Come with me to the Temple Mount!!

Ready to go  up to the Temple Mount?  Come on, I'll take you...

This morning I went up on the Temple Mount with a few old friends, and some new ones...a 'prayer walk' if you will, although we're not allowed to openly pray up there.  Here's one of the first views of the Dome of the Rock. This is the Muslim's 3rd holiest site, and sits over the rocky part of the mountain where it is believed David bought the threshing floor, where the Temple stood, and also where Abraham bound Isaac (the Muslims say Abraham bound Ishmael here...)

 

 This is Al Aqsa Mosque - only Muslims are allowed in there.

 

The Dome of the Rock - something about this makes me think its better photographed in black and white. Only Muslims can go inside there, too.

Me standing in the "Dome of the Tablets", a small gazebo looking thing that reveals the actual rock face of Mount Moriah. Many believe that this is the actual place where the Holy of Holies was in the Temple (because it's perfectly in line with the Eastern Gate), where Abraham bound Isaac, etc, etc, not under the Dome of the Rock, which is misaligned with the Eastern Gate.

The view of the Dome of the Rock taken from the Dome of the Tablets (above)

Don (our leader today) talking with the Israeli police

Pretty picture of the dome as we are walking toward the Eastern Gate

Here's our intercessory group...we have me in the pink representing the US, and also China, Korea, Australia and France...a truly international bunch:)

Walking along the wall of the Old City and you see the side of the Eastern Gate directly ahead.

Here it is - The Eastern Gate! Also called the Golden Gate! of course this is the inside view. The actual gate in the time of Jesus is under ground beneath this gate, but it was (proven archaeologically) in the same spot. Lift up your heads you gates, the King of Glory is coming...

Another view of the Dome above a grove of Olive Trees

Archways, some Muslim men sitting around

We have now left the Temple Mount through the Chain Gate, just noticed this door...

And these Israeli policemen guarding this exit, or checking their iPhone...

Walking out the exit, many Muslim women sitting here waiting to go up on the Temple Mount...

After our Temple Mount walk, we all gathered in a great café that had wonderful iced coffee and even more wonderful fellowship...some of you may recognize John and Una:)

That's me with "Jutta" - a German born Australian who is here for a couple weeks. We've just hit it off, definitely kindred spirits...

View from the café...the dome you see on the right is the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.

This is the sign for the café we were at....hmmm - vegetarian meals - woot woot!!! not to mention air conditioning, which felt really good!

Walking through the Jewish quarter on my way back to campus. So there, now you've been to the Temple Mount...the most historically sought after, fought over piece of real estate in the world...the very epicenter of the World, the place of His footstool and His throne..awesome