering to His body, and by extenion, all believers in Him. We who follow Christ are the temple of the Lord because of the Holy Spirit that resides within us. And God has promised not to destroy this temple until we are in the presence of our Lord and then there will be no need for a temple.

God's holiness is awe inspiring.
God's wrath is powerful and frightening.
God's grace is astounding.