The New Jerusalem/El-HEJERA Project .
Appendix B: The whole Old City of Jerusalem functioning as
Universal Temple of Reconciliation.
We noted studies by associates of the Academy of Jerusalem that reveal how the prophetic Temple of Jerusalem already underlies the whole Old City (see introduction and full article). We thus came to investigate how the present Old City of Jerusalem may function as a Universal Temple of Reconciliation. Our approach is that the Old City can function as this Temple even much as it is – without major modifications that would bring strife and contention, or would be possible only through major catastrophe. It could be adapted into a Temple Complex, ceremoniously situated at the center of gravity of the earth’s continents, giving a global focus for the arts of reconciliation and “Human Reconstruction”. The proposal is largely for a virtual model, which could conceivably take any form. But our approach is to stick to the existing forms and bring out the tremendous potential hidden in them.
The Gates of Jerusalem. The Old City of Jerusalem is strongly characterized with arched gates and vaulted passages. The basic structure of the Temple is one of graded enclosures leading to the most secluded Holy of Holies. Likewise, the Heavenly Jerusalem is seen (e.g. in the Zohar Hadash for Noah) as a system of seven walls and seven gates in them. There is an actual articulated system of gates and walls, which starts at “The Twelve Gates to the City” and finds its clearest expression in the system of arched gates leading to the Dome of the Rock, and within it – to heaven. There are arched gates at: (1) the Walls of Jerusalem, (2) the walls of the Temple Mount (knownto Moslems as Haram a-Sharif), (3) the perimeter of the Dome of the Rock, (4) the 4 entrances into the shrine, (5) the outer rotunda, (6) the inner rotunda, and (7) the whole inner space below the Dome itself, forming a cylindrical arched gate into another world.
The existing structures of the Old City could house many of the facilities of the global Temple. These facilities will include, among other elements: (1) Cells (Ta'im) for individual work (e.g. confined environments for meditation and rebirth/ transformation); (2) Chambers (Lishkot), for group peace-making work (such as game parlors and/or a set of "Holy Round Tables"); (3) In appropriate places there will be models of Shrines (Heikhalot), such as of the Dome of the Rock, to serve as symbolic pavilions for rites of Human Reconstruction.
The Dome of the Rock is Jerusalem's most important landmark. Its meaningful place within the New Jerusalem is of supreme importance. For there are some Jews, and many Fundamentalist Christians, that believe that the Third Temple (and with it most of their redemption scenarios) cannot be realized until the Dome of the Rock is removed, or even destroyed - and this is the heart of the Moslem fears. For the Palestinians, the Dome of the Rock has become a national symbol. The promotion of the Temple of Jerusalem by peaceful means must show it the highest respect and reverence.
Our studies have gone into the inner meaning of the Dome of the Rock’s layout and decorations, to its history and to its design by a group of "Sufi Freemasons" dedicated to interfaith reconciliation (see also DOMEROCK.htm). Based on these studies, the Academy of Jerusalem has introduced the concept of the Dome of the Rock’s evolution: from an ancient shrine of the Goddess in pre-Israelite times, to a model of the earthly and heavenly paradise and of the Prophet's Ascent in Moslem times, and ultimately a Universal Temple for Reconciliation. These findings perceive the Dome of the Rock not as an impediment for building the third Temple but, on the contrary, as its core and Foundation Stone, which must be preserved and integrated.
The whole shrine of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem can be perceived as a Mandala of the New Jerusalem, which was possibly designed originally to serve the reconciliation of all "The Children of Abraham" and their "Abrahamic Religions". In any case, its virtual version would be able to serve this goal ideally, without incurring any resistance from the Moslems. On the contrary, its employment within the fabric of the virtual Yeru-Shalem Universal Temple will enlist the Moslem support for the plan. The use of the scale models of the Dome of the Rock, and the virtual version in cyberspace, will clearly suggest a likely future role of the actual Dome of the Rock for global reconciliation and world governance.
The Manifestation of the Heavenly Jerusalem can be presented through aerial light structures, without disturbing the Old City dense fabric, that represent the descent of the New, or Heavenly, Jerusalem from heaven (see the series of pictures of "The Quest for the Heavenly Jerusalem". In particular, picture 4 (Jubilation) shows a modest setup, while picture. 2 (Realization) shows a grand model). These "heavenly" structures will serve to reflect the good and enlivening work that is being done for the rectification of all humankind (Adam), right here on planet earth. It will constitute a giant virtual scoreboard in the Skies of Jerusalem, displaying the spiritual performance of all humankind (the Reconstructed Adam, if you like) over the whole city, visible from afar.
An inspired concept of the Heavenly Jerusalem is illustrated in the book "The Second Coming" of Leon Moscone. In it, Mr. Moscone pleads not just for the "Second Coming" of Jesus, but of all the major world teachers and spiritual masters, such as Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Mohammad and others. That much may be a recapitulation of the teachings of the rev. Moon in “The Divine Principle”. The Temple City that Moscone envisions would have a shrine for each of these, where his teachings might be experienced first hand. In the chapter on "The Mandala of the Heavenly Jerusalem" in that book, the Holy City-Temple is shaped as a Mandala diagram of the twelve shrines encircling the common center, like 12 moons surrounding the earth.
Through his study on ancient Temples, John Michell has elucidated "The New Jerusalem Diagram" of Ancient Cosmology. This is a more elaborate arrangement of 12 circles (or spheres) around a common central circle (their size ratio 3:11, which is the same ratio as the diameters of the moon and the earth). In this diagram, the greater circle is divided into 28 effectively equal segments and the surrounding 12 circles are arrayed in 4 groups of 3 circles, much as the 12 Tribes of Israel around the desert Tabernacle.
So an aerial show of such a model of the Heavenly Jerusalem could hover over the city without disturbing anything on the ground, and lift up people’s eyes to its lofty intentions. In cyberspace this facility, which will seem to approach or distance from the earthly city, will serve as an interfaith interface, offering a treasure trove of insights from all the spiritual treasures of humankind, joint together and harmonized via Jerusalem.
