Until we see - Ian Heard's Blog

NEHEMIAH AND THE TEMPLE SITE...

21/8/2019

What was uppermost in Nehemiah’s mind when he asked the king to permit him to return to Jerusalem?

Clearly it was protection of ‘the House’—the Temple of God (Neh 2:8).

When Nehemiah spoke to King Artaxerxes he desired a letter from the king to the keeper of the king’s forest ‘to make beams for the gates of the fortress pertaining to the temple.’
The walls were broken down and the gates of the fortress-city—the City of David—had been burned.

Nehemiah’s primary concern as expressed to the king was the vulnerability of the temple. He wanted to repair the gates ‘...pertaining to the House (the Temple). It is also clear in his prayer, where he makes reference to God’s promise to return the people to HaMakom—The Place He had chosen as a ‘dwelling’ for His name (Neh. 1:9)!

On his return to Jerusalem he went on an inspection tour by night (so as not to alert the enemies of God as to his purpose).

That the Temple was in the City of David becomes quite clear when we examine the area Nehemiah encompassed and assesses in his night-time survey.

He left the city by the Valley Gate, went past the Dung Gate in the Valley of Hinnom, and proceeded toward (in the direction of) the Serpent or Dragon Well also called En Rogel in the Kidron Valley and then turned north up the Kidron Valley to the Fountain Gate—possibly the gate by which people exited to walk to the well at En Rogel (see diagram)—or it could be the gate further north that accessed the Gihon Spring (and shown as the water Gate in the accompanying diagram borrowed from http://www.biblemysteries.com/lectures/nihemahwall.htm.)

Nehemiah then retraced his steps and re-entered the city via the Valley Gate.

The area he viewed is the ‘neck’ or peninsula that comprised the City of David.

He was nowhere near (by hundreds of meters) the prominence to the north of the City of David which is today erroneously known as Temple Mount.

If, as seems quite clear, the temple was his major concern—and it was ‘up there’—it seriously begs the question, ‘why did Nehemiah go nowhere near it?’

Here is his report from Nehemiah 2:13-15 in the NASV...

‘So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.
Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.
So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned.’

Read 'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's Temples stood' to help you understand this ancient site that Jacob called the House of God (Bethel). See details elsewhere on this site or here.

NOT MY PEOPLE!

19/8/2019

“Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I will not be your God.”

NOT MY PEOPLE!
This is what the prophet Hosea was instructed to call his third child as God showed His disgust over The People—the privileged people who had shown only dishonor and contempt for Him!

How did those whom God had named His own, and, HaAm, THE PEOPLE—to whom He had attached His name and (in a sense) His reputation—become so distasteful to Him that He was ready to disown and disenfranchise them?

Their behavior, to use human language, made God, and His prophet, ‘cringe.’ I can imagine that the emphasis God was making in the name was ‘Not my People (thank you very much!)'.
In other words, ‘don’t attach them to me or to my Name’ and, ‘don’t judge me by them’!

Read the enthralling story of those God called ‘The People' and 'My People.’

Here’s a what Alan Bull PhD has to say:

"THE PEOPLE... is an enthralling and innovative approach, not only to telling old familiar stories but using narrative to portray, in a subtle but powerful way, the truth of good and evil in our world . . . There is good and evil, God and Satan, and in every human relationship, interaction and behavior a choice is to be made. The consequences, for those with the spiritual eyes to see, are clear.
It is an exceptional and well written piece of work.”

'THE PEOPLE: the sons of God (Through the eyes of a Watcher)' is the second work in a trilogy of books comprised of 'THE PLACE', 'THE PEOPLE' and, publishing soon,
'THE PERSON'

Find out more about 'THE PEOPLE: the sons of God (through the eyes of a Watcher' on this site or go to the publishers site here

Or to Amazon here

WERE THERE TWO BETHELS? And...IS JERUSALEM THE TRUE AND ORIGINAL BETHEL?

2/8/2019

My answer is ‘yes.’

A Jewish acquaintance has spent a lot of time with archeologists in and around Jerusalem, researching the latest finds in the ancient area known as the City of David. Although a very successful businessman, he is also a true scholar of Israel’s history and of the Old Testament. I will refer to him as KB.

