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Chapter 5: The Spiritual Aspects of the "Mount Zion Hotel"
Christ Jesus is Rebuilding His House
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And, together, the Believing Jews and the Believing Gentiles are being built into a Holy Temple for the Lord. Ephesians 2:14-22
Ephesians 2:14-22 14
For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews
and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke
down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15
He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments
and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in
Himself one new people from the two groups. 16
Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by
means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put
to death. 17 He brought this Good
News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from Him, and peace to the
Jews who were near. Again, as Christians, we know that the Lord would use the things in the natural to convey a spiritual truth. For example, the cable that connects the " Mount Zion Hotel " to the Old City of Jerusalem where the third Temple will be rebuilt is symbolic of the unity between the Gentiles and the Believing Jews that Christ is joining together to build His holy temple that the Apostle Paul speaks of. Before going any further, I want to acknowledge that there are many, many aspects concerning God's House. In other words, the purpose of the following is only intended to address the spiritual aspects of the "Living Stones" who built what is now known as the Mount Zion Hotel in relationship to "Third Temple" that is to be built on Mount Zion" and how that applies to us.
The "Mount Zion Hotel" is Spiritually Joined to Mount Zion located in the Old City of Jerusalem: The Mount Zion Hotel was not always a Kosher hotel. The original building was an "Ophthalmic Dispensary" - an eye clinic that was built by the Knights of the "Order of St. John's of Jerusalem" to help those in Jerusalem who were suffering from eye diseases.
And, this is significant because one of my Scottish relatives, Johan de Skene belonged to the order of St. John's of Jerusalem in the late 1200's and as such he would have made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In fact, and this fact is significant, he was connected with the land and possessions of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem that were located in Scotland. |
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And, the Knights of the Order of St. John's of Jerusalem can be likened to the living stones that God is using to build His Spiritual Temple that Peter spoke of in 1 Peter 2:5. And, the Ophthalmic Dispensary they built was their spiritual sacrifice unto the Lord - because they gave the Gospel to all the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles who came to their clinic - and this was pleasing to the Lord.
Thus, we know that the cable that runs from the old Ophthalmic Dispensary up to Mount Zion where the third temple is to built is symbolic of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that unites the Believing Jew with all other Believers. This cable is symbolic of the unity between the living stones that are built into the Mount Zion Hotel to that of Ezekiel's new temple that is yet to be built and where Christ will govern from when He returns.
After all, the Church came into being at the Temple. Acts 2 reveals that when the Jews came from all over to celebrate the "Day of Pentecost" at the Temple in Jerusalem that about 3,000 Jews accepted the Gospel after listening to the Apostle Peter. And, it was at that time that the Church was born.
And, the cable that runs from the "Cable Car Museum" in the " Mount Zion Hotel" across the Hinnom Valley all the way up to " Mount Zion " in the Old City of Jerusalem is also symbolic of the Measuring Line in Zechariah 1:16 & Zechariah 2:1-5 that the Lord stretched out over Jerusalem.
Zechariah 1:16 16 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; My house will be rebuilt within it”—⌊this is⌋ the declaration of the LORD of Hosts—“and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. (HCSB)
Zechariah 2:1-5 1 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem to determine its width and length.” 3 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him. 4 He said to him, “Run and tell this young man: Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the number of people and livestock in it.” 5 The declaration of the LORD: “I
Zechariah 2:10-13 10 “Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on that day and become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. 12 The LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. 13 Let all people be silent before the LORD, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.” (HCSB)
And, the "Knights of the Order of St. John's of Jerusalem" who came to Jerusalem for the sole purpose of helping the Jews in need are like those who came from far away to help in the building of the Lord's temple that the Prophet Zechariah spoke of in Zechariah 6:15. Because every time they treated Israel's Jews they were bringing down the dividing walls between Jew and Gentile and every time they gave the Gospel they were helping build the Lord's spiritual house. And, like the "Knights of the Order of St. John's of Jerusalem, we too are like the "living stones" that are continuously being built into a spiritual house for the Lord that the Apostle Peter spoke of in 2 Peter 4-5.
