Oh Jerusalem!

Another great day in the city of Jerusalem! Our first stop was the Yad VaShem Museum (the Holocaust Museum) which includes the Memorial Wall. This was a powerful reminder of that tragic time for the Jews. Our next stop was the Israel Museum, which included the Scale Model of Jerusalem 2000 years ago and the Dead Sea Scrolls. After lunch we were off to the Garden Tomb. This is one possible site of the burial tomb of Jesus. Whether this is the actual site of the burial tomb or not, what matters is that Jesus is no longer in the tomb, He is risen! This has been an awesome, life-changing trip for us all! We are not to focus on the places or stones, we are to focus on the Lord and His Word. Seeing the sites and walking where Jesus walked enhances our study of the Word. Our focus needs to be obedience to the Word! Do what it says!

Gail Twymon of Cleveland, OH writes:

We have had a wonderful 13 days on this Israel Study Tour. I wondered where we would meet for worship last Sunday. The Lord diverted us from our schedule to a small oasis in the desert where there was a full scale model of the Tabernacle. Tears flooded my heart as we entered, walking past the brazen laver (for washing) and the altar (for sacrifice). As I walked into the Holy of Holies, I rejoiced to realize that because Jesus was sacrificed for us and we are washed in His blood, we now have free access to God. (Romans 5:1)
Hallelujah! What an awesome visual: I’ll never forget it!

Sarah O’Neal of Dayton, OH writes:

My trip to Israel has been awesome. The biblical and historical sites and information blend together in perfect harmony. All of the archeological discoveries are a testament to the truth of the Bible that all believers already know. Hello to Derek, Ambra, Mike and Grandkids.

Shalom, Shalom!

Thursday, November 8th, 2007 We started our day at the Temple Mount today. As we entered the gate into the courtyard we listened to Eitan as he explained the history of how the mosque stands there today. We exited through the North Gate, called the Shepherd’s Gate, to the Pool of Bethesda and the Church of St. Anne. The acoustics of the church were excellent as we sang “Halleluiah” and “How Great Thou Art”. It was beautiful, all who where in the church joined in! We then walked to the Garden of Gethsemne and had time to sit and pray.
Our next stop was the Mount of Olives, what a beautiful view of the city! We then went into the old city and ate lunch at the Quarter Café in the Jewish Quarter. There was another phenomenal view of the city from the restaurant. Then we walked to the Christian Quarter to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. From there we walked to the southern steps of the temple mount where Jannie taught from John 8, where Jesus came to the temple and was teaching. What an incredible experience to be sitting on the steps, being taught from the Bible where this event possibly took place. Our lives will not be the same when we come face to face with the truth of God’s Word. After our teaching we walked to the Western Wall and then went through the Western Wall Tunnels. It was and incredible day!

Comments from the day:

The Garden of Gethsemne was awesome, we had time to sit and pray.
Maxine

The teaching was great! Especially the point about “The truth will make you free!” What about just living daily free in our minds and attitudes!
Pat

If sacrifices could be smelled miles away from the Temple Mount, what is the odor we leave from our lives?
Ruby

Powerful teaching from the Word! We should not be the same after studying the Word!
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31

“Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.”
John 8:43 It means to hear and to do!
Dorie

Mary Meadows from South Carolina writes:

I have really been blessed in this land of Israel. Just to see the places I have studied in the Bible has been great! The Word of God has been inspirational and very heart-changing. The staff has been great. Thank you for the opportunity!

Boker Tov! (Good Morning!)

There was a light rain in Jerusalem this morning! We drove along the desert hills on our way to Qumran National Park. This is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. What an awesome sight to see the caves in the mountains. The scrolls were found in the lower cave as pictured.

Out next stop, En Gedi! We climbed to a shady area where we had a powerful teaching by Jannie from 1 Samuel 23-24. Saul sought David every day, but God did not deliver David into his hand. David even had the opportunity to kill Saul, but what was David’s response?
1 Samuel 24:6 “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed…” What would be your response if you were on the run from someone?