KB’s considered view (with which I am in accord) is that the site of Jerusalem and particularly the Gihon Spring and Zion area is the original site at which Jacob declared, ‘this is none other than the house of God (BETHEL) and the gate of heaven’ (Gen. 28:17). I quote KB as follows (with some clarifications of mine in parenthesis. Underlining is also mine).
The map referred to is at right--

Quote:
“The precise location of Bethel (which is Luz according to Genesis 28:19 and Joshua 18:13) remains a major point of contention among academics and Biblical scholars. Luz being synonymous with Bethel may not seem that significant, but it has caused and continues to cause Israel's greatest disasters. Rivalry is the heart of this dynamic millennial problem.
The problem is relevant because modern Bethel, which is north of Jerusalem significantly distorts our understanding of Torah, especially when it substitutes the location of Luz-Bethel-Jerusalem on Benjamin’s southern border intersecting Judah's northern boundary. The problem originated on Benjamin's northern boundary with Ephraim (see Bethel in the map above).
Replace the name "Jerusalem" with "Bethel" and you will immediately notice the mirror image problem for two of Israel's most competitive tribes at their dueling Bethel locations (dueling over their Bethel locations).

What's the big deal you may ask? During Israel’s ~250 year exile in Egypt and sojourn in the desert, the location of Jacob's covenant at Bethel was hidden. Around 250 years before the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel under Joshua, Jacob had returned to Luz-Bethel-Jerusalem where he had made a covenant and took the name Israel (Genesis 35:10). Importantly the mountain on which Luz-Bethel-Jerusalem was located, Mount Moriah (Mt Moriah must be seen as the ‘Moriah Complex’, including its ridge southward into the Kidron Valley) would ultimately become the site of the altar and temple.
As such it would be extremely prestigious and economically lucrative, but, at that time it was not generally known whether Jacob's Bethel was on the northern or southern boundary of Benjamin. This gave rise to massive rivalry between Ephraim and Judah.

The Book of Joshua, was completed by the end of his life, it set the guidance that would demarcate land, but in Joshua's absence it was open to interpretation and became food for rivals (rivalry). The tribes were preoccupied defending and settling their respective land, but they could not penetrate the fortress that had been built over Jacob’s covenant (site) and (had been) occupied by Jebusites at Luz.
It would be another 300 years before the fortress would be captured by King David. During this long period, without knowing where Luz-Bethel-Jerusalem was in the south, Bethel north of Benjamin became entrenched (or understood to be the site)”
End quote.

This explanation clarifies much. Clearly the original Bethel (Beit-El) ‘House of God’ was where Jacob had his vision and he, as his father Abraham had, called the site, HaMakom—THE PLACE.

Discover more about this ancient and most significant Biblicel site in
'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood'

Or from Amazon as Paperback or Kindle

HaMakom (THE PLACE) and its meaning in the Bible...

25/7/2019

From an article by
Rabbi Professor Yoel Elitzur (circa 2014)

‘Ha-makom in Genesis
Once we understand the significance of “the place,” we can see that this keyword – ha-makom – is a keyword that is emphasized in the stories of the patriarchs in the book of Genesis as well. It appears in the story of the binding of Isaac and in Jacob’s Bethel narrative. The proof that the prominent role of the word ha-makom in these passages is no coincidence lies in the fact that often, the word is stressed in the Biblical text much more than what would be linguistically reasonable. That is to say, there are several instances in Genesis where the word ha-makom makes it difficult to understand the simple meaning of the verse. The Torah says:

Jacob left Beer-sheba, and set out for Haran. He came upon that place (ba-makom) and stopped there for the night, for the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of that place (ha-makom), he put it under his head and lay down in that place (ba-makom). (Genesis 28:10-11)
The word appears again shortly thereafter: “Surely the Lord is present in this place (ba-makom)… How awesome is this place (ha-makom)! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven” (28:16-17)’ (end quote)

Discover the secrets of this mysterious and unique place--THE PLACE--in the book...
'THE PLACE HaMakom; where Jerusalem's temples stood'
See details here

ON 'THE SONS OF MEN' IN PSALM 31:19

22/7/2019

‘'Oh how great is your goodness which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have prepared for those who trust in you in the presence of the sons of men’

Can you see the distinction David makes here between 'those who fear you' (known elsewhere as the sons of God) and, 'the sons of men' (Hebrew benei adam) before whom the blessings and benefits are dispayed?

Throughout the Bible the distinction between the two groups becomes plain: those who choose not to follow Yahweh are known as the benei adam, whilst those who fear and follow Him are distinguished as benei haElohim—the sons of God.

In ‘THE PEOPLE, the sons of God (through the eyes of a Watcher)’ you will see how the distinction is employed and becomes clear throughout your Bible, right into the New Covenant where the term is also used, for example, by Paul when he describes the whole creation as eagerly awaiting the revealing of ‘the sons of God’ (Romans 8:19, Greek ‘huion tou theou’).

