Ian Heard's Blog - Until we see

'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

WHO I AM, NOW...

28/3/2020

In these uncertain times (March 2020) of worldwide COVID-19 apprehension, we need to know that our Creator has been in the midst of this gone-wrong world--and has suffered the worst that mankind could hand out. He has tasted and experienced all that we do, including death...and yet...and yet! He trusted His Father, even as He went through every anguish. And--He is the One who offers, in our hearts--at depth, the same certainty He had that His Father was in control and would bring Him through.

An excerpt from 'THE PERSON: I, WISDOM (God in the Time Realm)'

'Who I Am, now…

I looked out upon the world and upon you then, through my human eyes—and still do! For things are altogether different now because I returned to our realm as human; the first-fruit of a new and different category of humankind. I, Wisdom now (figuratively) sit at Father’s right hand carrying the scars of my sojourn among you and interceding in your behalf! Yes, in behalf of you who read! Remember this, dear reader, when you are under duress or testing; there is no testing that you undergo that I have not experienced and cannot assist you with—if you will turn and ask! I now not only intercede for you but the Father also sends his Spirit to you to empower and delight.
In fact, it is just as in the first creation when the Elohim breathed his life and an ‘I am’ into ‘Dam. Now, in this new creation he again brings you to new life with that same breath.

And, you must not think it was easier for me whilst I was among you because of who I am. Oh no! For I relinquished privilege in order to be one of you.'

For details and where to purchase go Here

The PLACE became central to THE PEOPLE from whom came THE PERSON...who fulfilled the plan at THE PLACE!

22/2/2020

ATTENTION all Fellow-Pilgrims!

THE PLACE; THE PEOPLE; THE PERSON...

Ian's books are available from Wipf and Stock Publishers, Amazon, Booktopia, Fishpond, Dymocks and many more. Also as Kindle or E-Books.

There was a PLACE chosen by God as the locus and centre of his redemptive plan for mankind.

There was a PEOPLE chosen and connected specifically to THE PLACE through whom the plan would unfold.

There was a PERSON from THE PEOPLE through whom the plan has been accomplished and put into effect--at THE PLACE!

Here is the Trilogy, THE PLACE, THE PEOPLE and THE PERSON...

Visit until-we-see.com for more info.

WISDOM INVADES TIME!

5/2/2020

God the Creator made a very unique and specialised realm in which we humans live.

It is a realm of particles which cohere as what we call matter; it is also a realm of Time, the flow of which he creates and causes to occur moment to moment! It is altogether different from the realm of eternity and non-matter that he occupies.

All of this special creation displays both his wisdom and glory. Within it and within our Time Realm, he keeps making himself known—and especially so since our departure from him at the Fall of Man.

Not only has the One known as Wisdom made this realm, but he has continued to invade it to call mankind back to himself. Indeed, he eventually invaded as Wisdom made Human to complete an astonishing work in which all may be included as his brand new creation!

Read this exciting new book from Ian Heard...

'THE PERSON: I, Wisdom (God in the Time realm)' Details HERE

WHO IS THIS PERSON...?

2/2/2020

Who burst into history as though he owned it?
Who said he was before Abraham?
Who forgave people their sins?
Who was described as the eternal Logos?

This Person was the eternal Word and Wisdom of God on a mercy mission to rescue us all.
He entered our Time Realm, which he had created—on a mission to make possible for each of us, re-entry to his eternal realm.

Hear him tell his story again through Watcher Shaqaad with a voice just like yours and mine!

‘THE PERSON: I, Wisdom (God in the Time Realm)’

Details here

Here's a review: 'In this absorbing read Ian Heard illustrates the beckoning heart of God encountering the hesitating heart of man at the crossroads of Wisdom and ‘Un-Wisdom’. He artfully states a tell-tale divine musing on P.20 “Many wonder at our election of a single human through whom to begin the unfolding of large purpose, but it is our way”. It’s a banquet at a table of archetypal Wisdom. Eat there slowly, linger and be fed.''
Pastor Paul O'Sullivan, Northern Beaches Christian Centre Sydney, past chairman Associated Christian Ministries Australia and Founder of Northern Beaches Christian School

FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF ISRAEL...BLESS THE LORD!

29/1/2020

Cold water Geyser in Andernach, Germany
In Psalm 68:26...
David remembers and describes the procession of both God (in the Ark of the Covenant) and worshippers when he brought the Ark of God to the City of David and installed it in the temporary tent that he had constructed for it at Gihon.

It appears that he looks forward to the day when the more permanent temple will stand at the designated and sacred spot—and what signifies that spot?

He writes ‘bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the ‘fountain of Israel’ and he then goes on to speak of God commanding strength at ‘your temple in Jerusalem.’
It appears clear that the spring or fountain (Hebrew MAQOR) of which he speaks is the only spring in Jerusalem—Gihon—and that the temple was (or was to be) at that site, where its water would represent the life of God—living water—springing up to provide life for his people.

See details of THE PLACE and other Books at this page here

THE PLACE PREPARED BY DAVID FOR THE TEMPLE!

7/1/2020

Yes, that’s right. Not only did David have the temple in his heart—he also had its site ‘nailed down’ and clearly he passed this on to his son, Solomon.
How do I know?

In 2 Chronicles 1 we can read about Solomon making offerings at Gibeon where the old tabernacle of Moses was pitched. The bronze altar was still there, but the most important item, the Ark of the Covenant had already been moved by David to a special spot in the City of David.
The record says (v.4) ‘David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath-Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.’

We know where that tent was, for when Solomon had been anointed for kingship, David had instructed Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to put Solomon on the royal mule and taken to Gihon (see 1 Kings 1:32ff) and note that v.39 informs us that Zadok took the horn of oil ‘from the tent and anointed Solomon.’

Note, it’s called in 2 Chronicles 1:4 (above) ‘the place David had prepared for it.’
And…where did Solomon start building the temple? At that very place: for the same words are used in 2 Chronicles 3:1--
‘Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared …’

Indeed, in my view, the tent was at Gihon, at the site known through the ages as HaMakom (The Place)—and further, that the threshing floor had been there on one of the ledges just above the floor of Kidron Valley and just near the Spring Gihon. In fact, having stood in all these places, I know well how the Kidron Valley is a funnel for the breezes, which in Jerusalem prevail from WNW to WSW! The picture is an artist's impression of the City of David with the fortress wall extending East around Gihon Spring.

Remember that when the text says, ‘on mount Moriah’ it is referring to the whole of that mountain, of which the southern ridge on which the City of David was built, forms part.

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.