Comments from this teaching:

You have a choice to not fight back…it’s your freedom to trust.
Pam Wall

It’s a shame when your family knows you have lost your position, as Jonathan did, and you don’t realize it! Saul was chasing David when he should have been fighting the Philistines!
Veronica Harwell

David was in the middle of difficult circumstances, yet he chose to be obedient to the Lord at all costs. We choose not to be obedient to the Word. It doesn’t take more time, it just takes obedience to the Word!
Dorie Etrheim

In Psalms 26:1, David said, “I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.” David was able to say that because of his walk dealing with Saul.
Belle Sullivan

On to Masada! Ten miles south of En Gedi is the fortress built by King Herod. We took the tram to the top of the mountain and toured the ruins of this very large fortress. Inside the fortress was a palace. Josephus writes that Jews fled to Masada when the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalm in 66 AD and they stayed at Masada until the Romans captured Masada after a 3 yr siege. The Jews chose death over becoming Roman prisoners

The Choice was rather to die than to be a slave. But, Jesus died that we may be free, though often people choose to be in bondage. Ruby Daniels


Our last stop of the day, the floating in the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem!

Shalom!

This morning we started the day at the City of David for an introduction to Jerusalem. What an awesome experience to stand in the City of David and overlook the valleys. We continued on to Mt. Zion, the Upper Room and Caiaphas’ house where Jannie taught on John 18 and Luke 23-24 on the trials of Jesus. Through all the trials, Jesus remains calm and knew His purpose. Do you know your purpose?

We then spent the afternoon in Bethlehem.

Debbie Barcus from Montana writes:

We visited the city of David today and were able to look down on the Kidron Valley and view the Mount of Olives and old Jerusalem. What a site to see! We then went to where they think the location of the “Last Supper” was. A church is on the site but they reconstructed a room so you can get a visual idea of where it took place. After that we had a powerful teaching with Jannie in the area where Peter denied Christ three times. Wow!Being in Israel and Jerusalem has truly brought the Bible alive for me and has given me a clearer understanding of what it was like in biblical times, not to mention how awesome it is to walk where Jesus walked. There is nothing more moving than that!

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Monday, November 5, 2007 This morning we left Eilat and drove up the mountains of Eilat along the border of Egypt and crossed through the Negev on towards Jerusalem! We stopped at Ramon Crater where the mountain has imploded into itself and left a crater 9 km wide and 40 km long and 600 meters deep! We also stopped at Avdat, an ancient Nabatean city of the 5th century. Our next stop was Ben-Gurion’s desert home at Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev. It was at the Negev that Moses wandered in the wilderness. Jannie taught in the desert from Numbers 13-14 and Deuteronomy 1, where the Lord told Moses to go and possess the land which the Lord swore to their fathers. Israel refused to enter Canaan and consequently wandered 40 years in the desert. Fatal mistake.
In Numbers 20, Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it. Another fatal mistake. What has God told you to do that you are still checking out and not possessing?

After the teaching we headed for Jerusalem. What a blessing to arrive in Jerusalem!

Carolyn Tinney of Charleston, WV writes:

For the past 3-4 days I have been singing a hymn anticipating our arrival in Jerusalem. The words are, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, lift up your gates and sing, Hosanna in the highest, hosanna to your King! What song did Eitan, our tour guide, play on our CD player? That very song as we entered the city. I wept when I heard it, and I am sure I was not the only one. It was a holy and very special entrance for us.

Bokertov! (Good morning!)

We headed to the Valley of Araba, which means 'wide valley' to Timna Park. Here was a replica of the tabernacle built to the same measurements and descriptions as in the Bible. The guide walked us through all of the symbolism of each part of the tabernacle in relation to Jesus. We walked through the entrance facing the east, past the bronze altar, the lavar, the holy place (which included the lampstand, table of showbread and the altar of incense), and into the Holy of Holies. The colors of the fabric on the inside of the tabernacle was red (which stood for the atoning blood of Jesus), blue (which represents Jesus going into heaven to sit at the right hand of God and interceding for us), and purple (which represents Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords). This was the highlight of our day. After this we visited the Eilat Stone shop and we're off to the aquarium. We ended our day with Jannie teaching at the Red Sea.

Mary Meadows of South Carolina writes:

I have really enjoyed the trip to Israel! The mountains of Israel remind me of God’s protection, and power. The trip to the tabernacle was very, very awesome! The teaching on this trip has been wonderful! God’s presence is really over Israel.