Zechariah 6:15 15 People who are far off will come and build the LORD’s temple, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen when you fully obey the LORD your God.” (HCSB)
Zechariah 6:15 is not only speaking of those who will help in the rebuilding of the third temple - but it also speaks of the Church which is the "Spiritual Temple". And, we are actually helping in the building of both: through our contributions at The Temple Institute and as "Living Stones" of the Church - as Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of both (1 Peter 2:4-7).
Unity in Christ - Together, we are His House: Like the Knights of the "Order of St. John's of Jerusalem" who built what is now known as the "Mount Zion Hotel" we too are "Spiritual Stones" that the Lord is using to build the Church - the spiritual house
Together, we are His House: And, the cable running from Mount Zion Hotel all the way up to Jerusalem's Old City is symbolic of the Church which is the spiritual temple and the new temple yet to be built becoming one as Christ is the cornerstone of both. Together, we are His House!
Zechariah :1-5 2 speaks of Christ Jesus, the Master Builder of His Church, with a measuring line in his hand. And, Zechariah 2:11 speaks of the Millennium when the Gentile nations will be joined to Israel and the Lord will live among us.
The measuring line in Zechariah 1:16 speaks of the builder's line that Christ will use for rebuilding Jerusalem. And, in the context of Zechariah 1 & 2 the rebuilding speaks of the Third Temple and His Church and the Jewish remnant becoming one.
And, that brings me back to the "Cable Car Museum" located in the "Mount Zion Hotel" and the rooms Rocklyn and I stay in at the Mount Zion Hotel. The following time line is a quick over view of Mount Zion Hotel 's history.
Mount Zion Hotel: Again, the Mount Zion Hotel was not always a Kosher Hotel. Following is a short history
1882: The original building was an "Ophthalmic Dispensary" and Hospice that was built in 1882 by Christians who belonged to the "Order of St. John of Jerusalem" that traces its origins back to the 11th century, when the Order of St John of Jerusalem was founded to watch over and provide care for the sick, poor or injured Christians who were making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before and during the Crusades. They also cared for the poor and suffering Arabs and Jewish people who lived in Jerusalem at that time even taking their babies and children when the parents felt they themselves could not care for them. And, when the males who had been orphaned became adults they too became Hospitallers.
1948 - The War of Independence: In 1948 when the Israeli Army defeated a coalition of Arab states that had risen up against them, in what is now known as the "War of Independence", thankfully, the British Mandate of Palestine that was formed in 1920 also ended.
And, it was at this point that the Ophthalmic Dispensary became a very strategic point in Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
Again, in 1948 the IDF had designed and installed a cable car inside one of the rooms of the British Ophthalmic Dispensary that was facing the Hinnom Valley and the Old City. And, this cable car enabled the IDF the ability to send much needed supplies to the Jewish community trapped inside the Old City and on its return trip to the British Ophthalmic Dispensary - those that had been wounded inside the Old City would be placed inside the cable car that would now travel back over and above the Hinnom Valley and in through the window of the "British Hospice" at which point the injured would be transported to another hospital as the British Hospice was now permanently closed because of the on-going war for independence.
The birth of Mount Zion Hotel
1970: In the 1970s, St. John's of Jerusalem's "Ophthalmic Dispensary and Hospice was sold to a developer who wanted to raze the original building and build the " Mount Zion Hotel" in its place. However, due to the lobbying efforts of the "Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel", the developer was barred from demolishing the building. And, all renovations by the developer had to preserve the original structure. The developer was issued permits to build extensions to the original structure but the extensions had to be in keeping with the original style of the building. (Kroyanker, David (November 1, 2003), "Jerusalem Architecture [Hardcover]", Vendome Press (Revised ed.), ISBN 978-0-86565-147-0)
1986: After being converted into a hotel - the renovated Ophthalmic Dispensary now known as the " Mount Zion Hotel" opened its doors in 1986 and continues to welcome Christians as well as function as a Kosher Hotel. And, while staying at Mount Zion I have seen quite a few "Christian Ministries" who hold conferences at the hotel.
