Tomorrow ( Saturday February 28, 2009) we depart for a spiritual pilgrimage to Israel. Several people have inquired about our travel plans and schedule. I invite you to follow us on the this tour of a lifetime. It is hard to believe that this will be my 5th trip to Israel. Each time I go it carries it's own memories. If possible I will post during the trip - if not - watch this site for guest postings and possible pictures.
DAY 1, Saturday FEBRUARY 28— Our group gathers at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene for a NOON departure to the airport.
DAY 2, Sunday MARCH 1—ARRIVE TEL AVIV
DAY 2, Sunday MARCH 1—ARRIVE TEL AVIV
DAY 3, Monday MARCH 2—BETH SHEMESH/ VALLEY OF ELAH/ LACHISH/BEERSHEBA/ARAD
On our first full day of travel we will emphasize the Old Testament, beginning with Beth Shemesh where the ark that the Philistines had taken from the battlefield at Ebenezer (1 Sam. 4:11). After 7 months, the Philistines, who has suffered from a plague, returned it to Beth Shemesh where the oxen stopped in the field of Joshua. Because the plague spread to the inhabitants, it was moved to the house of Abinadab. Going farther south we arrive at the city of Azekah on a hill overlooking the Philistine/Israel battlefield where David killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:51).We continue to Lachish where the Assyrian attack against Hezekiah caused it’s fall (2 Kings 19:8); then on to Beersheba to walk into the restored gate of the city from the time of Hezekiah.
We will view the only horned sacrificial altar ever found and the partially restored city of 700 B.C. Our last site of the day will be Arad whose king confronted Moses’ on the trek to Canaan when he attacked, but lost the battle. We spend the night in the new city of Arad.
DAY 4, Tuesday MARCH 3— MASADA/QUMRAN/DEAD SEA/JERICHO/TIBERIAS
Our first site of the day is to go up to the famous mountain of Masada where David found refuge of King Saul (1 Sam. 25:22), and where later King Herod built his hide-away palace to withdraw from people. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., nearly 1,000 men, women and children tried to find protection from Silva, but after a three-year siege, chose to die rather than be captured by the Romans. We then motor north for lunch at Qumran, after which we see the Qumran community where the Dead Sea Scrolls first were found. Then follows a refreshing swim in the Dead Sea. After a visit to Jericho we then travel north along the road of the Jordan Valley to our quarters on the Sea of Galilee for two nights.
DAY 5 , Wednesday MARCH 4— SEA OF GALILEE/MOUNT OF BEATITUDES/ TABHA/PETER OF PRIMACY/CAPERNAUM
Our itinerary begins with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to the museum where a “Jesus” type boat was discovered several years ago, after which we make our way to the blessed Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus is thought to have uttered Matt. 5–7. Afterwards we travel to the place commemorated where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the multitude, then nearby to the place Jesus reappeared to His disciples after His resurrection. After lunch we make our way to the Valley of Jezreel to see Gideon’s Spring where his 300 men were selected and the battlefield where he defeated the Midianites. Then we carry on to Jezreel to the place where Naboth lived, Jezebel was thrown out a window, and where two kings of Judah both met their deaths. On our return to Tiberius we visit Nazareth on the way to see the Church of Annunciation and synagogue where Jesus worshiped until He began His ministry. We conclude the day with a baptism/rededication in the Jordan River.
DAY 6, Thursday MARCH 5 MT.CARMEL/MEGIDDO/CAESAREA/JERUSALEM
We depart Galilee and make our way to Mt. Carmel to the site where tradition holds that Elijah had the contest with the Baal prophets (1 Kings 18:19–38).We carry on to Megiddo the city setting atop the valley of Armageddon. We walk up the road where Joshua and the army conquered the city then enter at the level of Ahab and see his stables/storehouses dating to 850 B.C.We end our visit by going through the water source of Ahab’s time, then make our way to the Caesarea where Herod built one of his palaces, where Philip later founded a church, where an early church council was held, and where Paul was imprisoned for 2 years before being tried in Rome where he died. We then make our way to Jerusalem for overnight.
DAY 7, Friday MARCH 6—WESTERN WALL/ TEMPLE MOUNT/VIA DOLOROSA/BETHLEHEM
We will enter Jerusalem through the Dung Gate, and walk to the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of Herod’s erosion-resistance wall held up the Temple area. On this site where the temple once stood now is found the magnificent Dome of the Rock and the El Aksa Mosque (the third holiest shrine in all Islam). From the temple
area, we make our way to St. Stephen’s Gate, St. Anne’s Crusader Church, Pools of Bethesda, the Sister of Zion Convent. In the afternoon we will make our way to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.
DAY 8, Saturday MARCH 7—MT. OF OLIVE/ GETHSEMANE/GALICANTU/UPPER ROOM/
JEWISH QUARTER/CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
We begin our explorations with a drive to the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage will descend to the Tear Drop Chapel and Gethsemane with its ancient olive grove, the Church of Agony, where Jesus prayed, and the cave where Jesus often met with the disciples. After lunch we go to the Upper Room of the
Passover meal, and birthday of the church at Pentecost, then on through the Zion gate to the Jewish Quarter, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher before returning to the hotel.
