Detailed Itinerary December 5-16, 2019
(Subject to change)
UP TO JERUSALEM
Whether it is called, “The Holy Land,” “The Promised Land,” or “Israel,” the land belongs to God. He assigned its stewardship to the Jewish people in preparation for His second coming to rule and reign (The Messianic Kingdom.) He has commissioned the Gentiles to assist in that preparation (Isaiah 60.) Starting with you!!
Isaiah 2:3; 2 Chron. 2:5-6; 7:14; Psalms 48; 78:68-70; 122:1-9; 132:13
Zech. 14:16-21
WELCOME
Welcome to the first annual Prayer Journey! The journey has been designed to:
- Lance the wound that has created a breach between Israel and the Church, and worse, between Jewish and Gentile followers of Yeshua,
- Bring healing to the land and the people of Israel through our prayers,
- Inflame a greater love for, faith, and trust in the LORD God our Father and Savior Yeshua, the Messiah.
If He in whom we place our trust and faith could break or revise His promises to Israel, what reason would we have to trust Him?
Praise God that through our prayers, we CAN and WILL make a difference. He has brought you here for such a time as this.
John 17:20-23; Romans 11:25-29; Ephesians 2-3; Ezekiel 33:1-9; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
YAD VASHEM
The Holocaust made an indelible mark on the soul of the Jewish people and has helped define who we are today. No one can really understand the Jewish people and their pain without facing the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust.
Undeniably there were an untold number “righteous gentiles” who risked or gave their lives to protect and save Jews, and we honor them.
Genesis 3:15; Jeremiah 9:13-67; Deuteronomy 28:57-67; Ezekiel 36; Zechariah 7:14
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
Today’s basilica, the oldest complete church in the Christian world, was built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century. It replaced the original church of Constantine the Great, built over the cave venerated as Christ’s birthplace, and dedicated in AD 339
Luke 2:1-4
SHEPHERDS’ FIELD
Caves where shepherds “kept watch over their flock” still abound in the area east of Bethlehem. The tradition connected with the Shepherds’ Field is complicated by the fact that archaeologists have identified more than one possible site. Regardless, it’s a great privilege to celebrate the Incarnation in the place where God became a man!
Luke 2:8-15
ISRAEL MUSEUM
There are lots to see at the museum, but we will focus on the scale model of Jerusalem in the 1st century and the dead sea scrolls in the adjoining SHRINE OF THE BOOK.
Isaiah 53; 55:8-11
PLANTING A TREE
Out of the ashes of the Holocaust, God brought life. We can honestly say, “God used the Holocaust as a momentum for the rebirth of Israel.”
By planting a tree, we are putting our own roots deep into her soil.
Let us dream of what “our” tree will become. What children will play under its branches, soldiers find refuge and couples rest in its shade?
Ezekiel 37; Jeremiah 30:10-11; Psalm 126
ATLIT MUSEUM
The Atlit Detainee Camp Museum is located in a small town located on the northern coast south of Haifa. In the 1930s and 40s, this site served as a detention center for illegal Jewish immigrants seeking refuge in Palestine (which is not the State of Israel). The land was under British Mandate and officials let very few Jewish people into the country legally. Tens of thousands of Jewish people were interned here during this time.
The site is important to help us understand the painful situation of Jewish people who were able to escape from or survive the Holocaust, yet were denied refuge and freedom.
MUHRAQA
At the top of Mt Carmel, the monastery commemorates Elijah’s confrontation and victory over the prophets of Ba’al. With a view of the Jezreel Valley, Israel’s prophetic past is conjoined with her prophetic future.
We cannot ignore what will happen to Israel and to the nations when the Church has been raptured.
We must not forget that God’s purpose is that all mankind will know that He alone is God. During these years of Tribulation, there will be the great end-time harvest of souls.
1 Kings 18; Isaiah 24:20-22; Revelation 16:12-16; 19:11-21; Joel 3:1-2, 14-17;
Hosea 2:14-20; Daniel 9:24; Zechariah 13:1-2; 13:7-9
SEA-SIDE PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Standing on the beach of the Sea of Galilee we can imagine how many times Yeshua stood in this very place! Let us join the chorus of Heaven with our praise and worship!
SAFED
The small ancient town is considered by the Kabbalah mystics to be the place where God’s glory dwells while waiting for the Messiah to come and rebuild the Temple. Today many religious and political leaders come to Safed’s cemetery to pray at the graves of departed leaders which is strictly forbidden by God.
Ezekiel 18: Deuteronomy 18:11
BANIAS
Known by its Greek name Caesarea-Philippi, is the site of Peter’s great statement of faith, according to Christian tradition. However, being a pagan town with a ‘temple’ to the god of Pan, it is unlikely that Yeshua and His disciples visited.
Nevertheless, the truth of Peter’s statement makes this a good place to pray for the world to worship Yeshua in Spirit and in Truth.
Matthew 16:13-20
BENTAL
Mt Bental is one of the high mountains in northern Israel near the Syrian border with an incredible views of the Mt Herman and the Golan.
