| Above are pictures of the wheels from the chariots of Pharoah's army in the depths of the Red Sea (Gulf of Aquaba). <--- The Following Site Gives More Information On This Discovery: http://www.wyattmuseum.com/red-sea-crossing-05.htm |
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| These stones above are from the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem; following is concerning the stone on the right: This stately stone is dated to the Second Temple period. The size of this stone is about 75 cm long and 50 cm wide. A similar figure was found in the Triple Gate at the southern wall of the Temple Mount. This stone is the first archaeological evidence of monumental architecture in the temple mount that can be positively dated to the Second Temple period. This stone is part of a stately monumental gate of a very important building on the Mount. There is a possibility that this is a fragment of one of the Temple gates! The Following Site Gives More Information On This Discovery: http://www.har-habayt.org/whats17-5-00.html {Click Below} |
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| Above Left: Picture believed to be of Noah's Ark. Above Right: Location map. For {NOTE: The Anchorstone.com site is also very interesting in that it also features articles on the chariot wheels discovered in the Red Sea, Mt. Sinai, and the Ark of the Covenant.} <--The Following Site Gives More Information On This Discovery: http://www.anchorstone.com/wyatt/ |
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| The Following Site Has Various Other Biblical Discovery Pictures And Information: http://www.wyattmuseum.com {Click Below To Enter} |
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| Above: On The 9th Of Av 5761 / July 29th 2001, The day the Israeli Supreme Court had given permission for "The Temple Mount Faithful" to place this "3rd Temple Cornerstone" by the Temple Mount - it was allowed to be moved somewhat closer briefly that day -then Arabs rioted and threw stones on innocent Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall. <--The Following Site Gives More Information On This: http://www.templemountfaithful.org |
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| From: Bradley Antolovich <[email protected]> 7. JOSHUA'S ALTAR FOUND On a rocky mountainside overlooking Shechem (Nabulus) is one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries that had been found in Israel. Archaeologist Adam Sartal recalls the first survey on Mt Ebal: "Mt. Ebal, one of a large group of mountains north of Shechem, towers over 3,000 ft above sea level. It is the highest of the mountains in central or northern Samaria. We began to painstakingly map the area out in the winter of 1980. We were already aware of the numerous historical artifacts buried among the ruins of Samaria. In 1978 a small team of archaeologists from Tel aviv University, and later from the University of Haifa, began a survey of the mountainous area which has belonged to the tribe of Manasseh. The area lies between the Jezreel Valley in the north and Shechem and the Kaneh Valley in the south, and between the Jordan River in the East, and the "Sea Route" of the Patriarchs on the west." During the 1980 survey, the altar of Joshua was discovered. When asked of the significance of their discovery of Joshua's altar, Adam calls this "one of the most surprising discoveries in the last few years that dates back to the time of the Israelite settlement of samaria." The altar has been reconstructed and one is able to identify the structure, walls, and ramps, which were built of natural stones. Thorough investigation led the team to discover ashes and bone fragments along with shards of pottery. These fragments were dated to the time of Joshua, the Bronze age, which lasted from 1250-1000 BC. Each time one stands near this altar and looks up to the surrounding heights, one sees the natural amphitheater where the Israelites gathered to hear Joshua declare the Israelites a nation. We see a reference to this alter and its place in Jewish history in (Deuteronomy 27:4-9), when Moses said to the elders of Israel: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister. |
| Red Heifer Born in Israel! In these days of difficulty for the Land of Israel, there is encouraging news as well... It can now be revealed that less than one month ago, a red heifer was born in Israel. After the heifer's owner contacted the Temple Institute, on Friday, April 5th, 2001, Rabbi Menachem Makover and Rabbi Chaim Richman traveled to the farm where the heifer is located, to inspect and validate her status. The rabbis found her to be kosher and were satisfied that this heifer could indeed be a candidate to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers, chapter 19. This is a prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Tradition records that a red heifer in our generation is a herald of the Messianic era. It is certainly an important development towards the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Our sages taught that Israel's redemption can be compared to the dawn. "In the beginning, it progresses very slowly...but as it continues, it grows brighter and brighter." Pictures of the heifer may be viewed at: http://www.templeinstitute.org/current-events/RedHeifer/index.html THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE PO Box 31876 Jerusalem Israel 97500 www.templeinstitute.org |
