Ian Heard's Blog - Until we see

PLENTY OF ROOM FOR A THRESHING FLOOR AND LATER, A TEMPLE

24/11/2020

The below very early 20th Century aerial photograph (left) of Jerusalem shows the alleged Temple Mount and the area once occupied by the City of David to its south (in lower right foreground) clearly provides ample area for the ancient threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and later, the temple of Solomon.

In fact , in the photo, the region is apparently planted out in garden or crop plots and has long since been built on with dwellings and other buildings. The area circled on the ridge-top of that part of the Moriah complex would in fact have been ideal for a threshing floor as the prevailing breeze most predominantly from north-west meaning that chaff would blow south-eastward along the ridge, down the Kidron Valley and away from the city area (also see at right the prevailing wind rose for Jerusalem).

Solomon’s temple was built somewhare near the area circled in orange, above the Gihon Spring whose gushing water was piped up into the temple area, supplying copious water for both temple and city. As the Psalm says, ‘there is a river whose streams make glad the City of God.’
See this author’s book ‘THE PLACE, HaMakom: Where Jerusalem’s Temples stood’

Available worldwide from Amazon or other bookstores.

'DEEP to DEEP...'

17/11/2020

Images above of Gihon's (much diminished) flowing stream today, which can still be heard bubbling and murmuring.

(Psalm 42:7)

What was in the mind’s eye of the Sons of Korah in this Psalm?

The clue is in the next line, ‘at the noise of your waterspouts’ (waterspout is the preferred translation once we know the context).

The Hebrew word TSINNOR and this is the word used of the access gutter or spout through which David’s commander, Joab, accessed the ancient fortress of Jebus. The word is used only twice; here in Psalm 42 and in 2 Samuel 5:8 where David says, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft (TSINNOR) and defeats the Jebusites.....he shall be chief and captain.”

The Gihon (meaning Gushing Up) Spring still makes a dull roar on occasions, but was, in David’s day a mighty geyser-like gusher and the water was channeled upward under its own pressure, into the fortress above.
It could be heard roaring away, day and night.

When we consider that it was at or above Gihon that David later erected a temporary tent (tabernacle) for the Ark of the Covenant and the holy items—and instituted worship there—it is not surprising that as the Korahites sang, the deep roar of Gihon could be heard below and—the gushing of it up through the TSINNOR nearby—accompanying them.

They knew, as did David, that this was the site, known from antiquity as HaMakom, The Place—the site named by Jacob as Beit-El (Bethel), House of God and that is why David erected the tent right there. The water of Gihon represented the living water of God.
And so, the Korahites wrote that, ‘deep (the powerful voice of that Living Water beneath them) calls to deep’—to the depths of the soul. And they heard it not only below, but also bubbling and surging up the TSINNOR, quite near them, to above them—‘all your waves and billows have gone over me.’

As David knew the sacredness of the site, he passed that on to his son, Solomon with the plans for the temple and it was built nearby, above the Gihon Spring, in the City of David!

There is no ‘living water’ on the alleged Temple Mount!

'LOOKING FOR NX14771' a story of War, Heroism & Closure

2/10/2020

'....in the little boy’s heart, happy as he was, there remained a vague ache. How can you miss something, someone, you never knew? But he had the dog-tag. That would do. That brought him close. He took to wearing it in early teens—and tried to engrave his own name on its reverse side using the sharp point of a drawing compass, perhaps somehow to join himself with the missing owner. I can see those marks as I hold it in my hand today.'

An excerpt from Ian's new book 'LOOKING FOR NX14771'; a remarkable and serendipitous story about 'finding' the father never known: a father who died in World War II having been decorated for bravery.
Buy now: In Australia available at Amazon, Koorong, Fishpond, Booktopia and in USA on Amazon USA

THE SPIRITUAL REASON FOR THE TEMPLE LOCATION

4/9/2020

Many of the arguments over the original location of Solomon's temple revolve around various Biblical references. These do make it quite clear that it could be nowhere else but in the City of David--that crescent-shaped ridge forming part of the Mount Moriah prominence. The City of David was also known as Zion and again and again the scriptures make clear that God resided in Zion and spoke from Zion. In that place (THE PLACE, HaMakom as it was known to the patriarchs), at the Gihon Spring, David had erected a temporary tent where he housed the ark of the covenant and the sacred objects and, importantly, where he had Solomon anointed for kingship. That tent, of course stood at HaMakom and marked the spot that had become so recognised through the ages, at Gihon Spring.
But--the most telling reason that the Temple was located here (in my view)--is the spiritual reason. For the Temple had to have 'living water' at its location in order to represent the life of God flowing in and from the Presence of God--as the video below explains. (Alternatively ou can view it on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCOp7M62NUI )

You can also read my book 'THE PLACE HaMakom; where Jerusalem's temples stood' and discover more. Buy it now on Amazon USA here or in Australia here

THE TEMPLE WITHIN THE CITY GATES

20/8/2020

'“Let us go into the house of the Lord”
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.'

