August 31, 2007
The hazards of plumbing in the Holy Land
by Michael G. Mickey
(8-31-07)

As many of you undoubtedly recall, it wasn't long ago that "workers repairing a sewage pipe in the old city of Jerusalem have discovered the biblical Pool of Siloam, a freshwater reservoir that was a major gathering place for ancient Jews making religious pilgrimages to the city and the reputed site where Jesus cured a man blind from birth, according to the gospel of John." This was reported by the Seattle Times among others.

Now, in what is undoubtedly no coincidence, as rumors persist that Israel is considering negotiating the Temple Mount away in order to obtain peace with the Arab-Muslim world, "remains of the Jewish second temple may have been found during work to lay pipes at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem", as seen in an AFP article. The hazards of plumbing in the Holy Land!

This presents the Muslim world with a major problem, particularly where its persistent denials of a Jewush Holy Temple ever standing on the Temple Mount is concerned, doesn't it? And how could that change potential plans on the part of the Israeli government to hand the Temple Mount over to its enemies in upcoming negotiations for Middle East peace? It will be interesting to watch unfold to say the least! Already, an archaeologist is calling for the Israeli government to intervene to preserve what the AFP article quotes him as saying is a "a massive seven metre-long wall."

What we know from Bible prophecy is that a Holy Temple will be in operation in the Holy Land at the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation Period. We know that because at that time the Antichrist will "cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." (Daniel 9:27)

Jesus said, of that event occurring, as recorded in Matthew 24:15-21:


When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
It seems that, with every passing day, we find more and more cause to believe that all the prophetic events recorded in the Word of God that haven't been fulfilled at this point are at the very threshold of coming to pass! It's like we're constantly waiting for 'the other shoe to drop' so to speak! As for me, I believe the waiting is almost over!

Praise God! What an hour to be a Christian!
...............................................................benny

As per PELOUBET’S BIBLE DICTIONARY

Siloam-------(sent)……
Shiloah…isa 8;6
Siloah (RV) “shelah” Neh. 3;15
Siloam ……john 9;7,11

A pool at jerusalem, “by the king’s garden”.

Josephus tells us that, in his day, it’s waters were “sweet and abundant”

The source of water is “the fountain of the Virgin”…………..at the back of this fountain, a subteranean passage to Siloam begins, flowing by gravity, 1200 cubits long (by carved inscription)--------but 1706.8 feet long as measured by Conder.

The tunnel was made by Hezekiah,……….dug from both ends, and meeting in the middle.

Siloam’s waters watered the royal gardens, below the pool………….it is still the greenest spot in the Holy City.

Neh 2;14………..the king’s pool

The pool is sacred to the Muslem, but more so to the Jew.
It is to Siloam that the Levite was sent with the golden pitcher on the “LAST AND GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST” of Tabernacles;
it was from Siloam that he brought the water which was then poured over the sacrifice, in memory of the water from the rock of Rephidim;
and it was to this Siloam water that the Lord Jesus pointed when He stood in the Temple on that day and cried, “if any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.”
The Lord Jesus sent the blind man to wash, not IN, as our version has it, but AT the pool of Siloam;
For it was the clay from his eyes that was to be washed off.


Rephidim
Ex 17;1,8………19;2
This place lies in the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai.
Here , the Israelites fought their first battle, and gained their first victory after leaving Egypt, the Amalekites having attacked them.
Here, also, the people murmured from thirst, and Moses brought water for them out of the rock.

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Isaiah 8;6 amplified bible

5The Lord spoke to me yet again and said,

6Because this people [Israel and Judah] have refused and despised the waters of Shiloah [Siloam, the only perennial fountain of Jerusalem, and symbolic of God's protection and sustaining power] that go gently, and rejoice in and with Rezin [the king of Syria] and Remaliah's son [Pekah the king of Israel],

7Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the waters of the River [Euphrates], strong and many--even the king of Assyria and all the glory [of his gorgeous retinue]; and it will rise over all its channels, brooks, valleys, and canals and extend far beyond its banks;

8And it will [b]sweep on into Judah; it will overflow and go over [the hills], reaching even [but only] to the neck [of which Jerusalem is the head], and the outstretched wings [of the armies of Assyria] shall fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel [c][Messiah, God is with us]!


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neh 3;15 amplified bible



14The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

15The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt and covered it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah (Siloam), by the King's Garden, as far as the stairs that go down [the eastern slope] from the [portion of Jerusalem known as] the City of David.

16After him Nehemiah [III] son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired [the wall] to a point opposite the sepulchers of David, and to the artificial pool and the house of the guards.



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John 9;7,11



5As long as I am in the world, I am the world's Light.

6When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread it [as ointment] on the man's eyes.

7And He said to him, Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam--which means Sent. So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

8When the neighbors and those who used to know him by sight as a beggar saw him, they said, Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?

9Some said, It is he. Others said, No, but he looks very much like him. But he said, Yes, I am the man.

10So they said to him, How were your eyes opened?

11He replied, The Man called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and I obtained my sight!

12They asked him, Where is He? He said, I do not know.

13Then they conducted to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.

14Now it was on the Sabbath day that Jesus mixed the mud and opened the man's eyes.