En Gedi Paradise

This is one of several falls and pools along the trail up to the cave of King David. This is a paradise in a desert wilderness. See next picture for Scripture lesson. Signing off from the Dead Sea.

En Gedi

Read 1 Samuel 24. This is believed to be the cave King David could have killed Saul. David love God's people and loved Saul. Selfish and revenge played no part here.

Holding the Moon

Read 2 Kings 20:9ff. In this text King Hezekiah received a sign from God and the sun went backwards. Last night the moon was going backwards and the world was in fear. But, I was able to lift it up again and start its motion in the proper direction. So, you see, I have been at work. It hasn't be all play and no work. Signing off from the Negev

Swimming in the Dead Sea

Dead Sea float! It is actually hard to swim on the stomach as I do not want to put my face in the water. But to float is a no brainer with this big body! It was very cool, temperature wise. The time in this picture is 5:30 pm and totally dark with a full moon. Today is a day of totally relaxation. While others are swimming and having massages Pastor Jim, Rob and I hope to go to EnGedi where King David hid in the caves from King Saul.

Jerusalem

Read Psalm 87:1-3 "He (God) has set His foundation on the holy mountain; the LORD loves the gates of Zion...." We left Jerusalem today with this site. It has been a wonderful five days spent here. You could spend months and not see or comprehend everything that took place here. I suppose I will have to come back! Would you like to come?
[Remember you can click on the picture to make it larger. Ctrl - will make it smaller.] Center left is the "Dome of the Rock" (gold dome of a mosque). This is near the place where the Temple stood. To the right is the Kidron Valley across which you go to the Mt. of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. I hate to say goodbye but we must move on south. Tomorrow is a rest day. I must say, "a rest day will be greatly favored! You are ALL in my prayers! Signing off from Ein Bokek, Dead Sea, at the "Le Meridien Hotel."

Garden Tomb

Read Mark 15:42 - 16:1-7. Note in front of the tomb a little trough. This is actually a place for a large stone to roll in. I wonder why this is there? When you view the inside of the tomb the visitor will be to the right of what you will see. Here they would do the anointing of the body. The right side of the tomb is where the angel was. This side of the tomb is not completed. Could that be because Joseph of Arimanthea didn't have time to get it completed. When I say it wasn't completed it is not as long and deep as the left side. Perhaps it was intended for Joseph's wife and didn't need to be bigger? Is this the tomb of Jesus' burial? Only God knows for sure, but what is certain this tomb or Jesus' tomb was and is empty! He is Risen, Indeed!

Qumran Cave

The Bedouins discovered this cave in August of 1952. Fourteen thousand fragments of scrolls were unearthed as they sifted through the dust within. Archaeologists, who reached the care later, uncovered an additional 1,000 fragments. Scholars believe that a Roman soldier who entered the cave in 68 AD tore the scrolls intentionally and that later, ravages by animals and climate inflicted further damage. As research proceeded, the fragments of these scrolls were pieced together to produce 530 different scrolls. Publication of these scrolls was completed in 2001. Among all the scrolls the book of Isaiah is found in its entirety as we have it. These finds of Scriptures predate the previous finds by 1,000 years.

Qumran Dig

Scrolls Hidden in Desert: In the Summer of 1947, Bedouin Shepherds were pasturing their flocks near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. While looking for a goat that had wandered off into the cliffs, they came across a curious rock crevice. When they threw a stone into a cave opening they found, they were surprised to hear a strange echo. They crawled inside, and in the dimness they spied large, whole jars standing on the floor. Inside the jars, they found folded pieces of leather, some of which were wrapped in cloth. That is how the secret of the Qumran Scrolls began to be revealed.

Mountain of Masada

Looking at the Masada Mountain you will see the three tier Northern Palace on the upper right side. In 66 AD a Jewish political sect known as the Sicarii, extreme in their opposition to Rome, broke into Masada (long after Herod was gone from the scene) and took residence. In 73 AD a Roman army of 20,000 entered battle against the 1,000 Jews. When the Jews saw that they would be overtaken they planned mass suicide so that no one would remain alive to be slaves to the Romans. A woman and two of her children hid and were the only survivors.
Several of us walked down. The journey down takes, on an average 30 minutes as you drop 350 meters from top to bottom. Half way down Pastor Jim and I stop for lunch.

Mountain of Masada

Read Deuteronomy 34:1ff. The view everywhere you looked from atop Masada was beautiful. No wonder Herod wanted his palace here. Across the Dead Sea is the Moab Mountian rage of which Mt. Nebo is a part. Who is buried on this mountain. Why didn't this person get to have this view from the other side?

Masada Nothern Palace and Dead Sea

Josephus wrote of King Herod the Great’s Palace at Masada overlooking the Dead Sea, “There was a rock not small in circumference and very high. I was encompassed with valleys of such vast depth downward that the eye could not read the bottom… Upon the top of the hill… Herod also a wall around the entire top of the hill…there were erect upon that wall thirty eight towers, each of them fifty cubits.” (Wars 7:8:3) This was Herod’s southern home. This picture shows the three tier Northern Palace which was Herod’s place of residency. Herod was a great builder but his kingdom has long since pummeled and Christ’s in enlarging.

The Holy Sepulchre

John 19:17-27

There are two sites where it is believed Jesus could have been sacrificed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. One such site is the "Holy Sepulchre" which houses the supposed crucifixion site, anointing site, and the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. In this site the cross was planted under this altar. The altar of Jesus was, of course, the Cross of Calvary. The other site is shown in the next picture.

The Place of the Crucifixion of our Lord: Golgotha

Read Matthew 27:32-44. What do you see looking at you? On Calvary, Skull Hill. or Golgotha Jesus crushed the head of satan (Genesis 3:15). This site is located just outside of the Damacus Gate. This is how I imagined the site to be like, but my imagination doesn't make it true. This is located where a quarry was abandoned that had been used to refurbish and enlarge the second Temple by King Herod.

Pool Of Bethesda

The story of this site was one of my favorite Bible stories when I was a youth many many years ago. Read John 5:1-15. This morning we arrived at "Lion's Gate" which is also known as "Sheep Gate." A short walk brought us to the place, few doubt to be "Bethesda Pools." What took place in the pools was not an act of God but actually an act of pagan healing. The man did not seek God's help but help from another source. Another thing to note, which can explain the man not knowing who healed him, is that often in life miracles take place and we never give credit where credit is due. St. James (1:17)writes, "every good and perfect gift is from above..."

A Glimpse of Tomorrow's Visits

Tonight 3 of us went to the Old

City. This is one place we visited.

December 11th's Agenda: Visit Haas Promenade for overview including UN Compound. Lion’s Gate, Fortress of Antonia, Via Dolorosa until the Church of the Holy Seplechre, Upper Room. End of the day at the Garden Tomb for tour and communion at 3 pm. Church of Holy Sepulchre – Garden Tomb and communion. Jerusalem