Told in stimulating narrative style by Shaqaad, an angelic Watcher, you will travel through our time sojourn as a fellow-observer with Shaqaad (‘The Wakeful One’) gaining a new perspective on God’s redemptive plan to bring many ‘sons’ to glory!

See details and how to purchase at Base Camp page on this site.

WHY DID JOHN WRITE ‘the place of the City where Jesus was crucified was near’ (John 19:20)?

13/7/2019

He was writing about the inscription that Pilate had put on Jesus’ cross, which, said John, 'was read by many Jews'—and the reason it was read by many Jews was because it was where all the Jewish people were gathered—near and around, the temple!

A correct reading of John 19:20 indicates that John used the ancient name by which the temple was known...’The Place’ (in Greek ho topos and in Hebrew HaMakom)

John’s Greek uses the Genitive Case denoting possession: it’s ‘the place OF the city where Jesus was crucified.’

Darby translates it quite correctly as, ‘This title therefore many of the Jews read, for the place of the city where Jesus was crucified was near; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin.’

It is not the only occasion where John uses this name for the temple: in John 4:20 where the Samaritan woman converses with Jesus. She says ‘you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship’ (see KJV, NAS, Jubilee, ASV, Darby and others. Note, not ‘Jerusalem is the place’)

Find out about The Place (HaMakom) so designated from the days of Abraham, set apart for the presence of God among his people and known by Jacob as Bey-tel, the House of God.

'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood' is available from Wipf and Stock Publishers or Amazon

IS THIS JACOB’S STONE PILLAR?

11/6/2019

This oval-shaped stone is about 50 cm long and 30 cm high. It was discovered in 2011 by archeologists Reich and Shukron, very close to Gihon Spring in the old City of David (earliest Jerusalem).
It is surrounded by 12 smaller stones fused together around its base and remarkably like a stone described in early legends.

However, it could easily be the stone described in Genesis 28, the stone set up by Jacob as his pillow and the next morning, after his remarkable dream, as a pillar on which he poured oil…
’early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it’ (Genesis 28:18).

This is where he said ‘how awesome is this, The Place (HaMakom)! This is none other than the house of God (Bethel) and this is the gate of heaven.’

It is my view that this site (in what was then called Salem--see Genesis 14:18, Psalm 76:2 and Hebrews 7:2) was where Melchizedek had worshipped, where Abraham had been prepared to offer Isaac and, where Jacob visited as he fled from his brother. In your Bible it is known as HaMakom The Place.

Read the story of this special, set-aside-by-God place in 'THE PLACE HaMakom; where Jerusalem's temples stood'

TYPOLOGY AND LIVING WATER IN THE TEMPLE

2/6/2019

Israel’s tabernacle in the wilderness and later the permanent temple were full of ‘types’ and shadows of what was to come. These ‘types’ represented spiritual truths.

The entry of the high priest into the holy of holies typified Jesus our great High Priest entering God’s presence to present the blood. The Ark of the Covenant with its Mercy ‘Seat’ represented the presence of God in judgement and mercy.

The Altar of Incense represented the prayers of the people ascending to God.
Every item and activity there typified God’s grace toward man and pointed toward Messiah in whom everything would be fulfilled.

The one missing element in the temporary tent in the wilderness was ‘living’ water. God provided water for the ritual washing and for the people, but because they were moving, there was no permanent, running water supply. The Laver for the ritual washings had to be replenished by hand from what water God made available.

This in itself pointed to the need for permanence and a place where the temple and a living water supply were located together.

In Zion, that requirement was met. At The Place (HaMakom) set aside by God from time immemorial as the chosen centre of his activity in the Nation and for the world.

In the Letter of Aristeas of perhaps 200 BC his description of the temple includes this remarkable sentence...
‘And there is an inexhaustible supply of water, because an abundant natural spring gushes up from within the temple area.’ Aristeas goes on to explain the sacrifices and the water from the spring carrying away copious blood in ‘the twinkling of an eye’ via drains beneath the floor.

Probably the water from Gihon was piped up to fill the Bronze Sea (see picture and description in 2 Chronicles 4:2-5).

The temple was supplied by water from a natural spring—not an artifice of man. That spring can only have been Gihon from whence water was forced up by pipes (of which Aristeas also writes) to serve both the temple and the needs of the City of David.

Read 'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood' to get the full story of the site God had set apart from Melchizedek and Abraham's time, as His own for the true 'House of God' (Bethel) in Jerusalem.