The Cable Car Museum: Now, the rooms where the IDF operated the cable car out of has been turned into a small museum that is maintained by the Jerusalem Municipality. Visitors to the Cable Car Museum can see the original cable car and its mechanism, together with photographs and other articles from that period of time.
2014 - 2017: Our first stay at the Mount Zion Hotel was in 2014, then again in 2015, 2016 and 2017. And, once again, we will stay at the Mount Zion Hotel for the 2018 celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.
It wasn't until after we checked into our rooms and I stepped into the courtyard between my room and Rocklyn's room and saw the plaques on the outer wall of my room honoring the "Order of St. John of Jerusalem" that the Lord started to give me the understanding the hotel we were staying in is a "Spiritual House" and like the Hospitallers who laid the foundations of this spiritual house, we too are "Living Stones" that the Lord has used and continues to use to build a Spiritual House for Himself. In 1 Peter 2:6 the beloved Apostle Peter said "Behold, I lay in Zion" a Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious" - and, just as the Hospitallers chose Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone of the spiritual house they were building - we too continue to lift up the name of Jesus at Mount Zion Hotel and as verse 6 reveals that we who believes on Jesus Christ will by no means be put to shame.
How Blessed we are that it was according to the Lord's will and not just happenstance that the Director of Reservations "upgraded" our rooms to "suites" that are part of the original building that was used by the IDF in their war of independence. It's obvious that these rooms were ordained of the Lord and that He has a Kingdom purpose in doing so. And, this understanding was only the beginning of a wonderful journey that will eventually take me to Aberdeen, Scotland, homeland of my Scottish ancestors.
On Earth as in Heaven:
"Behold, I lay in Zion A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 1 Peter 2:6 Again, we know that the Lord will use those things in the natural, like the Mount Zion Hotel to convey a spiritual truth. And, as such, we know that the Mount Zion Hotel can be thought of as a "type" of spiritual house that Peter spoke of in 1 Peter 2:4-7 and Paul spoke of in Ephesians 2.
The Household of God: As Believers we are "Fellow Citizens with all the Saints and Believers who are of the Household of God". And, as members of the Household of God, in 1882 when the "Order of St. John of Jerusalem" built what is now known as Mount Zion Hotel they not only built a "physical building" they also built a "spiritual house" - they built a "Household of God". The foundation of the spiritual house they built was the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as the Chief Cornerstone and in doing so the Hospitallers built a Habitation of God through the Spirit". Ephesians 2:14-22
The Apostle Peter speaks of "Living Stones" and like the Hospitallers who were "Living Stones" we too are being built up as a spiritual house. And, like the Hospitallers, every time we and other Believers speak of Jesus Christ when we stay at "Mount Zion Hotel" the Lord is able to use us to continue building on the foundation that the Hospitallers laid down in 1882 with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. And, as "Living Stones" the Lord will be able to use us to bring down the Dividing Walls between us and the Jewish people we come into contact with at Mount Zion Hotel. Ephesians 2:14-22 & 1 Peter 2:4-6
It has been documented that the Hospitallers who served the Jewish people in the 1800's as well as those who served the Jewish people in the eleventh century, both shared the Gospel with all who came to them for help be they Jew or Gentiles. In other words, when the Christians of the "Order of St. John of Jerusalem" built their hospital in the 11th century and the Ophthalmic Dispensary in 1882 (and in that sense the Mount Zion Hotel) the cornerstone they laid down was "the Gospel Message" of Christianity as taught by the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ as the "Chief Cornerstone". And, like the Christians of the "Order of St. John of Jerusalem" we too share the Gospel when we stay at the Mount Zion Hotel and we along with the Hospitallers are like the "Living Stones" that Peter and Paul spoke of that are being built into a "Spiritual House" - and as a present day word for both me and Rocklyn - we like the Hospitallers are spiritual stones that the Lord is using in building a spiritual house at Mount Zion Hotel 1 Peter 2 & Ephesians 2
1 Peter 2:4-7 (NKJV) 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," Ephesians 2:14-22 (NKJV) 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. The "Living Stones" will Bring Down the Dividing Walls between Jews & Christians: And, it was their zeal for Christ Jesus and their desire to share the Gospel with God's chosen people who they loved, that the Hospitallers went to Jerusalem in the eleventh & twelfth century and built the "Ophthalmic Dispensary". The Hospitallers of the "Order of St. John of Jerusalem" were truly "Living Stones" that the Lord used to build a spiritual house that would bring down dividing walls between the Christian Hospitallers.