This is from Psalm 122 and is designated as ‘of David.’ If David actually penned it then when he speaks of the ‘house of the Lord’ he is speaking of the temporary tent he had erected at Gihon to house the ark of the Covenant—at the sacred spot known as HaMakom (The Place)—where he intended his son, Solomon to erect the Temple.
It’s also possible that David was envisaging the Temple because, as we are told in 1 Chronicles 28:2 he had it in his heart to build a house of rest for the ark of God. So much so that he had even drawn the plans—see verse 11 etc.

Whatever the case, the Temple is here described as being WITHIN the confines of the ‘compact’ city (verse 3) with the Temple within its gates!
What the City of David looked like can be seen in the two artist’s impressions; the impression at left is how the City of David would have looked under occupation by the Jebusites; the one on the right showing it superimposed on a relatively modern photo of the southern Moriah ridge on which it stood.

The Psalm describes the city as the place where ‘thrones (plural) are set’ (v.5).

Why thrones plural? Because both the spiritual and the civil thrones were there; God was enthroned as KING there above the ark and between the wings of the cherubim, but the earthly king, David also had his throne within the compact city!

Similarly, the psalmist speaks of ‘palaces’ plural, within this compact city (v.7) because there was both his and God’s.
In David’s time, the city that bore his name and which he had won from the Jebusites, occupied the neck or ridge of land which formed part of Moriah’s bulk and was bounded on the east by Kidron Valley and on the South and West by the valleys Hinnom and Tyropeon (Cheesemakers).

‘DEEP CALLS TO DEEP AT THE NOISE OF YOUR TSINNOR’

18/5/2020

Psalm 42:7

In this contemplative Psalm the Korahites sang of their longing for God and his dwelling.

They long for the presence of God in the Temple. Perhaps written during captiviy or by David when he was banished by Saul’s tyranny or Absolom’s rebellion. Certainly it is from Trans-Jordan (Verse 6).

Notice that the longing is as that of the deer for the ‘water brooks’ and it is significant that a few verses later he refers the noise or roar of ‘your’ TSINNOR.

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament. The other occcasion is in 2 Samuel 5:8 where David challenges his men about forcing entry to the Jebusite stronghold. He says “Whoever climbs up by way of the TSINNOR (translated as ‘water shaft’ or similar) and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.”
I believe this is the self-same TSINNOR referred to in the Psalm.

As one who has visited the site it is true today that, as many tourists attest, you can still hear the water from Gihon rushing along through the tunnel of Hezekiah.
Noted Serbian photographer Zoran Strajin who specialises in panoramic photographs has photographed Hezekiah’s Tunnel and described Gihon (in its much diminished state today), this way…

‘The only spring in Jerusalem, the Gihon is a siphonic, karstic spring, and its name means “gushing”; it surges and the sound can be easily heard. It is estimated that the Gihon could have supported a population of about 2,500. The cave is a natural one, but it has been widened. Solomon was anointed at the Gihon Spring while his brother, Adonijah, was attempting to take the throne through a surreptitious coronation at En Rogel.’

From deep underground the Gihon water came gushing and bubbling up and its roar could be heard from some distance. To the Psalmist that sound is associated with worship at the shrine that David had put at Gihon to house the Ark and the sacred objects. That sound calls to his own deep place, his heart which longs to be there again!

Read about the origin of this site in 'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood'

Details of availability HERE

'IN SALEM IS HIS TABERNACLE’

15/5/2020

Early 20th Century image of steps to Gihon Spring

In Psalm 76:2 why did Asaph the Psalmist use this ancient name of the site where Melchizedek had dwelt? Then, in Hebrew parallelism, Asaph repeats the thought saying, ‘and his dwelling place in Zion.’
He knew that Salem and Zion were identical.

Asaph was aware that where David had pitched the tent for the ark and the sacred items was the site of ancient Salem, known through the ages as HaMakom, The Place.

That ancient enclave or settlement known as Salem was sited as near as possible to that even-more-ancient spring of living water known as Gihon. The settlement would not have been way up the hill to the north at what has become erroneously known as Temple Mount today. Why would anyone choose to live a distance of hundreds
of metres up a steep hill from the only water source and up which they would have to carry water at least once a day?