Available from the Publisher Wipf and Stock
Available from Amazon

'...FOR THE LORD HAS CHOSEN ZION...

14/5/2019

HE HAS CHOSEN IT FOR HIS HOME.'
(Psalm 132:13)

Say What? ZION? Yes—the True BETHEL!

So where is Zion? And why so important? When God has chosen something or someone it means that he has a specific purpose for which he will use that person or place.

Zion was a portion within the Mount Moriah complex. God had said to Abraham, “in the land of Moriah on one of the mountains I will show you.”

Now, when Abraham arrived in the vicinity, “he lifted his eyes and saw...” What was it that Abraham saw? The Bible says he “saw HaMakom”—The Place. It was somehow recognisable.
He knew in his heart that what he saw was where God had in mind. God’s “one of the mountains (hills)” was the prominence above and just west of the fabled Gihon Spring, a kaarst-type spring whose name meant ‘gushing forth.’ On the prominence above it a walled enclosure had been built and, in time, perhaps even when Abraham visited with Isaac, an additional wall enclosing the spring, protected it (looking something like the accompanying picture).

Why was this place (which was already becoming known as HaMakom—‘The Place’)—God’s choice?

Because The Place chosen by God as His ‘home’ had the most significant ‘type’ and sign of His presence—a spring of ‘living water’ that gushed with great force and provided life for the residents.

It’s the same HaMakom later visited by Jacob (Genesis 28:11 says he came to HaMakom not a ‘certain place’) and which he named Bey-tel (Bethel) meaning ‘house of God.’ Yes, in my view this is the true and original Bethel where Jerusalem was to be founded. It’s the Salem where Melchizedek had lived (Genesis 14:8) and later known as Zion (Psalm 76:2)!

Here’s the point: above that spring is Zion, His 'home', and the true Bethel—was where the temple was to be later built.
David of course, knew that and it’s exactly why, when he brought the ark of the covenant into the City of David (which is Zion, see 2 Samuel 5:7) he put it in a tent, along with the other sacred items and the oil, there at the ‘special ’ spot, Gihon (see 1 Kings 1:32-45).

Zion is not on the top of the Moriah complex. Yes, it is on Mount Moriah, but on the bump that was known as Zion (now pretty much levelled by successive ancient building programs) and above the Gihon Spring whose bursting forth water was channeled up into the temple to service it and the needs of the City of David.

THE NEPHILIM OF GENESIS 6: WERE THEY THE OFFSPRING OF HUMAN WOMEN AND ANGELIC BEINGS?

27/4/2019

Through the voice of Shaqaad, an imagined angelic watcher, author Ian Heard in his new book 'THE PEOPLE: the sons of God (through the eyes of a Watcher)' says a resounding ‘no’ to this fanciful interpretation. Ian takes us on a biblical journey to demonstrate that the ‘sons of God’ (or benei elohim in Hebrew) is simply a term used to describe those who call on the name of the Lord and incline their hearts to Him in obedience.

He shows us that two streams flow through human history and the Bible characterizes these streams as the sons of God and the sons of men (benei adam).

Ian demonstrates in eminently readable style, that it is ultimately God’s plan to bring ‘many sons to glory’ (Hebrews 2:10)

THE PEOPLE: the sons of God (through the eyes of a Watcher). Available as paperback or e-book
From Amazon here https://www.amazon.com/People-Sons-Through-Eyes-Watcher/dp/1532648286

Or from the Publisher here https://wipfandstock.com/the-people.html

Location

Beautiful Newport Beach,
Sydney, AUSTRALIA

What people who've read THE PLACE are saying...

Marilyn Sams - author of The Jerusalem Temple Mount Myth: Ian Heard’s book adds a unique ....aspect to the growing movement of people accepting the City of David location for the temples in Jerusalem. His perspective .....brings many insightful possibilities to the table. Especially moving are his heartfelt expressions of faith in and love for the prophets and the Savior of the world'.
Pastor, Luke Yeghnazar of the Iranian Church of Los Angeles: Wonderful book. I trust it will be distributed widely. I read it with excitement. The reader will want to know what happens next. An exciting book to be read by Christians, Jews and others.

What readers of THE PEOPLE are saying...
The People is an enthralling and innovative approach, not only to telling old familiar stories but using narrative to portray, in a subtle but powerful way, the truth of good and evil in our world . . . There is good and evil, God and Satan, and in every human relationship/interaction and behavior a choice is to be made. The consequences, for those with the spiritual eyes to see, are clear. It is an exceptional and well written piece of work.” Allan Bull, Macquarie University, Sydney.