Day 1: Departure
from US (February
22)
Today we embark on
our Journey to the
Holy Land. Prepare
yourself for a
life-changing
experience. Get some
rest on the
flight…Tomorrow you
will be walking
where Jesus walked!
Day 2: Arrive
Israel (February 23)
We arrive at Ben
Gurion Airport where
we will be met by
our Israeli guide
who will accompany
us during our entire
stay in
Israel.
We travel westward
to our hotel for one
night in the coastal
area in Tel Aviv.
The remainder of the
day is free to walk
along the
Mediterranean,
relax, and have
dinner. The time is
right for a personal
devotional with the
sunset over the
“Great Sea.” Enjoy
a time of prayer of
thanks for safety
and the special
blessings ahead, a
prayer for the
people of this land,
and a good night’s
rest.
Day 3:
Caesarea, Megiddo &
Nazareth (February
24)
After breakfast, we
travel by private
motor coach along
the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea to
Caesarea,
where Gentiles first
heard the Good News
from Peter and were
baptized. We’ll see
the Roman
Amphitheatre and
aqueduct, and then
journey on to
Mt. Carmel,
where Elijah hid
from King Ahab. Next
we travel through
the Jezreel Valley
to
Megiddo,
the Armageddon
Battlefield, where
archaeologists have
unearthed 20 levels
of civilization. We
drive through the
area of
Cana and
Nazareth,
the boyhood home of
Jesus, where we
visit the Nazareth
Village - a
wonderful recreation
of Biblical times
with costumed
guides. We will have
dinner and overnight
lodging for the next
two nights in the
Tiberais area.
Day 4: Capernaum
& Mount of
Beatitudes, Jordan
Baptism (February
25)
Following breakfast,
we view an ancient
Fisherman Boat at an
operating Kibbutz,
known as the Jesus
boat. Next, we
enjoy a relaxing
cruise on the Sea of
Galilee. A brief
scripture reading
and devotional on
board brings to life
the experiences of
Jesus and the
fishermen disciples
beginning a
wonderful day of
touring. Docking in
Capernaum
we will visit the
ruins of an ancient
synagogue and
Peter’s home. Then
we travel on to the
site of the
multiplication of
loaves and fishes
and the
Mount of the
Beatitudes
overlooking the Sea.
We end this site
with a walk to the
bottom of the hill
to St. Peter’s
Primacy. We finish
out the day at the
Yardenit Baptismal
site with a memorial
service. We return
to the hotel for
dinner and
overnight. This
evening we have a
gathering for
discussion and
devotion.
Day 5: Golan
Heights, Tel Dan,
Beth Shean & Dead
Sea (February 26)
We begin our day
with a trip atop
Golan Heights, for a
visit to the Bentel
outpost overlooking
Syria and Mt Hermon.
We then travel to
nearby Tel Dan, a
valuable northern
site emphasizing the
loss of God's
blessing on Israel.
Dan is
where the children
of Israel fell to
the depths of pagan
worship. Upon
returning to the
Galilee we take in a
wonderful view of
the sea from the
Decapolis. Next we
travel southward to
Beit-Shean/Scythopolis,
the most magnificent
archeological site
in Israel, located
at the strategic
juncture of the
Jezreel and Jordan
valleys. Like
Jericho, it has been
almost continuously
occupied throughout
history. After
defeating Saul and
his sons on Mt.
Gilboa, the
Philistines hanged
their bodies on the
walls of Beit-Shean.
(1 Sam 31:10-12)
During the
intertestamental
period, the city was
renamed the "Scythopolis".
Archaeologists have
uncovered a huge
number of ruins of
the Roman/Byzantine
Scythopolis. During
the time of Jesus,
Scythopolis was one
of the chief cities
of the Decapolis -a
league of ten cities
sharing Greek
culture and
government.
Following the
fertile Jordan
Valley, your guide
will point out the
agricultural
restoration of the
“Land of Milk and
Honey,” the Kibbuzt
system and Israel’s
intricate irrigation
development. We
follow the road
south past the
ancient city of
Jericho, view from a
distance this city
famed as the oldest
in the world, before
coming to our
lodging for the
evening at the Dead
Sea – the lowest
place on earth.
Spend time in the
special spa and
enjoy a dip in the
Dead Sea for a
relaxing float
before dinner.
Day 6: Masada,
Ein Gedi, Dead Sea
Scrolls (February
27)
Our day begins with
a cable car ride to
the mountain top
fortress of Masada.
