What Is This World Coming To?

On March 22, 2009 a group of Omega Letter members traveled to Israel as both an expression of solidarity with the Jewish State and to discover, for ourselves, what makes the Holy Land the most hotly-contested piece of real estate on the face of Planet Earth.

BethShean, Israel

What we learned there, what we saw there, what we experienced there, changed our lives forever.   These are our stories.

Photos by: Frank Spaniak

Click on a photo for full size view, click the photo again to return to main page.

Several of the pictures below have brief descriptions associated with them  if you hover your mouse over them it will show.

The mount of the Beatitudes

That was just the first place we visited!

By Ray Nash

For some of us, the trip started on Friday, with an overnight stay in New York City.  We took the shuttle to JFK on Saturday, and anxiously awaited our check-in time at the airlines.

Lyla, Gayle, Jack, & Frank

After a very lengthy Trans-Alantic flight, we arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, where we were swept through Customs & Security.  Waiting to greet us was our tour guide, Boaz, and our bus driver, Atef.

Boaz                 Atef

As the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea, we headed Northeast across the Promised Land.  Our hotel was located just north of the city of Tiberius, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Check-In at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar Hotel

Lyla on Patio with Dining Room above

Hotel Courtyard

After a fantastic buffet dinner in the dining room of this beautiful hotel, we all retired to our rooms for some much needed rest.

And so ended the first day of our Journey.

Click on a photo for full size view, click the photo again to return to main page.

Several of the pictures below have brief descriptions associated with them  if you hover your mouse over them it will show.

From the Mount of Beatitudes we passed Mt Hermon

then thru  Dan - a kibbutz community.   It was a refugee city in 1967.

We passed thru several orchards on the way to Caesarea-Phillipi.   Avocado, apple and orange groves and cotton fields and wheat.  We also crossed the former Syrian border headed up to the Golan Heights.

Below is where Jesus asked Peter who he was and he replied; “You are the Christ the son of the living God!”  it is also the place where Jesus cast out the demon Legion.   The Cave is part of the temple of pan.  The water there was cool and sweet.

The roller on the ground is called the sand verses, and it presses bible verses in several languages into the sand.

From there we went to Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus.   There were several excellent stone carvings, Peter’s house and the synagogue across the street from Peter’s house.

We had a late lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee it was a magnificent view.

Next was the Heptapegon also know as the church of the Multiplication.   Where Jesus fed the 5000.

To round out a very full day we took a late afternoon - twilight boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  The Dock for the “The Jesus Boat” and the Museum (Yigal Allon Museum)  where on the hotel premises where we stayed at the Kibbutz  Nof Ginosar.   The pictures of the Boat towards the end are of the 2000 year old boat discovered in 1986 in the mud.  A fuller history can be found here and here.

Tired and minds swimming with all the sights we retired for the evening.

Here is a link to a good map of Israel in the 1st century.

From what I know about Bible prophecy, I found myself fascinated by the Yizre’el Valley.  It stretches across the Holy Land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordon River.  This valley is referred to by many different names throughout the Bible:  The Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2); The Valley of Decision (Joel 3:14); and The Valley of Megiddo (Zech. 12:11) & (2nd Chron. 35:22); but in Revelation 16:16 it is called The Valley of Armageddon (Har-megiddo).

As we crossed this  wide, fertile plain, I could not help but think that some time in the not too distant future, all of the armies of the world will assemble in this valley, to make war with the King of Kings.  I also thought of all the people in the cities of this valley that will be wiped out, due to the carnage that will take place here, and I prayed for them.

Located on the western edge of the Yizre’el Valley is Mt. Meggido.  Due to it’s strategic location, many battles have been fought over this small mountain.  Excavations have uncovered more than twenty different layers of occupation on Tel Megiddo.

