Calvary Temple
Holy Land Tour
May 22-30, 2020
Day 1 – Friday - Arrive in Israel; Jaffa
Today, we board our flight from London for the land of the Bible, Israel! Shalom! Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel where we are greeted, assisted and transferred to our hotel by the staff. Overnight on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea! Open your Bible and let your mind drink in the Biblical history you are about to personally experience. You are in the Holy Land! Depending on the flight arrival time, we will tour Jaffa then on to our hotel for buffet dinner and overnight.
Overnight in Hadera
Day 2 - Saturday - Caesarea/Mt. Carmel/Tel-Megido/Nazareth Village/Mt. Precipice/Tiberias
We awake in the Holy Land to a sumptuous Israeli breakfast buffet, then transfer by deluxe motor coach to head north on the Coastal road to view the stately, ancient ruins of Caesarea, visiting the Roman amphitheater where Paul stood trial. It was here that the Holy Spirit first fell on the Gentiles as Cornelius, the first Gentile of the Church-age, met Peter. http://www.bible-history.com/archaeology/israel/3-caesarea-ancient-bb.html Next, we drive up the Mediterranean Coast to Mount Carmel, Elijah’s Cave, the place where the Prophet Elijah defeated the false prophets of Ba’al and where God answered by fire. We continue today by driving through the Valley of Jezreel https://www.bibleplaces.com/jezreelvalley/ - the prophetic future site of the battle of Armageddon. The archaeological site of Megiddo is one of Solomon’s chariot cities where twenty civilizations can be observed stacked up in the ruins. Driving toward Nazareth, we stop to visit an extraordinary site called Nazareth Village, where we step back in time to see a day in the life of the first century Jews who lived in Nazareth as in the days of Jesus. We will visit Mt. Precipice. (Luke 4:2930) (http://www.israeljerusalem.com/mount-precipice.htm which is located south of Nazareth, on the cliffs of Mt Kedumim (397M), overlooking the Yizrael Valley and Mount Tabor. This is considered by some to be the place where angry Jewish worshippers drove Jesus away from the Synagogue, attempted to throw him of the cliffs, and he disappeared before their eyes "in the midst of them”.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee area.
Day 3 – Sunday - Explore The Galilee- Lake Kinerret/ Mr. Arbel/Magdala/Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee/St. Peter’s Fish Lunch/Capernaum/Mount of the Beatitudes/Tabgha/Bethseda/Kurazim/Kursi (Pig Jump)
After another great Israeli breakfast, we start our day with a service on the Galilee. Stepping aboard a Galilee boat for a calm cruise on the sea, we enjoy an incredible worship service, which will be life changing. For many pilgrims to the Holy Land, this is one of the most memorable. Later, we disembark at Ginosar for a short trip to Capernaum, where we visit the home of the Apostle Peter where Jesus healed his mother-in-law. Visit Tabgha where Jesus multiplied the fishes and loaves. We lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and enjoy a special feast of St. Peter’s Fish. A short bus ride takes us to the Mount of Beatitudes where we hear the words of Jesus on the mount where the greatest sermon ever was preached. We proceed to our baptismal site located on the Jordan River, Yardenit, for those who wish to be baptized. After baptism, we return to the hotel where another Israeli buffet presents an amazing variety of food for our dinner.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee area
Day 4 - Monday - Jordan Valley
After breakfast, we travel to Beit Shean https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beit_She%27an to visit one of the best preserved Roman Amphitheaters in Israel. Extensive excavations have uncovered eighteen layers of civilizations. Ancient Beit Shean is also where King Saul’s body was retrieved by the brave men of Jabesh Gilead. We travel south toward Jericho, the “City of Palms” spreading out on the west side of the Jordan River at 825 feet below sea level. The Bible site of Tell es-Sultan is in the distance and is the city Joshua destroyed. In Jesus’ day a new center had been constructed on the wadi banks by the Hasmonean rulers and Herod the Great. Continuing south, we see Qumran, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qumran where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a little shepherd boy and Ein Gedi where David fled from Saul. Continuing south through the wilderness of Judea, we will ascend by cable car to Masada, the fortress built by King Herod the Great. Step back in time to 66 CE when a group of Jewish rebels overcame the Roman garrison of Masada http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/masada-desert-fortress and settled on the top of Masada until 73 CE when the Roman governor laid siege. The view of the Roman camps can still be seen from atop Masada, as well as a spectacular view of the country of Jordan and the Dead Sea. Visit the remains of Herod’s Palace, the Apartments, Baths, Storehouses and Cisterns. It was here the Jewish Zealots made their last stand against the Roman Legions from 70-73 AD. Descend from Masada with a stunning view of the Dead Sea. We end the day with a float in the Dead Sea. Leaving the lowest place on earth, we ascend to Jerusalem, the Holy City.