No, Salem—to become later known as Zion was just near and just above this spring called ‘Gushing Forth’ and whose water was later piped up, under its pressure into the temple above—at Zion!
Over and over the scriptures declare ‘the Lord dwells in ZION’ ‘the Lord speaks from ZION’ and in both Joel and Amos, ‘the Lord roars from ZION.’

Read about this ancient site known as HaMakom throughout the Old Testament in

'THE PLACE HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood'
Available from Amazon

Or from Amazon Australia

Or good bookstores.

Ian Heard's other books can be seen here

THE IMPORTANCE OF HA MAKOM, 'THE PLACE'

3/5/2020

A question for those who have adopted Replacement Theology--the idea that God has finished with Israel and that the Church has replaced her...

...You can see then, the importance of The Place in the grand scheme.

Here is a question:
If the City of David—the City wrested millennia ago from the hands of those whose name means ‘downtreaders’ (the Jebusites) was transformed into the City of David and ultimately the City of God over which Yeshua wept—Jerusalem…if it has been forever rejected by God, why is it the site to which Messiah will return?

You see, it remains in his heart. It remains the locus, whether we like the idea or not, until the consummation of all things! It, and the people it represents, have a role.

Read 'THE PLACE: HaMakom: where Jerusalem's temples stood' and read about
The People of The Place in
'THE PEOPLE, the sons of God (through the eyes of a Watcher)'

WILL THE JEWISH PEOPLE BUILD ANOTHER TEMPLE?

18/4/2020

That desire is most certainly in the heart of many dear Jewish people, who unfortunately have their hearts set on a Messiah yet to arrive.

He was the One who, among so many other extraordinary sayings, said of His own body (and to those out to get Him), “destroy THIS temple and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19).

Messiah Yeshua spoke of the temple of His body, the temple in which the Spirit of God dwelt whilst He was here. After His resurrection and departure there was to be a new house for the Spirit. It was those, who, following Him, were filled with His Spirit at Pentecost and since, to continue the work of making disciples.

That is His temple today. He dwells in a house not made with hands. Among the Jewish people today, there is a growing number coming to recognise and embrace the truth of Yeshua—and themselves become ‘living stones’ in this new temple.

But there are also those who, not having accepted Messiah Yeshua, are determined to build a new, physical temple and restore ritual worship.

For those of them who believe that the ‘traditional’ Temple Mount is the site where it must be built, there is, of course, a serious problem as it is occupied by the Islamic Shrine, The Dome of the Rock and the nearby Mosque of Omar.

My encouragement to every Jewish person is to embrace Messiah Yeshua. But for those who are determined to build—what if the traditional site is not actually where Solomon’s temple (and the later temple/s) stood?

What if they were actually at the site which had become known through biblical time as HaMakom—The Place? A site in the City of David,south of the alleged Temple Mount and above the fabled Gihon Spring where David had housed the Ark of the Covenant and other sacred articles? The site visited by Abraham with Isaac and later by Jacob and many others.

Now--that site would make the building of a proposed temple much easier!

Will it eventuate? Will God allow this—or will Yeshua return before it is possible?

In any case, make sure you read the exciting story of ‘THE PLACE, HaMakom: where Jerusalem’s Temples stood’

Details and availability here.

‘...WHEN HE ARISES TO SHAKE THE EARTH MIGHTILY’

10/4/2020

The above quotation is from ISAIAH 2:21c

In the days of COVID-19 we are finding ourselves constrained and even somewhat inconvenienced. Life has changed. We hope, temporarily. Some are resisting change; some even rebelling against it. Uncertainty is in the air.

It is a shaking—a disturbance of our expected and assumed-as-a-right, status quo. Some idols are falling.
When God allows a shaking it is for these exact purposes.

Before a major volcanic eruption there are usually seismic rumblings and warnings: Shakings! Sensible people move to safe territory, even though it means leaving familiar and even cherished things behind. It creates inconvenience and uncertainty—but it is clearly a time for new priorities and the embracing of a new life, in a place of safety. A time when people discover that what was once cherished was actually holding them in a dangerous place.

When God permits the kind of shaking we are seeing, it is the rumblings—a time to let go some cherished things—idols that have kept us from the place of true safety. It’s HIM. Always has been: Always will be.

A day will come, says God’s word—and Jesus himself warned—when the shakings will become much more serious. That will not be the day to try to get to safety. There is an old hymn that has been singing itself in my head and heart these days—‘In times like these we need an anchor; in times like these we need a saviour...’

Here it is, sung by Albertina Walker—as only a black woman could sing it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LJrj7olwgk

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.