In the fifteenth century B.C., Thutmose III turned it into a major base for Egypt.  Megiddo is mentioned many times in the Bible:  the Israelites conquered it  (Joshua 12:21);  Solomon rebuilt the ciy and made it one of his chief administrative districts (1 Kings 4-12); Ahaziah, King of Judah, died there after being wounded by Jehu (2 Kings 9:27); King Josiah was killed there by Pharaoh Neco, King of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29-30).  It was also one of Solomon’s “chariot cities”, and a portion of the stables still exsist.

Model of City        Meggido   Stables

Like all ancient cities in this area, the main concern was a source of water, especially when under siege.  They built an elaborate water system, where water from a spring would flow into an opening in the side of the mound, outside the city gate, and run through an aqueduct to a well within the city.  We ventured down into this well, through the tunnel to the outside.

When we left Meggido we traveled back across the Yizre’el Valley, to the city of Afula, where we stopped for lunch.  Then it was on to Kinneret, where the Sea of Galilee flows into the Jordon River.

Located here is the Yardenit Baptismal site, and Jack baptized eight members of our group.  Since I was fortunate enough to be one of these members, I did not get any pictures.  I hope that someone else will post some pictures, or even the video, so that we can all share in this event.

Before returning to our hotel, we stopped at a “farmers market” where we all bought fresh fruits & nuts from the area.  We then went back to the hotel, where we packed our bags for tomorrow’s move, because for us, we could now say…….

“Tomorrow in Jerusalem”

The second day greeted us with a chilly rain, but we were not about to let it dampen our spirit of excitement.  We set out at 8:00 am, to the southwest, for the Village of Cana.  When we arrived there, we were dropped off on a very narrow street and followed Boaz up an even more narrow street (0r alley) to The Franciscan Church of Cana, where Jesus performed his first public miracle, by turning water into wine. (John 2:1-10)  The Village of Cana is also where Jesus performed his second public miracle (John 4:46-54) and where Nathanael, one of the Disciples, was from. (John 21:2)  After going down to view the original church, we came back up stairs into the Franciscan Church, where Jack performed the wedding ceremony for Larry & Erica.  He also performed the retaking of vows by Ken & Georgia.       

The Franciscan Church of Cana  

Wine Vases Alter

After a slight diversion, we were all  back on the bus, and headed to the City of the Annunciation, Nazareth.  This is where Mary, the mother of Jesus lived when the angel Grabriel revealed to her the imminent birth of Jesus and John the Baptist. (John 1:26-38)  It is the city in which Jesus was raised and learned the trade of carpentry, and also read scripture in the synagogue and was rebuked for his admonishments of the people. (Luke 4:16-30)  The Church of the Annunciation was built over the site of Mary’s house.

Church       “M”s on dome         Remains of house

We then proceeded to Nazareth Village, which is a museum and replica village of Jesus’ time.

Carpenter’s workshop                                    Water collection system

Shepherds tending flock                                 Village house

Synagogue   Woman spinning wool

After this, we traveled southwest across the Yizre’el Valley, to the city of Megiddo.  This will be the subject of my next post.  Stay tuned.

Beth She’an is one of the oldest cities in the Holy Land, having been first settled in the 5th millennium B.C.  You can tell by the wide streets, mosiac floors,  and marble pillars, this was once a very important city.  It is where the corpses of King Saul and his sons were hung on the walls, after the Philistines defeated them at Mt. Gilboa (1 Sam. 31:10).  In 732 B.C. it was destroyed by the Assyrian Army.  When the Greeks conquered the area, they rebuilt the city and named it Scythopolis.  Then in 749 A.D., during Muslim occupation, an earthquake totally destroyed the city.

                 Model of City                                                                                                    

After this, we proceeded down the Jordon River Valley and through the Judean Desert on our way to Bethlehem.  We saw the militarized border with Jordan and many Bedouins’ camps (Nomads).

   Jordan River Valley        Jordanian Border        Bedouins

As we approached Bethlehem, we saw a section of the security wall under construction.  Later today we will get a more “up close & personal” view of this much needed barrier, and the security that it provides.  Seeing this made me think of Ezekiel 38:11, “And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.”  In order to be living in “unwalled villages” there has to be a wall to take down first.  I believe Jack has mentioned this in the past.

