Sequel to 'I AM ISRAEL' movie released focusing on 'The Mountain of the King'

Following the runaway hit of “I AM ISRAEL,” a film written and directed by David Kiern and screened in over 10,000 congregations all over the world, a new hour-long feature film looking specifically at the Temple Mount, “The Mountain of the King” has just been released.

Blending a mix of Indiana Jones style intrigue and adventure with stunning aerial scenes of Israel’s most impressive landscapes, the sequel is set to be at least as popular as the one it has followed.

The film has been carefully curated to bring in visual representations of biblical stories and interviews with Israelis living in the Land today.

Based on the idea that the presence of God moved from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion, the place He has chosen for His dwelling place, the movie explores the historical journey of the people of Israel with their God, through the desert and into the Promised Land, culminating in the establishment of God’s house on what is today the Temple Mount, with an eye to future developments.

The makers of the film carefully avoided dealing with the controversial matter of Mount Sinai’s location, instead choosing to focus on Jerusalem. The Temple Mount isn’t much less controversial, yet the film studies the past, present and hopes for the future of the most sought after patch of real-estate in the world.

Narrated by John Rhys-Davies, appropriately known for his parts in the Lord of the Rings and also Indiana Jones films, the script weaves in and out of a sort of cowboy adventure and documentary genre, blurring the distinction between story and reality. Still, the emphasis is on the biblical story which continues until the return of the Messiah, and the author of that story is not known for sticking to the realms of realistic possibility. The result is a beautiful and powerful portrayal of biblical themes with all the dramatic glitz of Hollywood. 

Breathtaking scenery is combined with personal interviews to create a truly moving cinematic experience. The Mountain of the King follows three adventurers on a quest to discover the meaning of God’s holy mountain. The film introduces Doron Keidar – Executive Producer and advocate for Jewish rights on the Temple Mount – alongside Swedish theology student John Anderson and Joshua Waller, co-host of The Israel Guys.

Anderson explains at the start of the film how Israel became his lifelong passion: “Many of us believe, and I think rightly, that the restoration of Israel is the hand of God in history, and that the restoration of Jerusalem to the Jewish people in 1967 was a miracle from heaven.” He continues, “logically, the progression is the centre of Jerusalem. would also be a place that is destined to be restored. If Israel is still holy to God, and if Jerusalem is still holy to God, then even more so, the Temple Mount.” 

Waller also explains the source of his fascination: “One day, my eyes were really open when I started to really question why there was so much conflict surrounding this place, and then I started to look into it.” 

“I started to research and study about the temple Mount. It completely changed the way I viewed Jerusalem. It was a life changing moment… I didn't even really know where Zion was. It was a very spiritual and unearthly concept,” he said.

Delving into the rich and interesting history of Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock, the film paints a picture of a day when Jewish people are finally free to pray at the site where the temple once stood. However, as utopian as the aspiration may be for all peoples to have access to worship at the site, the film seems unperturbed by the fact that we seem to be edging towards something akin to the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi which has a mosque, a church, a synagogue in one building to “nurture mutual understanding” or the House of One in Berlin which is much the same thing.

While all three faiths are monotheistic, their understandings of God differ significantly, raising questions about the theological compatibility of interfaith initiatives.

While “The Mountain of the King” does not endorse a mishmash of faiths, it doesn’t warn of the looming possibility either. It simply looks beyond the battles to come, both of deception in the spiritual realm, and against God’s purposes on the ground, to a time when God is truly King once again on His holy hill.

And the vision is truly wonderful.

Click here to watch the trailer for the first film, “I am Israel”