Mount of Olives

Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives, viewed eastward from Jerusalem above, is part of a mountain ridge that runs just east of Jerusalem. After rising steeply from the Kidron Valley (bottom of the photo) to an elevation of 2,684 feet (818 meters) above the sea level, the Mount of Olives, named after the olive groves that once covered it, tapers off eastward; where the Mount of Olives ends, the Judean desert begins.

Mount of Olives is where Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled (see Holy Sepulchre Church), as well as the end times. Jesus prayed and let Himself be arrested near the base of Mount of Olives (see Garden of Gethsemane) for crucifixion the next day. And after rising from the dead to prove His deity, Jesus ascended to heaven from the top of Mount of Olives.

What is all of the white stuff covering its slope facing Jerusalem?

They are 150,000 tombs in a massive Jewish cemetery. Below is the view down from near the top of Mount of Olives.

Jewish gravesites in Jerusalem cost about $3,000 but those above cost at least $25,000.

Why so much?

Many Jews believe that when the Messiah comes, those buried facing Jerusalem will be resurrected first. But the Bible says that the Messiah already came 2,000 years ago and that when we die, those who believe He paid the death penalty due for their sins will go to heaven, while those who deny it will "go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43-44).

Your corpse will end up in a grave one day, which could be decades later or this weekend. When that happens, where will your soul be? If you feel there is no heaven or hell and that the Bible is wrong, consider this:

You wouldn't give your opinion about a movie without having watched it, would you? Have you ever read the Bible for yourself? No, not hearing things about the Bible, or watching people talk about the Bible. Have you ever watched 'the movie' for yourself?

If not, should where your soul will end up be entrusted to hearsay? Why not watch the movie for yourself before passing judgment that could make or ruin the rest of your eternity? If the whole Bible seems daunting, start just with the Gospel of John.