The City of Bethlehem was not originally on our itinerary, but due to some unknown power that Boaz possessed, we were able to enter this Palestinian controlled city.  The problem was, Boaz is an Israeli citizen, and therefore was not allowed entry.  I was very pleased that we could go there, but at the same time, it upset me to know that Jews are not allowed.  Just another example of the contempt the Arabs, and the world, hold for God’s Chosen People.

As we approached the check point, Boaz got off the bus, and Atef drove through the gate, into the city.  We then stopped to pick up Adel, our Palestinian guide, for our tour of Bethlehem.  Almost immediately, we realized that not only is Adel a very outgoing person, he is also a Christian, and we knew we were in good hands.  Again, Atef was able to demonstrate his exceptional driving skills, manuvering this large bus through the very narrow streets.  We then pulled into a very tight squeeze of a parking ramp, where we left the bus, went up a couple flights of stairs into a mall, and down the hall to a very expansive dinning room.  Not only was this place large, it was immaculate, with every table set to perfection, and beautiful pictures of Israel’s history hanging on the walls.  We all enjoyed a delicious buffet style lunch, and they even served mashed potatoes.  From the veranda, I was able to get a picture overlooking the city.

After lunch, we went back downstairs, boarded the bus, and proceeded to The Church of the Nativity.  The church was built above the Grotto of the Nativity, which is the traditional place of Jesus’ birth.  This spot is designated by a fourteen point silver star in the marble floor.  Next to this is the Holy Manger, hewn out of stone and covered with marble strips, and an alter devoted to the Three Wise Men.  When the Persians invaded the Holy Land, they destroyed all of the Christian churches they found, except The Church of the Nativity.  Finding the mosaics depicting the wise men, they were astonished, and left the church intact, out of respect to them.  Just a few steps away is the Chapel of the Innocents, dedicated to the Jewish males, two years old and younger, that were slaughtered by Herod after he heard of the birth of Jesus, King of the Jews.  We all crowded into this small chapel, where Jack led us in The Lords Prayer.

We had to walk a few blocks back to the bus, and I felt so blessed to be able to walk the streets of this very special city.

After further demonstrations of Atef’s driving skills, we arrived at the Three Arches Gift Shop, where we all bought items for ourselves and the folks back home.  It was now time for that “up close & personal” experience with the security wall.  There was a line of traffic in front of us, so it took some time to make our way to the check point.  When we were just a couple vehicles from the gate I understood why it had taken so long.  There were actually two check points.  The first one was just like a toll booth, with an “arm” barricade they would raise to let you through.  Some drivers were getting out to show their papers before being allowed to pass.  When it was our turn Atef pulled up to the booth, said something to the Palestinian guards, and they raised the arm for us to proceed.  Just ahead was another check point.  This one had an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian guard.  The Israeli soldier was checking out each vehicle thoroughly.  When our bus was next, Atef opened the door and the soldier entered at the front.   With his M-16 held in front of him, he slowly walked down the aisle, looking each one of us square in the face.  When he reached the back of the bus he left through the rear door and did a quick check of our luggage compartment before waving us through.  We had passed through this security barrier twice today, and the only time we were properly screened was when we were entering Israeli controlled territory.

We traveled a short distance before picking up Boaz.  Even though we had all enjoyed Adel and felt very secure under his care, we were very happy to see Boaz.  It felt like the whole family was back together again.  We drove on a bit further to a vantage point and recieved our first glimpse of  Jerusalem, the City of David.  The entire Old City was spread out before us.  From this vantage point we could see the Old City wall, the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock, as well as Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives.  It was truly breathtaking as well as inspiring.

We then went to the Prima Royale Hotel, in downtown Jerusalem, to check in and get some rest before dinner.  Tomorrow we will venture out to explore The Holy City.