Here our guide will
treat us to the
history of the
famous zealot stand.
Afterwards we
proceed to
Ein Gedi,
"Spring of the
Goat," an oasis on
the western shore of
the Dead Sea.
Because of its warm
climate and abundant
supply of water, the
site developed a
reputation for its
fragrant plants and
date palm groves.
This is where King
David hid from Saul,
and where God
defeated the enemies
of the Israelites by
praise and worship
led by King
Jehoshaphat. Next,
we visit
Qumran Caves
where the Dead Sea
Scrolls were
discovered. We spend
some time at Qumran
to explore the gift
shop housing a
wealth of Israeli
treasures. We
proceed to the
“Golden City,”
Jerusalem our
location for the
next four nights. As
we travel up to
Jerusalem we view
St. George’s
Monastery. We have
dinner this evening
at our Jerusalem
Hotel.
Day 7: Around
Jerusalem, Bible
Times, Holocaust
Museum (February 28)
Depending on the
political
environment we start
with a trip atop the
Temple Mount.
Following our time
there an interesting
and educational
afternoon awaits us
at the
Israeli Museum.
Walk through
collections of
centuries old
Israeli artifacts
including the Dead
Sea Scrolls, and a
then a guided walk
through an
accurately detailed
model of Biblical
Jerusalem will help
to prepare you for
what you will
experience in the
following days. We
then take a trip
over to “Joseph’s
Storehouse,” a
Messianic
Humanitarian Mission
Center, to meet some
of the individuals
involved in this
ministry and learn
of the current
events in Israel. We
conclude the day
with a visit to
Yad Vashem,
the Holocaust
Museum, for a needed
reminder of what the
Jews have suffered
as a people. We have
another gathering
for discussion and
devotion this
evening following
dinner at the hotel.
Day 8: Jesus'
Steps, the Last Days
(March 1)
Today we walk where
Jesus walked;
beginning the day
with a panoramic
view of the city,
Mount Moriah
and the Dome of the
Rock from atop the
Mount of Olives
and then the
Garden of Gethsemane.
How many have wished
to be whisked back
in time to get a
glimpse of our Lord
or hear His voice if
only for a moment?
To walk between the
ancient olive trees,
read the scriptures
of Jesus' prayer and
take time for
personal reflection
is important here.
We enter the Old
City, through
Stephen’s Gate for a
visit to the
Pool of Bethesda,
and St. Ann’s
Church. We have a
visit to the
location of
Antonio’s Fortress
and the pit where
Christ may have been
housed. As we exit
we walk the Via
Dolorosa, and are
reminded of His way
of suffering. We
arrive at the
Wailing Wall and
then the fascinating
Rabbinical Tunnels
leading us through
the Second Temple
era. The tunnel and
exhibit give a clear
understanding of the
amazing construction
of the Temple Mount,
giant stones, water
supply and Roman
street where our
Lord was led to
judgment. Before
exiting the tunnel
we see the immense
cornerstone rejected
by the builders. We
return to the hotel
for dinner and
overnight after a
full touring day.
Day 9: City of
David, Pentecost,
Garden Tomb (March
2)
This morning
following breakfast
we visit the
House of Caiaphas
where Jesus was
beaten and spit
upon. See a pit
where he may have
been held for the
evening and the
ancient hillside
steps he walked as
he was taken to be
condemned. We enter
the nearby City of
David for a
historical account
of the early city of
Jerusalem under
David’s Rule. We
view the Pool of
Salom and travel
through Hezekiah’s
Tunnel. (Weather
Permitting) This
afternoon we visit
the
Southern Wall
Excavations.
This southern side
of The Temple was
the main entrance
for the common folk,
whereas the Priests
and Levites had
their own entrance
from the higher
eastern side. Parts
of the giant stairs,
which led to the
Temple Mount from
the courtyard have
been unearthed along
with the
purification pools.
From here Jesus
entered the
Temple Mount
and drove out the
vendors and money
exchangers who were
exploiting the
people. It is also
likely that this is
the place that Peter
stood and preached
and where thousands
were saved and
baptized on the
Day of Pentecost.
The climax of the
day is the
Garden Tomb,
where we celebrate
the resurrection
with communion and a
time of praise. We
will enjoy a
challenge from God’s
word and a song
before returning to
the hotel for our
final dinner and
overnight in
Jerusalem.
Day 10: Depart
for Home (March 3)
A morning departure
for the Tel Aviv
Airport for our
flight homeward will
allow for arrival
home by early
afternoon.