Southern Baptist Convention Tour

Join the 2nd Annual Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Holy Land Tour -

 

May 16-25, 2011 or May 16-28, 2011 with extension to Eilat/Petra

 

 

Today you will leave the United States on a trans-continental flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, arriving the next day.

 

 

When you arrive in the Holy Land you will be met by a representative to assist you through customs and provide transfer to a deluxe motor coach to begin the tour of a lifetime!  Ben Gurion airport is near the modern city of Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city.  It is also near the ancient seaport of Joppa where King Solomon’s ships sailed to far away ports and where the prophet Jonah fled from the call of God. 

 

You will drive through the Sharon Valley up the coast to the ancient capital of the Roman Empire in Palestine, Caesarea Maritime.  This is the place where many events in the book of Acts took place and was also the home of Herod the Great.  Then you will drive to the heights of Mt. Carmel where Elijah fought the prophets of Baal and see the spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley where the battle of Armageddon will take place. 

 

Next you will drive through the Manasseh Pass to Tel Megiddo and visit this ancient chariot city of King Solomon and walk through a water tunnel chiseled out during the days of King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.   You will drive through the Jezreel Valley up the hills of the lower Galilee to the overlook of Nazareth, the boyhood home of the Lord Jesus.  Your drive continues into the lower Galilee where you will spend your first night on the peaceful shores of the Sea of Galilee at your beautiful hotel.  This is the first of three (3) nights you will spend at one of the most beautiful places in Israel.  Already we sense the awesomeness of being in God’s Holy Land.  You will enjoy a sumptuous dinner overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

 

 

 

 

You will wake to a breathtaking sunrise on the Sea of Galilee.  After breakfast, enjoy a boat ride and time of worship in a replica of an ancient boat on the Sea of Galilee and view an authentic 2,000 year old ancient boat which dates to the time of Christ, in Nof Ginnosar. 

 

The rest of your touring day will be spent tracing the steps of Jesus through the Galilee region as you visit the Mt. of Beatitudes and ancient Capernaum, Tabgha and the ancient fisherman’s landing called the “Primacy of Peter.”  

 

You will enjoy lunch by the Sea of Galilee where you will have an opportunity to eat “St. Peter’s fish,” tilapia, caught fresh out of the waters of the Galilee.  Weather and time permitting, you will travel along the ancient border of Habashan and the land of Gilead.  Today this same Yarmuk River Valley serves as the border with Jordan and Israel.  You will see the strategic nature of the Southern Golan Heights and have a breathtaking view of the entire Sea of Galilee from north to south. 

 

After experiencing this wonderful day of study, praise and worship, you can once again relax at your hotel on the Sea of Galilee.  After dinner you may enjoy looking out over this beautiful lake to reflect on what you are already experiencing; walking where Jesus walked.

 

 

The beautiful northern mountains of Israel await you today.  A city gate from the time of Abraham can be seen at Tel Dan, along with an altar from the days of Israel’s divided kingdom.  You will also also walk through an incredible Nature Reserve at Dan where you will see the beginnings of the Dan River which join with other streams to form the Jordan River.  The water is crystal clear and pure.   You will see a gorgeous waterfall as the headwaters of the Jordan River cascade into a beautiful mountain stream. 

 

Your next stop will be the site of the Apostle Peter’s confession of Christ at Caesarea Philippi.  You will also see the second source of the Jordan River at Banias.  Israel’s incredible history from 1948 until the present will be explained like never before as you stand upon the heights of the extinct volcano peak. 

 

You will see the Golan Heights spanning from the Northern border to the Sea of Galilee and learn about the strategic importance this region has played and will continue to play to the nation of Israel.  You will travel the entire expanse of the Hula Valley and see Northern Israel during its most green season.  After your day in the mountains, you will retire to your hotel on the Sea of Galilee for a final evening.

 

 

You will spend an exciting morning descending to the Plains of Jericho; then on to the Dead Sea - the lowest spot on earth - and Qumran – the center of the Essenes. Qumran is the home of the ancient caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. 

 

From there, you will continue south to the desert where ibex roam at Ein Gedi, David’s hideout from Saul.  This is a beautiful Nature Reserve where you can casually stroll to see the Oasis of King David and watch for the Ibex and Hyrax, known in our English Bibles as the Rock Badger or Coney.  

 

You then travel a short distance to the ancient fortress of Masada.  This mighty fortress was the last stronghold and stand of the zealots against Rome, on the edge of the barren Negev Desert.  Masada is a symbol of courage and perseverance for the Jewish people, where 960 Jewish defenders organized their last resistance to the Roman conquerors and took their own lives rather than surrender into slavery. 

 

 

After the morning at Masada, you start your ascent to the Mountains of Jerusalem.  As you climb to Jerusalem you will be seeing the same countryside that the ancient pilgrims would have seen as they made their journey to Jerusalem for the great feasts of Israel.  You finally arrive today in the City of God, the City of David and the ancient and modern capital of Israel, Jerusalem. 

 

Your heart will leap with emotion as you stand on the overlooks of the Mount of Olives and see the breathtaking Mountain of Moriah where Abraham was to offer Isaac, Solomon built the first temple and where Jesus walked, taught, died, rose again and will one day return in great glory!   This is only the beginning.  You check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner and your first night in your lovely hotel in Jerusalem.

 

 

These final days are spent in and around the environs of the capital of ancient and modern day Israel – Jerusalem!  A detailed itinerary will be given out as you arrive in Jerusalem.  However, below you will find just some of the places you will see and experience during these days together:

and Much, Much MORE!

 

 

You will complete your tour of Jerusalem on the last afternoon, at Calvary and the Garden Tomb.  After that awesome experience you will drive to Abu Gosh (ancient Kiryat Jearim, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before King David brought it to Jerusalem) where you will share a traditional Arab meal before some drive to the airport for a late evening departure for the USA and others, on the extended tour, return to the hotel for a final evening.

 

 

Today, some will arrive in the USA. Those on the extended tour will travel south on the road to Egypt to the southernmost part of the modern state of Israel, the port city of Eilat, where you will stay on the Northern tip of the Red Sea at the beautiful and luxurious Hilton Queen of Sheba Hotel.  You will enjoy a leisurely afternoon relaxing at one of the most beautiful places on earth.

 

 

Today you will cross the border of the modern day country of Jordan to travel to the ancient Edomite Kingdom; the rosy red city of Petra.  Many have seen the great treasury building carved out of solid rock and narrow siq as portrayed in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Petra is the place where many Bible scholars believe Israel will flee to during the days of the great tribulation.  After exploring the site and enjoying lunch, you will travel back to Eilat for overnight. The next day you will rest, have leisure time, and prepare for the journey back home with a lifetime of experiences to share with family and friends.  You will board a jet in Eilat for a short flight to Tel Aviv then travel on a Continental flight back to the states.

 

 

Arrive home today with memories that will last for a lifetime with plans to return and bring others back to experience God’s Holy Land-Israel! Blessed traveling from all of us at TLC Holyland Tours!

 

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