Here's a shot of the Dome of the Rock, the second holiest site in Islam, in East Jerusalem. On the outside of the wall, you can see a Muslim cemetery that was constructed to prevent the Messiah from returning through the sealed gates to the right of the Dome of the Rock, which he is prophesied to do UNLESS he has to walk through a cemetery to get there. Ironic that the Muslims would take precautions against the return of the Messiah when the Koran makes it explicit that Islam is a non-messianic faith that views Jesus as nothing more than a human prophet.
The Dome of the Rock sits atop the Temple Mount, over the ruins of the Second Temple, which was Judaism's holiest site until it was destroyed by the Romans during the Jewish rebellion of 70 CE. In fact, the Temple Mount is still Judaism's holiest site, since it is home to the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, which is supposed to be the only remnant of the Second Temple. According to Jewish lore, the temple must be rebuilt in order to precipitate the arrival of the Messiah. Some Christians believe the temple must be rebuilt before Christ will come a second time, because for them once is not enough.
In order for the temple to be rebuilt, the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa, both of which sit atop the Temple Mount, would need to be destroyed. These two mosques are Islam's second and third holiest sites, respectively. Mohammad — the last and final prophet, according to Islam, and the messenger who delivered the Holy Koran from God to mere mortals — apparently flew from the spot where the Dome now stands to heaven, accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Muslims call that magical trip the "night flight." Suffice to say, the destruction of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa probably wouldn't bode well for relations between Jews and Muslims, even if it did bring about the Messiah (first or second coming, depending on who you're talking to).
I took this picture from an observatory in East Jerusalem above the most desired resting place in Judaism, the cemetery in the foreground.
A group of Orthodox Jews says prayers over the tomb of a relative while a bored soldier stands guard. It's the height of tourism season and the area is choked with foreigners in shorts and baseball hats. A few hundred meters downhill to the right is the garden where Jesus supposedly ate the Last Supper, though the story is believed to be archeologically unprovable. To the left of the Temple Mount, slightly out of the frame, is the excavated City of David.
The Dome of the Rock sits atop the Temple Mount, over the ruins of the Second Temple, which was Judaism's holiest site until it was destroyed by the Romans during the Jewish rebellion of 70 CE. In fact, the Temple Mount is still Judaism's holiest site, since it is home to the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, which is supposed to be the only remnant of the Second Temple. According to Jewish lore, the temple must be rebuilt in order to precipitate the arrival of the Messiah. Some Christians believe the temple must be rebuilt before Christ will come a second time, because for them once is not enough.
In order for the temple to be rebuilt, the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa, both of which sit atop the Temple Mount, would need to be destroyed. These two mosques are Islam's second and third holiest sites, respectively. Mohammad — the last and final prophet, according to Islam, and the messenger who delivered the Holy Koran from God to mere mortals — apparently flew from the spot where the Dome now stands to heaven, accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Muslims call that magical trip the "night flight." Suffice to say, the destruction of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa probably wouldn't bode well for relations between Jews and Muslims, even if it did bring about the Messiah (first or second coming, depending on who you're talking to).
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| From Dome of the Rock 4/22/09 5:22 PM |
A group of Orthodox Jews says prayers over the tomb of a relative while a bored soldier stands guard. It's the height of tourism season and the area is choked with foreigners in shorts and baseball hats. A few hundred meters downhill to the right is the garden where Jesus supposedly ate the Last Supper, though the story is believed to be archeologically unprovable. To the left of the Temple Mount, slightly out of the frame, is the excavated City of David.
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