As you can imagine, our anticipation was very high in regards to what Boaz had in store for us today.  We were finally going to experience all of the wonders of this glorious city, so everyone was on the bus well before our scheduled time of departure.  On our way to the Mount of Olives, we traveled past two gates of the Old City Wall and across the Kidron Valley.

Near the top of the Mount of Olives we disembarked from the bus and walked to an overlook of a Jewish cemetery on the side of the Mount of Olives.  Visitors place small rocks on the tombs, rather than flowers, to signify that we come from the earth and back to the earth we will return.  This vantage point also gave us a fantastic view of the east wall of the Old City, with the Dome of the Rock and the Golden Gate.

We walked down the hill, through a very narrow street, to the Garden of Gethsemane, which is located near the foot of the Mount of Olives.  This is where, on the night of His arrest, Jesus prayed “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt. 26:39)  It is also where Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, and He was taken into custody by the chief priests (Matt. 26:47-56).

We then boarded the bus, traveled back across the Kidron Valley, and were dropped off just outside the Old City wall.  Boaz led us along the east side of the wall, where we entered through the Lion’s Gate.  This is also named Stephen’s Gate as it is near the spot where Stephen was stoned for his testimony (Acts 7:54-60).

Walking a short way, we came to Bethesda, site of the medicinal pools where Christ healed the lame man on the Sabbath (John 5:1-9).

It was now time to begin our procession down the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow).  This well worn path, through the narrow streets of the Old City, marks the way that Jesus traveled as He carried the cross.  The route starts in the Muslim Quarter and travels into the Christian Quarter, with fourteen “Stations of the Cross”.  From sentencing to crucifixion, each station marks the location of an event that took place during the final walk of Jesus.  Most of these locations had a church built on the site.  Some had engraved stone archways or beautiful paintings depicting the event at this spot.  Others were just a cross drawn on a stone post in the wall.

As we walked along the Via Dolorosa we saw many sites as evidence of this very culturally diverse city.  Some could have been as they were when Jesus walked these streets.  Others, I don’t think so!

At the end of the Via Dolorosa is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  This structure houses the tenth to the fourteenth Stations of the Cross.  They include the Mound of Golgotha (Calvary) and the Anointment Stone, where tradition has it, Jesus’ body was laid prior to His burial.

After this, we proceeded back through the streets of the Old City, on our way to the Western Wall.  Also known as the Wailing Wall, it is the only remaining structure of Herod’s rebuilt Temple Mount.  In the Hebrew language it is referred to as “HaKotel HaMa’aravi”, or simply “Kotel”.  “Ko” is the numerical value of God’s name, and “Tel” means mount, therefore it is known as  “God’s Mount”.  Because it is in the nearest proximity to the Holy of Holies in the Temple, it is considered one of the Holiest sites of Judism.  It is said that when the second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, God’s Devine Presense rested upon the wall and is eternal.  Over the last few days I had experienced many moments where I had been moved to tears, but nothing had prepared me for the emotion that overcame me as I stood at this Holy site, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, and an end to the persecution of God’s Chosen People.

We then left the Old City, boarded the bus, and headed for our next stop, which was the Israel Museum and the “Shrine of the Book”.  Housed in this shrine are the Dead Sea Scolls and many other artifacts from the “People of the Book”, the Essenes.  These people were a Jewish sect that lived in Qumran, which is where the Scrolls were found.  Also at this museum is a model of Jerusalem, during the second temple period, just before the Great Revolt against the Romans.  This model is built on the scale of two centimeters represent one meter of the ancient city.

It was now late afternoon, but Boaz had one more place for us to see, the Holocaust Museum.  For most of us this was the final plunge of the emotional rollercoaster we had been on today.  (There’s just something about seeing how six to eight million people were systematically slaughtered due to their race).  We did not have enough time to see all there was to see. By the time we regrouped it was dark and windy, and the museum was closing.  It was now time to go back to the hotel for dinner and some much needed rest.  And so ended our first full day in the Holy City.