We are blessed to being staying in a hotel where the foundation that was laid was the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Chief Cornerstone is Jesus Christ. And, like the Hospitallers, it is our genuine love for Christ Jesus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our love for God's chosen people that the Lord will be able to use us as "Living Stones" to continue building a spiritual house at Mount Zion Hotel and to bring down any dividing walls between us and the Jewish people we meet at Mount Zion Hotel. Selah, Pause and Calmly think of that! The Enemy cannot tear down the Spiritual House the Lord has Built at Mount Zion Hotel. So, no one should be surprised that many Christian Ministries not only stay at Mount Zion Hotel but hold Christian conferences at the Mount Zion Hotel worshiping and lifting up the name of Christ Jesus.
The "Measuring Line: Over time, new wings were added to the original structure that was built in 1882. However, I know the rooms we stay in (717 & 718) are "spiritually" significant because of the cable that still runs from this section of the hotel across Hinnon Valley up to the Old City of Jerusalem. In other words, this cable that connects Mount Zion Hotel to the Old City of Jerusalem where the Biblical Mount Zion Hotel is literally located can be thought of as the "Measuring Line" in Zechariah 1:16-17 & 2:1-2 that Christ Jesus will use to bring the Church and the Jewish Remnant together.
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The Temple Institute The Stones used to Build the Third Temple can be also be thought of as the Living Stones Peter and Paul spoke of
And in Honor of Alexander, Lillias, John Skene & my Future Sons & Daughters I have yearly contributions to the building of the Third Temple as described in the Book of Ezekiel.
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I am standing in front of the Temple Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem. They have since moved to a new and much larger location inside the Old City.
2019 will mark the tenth year that I have gone up to the Temple Institute and in honor of my Scottish Forebears and my offspring I have made a contribution to the Temple Institute towards the rebuilding of the "Third Temple" as described in the Book of Ezekiel. And, I have asked those working at the Temple Institute to put my contributions towards the Stones that will be used to build the Third Temple. For me the stones that are made from Jerusalem stone are a reflection of the Living Stones that the Apostles Peter and Paul spoke. To contribute to the rebuilding of the third temple - specifically the stones - was a very meaningful and special way for me to Honor my Scottish Forebears and my offspring.
The Following are only several of the Certificates that I have received over the years from the Temple Institute acknowledging my contributions. And, this acknowledgment is to ensure that my offspring - even offspring that will be born after I have gone home to the Lord - knows about their spiritual heritage in Jerusalem.
The first Certificate was made in Honor of Alexander and Lillas Skene and the contribution I made was to go to the breeding of the "Red Heiffer" which is according to Scripture. And, I specified the "Red Heiffer" because those who persecuted Alexander Skene not only fined him they also killed all his cattle.
The next Certificate indicates that the contribution I made in Honor of Alexander, Lillias and John Skene was to go towards the Stones that will be used in the construction of the third temple.
The next three Certificates were to acknowledge contributions to the Temple Institute in Honor of my sons and daughters. And, I am including a Certificate in Honor of my beloved Grover as well. |
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SHALOM AND WELCOME to the official website of the TEMPLE INSTITUTE in Jerusalem, Israel. The Temple Institute is dedicated to every aspect of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, and the central role it fulfilled, and will once again fulfill, in the spiritual wellbeing of both Israel and all the nations of the world. The Institute's work touches upon the history of the Holy Temple's past, an understanding of the present day, and the Divine promise of Israel's future. The Institute's activities include education, research, and development. The Temple Institute's ultimate goal is to see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, in accord with the Biblical commandments. |