I have just returned from a trip to Africa. My travel back to the United States included a stop in England. While there, I learned of a model of the second Temple located in a barn in Suffolk. I was told it was the best model of the second Temple in the whole world. So, I was eager to see it for myself. Friends with whom I stayed took me to visit the model on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Alec Garrard owns the farm, which is tidy but not pretentious, and he has created the model housed within the barn, which was not too impressive from the outside. He has not spent too much money on the surroundings, but the model inside is spectacular.

I learned that Mr. Garrard has done extensive research to seek out every known detail about what is known as "Herod's Temple." He has drawn heavily upon the descriptions in the Mishnah, as well as Josephus and The Temple by Alfred Edersheim, and many other sources. Mr. Garrard has built models in the past but none to the extent of the Temple. The model is 20 feet by 12 feet and is built of clay stones baked in Mr. Garrard's home oven. The scale is 100:1 and is done in painstaking detail, including about three thousand human figures set in various places in the Temple, carrying out what would have been their daily activities.

I found Mr. Garrard to be very informative as he talked about the model and his theories of locations. Mr. Garrard leaves room for future archeological discoveries and is prepared to change the model to fit facts as they are uncovered. He has his own opinions yet is not threatened by others who disagree with him.

The model is made in a manner that allows the Temple itself to be taken apart and the inner chambers viewed from above. Again the detail is amazing. The Temple and its courts, as well as the Herodian extensions of Mt. Moriah, are constructed. One thing I noticed was the location of the Eastern Gate or the Shushan Gate in relation to the Temple. Mr. Garrard explained that the gate did not line up exactly with the Temple doors according to the Mishnah. Other discussion ensued, and I asked him about the land bridge from the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives. He said there was no archeological evidence of a bridge, but one was mentioned in the Mishnah, which leads him to speculate that it may have been made of wood. In his model, he has not attempted to construct a bridge, but you can clearly see a "Red Heifer" being led out of the gate toward the Mount of Olives. This brought up more questions and the discussion of the site of the crucifixion of Jesus on the Mount of Olives. Mr. Garrard is not the first person I have heard to hold this belief. He also sees a lot of symbolism in the Red Heifer sacrifice as a "sin offering" (Numbers 19:9) and the sacrifice of Jesus, as well as the other sacrifices of the Temple ritual.

The discussions proceeded, and the model was shown in detail with explanation as to daily life on the Temple Mount. There was far too much to take in for one visit. I have decided that I need to go back and spend some time just talking with this interesting man.

One thing stuck with me as a result of other reflections and now the conversations over this model. There seems to be a lot of speculation concerning the activities that took place on the Mount of Olives. This area is covered partially by cemeteries and churches. There is also an Arab population that has taken up residence on the mountain. Maybe what I am thinking is wishful, but I see the real need for a survey and investigation of the Mount of Olives. I also see the need for archeological excavation. Of course, I see the need to do the same on the Temple Mount and under it. Israeli and Moslem authorities will not allow it at this time. Still, there needs to be a systematic survey and investigation of these sites to determine the truth about what happened there.

Present political systems will not allow impartial investigations to be undertaken in certain areas. Too sensitive. I do not want to put myself in the position of trying to help God and create another Ishmael; however, I do want to urge the investigation of this area. It seems the one place that could unlock so many puzzles is the one place that is unavailable to research.

I call on the government of Israel to encourage the open-minded investigation of the areas that are so vital not only to Christianity but also to Judaism. At least I would think that the Israeli government should make aerial photos of the area available to scholars and researchers. I have been to the bureau of survey and obtained all the maps that I could of the areas. They are not as detailed as I had hoped for. The scale is too small, and there is not enough detail to really show much. I can't help but think that there is more information available, but how can we access it? Maybe if enough of us speak up and continue to seek the information, the government itself will undertake to investigate and make the results known. Until then, we will look at our maps, walk the Mount of Olives, and try to imagine what is underneath our feet or just around the next corner.

Should you want more information about the model you can contact; Mr. Alec Garrard, Moat Farm, Fressingfield, Eye, Suffolk IP21 5TB, UK.