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| The Western Wall is Weeping The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement will March to the Temple Mount on Tisha B'av - 18th July , 2002 Call for the Rebuilding of the Temple Two weeks before Tisha B'Av (9th Av), the day commemorating the destruction of both temples, water has started to come out of the Western Wall. One of the stones, 15 metres up the wall, has suddenly become wet. This was an exciting surprise for the rabbi of the Western Wall and people who have seen it. This was special as it came 1 week after the Fast of Tamuz (17th Tamuz) when the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem and 2 weeks before Tisha B'Av when they occupied the Temple Mount and destroyed the temple. The water is coming from under the ground of the Temple Mount. The government archeologist of Jerusalem thought that the water might be coming from a broken pipe on the Temple Mount or from water that had been poured out close to the wall. However, the circumstances have been checked and nothing was found to explain the presence of the water. The only explanations are: 1 : A very old Jewish tradition holds that, close to Tisha B'Av, the Western Wall weeps and mourns the destruction of the temple. 2 : A stronger, godly, prophetic explanation is that the tears which are coming from the Western Wall are a sign of the close redemption of the people and land of Israel, the rebuilding of the temple and the coming of Mashiach ben David. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied about the water which would go out from the Temple Mount in the end-times which will be a sign of the redemption of the people and land of Israel. "And he brought me back to the door of the house; and, behold, waters flowed from under the threshold of the house eastward; for the front of the house faced to the east, and water run out from beneath the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. And he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me around the way outside to the outer gate by the way that faces to the east; and, behold, there ran out water on the right side. And when the man who had the line in his hand went out eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the water; the water reached the ankles. And he measured a thousand, and brought me through the water; the water reached the knees. And he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the water reached the loins. And he measured a further thousand; and it was a stream that I could not pass over; for the water had risen, water to swim in, a stream that could not be passed over. And he said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the edge of the stream. And when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the stream were many trees on one side and on the other. And he said to me, These waters flow out towards the eastern region, and go down to the Arabah, to the sea; and when they enter the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that lives, which moves, wherever the streams shall come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come there; for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live where the stream comes. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from EinGedi as far as EinEglayim; they shall be a place for spreading nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, a great many like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and its marshes shall not be healed; they shall be left for salt. And by the stream, upon its bank, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for food, whose leaf shall not wither, nor shall its fruit fail; it shall bring forth fresh fruit every month, because the waters for them flow from the sanctuary; and their fruit shall be for food, and their leaves for healing. Thus says the Lord God: This shall be the border, according to which you shall divide the land for inheritance to the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions. And you shall inherit it, one as well as another; concerning which I raised my hand to give it to your fathers; and this land shall fall to you for inheritance. And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the Great Sea, by the way of Hethlon, as you go to Zedad; Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; middle Hazar, which is by the coast of Hauran. And the border from the sea shall be HazarEnan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side. And the east side you shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and between the land of Israel and the Jordan, from the border to the east sea. And this is the east side. And the south side southward, from Tamar to the waters of MeribotKadesh, to the river, as far as the Great Sea. And this is south side towards the Negev. The west side also shall be the Great Sea from the border, as far as opposite the entrance to Hamath. This is the west side. And you shall divide this land for yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you, and to the foreigners who sojourn among you, who shall father children among you; and they shall be to you as those born in the country among the people of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that in whatever tribe the foreigner sojourns, there shall you give him his inheritance, says the Lord God." (Ezekiel 47) The prophet Joel also prophesied about the water which will flow out from the hill of the house of God in the time of the redemption of the people and land of Israel which he expressed in a very unique and beautiful way. "And it shall come to pass on that day, that the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streams of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall issue from the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done against the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall remain for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For though I have acquitted them, I have not acquitted those who shed their blood. And the Lord dwells in Zion." (Joel4:18-21) This is not the first time that water has come from the Temple Mount, the hill of God. In 1999 water flowed from the Temple Mount to the south. We reported on this water which came from the area of the location of the temple and the Aarabs on the Temple Mount did their best to stop the flow. As we were informed, when they could not stop the flow they redirected the water to another place. Also at that time the only real explanation was that it was the prophetic water of redemption. There is no doubt that the water that is now coming from the Western Wall is the same water of redemption. However, what is so unique and exciting this time, is that it is coming 2 weeks before Tisha B'Av the day that God said would change from a day of mourning and fasting to a day of rejoicing. The prophetic tradition is that the temples were destroyed on Tisha B'Av and will be rebuilt on Tisha B'Av. "Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall become times of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts to the house of Judah; therefore love truth and peace." (Zechariah8:19) The water which is now coming from the Western Wall is not only a sign of the redemption of God's people but, more than this, it is a message and even a call from God to Israel - 'Awake! The time of your redemption has already come. Do not stand and worship on the outside of the Temple Mount near the Western Wall but go up to the Temple Mount and rebuild my house.' No doubt this is the reason why the water came so shortly before Tisha B'Av and to the Western Wall and not to the south as it was in 1999 and according to the prophecy of Ezekiel. The water that the Arabs tried to stop in 1999 cannot be stopped because it is the prophetic water of redemption. The water is a message to the leaders and rabbis of Israel to stop the desecration and captivity of the Temple Mount by the Arab enemy. Today the Temple Mount is managed by the agents of the arch-murderer and terrorist, Yasser Arafat, and the tears that are coming from the Western Wall are the tears of God, Himself, Who weeps when He sees the captivity and desecration of His holy mountain by the most evil enemies of the God and people of Israel. He weeps when He sees that the Temple Mount which was redeemed by Him and His Israeli soldiers in 1967 was given away to those enemies who tried to stop the redemption of Israel and all the world and the rebuilding of His house. He weeps when He sees how everyone builds their own house and forget His house which is in ruins. The call of the prophet Haggai is again heard today in front of the western Wall of the Temple Mount. "Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say that the time has not yet come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, yourselves, to dwell in your well timbered houses, while this house lies in ruins? And therefore thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. ... Thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and, behold, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, and everyone of you runs to his own house." (Haggai1:2-5,7-9) The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement is calling on the leadership of Israel today and to her rabbis to listen and to pay deep attention to this call of God and to the message that has come through the Western Wall and to do what Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest did in the time of Haggai when they answered the call of God which came through His prophet, purified the Temple Mount from the enemy's desecration and rebuilt the temple. We are calling on the Israeli Government not to fear anyone in the world but only to fear God and trust His promise that He will be with Israel when they rebuild His house and stand with them against even all the enemies and the nations when they come up against Israel. "Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people feared before the Lord. Then Haggai the Lord's messenger spoke the Lord's message to the people, saying, I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God," (Haggai1:12-14) The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement will march to the Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av (18th July, 2002) at 9:30AM. We shall not only march as a sign of mourning for the destruction of the temple and to pray the Book of Lamentations but also to call on Israel and its government to immediately start the rebuilding of the house of God. We plan to bring with us the two marble cornerstones, each of 6= tonnes, that we dedicated and anointed during the last Feast of Sukkoth and, because of the spiritual weakness, the Israeli Government did not grant us permission to bring the 2 cornerstone to the Temple Mount and in this way start the rebuilding of the temple. These cornerstones, which are of the same type and look the same as the stones of the Second Temple, which were not cut with iron, are currently located not far from the Temple Mount waiting for a soon, godly courageous decision by the Israeli Government to allow us to lay the cornerstones on the Temple Mount and to start the rebuilding of the temple. We are praying and doing everything to obtain the permission on this Tisha B'Av. I have requested the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, to meet me urgently not only concerning the re-opening of the gates of the Temple Mount to the Jews who will come to mourn and pray for the rebuilding of the temple on Tisha BAv, but mainly for the purpose of obtaining permission to lay the cornerstones, to re-liberate and purify the Temple Mount and to start the rebuilding of the house of God which will completely change the security, economic and spiritual situation of the state of Israel. I also requested a similar meeting with the Minister of Internal Security. I am looking forward to these meetings taking place before Tisha B'Av and I pray that the God of Israel will open their hearts and minds to do the right thing in His eyes. More details will be shared at a later date. Everyone is called on to share in the march to the Temple Mount on Tisha B'Av including those from outside Israel. It will be a godly privilege for us and for them as well to share this exciting, historical and godly event. |
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| Scholars: Oldest evidence of Jesus? http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/10/21/jesus.box/index.html By Jeordan Legon CNN Tuesday, October 22, 2002 Posted: 9:46 AM EDT (1346 GMT) Scientists say that this box dates from A.D. 63. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A limestone burial box, almost 2,000 years old, may provide the oldest archeological record of Jesus of Nazareth, experts announced Monday. The ossuary, as the bone boxes are known, dates to A.D. 63 and has an inscription in Aramaic which translates to: "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus," said Andre Lemaire, an expert in ancient writing who identified the box in Jerusalem last spring. Aramaic, an ancient Semitic language, was the lingua franca of the Middle East for many centuries. At the time of Jesus' life, Aramaic was the common language of the Jews. Writing about his findings in the new issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Lemaire, who teaches at the Sorbonne in Paris, called it "very probable" that the box belonged to Jesus' brother James, who by Christian tradition was the leader of the early church in Jerusalem. Some scholars expressed doubt that the box, which is 20 inches long by 11 inches wide, could be definitively linked to Jesus, a Jewish carpenter by trade revered by Christians as the son of God. "We may never be absolutely certain. In the work I do we're rarely absolutely certain about anything," said Kyle McCarter, a Johns Hopkins University archaeologist, who said that the finding was probable, but that he had "a bit of doubt." While most scholars agree that Jesus existed, no physical evidence from the first century has ever been conclusively tied with his life. Two scientists from the Israeli government's geological survey tested the box last month, inspecting the surface patina and inscription under a microscope. They concurred that the object is more than 19 centuries old, the archaeology magazine reported. "It's hard to avoid the conclusion that these three names refer to the personages so identified in the New Testament," said Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. Writing provides answers Many of the conclusions reached by experts relied on the inscription written on the ossuary. The boxes commonly were used by Jewish families between 20 B.C. and A.D. 70 to store the bones of their loved ones. Lemaire said out of hundreds of such boxes found with Aramaic writing only two contain mentions of a brother. From this, scholars infer that the brother was noted only when he was someone important. James, Joseph and Jesus were common names in ancient Jerusalem, a city of about 40,000 residents. Lemaire estimates there could have been as many as 20 Jameses in the city with brothers named Jesus and fathers named Joseph. But it is unlikely there would have been more than one James who had a brother of such importance that it merited having him mentioned on his ossuary, Lemaire said. Lemaire found the box in June by accident, said Shanks, who was able to inspect the box personally. 'Didn't realize the significance' The owner is reported to be a collector of ancient Jewish artifacts. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought the box some 15 years ago from an antique dealer for $200 to $700, Shanks said. The boxes "are not popular on the market because ... people don't want a bone box in their living room," Shanks said. The collector, who is Jewish, was not aware that Jesus had a brother. He discovered the interest in the object only when he met Lemaire at a dinner party last spring and asked him to decipher some Aramaic written on a number of collectibles, Shanks said. The box owner "didn't realize the significance," Shanks said. "He threw up his hands, 'How could the Son of God have a brother?'" Plans are under way to exhibit the box at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, during the annual meeting of Bible scholars in November, Shanks said. But he said whether the box belonged to Jesus' brother, it still provides a powerful link with the past. "This is something that provides a bridge over time," he said. "My reaction is not so much excitement as it is awe." Evidence Of Jesus Written In Stone http://www.bib-arch.org/bswb_BAR/bswbbar2806f1.html Ossuary Of Jesus� Brother Backs Up Biblical Accounts After nearly 2,000 years, historical evidence for the existence of Jesus has come to light literally written in stone. An inscription has been found on an ancient bone box, called an ossuary, that reads �James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.� This container provides the only New Testament-era mention of the central figure of Christianity and is the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate Biblical references to Jesus. The Aramaic words etched on the box�s side show a cursive form of writing used only from about 10 to 70 A.D., according to noted paleographer Andr� Lemaire of the �cole Pratique des Hautes �tudes (popularly known as the Sorbonne University) in Paris, who verified the inscription�s authenticity. The ossuary has been dated to approximately 63 A.D. Lemaire details his full investigation in the November/December 2002 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, the leading popular publication in its field. Ancient inscriptions are typically found on royal monuments or on lavish tombs, commemorating rulers and other official figures. But Jesus, who was raised by a carpenter, was a man of the people, so finding documentation of his family is doubly unexpected. In the first century A.D., Jews followed the custom of transferring the bones of their deceased from burial caves to ossuaries. The practice was largely abandoned after the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. No one knows for certain why the practice started or stopped, but it provides a rare period of self-documentation in which commoners as well as leaders left their names carved in stone. The new find is also significant in that it corroborates the existence of Joseph, Jesus� father, and James, Jesus� brother and a leader of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. The family relationships contained on the new find helped experts ascertain that the inscription very likely refers to the Biblical James, brother of Jesus (see, for example, Matthew 13:55-56 and Galatians 1:18-19). Although all three names were common in ancient times, the statistical probability of their appearing in that combination is extremely slim. In addition, the mention of a brother is unusual--indicating that this Jesus must have been a well-known figure. Laboratory tests performed by the Geological Survey of Israel confirm that the box�s limestone comes from the Jerusalem area. The patina--a thin sheen or covering that forms on stone and other materials over time--has the cauliflower-type shape known to develop in a cave environment; more importantly, it shows no trace of modern elements. The 20-inch-long box resides in a private collection in Israel. Like many ossuaries obtained on the antiquities market, it is empty. Its history prior to its current ownership is not known. The container is one of very few ancient artifacts mentioning New Testament figures. One such object is the ossuary of Caiaphas, the high priest who turned Jesus over to the Romans, according to the Biblical account. Caiaphas�s tomb was uncovered in 1990. Also, some 40 years ago, archaeologists discovered an inscription on a monument that mentions Pontius Pilate. �The James ossuary may be the most important find in the history of New Testament archaeology,� says Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. �It has implications not just for scholarship, but for the world�s understanding of the Bible.� |
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| http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29655 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MUCH ABOUT HISTORY CIA releases new 'Noah's Ark' documents Search for vessel reached level of White House in early '90s -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 14, 2002 1:00 a.m. Eastern Editor's note: WorldNetDaily is pleased to have a content-sharing agreement with Insight magazine, the bold Washington publication not afraid to ruffle establishment feathers. Subscribe to Insight at WorldNetDaily's online store and save 71 percent off the cover price. By Timothy W. Maier � 2002 News World Communications Inc. The CIA has released two new documents that indicate the search for ''Noah's Ark'' reached the level of the White House, according to a report in Insight Magazine. The release of the documents comes two years after Insight published an exclusive story on the search for the biblical Noah's Ark. The magazine teamed with Space Imaging to use its IKONOS satellite to zoom in on an anomaly in Turkey located at 39 degrees 42 minutes north latitude and 44 degrees 16 minutes east longitude. The result was the public's first glimpse of high-resolution photographs of what some say is Noah's Ark. Satellite image of object on Mount Ararat Insight then hired a team of scientists and engineers to examine the photos of Mount Ararat to determine whether the object in question was man-made or rock. Four of the experts claim it's man-made, two believe it's rock and one says the evidence is inconclusive. The documents recently released by the CIA don't shed any more light on the mystery but do indicate somewhat the extent to which the U.S. government was involved in the search. One of those documents is a 1995 memo from an agent who had a conversation with John Hanford, who was then a member of Sen. Richard Lugar's, R-Ind., staff. Hanford spoke of a White House meeting under the George H.W. Bush administration in which Robert Gates, then national security director, showed off a satellite photo of the Mount Ararat area. ''Mr. Hanford said the imagery showed something sticking out from the ice and snow � but that it could have been almost anything,'' said the agent. The agent wrote the memo after reading a newspaper article that suggested the Mount Ararat imagery might be made public due to former president Clinton's decision to release historical documents. The memo said such imagery ''might or might not be included in the declassified materials.'' The other document concerns a review of materials about Mount Ararat by the same administration between 1990 and 1992. Former CIA director James Woolsey asked what a more exhaustive review of the materials might cost. The document reveals the price was considered too high, and Woolsey was told it would take six months to complete the study. The project apparently never got off the ground. Insight is still seeking additional records, but most government documents and imagery associated with Noah's Ark remain classified. The CIA plans to make thousands of satellite images available on the Internet, but it's unclear whether they will include photos of Mount Ararat. The magazine is reviewing its options and considering whether to pursue other images taken by the CIA with its KH-9 remote-sensing satellite in 1973 and its KH-11 satellite in 1976, 1990 and 1992. |
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For Your Glory www.foryourglory.org January 14, 2003 11 Shvat 5763 VERY EXCITING DISCOVERY ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT Archeologists are already suggesting that the most important and exciting archaeological discovery in the history of the land of Israel and Jerusalem was recently made on the Temple Mount. It was an inscription written on a black stone by the descendant of David, King Jehoash of Judah, who ruled in Jerusalem at the end of the 9th Century BCE. The inscription includes 10 verses of Scripture and describes the repairs made to the Temple by the king during his reign. It is written in the first person and the king describes the repairs that he made to the Temple exactly as it is recorded in the Tanach in 2Kings12 and in the same words. It thus confirms what the Tanach (Bible) records about the matter. The inscription was validated over a long period of time by 2 major scientists from the geological institute in Jerusalem who confirmed its dating. Dr. Gabi Barka�i, one of the most important archaeologists in Israel, stated that the discovery is unprecedented. It is one of the most ancient testimonies outside of the Scriptures which substantiates the occurrences in the Tanach as we know it today. Dr. Barka�i was also responsible for the discovery and publishing of the tablets of the Priestly Blessing which were found on the shoulder of the Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem. He stated that such a dramatic discovery of the writings of King Jehoash is the first and very important testimony outside of the Scriptures which testifies to the existence of the First Temple. The research relating to the inscription was undertaken jointly by Dr. Shimon Ilani, a geo-chemist and an expert in archaeometrics, and by Dr. Amnon Rosenfeldt, another important expert who has undertaken much research together with the archaeologists. The major expert of the geological institute, Michael Dvorcheck, performed special checking of the inscription using an electron-microscope and he confirmed the authenticity of the inscription. The details of the research will be published shortly. The royal inscription was found by Arabs during their excavations on the Temple Mount over the last years when they tried to destroy all evidence of the Jewish identity of the Temple Mount and the existence of the temple on this hill. The stone was sold to a collector of antiquities in Israel. It was a 'miracle' that it was not sold by them to collectors outside Israel. In this way the inscription remained in Israel and its story could be shared with all the people of Israel and the world. It is no accident that this dramatic discovery was made at this time and is already being declared by some as a message from the God of Israel to the people of Israel to do what King Jehoash did and to repair and rebuild the Temple. With regard to the stone on which the inscription was written, the writing is in ancient Hebrew script and in the middle of the stone is a crack. In the crack and also among the letters specks of gold were found. It is the assumption of the experts from the geological institute of Israel that these specks are the result of a smelting event and may be evidence from the burning of the Temple a few hundred years later. The inscription is described by the experts as a sensational archaeological criterion which will have great significance for Israel and all the world. This royal inscription of King Jehoash glorifies and exults the repairs undertaken by the king exactly as it appears in 2 Kings12:7-17 including the call of Jehoash on the priests to raise donations from the Jewish populace for his project to restore the First Temple. It also describes the buying of the wood and stones needed for the repairs. Like the amazing timing of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, should we not also consider that this find is directed to our generation. The call of King Jehoash - "Why do you not repair the breaches of the house?" - is a call to our generation, says a spokesman for the movement to rebuild the Temple, citing the prophet Haggai 1:2-14. |
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