The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Israel Tour 2014: Day 4 Coastal

Welcome along to Day 4 of our Lamb & Lion Ministries’ 2014 Israel tour! Today we left the beautiful seaside city of Tel Aviv and headed north along the flower-covered highway. The highway trip proves that Israel, once a barren wasteland, is now a garden once more. Our journey took us to the old Roman provincial capital of Caesarea Maritima, past port Haifa, to the Crusaders’ fortress in Acco, and we finally finished our day in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.

Dov

Our talented bus driver is Dov (left), which he says means “the bear.” He indeed has a bear of a grip, and the agility to navigate that big bus along impossibly tight roads. A Messianic Christian, he can often be heard singing along with the P.A.’s messianic tunes as we coast up the coastline.

Caesarea Maritima Sermon

In the ruins of the Caesarea Maritima theater, Nathan Jones shares the Acts 12 story of Herod Agrippa, who on that very spot was worshipped as a god and the true God struck him down with worms.

Big Foot

Jason, our resident tween on this trip, shows off his big foot.

Pilate Stone

Our guide Ronnie being upstaged by a cat. It sits atop a replica of the Pilate Stone, archaeological proof that there was indeed a Pontius Pilate from the Bible. Vicki, you may not want to pull that cat off by the tail!

Palace Ruins

Here lies the remains of the Roman Empire. R.I.P. The mosaic floor and the outline of the pool are all that remains of the seaside palace. The Apostle Paul spent two years in prison just yards away.

Samson

With the strength of 10 Samsons, Jim illustrates how old (ruins) mesh with the new (power plant) all over Israel.

Hostel

Once a Middle Ages hostel for wayward pilgrims stopping off in the Holy Land, it’s now a sushi bar. After a three month journey by boat battling pirates and storms, a pilgrim could use a good California Roll.

Aquaduct

The Roman aquaduct runs nearly 14 miles south from Mount Carmel with (get this) only a 10 inch decline. Those Romans had some amazing engineers!

Falafel

Falafel anyone?

Carmel Testimony

George atop of Mount Carmel’s beautiful rock gardens shares both the dramatic story of the Prophet Elijah’s challenge to the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18), and his touching testimony.

Valley of Jezreel

Our pilgrims looked out over the stunning vista that is the Valley of Jezreel that will one day hold the final Battle of Armageddon and Jesus Christ’s return with His saints. We read Joel 3, Zechariah 14 and Revelation 19 to understand what will unfold.

Crusader Castle

Up way north in Acco, we explored the Crusaders Castle. It was the site of the Crusaders’ capital after they lost Jerusalem, battles involving Napoleon, site of a daring mass escape of Jewish prisoners held by the British, and film location for three movies.

Acco Prison

Deep down in the catacombs of the fortress where once defeated men were held chained along the walls, we lamented over the Church’s historical abuse of the Jews by reading Dr. David Reagan’s article on Anti-Semitism.

Odd Observations

  1. Why does the Caesarea Hippodrome where once chariot races such as seen in Ben Hur were held still smell like horses?
  2. The Druz, a Muslim cult, has a restaurant that offers falafel and German snitzel so good that every tour guide in Israel claims to be personal best friends with the shop’s owner.
  3. Rain in Israel at times collects with desert sands, so it actually rains mud.
  4. If you’re looking for sympathy, never take your sister along with you atop the walls of Acco and then trip.

Tomorrow for Day 5 we will explore the Sea of Galilee, but not walk where Jesus walked. Instead, we’ll use a boat.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

RELATED ARTICLES

ABOUT AUTHOR View all posts Author Website

Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

3 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • From FOX News article "The 'Big Bang' – Theory No More?"

    "Astronomers have discovered what they believe is the first direct evidence of the astonishing expansion of the universe in the instant following the Big Bang — the scientific explanation for the birth of the universe some 13.8 billion years ago."

    …and the second paragraph…which caused me to almost laugh out loud…to think that the following paragraph doesn't take more faith than believing the creation by God is incredible to me…"scientists" actually can say the following with a straight face???!!!…

    "Scientists believe that the universe exploded from a tiny speck and hurled itself out in all directions in the fraction of a second that followed, beginning just 10 to the minus 35 seconds (roughly one trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second) after the universe's birth. Matter ultimately coalesced hundreds of millions of years later into planets, stars, and ultimately us."

LEAVE A REPLY

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *