Crossing To Zion

The Zion Bridge

In early Bible History the Tyropoeon Valley was a formidable ravine that required bridges, most particularly the "Zion Bridge," to connect the royal palace of King David, and his son and successor King Solomon, with the Temple Mount. The first Temple (see Temples) wasn't yet built in the time of David, however David did make extensive preparations for it after he purchased the land from the Jebusites. Even though David's descendants still hold the "Deed," they, for the time being, still permit the presence of a Muslim Mosque on the Temple Mount, which was built there centuries later when Jerusalem was under Arab occupation.

The Western Wall of the Temple was constructed up from the Tyropoeon Valley. It is seen in the photograph, in shadow at left, the south wall is shown brightly illuminated by sunlight at the time of day the photo was taken. Part of The Mount Of Olives, which will be "ground zero" for The Return Of Jesus Christ, is seen in the top-right of the picture (see also Sodom and Egypt).

The Procession Across The Valley

After Solomon completed the God-commanded construction of the Temple, The Ark Of The Covenant was moved from a tent in the City of David to the new Temple on Mount Moriah, where the gold-topped Muslim "Dome of the Rock," as seen in the upper half of the photo, is still permitted to exist. With the Arab nations temporarily hunkered down because of US President George W. Bush's "crusade" in the Middle East, many regard the era of the Bush regime to be a very militarily-opportune time for the people of Judah to retake their Temple Mount.

Unfortunately, it seems, while the people of Judah are strong and courageous in many other ways, too many still lack the courage and faithfulness-to-God of their forefathers in matters of religion, particularly in regard to the Temple Mount. King David, the owner of the mount who began the building of the original Temple on his property, and Nehemiah, who faithfully oversaw the rebuilding of it after the return from the Babylonian captivity, would be quite disappointed in some of their present-day descendants. Prophecy does however indicate that the "Temple Mount Faithful" are eventually going to be successful, one way, or another, by the time of Christ's return.

"Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of The Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion."

"And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark."

"And they brought up the ark of The Lord, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude."

"And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of The Lord unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day [see Raiders Of The Lost Ark]" (1 Kings 8:1-8 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the ultimate Biblical meaning of "Zion"?
See Who, What or Where Is Zion?

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