Northwest Baptist Church
The day has arrived, and we depart Oklahoma City (OKC) on an overnight journey to Israel.
Having arrived in Israel, we travel north to the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Upon arrival we meet our Christian Expedition Tour Director, who will remain with us for the duration of our trip. If there is time left in the day, it will be spent at leisure. Overnight Tel Aviv area. Vert Lagoon Netanya or similar. D.
We have breakfast and board our private coach, which brings us along the Sea to Caesarea (included). Acts 10 tells us that the Gentile Cornelius received a vision at Caesarea, which prompted him to send for the Apostle Peter, who then came to Caesarea and preached the Gospel to Cornelius and those assembled at his house. All those who heard the message received the Holy Spirit! In Caesarea, we visit the Roman Amphitheatre, hippodrome, and an ancient aqueduct. We then head to Mt. Carmel (included), where Elijah confronted Baal and his prophets, and God sent fire from heaven in response to Elijah’s prayer. (1 Kings 18) Then we head to the Jezreel Valley, to Tel Megiddo (included), from where we will take in magnificent views of the Armageddon Battlefield of Revelation 16. In Nazareth we visit Nazareth Village (included), which is a recreation of Nazareth during biblical times. Overnight Sea of Galilee area. Ron Beach Tiberias or similar. B, D.
We have breakfast and start our day with a visit to Caesarea Philippi (included), where Peter made his famous confession, recorded in Matthew 16, that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” We then head back to Tiberias, where we enjoy a “St. Peter’s Fish Lunch” (included; (non-fish options are also available). We see a suggested site for the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in Bethsaida (included) and the Mount of the Beatitudes. We continue to the Jordan River Baptismal site, where there will be an opportunity to be baptized in the same river as was Jesus. Overnight Sea of Galilee area. B, L, D
After breakfast, we head to see the Ancient Galilee boat (included), which was discovered in 1986, and was used for fishing on the Sea of Galilee in the First Century AD. We enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee (included), before moving on to Capernaum (included), where we see the remains of the village, including the home where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Then its on to Magdala (included), the hometown of Mary Magdalene, which boasts the remains of a First Century synagogue. We visit Jericho (included), which God famously gave into the hands of Joshua and the Israelites in Joshua 6, and which is regarded as the oldest city in the world. Overnight Jerusalem. Grand Court or similar. B, D.
We depart from Jerusalem and drive to Bet Arabah, the area in which Jesus was baptized and where Joshua and the Israelites entered the land that God had promised them. After we will enjoy the cable car trip to Masada (included), the mountain-top fortress that served at the site of a famous zealot last stand. We head, then, to Qumran (included), an archaeological site which was once home to an ascetic sect (the Essenes), and which is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We visit the Dead Sea and have an opportunity to float (conditions permitting) (access to the beach included). Overnight Jerusalem. Grand Court or similar. B, D.
Today we see Jerusalem. We will visit the Temple Mount, the Wailing Wall and Western Wall Tunnels (included). Then we will visit the site of the excavation of the Southern Wall (included), which served as the south side of the second temple. It through this wall that Jesus entered the Temple before His cleansing of it. It is believed that this is where Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). We move on to the “Upper Room,” the traditional location of the Last Supper. We spend the rest of the day in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. Overnight Jerusalem. Grand Court or similar. B, D.
We begin the day on the Mount of Olives, which provides an incredible view of Jerusalem, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock. We visit the Crusader-era St. Anne’s Church, along with the the Pool of Bethesda (included), where, John 5 recounts, Jesus healed a disabled man. Then we make our way to Genesis Land in the desert, where we get to experience a recreation of life in the time of the patriarchs. In the afternoon, we will drive towards Ancient Shiloh. We visit Shiloh (included), an ancient city which was the major Israelite worship center before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem. Jews performed pilgrimages and brought offerings here until the death of Eli, the High Priest, when the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the Philistines and, probably, Shiloh was then destroyed (1 Samuel 4). This evening, we’ll enjoy our farewell banquet (included). Overnight Jerusalem. Grand Court or similar. B, D.
This morning we will visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus agonized on the night before his crucifixion. We will visit the Caiaphas’ House (included) and the Antonia Fortress (included), where Jesus was condemned to die by Pontius Pilate. We walk the Via Dolorosa, and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will visit the Garden Tomb (donation included), where we will worship together and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. If time permits, the remainder of the day will be spent at leisure in Jerusalem. Your flight may depart either tonight or the following day. If the following day and an overnight is required, overnight Jerusalem. Grand Court or similar. B, D.
Your flight may depart either the previous night or today. If today and time allows, breakfast is included today. Either way, later today we will arrive back at home (OKC).