Dinner and Overnight Dead Sea
Day 5 – Tuesday - Jerusalem/Temple Mount/Mt Olives/Garden of Gethsemene/Hulda Gates/Southern Steps excavations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem
Arriving on the Mount of Olives, a breathtaking view of the Temple Mount (Mt. Moriah Genesis 22:2) is seen. The Mount of Olives is where Jesus will return and the Temple Mount is where the 3rd Temple will be rebuilt prior to His appearing. After enjoying the view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, we visit the Church of All Nations and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane with a grand view of the Eastern Gate and the Kidron Valley. Here, we read the Scriptures of Jesus’ prayer and take time for personal reflection where we literally walk where Jesus walked. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we begin a tour of the old city of Jerusalem. As we begin the tour of old Jerusalem, we visit St. Ann’s Church and hear the marvellous acoustics as we sing. Visit the Pool of Bethesda where the angel stirred the waters for healing. Following the path from Pilate’s Judgement Hall through the old city, we experience the sights and sounds of old Jerusalem as we journey toward the Western Wall to arrive before sunset. We walk the Via Dolorosa, the route that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his crucifixion and burial. Just below the Temple Mount, on the western side we will pray at the Western Wall (Kotel) which is the closest wall to where the Holy of Holies was located when the Temple was in use during the 1st Century. Visit the Western Wall Tunnel which will take you underground. A large portion of the Western Wall is inaccessible, otherwise. You will see stones, models and actual structures which provide clues as to how the Second Temple was constructed. In addition, these artefacts help explain the history of this area through the eyes of all the great empires that once ruled Jerusalem. Dinner and Overnight
Day 6 – Wednesday - Temple Mount
We will visit one of the most incredible sites in all of Judaism: the Temple Mount. It is here where the Temple era came to an abrupt halt as it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Leaving the Temple Mount, we walk to the City of David, at the Gihon Spring, where we learn of how the original city of Jerusalem was established by King David, overtaking from the Jebusites. We will visit Hezekiah’s Tunnel: A 1750-foot tunnel carved during the reign of Hezekiah to bring water from one side of the city to the other, Hezekiah’s Tunnel together with the 6th century tunnel of Euphalios in Greece is considered the greatest works of water engineering technology in the pre-Classical period. The Pool of Siloam is a rock-cut pool on the southern slope of the City of David, the original site of Jerusalem, located outside the walls of the Old City to the southeast. The pool was fed by the waters of the Gihon Spring, carried there by two aqueducts. In the afternoon, we arrive at the fruit and vegetable market, Mahane Yehuda Market known as the Jerusalem’s Shuk. Return to the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight
Day 7 – Thursday
After visiting the room of the Last Supper, also known as the site of the Upper Room, and the traditional site of the Tomb of King David, we take a short walk through the Jewish Quarter to visit the Temple Institute. The Temple Institute's ultimate goal is to see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, in accord with the Biblical commandments. Finally, a short walk through the Roman Cardo. Visit the House of Caiaphas where Jesus spent the night after his arrest in Gethsemane. Traveling to the Israeli Museum we will visit the 2nd Temple model of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea scrolls (discovered in the caves of Qumran) among other antiquities. We’ll view the Knesset Menorah which is a bronze Menorah weighing 4 tons. It is located opposite the Knesset. It was presented to the Knesset as a gift from the Parliament of the United Kingdom on April 15, 1956 in honor of the eighth anniversary of Israeli independence. Return to the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight
Day 8 - Friday
Begin the day with a sumptuous Middle Eastern breakfast. Yad Vashem; Ein Karem (Church of St John the Baptist). In the afternoon, journey to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields. Before returning to the hotel, enjoy a great shopping opportunity in Bethlehem.
Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem/Jerusalem
Day 9 - Saturday
Begin the day at the Garden Tomb where we view the Hill of the Skull and walk into the empty tomb. A communion service provides an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and His victory over death. Ministers from your group will lead the service. Visit the American Embassy in Jerusalem. Then on to Valley of Ella. Then our return to the airport to return home to begin planning our next trip to the Holy Land!
Shalom! Next year in Jerusalem!