Many have asked us why the Universal Church built a monument similar to the Omar Mosque, which is a symbol of Islam.
It is not our intention to build any religious monuments. The entire structure of the replica of the Temple of Solomon in Sao Paulo is so people can feel like they are back in biblical times and be absorbed by a pure faith, without any religious contamination, which is what calls the attention of God and brings results. The Temple will be open to all people of all religions. It will be for those who wish to have an encounter with the Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
Whenever we come across a panoramic photograph of Jerusalem, our eyes quickly focus in on the golden dome that stands out among the houses and walls built around it.
However, this mosque has very little to do with the true story of what happened in this place. More precisely, under this mosque.
This is Mount Moriah. This is where God put Abraham to the test and swore by Himself to multiply and bless his descendants.
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore… Genesis 22.16-17
Years later, David also sacrificed on a piece of land on top of this mountain.
All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king. And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.” Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel. 2 Samuel 24.23-25
Solomon built the First Temple there, and when he dedicated it to God, he offered sacrifices to the Lord.
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 2 Chronicles 7.4-5
Israel’s downfall also began here, when they stopped honoring God with their sacrifices. Jerusalem was ransacked, the Temple was destroyed and the people were taken captive to Babylon. 2 Kings 25
Guided by God, Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem and, along with other men, once again raised the Altar and the Temple that had been destroyed, sacrificing to God.
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God… Haggai 1.14
The Lord Jesus honored the Temple and drove out the moneychangers who had invaded the sacred space for own interests.
Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’.” Luke 19.45-46
These are just a couple of events that happened at this location. It’s impossible to cite them all here, but we can truly learn a lot from all the events that were recorded in the Bible.
Once you visit the Upper Room of the Temple you will understand that the true history of Israel has nothing to do with the golden dome; instead, to what is underneath it.
Therefore, the round shape of the Cenacle resembles the shape of a mountain, Mount Moriah, just like the Temple resembles the original Temple and the overall structure of the City of Jerusalem.
And this is exactly what our purpose was for this place.
When people go down there, they will be able to go back in time and soak in each detail of the elements of the Temple – the essence of a genuine, pure and pleasing faith in God. The faith of Sacrifice.