Exploring the Land of Israel: Our Adventure Begins, March 28

We begin the day at Caesarea Maritima, the ancient Roman port city built by Herod the Great, a place of commerce on the Mediterranean Sea and King Herod's Palace. The first archeological dig began here in 1960. It is huge and shows all the elements of that time noted here. We walked through these impressive ruins: an amphitheater that was closed at that time, a palace, a Roman temple, a jail, the aqueducts that ran under the city from Mount Carmel, a gladiator ring, bath houses, and where Paul stood trial before Felix (Acts 24). Philip the evangelist also lived here. This site has been established as a National Park. Exports from here were dates, olive oil, perfumes, and grain. Pastor Tom shared an overview of Acts 10. Pastor Bob spoke to us of Paul's arrest and how the Romans rescued him. He spent two years of house arrest and time in prison. He appeals to Caesar and his testimony goes before him.

It is difficult to label each picture, but they show the immense dig that is here and the many sights we saw throughout Caesarea Maritima. Some have a picture of the site label next to them. Some to identify: Two Israeli Christians who know Pastor Tom and Pastor Bob came to share their testimony and of their work with "Jews for Jesus"; Ron and Judy, and also Erez, are sitting on what were the 'public toilets'; Ron with Pastor Tom Hughes; Pastor Bob Probert; and Jerry.

Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel, "where rock meets sea", is where the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). A kitty decided to join our time of worship. There is a monastery here and we were able to visit the chapel. At the top of Mount Carmel is where God decided to put an end to the prophets of Baal (Ba-Al). We were looking down to the Jezreel Valley where Elijah instructed his servant to look toward the sea for a rain cloud. The tribes of Manasseh to Zebulon to Ezekiel to Levi lived here. Pastor Tom read Rev 16:12 and shared his thoughts. This is far west Israel ad looking across this nation to its border is through this valley. Looking to the west we were able to see Mt. Tabor and to the southwest was Nazareth and Damascus. Pastor Bob shared about Elijah's ministry, "his calling," from I Kings 18:17-46. Lunch was at Mitzpe Carmel Restaurant

Mount Precipice, Nazareth

We drove through old Nazareth (which means offshoot/lineage) to Mount Precipice. Nazareth is the boyhood home of Jesus with a current population being two-thirds Arab and the rest is the "Christian" religions. This Mount is believed to be the place where the people of Nazareth attempted to throw Jesus off a cliff after He declared himself the fulfillment of prophecy (Luke 4:28-30). The two pictures of the tombs were seen along the road as we traveled today - - just like what Jesus' tomb would have been like. The Mount of Transfiguration is the one we see in the distance. The hills of Samaria are seen as we look out from the peak. The Midianites lived in the valley to the left, then are Table Mountain and Nein, the village where Elijah raised the widow's son from the dead. Pastor Tom shared a passage in Rev & Isaiah and Pastor Bob spoke of Jesus going home after he was tempted and then began His ministry.

When we left here, we are now on our way to the Sea of Galilee. We will stay three nights at the Ramot Resort.