Jerusalem’s Enigmatic Golden Gate: Countdown To The End Of Days
There is an ancient gate on the east side of Jerusalem that to this day remains bricked up and unpassable. It is believed by millions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims that it will miraculously open at the End of Days, when God and the Messiah will appear for the Judgment of all humankind. It is the cryptic ‘Golden Gate’, and it has become a flashpoint in recent years, as religious groups, protesters, and governing bodies – many convinced the end of the world is at hand - all battle for its control. What is the history of this enigmatic entrance, why is it sealed shut, and what future warnings does it portend?
The Golden Gate taken from the Temple Mount with the Mount of Olives over the walls. (Image: © Jonathon Perrin)
The Enigmatic Walled-Up Eastern Gate
The Old City of Jerusalem is a location quite unlike anywhere else on earth: 0.35 square miles (0.9 square kilometers) of winding corridors and ancient architecture surrounded by imposing Medieval stone walls. Six of the city’s eight gates were built by the Ottoman Turks five centuries ago, one was built in recent times, and the eighth gate was restored by the Turks. Leading directly to the Temple Mount, where Solomon’s Temple once stood and the golden Dome of the Rock now stands, this eighth gate is very special. Loaded with prophetic power and potential, the future of millions around the world is tied to this enigmatic eschatological entranceway.