On our first full day of travel we will emphasize the Old Testament, beginning with Beth Shemesh where the ark that the Philistines had taken from the battlefield at Ebenezer (1 Sam. 4:11). After 7 months, the Philistines, who has suffered from a plague, returned it to Beth Shemesh where the oxen stopped in the field of Joshua. Because the plague spread to the inhabitants, it was moved to the house of Abinadab. Going farther south we arrive at the city of Azekah on a hill overlooking the Philistine/Israel battlefield where David killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:51).We continue to Lachish where the Assyrian attack against Hezekiah caused it’s fall (2 Kings 19:8); then on to Beersheba to walk into the restored gate of the city from the time of Hezekiah.
We will view the only horned sacrificial altar ever found and the partially restored city of 700 B.C. Our last site of the day will be Arad whose king confronted Moses’ on the trek to Canaan when he attacked, but lost the battle. We spend the night in the new city of Arad.
DAY 4, Tuesday MARCH 3— MASADA/QUMRAN/DEAD SEA/JERICHO/TIBERIAS
Our first site of the day is to go up to the famous mountain of Masada where David found refuge of King Saul (1 Sam. 25:22), and where later King Herod built his hide-away palace to withdraw from people. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., nearly 1,000 men, women and children tried to find protection from Silva, but after a three-year siege, chose to die rather than be captured by the Romans. We then motor north for lunch at Qumran, after which we see the Qumran community where the Dead Sea Scrolls first were found. Then follows a refreshing swim in the Dead Sea. After a visit to Jericho we then travel north along the road of the Jordan Valley to our quarters on the Sea of Galilee for two nights.
DAY 5 , Wednesday MARCH 4— SEA OF GALILEE/MOUNT OF BEATITUDES/ TABHA/PETER OF PRIMACY/CAPERNAUM
Our itinerary begins with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to the museum where a “Jesus” type boat was discovered several years ago, after which we make our way to the blessed Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus is thought to have uttered Matt. 5–7. Afterwards we travel to the place commemorated where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed the multitude, then nearby to the place Jesus reappeared to His disciples after His resurrection. After lunch we make our way to the Valley of Jezreel to see Gideon’s Spring where his 300 men were selected and the battlefield where he defeated the Midianites. Then we carry on to Jezreel to the place where Naboth lived, Jezebel was thrown out a window, and where two kings of Judah both met their deaths. On our return to Tiberius we visit Nazareth on the way to see the Church of Annunciation and synagogue where Jesus worshiped until He began His ministry. We conclude the day with a baptism/rededication in the Jordan River.
DAY 6, Thursday MARCH 5 MT.CARMEL/MEGIDDO/CAESAREA/JERUSALEM
We depart Galilee and make our way to Mt. Carmel to the site where tradition holds that Elijah had the contest with the Baal prophets (1 Kings 18:19–38).We carry on to Megiddo the city setting atop the valley of Armageddon. We walk up the road where Joshua and the army conquered the city then enter at the level of Ahab and see his stables/storehouses dating to 850 B.C.We end our visit by going through the water source of Ahab’s time, then make our way to the Caesarea where Herod built one of his palaces, where Philip later founded a church, where an early church council was held, and where Paul was imprisoned for 2 years before being tried in Rome where he died. We then make our way to Jerusalem for overnight.
DAY 7, Friday MARCH 6—WESTERN WALL/ TEMPLE MOUNT/VIA DOLOROSA/BETHLEHEM
We will enter Jerusalem through the Dung Gate, and walk to the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of Herod’s erosion-resistance wall held up the Temple area. On this site where the temple once stood now is found the magnificent Dome of the Rock and the El Aksa Mosque (the third holiest shrine in all Islam). From the temple
area, we make our way to St. Stephen’s Gate, St. Anne’s Crusader Church, Pools of Bethesda, the Sister of Zion Convent. In the afternoon we will make our way to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.
DAY 8, Saturday MARCH 7—MT. OF OLIVE/ GETHSEMANE/GALICANTU/UPPER ROOM/
JEWISH QUARTER/CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
We begin our explorations with a drive to the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage will descend to the Tear Drop Chapel and Gethsemane with its ancient olive grove, the Church of Agony, where Jesus prayed, and the cave where Jesus often met with the disciples. After lunch we go to the Upper Room of the
Passover meal, and birthday of the church at Pentecost, then on through the Zion gate to the Jewish Quarter, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher before returning to the hotel.
DAY 9, Sunday MARCH 8—JERUSALEM
Today is at leisure. This is a time to collect our thoughts, indulge in our whims. Revisit the places of most interest. The Rockefeller and Hebrew Museums display a wealth of archaeological treasure. Return for a last look within the walls of the Old City. In the afternoon we plan a visit to the Garden Tomb and a concluding communion service together. We then will either have dinner at our hotel.
DAY 10, Monday MARCH 9—JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV/USA
Early in the morning we will depart Jerusalem and travel to the Tel Aviv Airport to connect with our overseas flight home. The close of an unforgettable tour, we bring with us lasting memories of the Old and New Testament
We arrive back in Raleigh shortly after midnight on Tuesday MARCH 10.
Pastor Rick plans to be back in the office on Wednesday March 11.
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