It was strategic in the Yom Kippur War and its position is a major security issue for the Kibbutzim below.
Psalm 61:1-3, 91, 54:17; Exodus 14:14; Proverbs 18:10
CAPERNAUM
Yeshua made Capernaum His home during the years of His ministry. Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew all lived here as well. It was one of the villages Yeshua cursed. This is a good place cry to our Savior to heal the Body and repair the breach.
Matthew 4:13-21; Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 7; Mathew 8:14-15; Mark 1:20-22
MAGDALA
Migdal is named after a city from the Second Temple period called Magdala. It’s the possible home of Mary Magdalene.
It has the oldest synagogue found in the Galilee, and one of the only synagogues from that period found in the entire country, as of the time of the excavation.
Luke 8:1-2; Matthew 4:23-25
- OF BEATITUDES
Traditional site of Yeshua’s “Sermon on the Mount,” which many consider the commentary of the Ten Commandments. Pictures usually show Yeshua on the top of the hill but actually He was at the bottom using the wind at His back for amplification!
Matthew 5-7
MA’AYAN HEROD
Its name means “Spring of Gideon.” God showed Gideon how to choose His warriors. God’s way seemed strange and a sure failure, but God’s way is always best!
The battle is the Lord’s but we have the privilege and responsibility to participate and even triumph!
Judges 4; Judges 6-8; Zechariah 4:6
QSAR AL YEHUD
According to tradition, this spot at the Jordan River, is both where the Israelites, led by Joshua son of Nun, crossed the river to enter the Promised Land following the Exodus from Egypt; and where approximately 300 years later, the Prophet Elijah crossed the river in the opposite direction, to be taken into heaven by ‘fiery chariots’, witnessed by his disciple Elisha.
It is also believed to be the site of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptiser. Arrangements can be made for those who would like to be baptized.
Matthew 3:5-7, 13-16
EN GEDI
As we travel south along the Dead Sea, we see many caves where David and his mighty men hid from King Saul. All around is desert and wilderness. Suddenly we come to the oasis of En Gedi where David wrote so many of the Psalms.
1 Samuel 23:14-27; Psalms: 18:32-34; 42:7; 63:1; Zechariah 14:8; John 7:38
DEAD SEA
Two things will amaze you: how close Jordan is and the reality of God’s promise to bring life back to the Dead Sea. While nothing can live in these waters, your skin will love the minerals! So we will smear ourselves with the mud and then take a dip!
Ezekiel 47:8-9
MASADA
Take the cable car (you can walk if you desire) to the top. Here Herod built one of his several palaces where the view is spectacular. Today Israeli soldiers take the oath of service here in remembrance of the suicidal massacre of the Jewish people rather than surrender to the Romans (73 AD).
Psalms: 27:5; 31:2-3; 61:1-3; 62; 78:35
QUMRAN
Qumran is best known as the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered not too long ago. During the Hellenistic Period, the Essenes settled here, isolating themselves from, what they considered, the corruption of the Priesthood in Jerusalem. It is thought that they ate communal meals, studied Scriptures for most of the night, practiced celibacy and followed their own calendar.
CITY OF DAVID
Thousands of years ago, God chose a young shepherd boy to become the King of Israel. David left Hebron, the burial site of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and in obedience to God, made Jerusalem the eternal and undivided capital of Israel. Almost daily treasures are uncovered proving the Biblical text.
One of the highlights of our journey is our walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel and exiting at the Pool of Siloam.
1 Samuel 16:1-13; 2 Samuel 5:1-12; 2 Chronicles 32
SOUTHERN STEPS
The Davidson Center (aka The Southern Steps) is the largest excavation site in Israel, at the base of the Temple.
You want to walk where Yeshua walked? Just climb these steps! It’s one of the few places where we are certain that Yeshua walked (other than the Kinneret!)
The gates through which the Jews and Gentiles entered the Temple Mount are bricked over, but still visible. Down below are the stalls of the vendors and remnants of the mikvot (the ritual baths people used before proceeding.
And then there are the stones, the stones of the Temple which fell during the earthquake. They remain exactly where they fell!
Deuteronomy 16:16; Psalms 120-134; Matthew 2:12, 21-38, 4:5-6; 21:11-13, 27:51;
Luke 21-1-25; Acts 2:41-47
WESTERN WALL TUNNEL
The Western Wall (Kotel) is Judaism’s most holy place and the most contested piece of real estate in the world.
As we walk through millennia-old tunnel we will see the wonders & fascinating details of Jerusalem city life thousands of years ago.
2 Chronicles 7:12-16; Ezra 3:1-11
MEA SHEARIM
Mea Shearim is the largest ultra-religious neighborhood in the world. The moment you cross the street and into their community, you feel as though you’ve entered 18th century Europe. While it’s easy to judge, we remember the warning of the Apostle Paul:
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”
Isaiah 6:8-10; 29:9-16; Matthew 23:1-36; Mark 7:8; John 9; Romans 11:25
1ST TRAIN STATION
While the religious pray and prepare for the Shabbat, the more secular head to the First Train Station, a renovated and restored train station, for that special Friday cup of coffee. Israelis love hear how much they are loved by Christians! Tourist love the special prices of the vendors who charge double in town! Regardless there are hundreds of people just enjoying the day and people watching, the perfect place to meet Israelis!