Julia Henry from Dayton Ohio writes:

The tabernacle, set up against and in the midst of the desert in front of a mountain, yet totally on a flat piece of land, was such a picture for me of Exodus 25 and John 1:14. Then to have a messianic Jew walk me through and explain the tabernacle step by step and piece by piece with such fervor, reverance, and authority helps me to see that we gentiles, members of His body, have a very short time to work. Once the veil is lifted from their eyes, they truly will set the world on fire witnessing, and the door of this administration of grace is almost at an end.


Millie Williams from Dayton Ohio writes:

As we witnessed and heard the explanation of the Tabernacle it allowed me to get a better understanding and a deeper sense of the depth and length of my Father's love for me and for all of His children. As each piece of the furniture was explained it further opened my understanding as to why God had it so constructed. I see how the picture of the Old Covenant given to Moses was fufilled and completed in Christ. I know without a doubt the necessity of Christians today to get to know the Old Testament.

Petra, Jordan

November 3 2007-We had an excellent day in Petra in the mountains of Edom! The weather was great, not too hot, and a breeze! We walked 2 1/2 miles down the valley and toured the impressive ruins of the Nabateans. We ate lunch at the bottom of the city before we started our journey of another 2 1/2 mile walk back up to the top. Some of the group rode buggies, camels, or donkeys back to the top. Matthew 24:16 says, "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains..." and Revelation 12:6 "...she's going to a place prepared by God."

Faye Sauerbrun of Idaho Falls, ID writes:

While I thought landing in Tel Aviv would choke me up (and it did somewhat), what really started me to blubber was re-entering Israel last night from Jordan! What a contrast! What a blessed land and people Israel is! What a truly blessed land and people we are as US citizens. We take His hand and blessings so lightly.

Journey to Jordan

Our day started at Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee, the traditional site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes which Jesus performed in order to feed the multitudes who had come to hear Him teach (Matthew 14:16-24). We passed loaves and fish at the conclusion of the teaching. We learned that it is more than just about the loaves and the fish! The disciples really didn't get it, nor did they understand! It's about Jesus working in their hearts and in our hearts. Do you get it?

Our next stop was the Jordan River. Eleven people from our group were baptized in the Jordan! Praise the Lord!


Bob Klein from San Antonio, Texas:

I have enjoyeed this tour so much. Being on the Sea of Galelee where Jesus walked on water was mind-blowing. The teaching has been outstanding, but being a part of the baptisms in the Jordan was an honor for me.


On to Beit She'an. At Mount Gilboa King Saul died in battle against the Philistines and they took Saul's body and hung it on the wall of the city. David gathered men and returned to Beit She'an to remove Saul's body to be buried. It was amazing to see the ruins of this ancient city!

We then headed South on 90, past the Dead Sea to Jordan to our hotel for the night at the Gulf of Aqaba prior to going to Petra.

Dorothy Gipson from Cincinnati, Ohio writes:

It is wonderful to be here in the "Holy lands". As I climb these these high hills, wide valleys, and rocky roads, I realize that Jesus obviously is more than amazing! Praise God for His Son as we know Him from John 3:16.

Shalom!

What a day! We headed south on 90 to 71W, through the Valley of Harod where Gideon selected his warriors, pasing Mt Gilboa onto Ceasarea by the sea. Paul fulfilling his assignment to preach the gospel to the Gentiles eventually was imprisoned for 2 years appearing before Felix, Festus and King Agrippa.

From there we moved to Megiddo, pregnant with historical battles and wars. Our study in the book of Revelation focused on the Battle of Armageddon, when Jesus will lead His saints to their final victory, never to fight again.

Finally we traveled through the Plain of Jezreel to Mt Carmel. This mountain, seen from all cities was where Elijah chose to make known the power of God to the nation of Israel and the prophets of Baal.

Alfonzo Daniel of Greenville, S.C. writes:

Israel, the land of God. He is my Lord, Sound Words is the best way to walk through the Bible. The Bible is not a story book, but the book of life. The words of God are true for all men. How can I come to this Holy place and not be changed in my thought process? This trip is a tool, of God to move my life in His will.