Saudi Arabian lawyer and journalist Osama Yamani wrote an article in Okaz, a prominent Arabic Saudi Arabian daily newspaper, maintaining that the true location of the Al Aqsa Mosque described in Koran is in Al Ju’ranah, near Mecca in Saudi Arabia and not on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
We’ve seen our fair share of news concerning the temple mount and the third temple this year. From ongoing efforts for the preparation of the third temple to questions being raised concerning the possible normalization of the temple mount itself.
This piece of news, however, if found to be true, and if it sends shockwaves into the Arab-Muslim world in the Middle East, would be – in my opinion – something of incredibly great significance.
We’d still need to see how this could play out in the long run but a potential scenario that we could see is that if this narrative grows within the Arab-Muslim world, it could cause their ties to the temple mount to be loosened, therefore giving the Jews an increased opportunity for their 3rd Temple efforts!
SAUDI MEDIA EXPOSES PALESTINIAN LIE: AL AQSA MOSQUE ISN’T ON TEMPLE MOUNT
From Israel365 News: A Saudi Arabian journalist published an article in a prominent Saudi newspaper describing the historical roots of that the myth that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam.
Yamani begins by explaining that during Mohammad’s lifetime Jerusalem was called ‘Ilya’, a name it was given by the Greeks and adopted by the Romans. It was adapted to Arabic. The name ‘Jerusalem’ does not appear in the Koran however ‘Ilya’ appears in some Hadith.
Yamani claims that confusion arose due to misrepresentations in history books, later exegesis, and the ‘qibla’, the direction Muslims face when praying. Muslims currently face towards the Kaaba in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca as per a teaching in the Koran that was revealed to Muhammad in the second Hijri year.
Prior to this revelation, Muhammad and his followers in Medina faced Jerusalem for prayers, mimicking the custom of the Jews in Medina. Yamani emphasized that Al Aqsa is not Al Quds, the Arabic name for the city of Jerusalem which is the short form of “Beit al-Quds” the holy house.”
Al Aqsa Mosque, meaning the furthest mosque. This is a reference to Muhammad’s “Night Journey” from Mecca. In this context, “farthest” means “farthest from Mecca.” “Jerusalem is not Al-Aqsa, which is not cited in the missions that Allah gave Muhammad and the caliphs. Similarly, Jerusalem is a city, and Al-Aqsa is a mosque,” he stated simply. Read More
Prophetic Implications
Daniel 9:27 tells us that the antichrist will confirm a covenant for a “week”, being 7 years. Half way through this 7 year period, he will break this covenant and put an end to the temple sacrifices.
For the sacrificial system to be put to a stop, it presupposes that the system was restarted or brought back, and for this to occur there must be a third temple in which said sacrifices will take place.
When we go to Matthew 24:15-22, Jesus tells the disciples about the abomination of desolation prophesied to occur by Daniel in Daniel 9:27 and gives a series of warnings to take heed of once this event takes place.
For what Daniel and Jesus spoke about (the abomination of desolation) to occur, there must be a rebuilt third temple at least before the midpoint of the tribulation.
We also see this being elaborated to us in Revelation 11:1-2 concerning the temple that John measures which exists at the midpoint of the tribulation, till it’s culmination. More on that here.
Ultimately, as we’re seeing an increased fervor for the building of the third temple and preparations being made in speedy fashion, how much more should that show us of the nearness of the tribulation period and the rapture of the church?
Sources
- SAUDI MEDIA EXPOSES PALESTINIAN LIE: AL AQSA MOSQUE ISN’T ON TEMPLE MOUNT (November 16th, 2020) – Israel365 News