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Temple was not located on the "Temple Mount"?


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3 hours ago, Invicta said:

That is not news.  People have been saying that for years, but is it true?

Indeed, there are several different theories out there about just where the temple was located. The idea the temple was located somewhere other than where the Dome of the Rock currently sits has even been incorporated into some pre-trib rapture based books and movies.

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There was a programme a week or so ago on TV showing tunnels under the temple mount.  It was called something like Searching for Solomon's Treasure  They said it is thought that Solomon buried  much of his treasure there. They said the tunnels not accessible to non Jews but they got a guide to take them.  I was only half waching but I think they said that many treasures from under there are sold in Jewish antique shops and they spoke to one of the antique dealers who showed them many items.

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II Chron. 3:1- Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Sounds like the temple mount was located within the city. Is the Dome of the Rock outside the city? 

Edited by Critical Mass
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This new information has been totally dismissed because of the long history of the "Temple Mount" being the location of the Temple.  In fact, the "Temple Mount" was the Roman Antonia Fortress, housing about 10,000 Romans.  Note the connecting road between the Temple Mount and the City of David.  BTW, the "threshing floor" would have been away from the Gihon Spring, so not to contaminate the water with "chaff".

 The ideal location would have been as shown below, just south of the "Temple Mount":

 

Real Temple Mount.png

Edited by beameup
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Description[edit]

Although modern reconstructions often depict the fortress as having a tower at each of four corners, the historian Josephusrepeatedly refers to it as the tower Antonia, and stated that it had been built by John Hyrcanus for storing the vestments used in the Temple.[1] However Josephus states:

"The general appearance of the whole was that of a tower with other towers at each of the four corners; three of these turrets were fifty cubits high, while that at the south-east angle rose to seventy cubits and so commanded a view of the whole area of the temple."[2]

Some archaeologists are of the opinion that the fortress was only a single tower, located at the south-east corner of the site;[3] for example, Pierre Benoit, former professor of New Testament studies at the École Biblique, having carried out extensive archaeological studies of the site, concurs and adds that there is absolutely no [archaeological] support for there having been four towers.[4]

Josephus placed the Antonia at the Northwest corner of the colonnades surrounding the Temple. Modern depictions often show the Antonia as being located along the North side of the temple enclosure. However, Josephus' description of the siege of Jerusalem suggests that it was separated from the temple enclosure itself and probably connected by two colonnades with a narrow space between them. Josephus' measurements suggest about a 600-foot separation between the two complexes.

Prior to the First Jewish–Roman War, the Antonia housed some part of the Roman garrison of Jerusalem. The Romans also stored the high priest's vestments within the Fortress.

The Antonia was destroyed in 70 AD by Titus' army during the siege of Jerusalem. Titus captured the fortress as a precursor to attacking the Temple complex. He had the Antonia leveled to allow passage of siege materials to the temple.

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  Here is what Josephus had to say about Antonia,  History 18 4 3  Not conclusive but I think the Temple mount is the site of the temple.  

3. But Vitellius came into Judea, and went up to Jerusalem; it was at the time of that festival which is called the Passover. Vitellius was there magnificently received, and released the inhabitants of Jerusalem from all the taxes upon the fruits that were bought and sold, and gave them leave to have the care of the high priest's vestments, with all their ornaments, and to have them under the custody of the priests in the temple, which power they used to have formerly, although at this time they were laid up in the tower of Antonia, the citadel so called, and that on the occasion following: There was one of the [high] priests, named Hyrcanus; and as there were many of that name, he was the first of them; this man built a tower near the temple, and when he had so done, he generally dwelt in it, and had these vestments with him, because it was lawful for him alone to put them on, and he had them there reposited when he went down into the city, and took his ordinary garments; the same things were continued to be done by his sons, and by their sons after them. But when Herod came to be king, he rebuilt this tower, which was very conveniently situated, in a magnificent manner; and because he was a friend to Antonius, he called it by the name of Antonia. And as he found these vestments lying there, he retained them in the same place, as believing, that while he had them in his custody, the people would make no innovations against him. The like to what Herod did was done by his son Archelaus, who was made king after him; after whom the Romans, when they entered on the government, took possession of these vestments of the high priest, and had them reposited in a stone-chamber, under the seal of the priests, and of the keepers of the temple, the captain of the guard lighting a lamp there every day; and seven days before a festival they were delivered to them by the captain of the guard, when the high priest having purified them, and made use of them, laid them up again in the same chamber where they had been laid up before, and this the very next day after the feast was over. This was the practice at the three yearly festivals, and on the fast day; but Vitellius put those garments into our own power, as in the days of our forefathers, and ordered the captain of the guard not to trouble himself to inquire where they were laid, or when they were to be used; and this he did as an act of kindness, to oblige the nation to him. Besides which, he also deprived Joseph, who was also called Caiaphas, of the high priesthood, and appointed Jonathan the son of Ananus, the former high priest, to succeed him. After which, he took his journey back to Antioch.

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And as they went about to kill him [Paul in the Temple], tidings came unto the chief captain of the band [Roman chief captain], that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who [Roman captain] immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them [from Antonia Fortress to the Temple]: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they [Jews] left beating of Paul. Acts 21:31-32

The Romans rescued Paul from the Jews by "running down" from the fortress to the Temple.  Clearly, the Word of God identifies the location as being "lower" than the Roman garrison.  In fact, the "threshing floor" location of the Temple is 600 feet below the Roman Antonia Fortress (ie: Temple Mount).  In fact, the real Temple was so obliterated by the Romans (not only in 70AD, but about 139AD as well) that there remain "no stone upon another".  Modern Jews reject Jesus because the "wailing wall" still remains, as they claim that Jesus made a false prophecy of "no stone upon another".

So much for "Josephus"....small-details-make-big-difference-inspir

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