Romans: 1:16; 10; 11:11
ELLA VALLEY
In the power of the Living God of Israel, David felled Goliath with on small stone! The “spirit of the Philistine” is still trying to intimidate Israel and the Jewish People.
1 Samuel 17
ASHDOD
Ashdod, the principal of the five Philistine cities, is now a thriving and growing city of almost 250,000 people, with Russian immigrants being a large portion. Also growing is the number of rockets landing from Gaza making this an important place to pray and worship.
Joshua 11:22; 1 Sam 5:6-12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
GAZA BORDER
The border between Israel and the Gaza strip is often a flash-point. After years of sending rockets, recently they became a barrage of incendiary kites and balloons, devastating hundreds of acres of crops and farm land. This is another key place to meet Israelis and pray.
TEMPLE MOUNT
The platform surrounding the Temple Mount was built on top of a hill which was identified in the Jewish tradition as Mount Moriah, the most sacred place for the Jewish people, where the beginning of the world’s creation and the Binding of Isaac took place. According to the tradition, King Solomon built the First Temple here, and this is where the exiles of Babel returned to build the Second Temple. Herod renovated the temple and created an artificial expansion of the hill.
1 Samuel 6, 1 Kings 5-6; Ezra 3; Psalm 27:4
HEBRON
Joseph had a dream here, the oldest oak tree in Israel is here, and amid the terraced landscape are caves housing olive and wine presses. There is a thriving settlement here, although the world is demanding Israel stop building in the “possessed territories.” Another glimpse into Israel’s past and present!
Genesis 28:10-22; John 1:51
SHILOH
Shiloh’s history goes back 3,000 years. As the site of the Tabernacle and the first capital of the Israelite Kingdom, Shiloh is one of the most important heritage sites in Israel. The layers of the different historical periods present the story of the region and its people. Here, the biblical stories of its original inhabitants – Samuel the prophet, Hanna and her famous prayer for a child, the commemorations of the destruction of both Temples on the 15th of Av amid the still fruitful vineyards come back to life.
Psalms 78:60, 86; 1 Sam 1:1-3, 3:21
GALICANTU
One of the most striking churches in Jerusalem, Galicantu commemorates the Apostle Peter’s triple denial of his Master, his immediate repentance and his reconciliation with Christ after the Resurrection. The church is believed to be built over the house of the High Priest. It is built on four different levels — upper church, middle church, guardroom and dungeon.
Matthew 26:69-75
MT OF OLIVES
2 Samuel 15:13-30; Ezekiel 11:23; 1 Kings 11:7-8; 2 Kings 23:13; Matthew 24-25;
Zechariah 14:3-5; Luke 19:28-30, 21:37-38; Acts 1:9-12
The Cemetery:
The largest and holiest cemetery in the Jewish world, containing some 70,000 graves, is the Jewish cemetery located on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. It is the final resting place of well-known figures such as Eliezer Ben-Yehuda and Menachen Begin.
Church of Pater Noster:
Long tradition holds that Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father in the cave that forms the grotto under the church. Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-4
Church of Dominus Flevit:
According to tradition, this is the site where Jesus looked over the city, visualizing its destruction and weeping over its fate. The architecture was to look like a tear. Luke 19:41
Church of Mary Magdalene:
It commemorates the enigmatic Mary from Magdala who was one of the few persons named in the Gospels as being present at Christ’s crucifixion and who was the first recorded witness of Christ’s resurrection. Matthew 27:55-61; 28:1-3; Mark 16:9-10; John 20:1-18
Gethsemane
Before we enter the Church of All Nations, where it is believed Yeshua prayed, we will have the privilege of entering the private section of the Garden. This will provide space and privacy for each of us. Matt 26:36-55: Luke 22:40-53
Church of all Nations:
The Church of All Nations, also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, is a Roman Catholic church located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem next to the Garden of Gethsemane. It enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. Matthew 26:36-44; Mark 14:32-50; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-11
POOLS OF BETHSEDA
The name is actually “Beit Hesed” meaning “house of God’s covenant-keeping love,” which is much more fitting than the English translation. On the premises is St. Anne’s church with such incredible acoustics, we MUST worship the One who is HESED.
Exodus 34:6-7: John 5:1-15
GARDEN TOMB
Hymns and movies depict Golgotha as on a “hill far away,” and the custom of the Romans was to crucify in the most public of places. This also aligns with Scripture that the people spat and mocked the dying Savior.
Although the accuracy of the site is unknown, a rock formation looking like a skull, with a garden tomb mere meters away, makes this place a resounding, “Maybe!”
Psalms 22; 69; Isaiah 53; Mark 15:42-47; John 19:39-42
Τετέλεσται!
It is finished!
The Hebrew words in the above verses from Isaiah, manifest how Yeshua fulfills the Day of Atonement.