Day 1: DepartureOur life-changing journey begins this evening as we board ourovernight flight to Jordan.

Day 2: Arrival JordanWe arrive in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and transfer toour lodging for the next two evenings in Amman. Enjoy dinner,retire to your room and be ready for an early departure in themorning.

Day 3: PetraEarly this morning we turn southward toward the amazingmountain fortress of Petra, known to be inhabited by the

Edomites - the descendants of Esau. Begin the tour with a walkthrough the "Siq," an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, tothe city of Petra carved out of the rose red rock. The Treasury, ElKhazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity. BeyondEl Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides by hundreds ofPetra's carved and built structures. Departing Petra, we travelnorthward on the King's Highway where to the west we view thehills bordering the Dead Sea. This is the area of the hilltoppalace/fortress of Machaerus, where John the Baptist was be-headed. We overnight in Amman this evening.

Day 4: Mt Nebo, Madaba, Tel AvivOur morning tour begins in the town of Madaba, the biblical

Best of Israel, Petra, & Mt. NeboFirst Class 12 Day Package

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Medeba, 30 kilometers south of Amman. Madaba is best knownfor its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and at the Greek Ortho-dox Church of St. George we view the earliest surviving mosaicmap of the Holy land. Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of thetomb of Moses, commands a spectacular view across the JordanValley and the Dead Sea. Study the panorama as we read thescripture of God showing Moses the "Promised Land" before Hebrought him home to heaven. As we travel west toward the Al-lenby Bridge, we view to the north the Plains of Moab, the areawhere the tribes of Israel camped before crossing the Jordan andpicture the place where Jesus was baptized. Crossing the JordanRiver into Israel, we drive to Tel Aviv area with the remainder ofthe afternoon free. You may wish to take a devotional time withthe sunset over the “Great Sea,” a time of prayer and thanks forthe special blessings ahead, a prayer for the people of this land,and then enjoy a good night’s rest.

Day 5: Caesarea, Megiddo & NazarethAfter breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast

of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where Gentiles first heardthe Good News from Peter and were baptized. We’ll see theRoman Amphitheatre and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt.Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets ofBaal. Next we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, theArmageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed20 levels of civilization. We drive through the area of Cana andNazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit theNazareth Village - a wonderful recreation of Biblical times withcostumed guides. We will have dinner and overnight lodging forthe next two nights in the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee.

Day 6: Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Magdala,Sea of Galilee Boat RideFollowing breakfast, our morning travels take us to two valuablenorthern sites. Dan is where the children of Israel fell to thedepths of alternative sacrifice and Caesarea Philippi, the site ofPeter’s Confession and pagan worship. We pass the possible siteof the multiplication of loaves and fishes in Bethsaida and theMount of the Beatitudes. Returning to Tiberias for a St. Peter’sFish Lunch (other selections available), we then visit the ancientFisherman Boat followed by a relaxing cruise on the Sea ofGalilee. A brief scripture reading and devotional on board bringsto life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen disciples. InCapernaum we view the excavations of the sea-side village andPeter’s home, followed by a visit to Magdala, home town of MaryMagdalene. The recent excavation of the First Century Syna-gogue and well preserved village makes Magdala one of the mostinteresting Biblical sites in Israel.

Day 7: Jordan River Baptism Site, Beth Shean, & DeadSeaWe begin our day with the opportunity to be baptized at the Jor-dan River Baptismal site. Next we travel southward to Beit-Shean/Scythopolis, the most magnificent archeological site inIsrael, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordanvalleys. Like Jericho, it has been almost continuously occupied

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throughout history. After defeating Saul and his sons on Mt.Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beit-Shean. During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chiefcities of the Decapolis - a league of ten cities sharing Greek cul-ture and government. Following the fertile Jordan Valley south-ward, your guide will point out the agricultural restoration of the“Land of Milk and Honey” and Israel’s intricate irrigation devel-opment. We pass ancient Jericho and view from a distance thiscity famed as the oldest in the world. To the east of Jericho alongthe Jordan River Valley (Queser El Yehud) is the Israeli side ofBethany Beyond the Jordan. In this area Jesus was baptized byJohn the Baptist, Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan, as well aswhere the children of Israel, led by Joshua, entered the PromisedLand. Our lodging for the evening is at the Dead Sea – the lowestplace on earth. Spend time in the special spa and enjoy a dip inthe Dead Sea for a relaxing float before dinner.

Day 8: Masada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea Scrolls, Abraham'sTentOur day begins with a cable car ride to the mountain top fortressof Masada. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the fa-mous zealot stand. Afterwards we proceed to Ein Gedi, "Springof the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Be-cause of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the sitedeveloped a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palmgroves. This is where King David hid from Saul, and where Goddefeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship ledby King Jehoshaphat. Next, we visit Qumran Caves where the

Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. This afternoon we will takepart in the Genesis Land/Dinner in Abraham's Tent, where weenjoy a trip back in time: a reliving of life in the time of the Patri-archs, complete with costume, dramatic presentation, and au-thentic food. Our lodging for the next four nights will be inJerusalem.

Day 9: Around Jerusalem, Bible TimesConditions permitting we will visit the Temple Mount, with com-mentary on the Temple Periods, and the variety of belief systemspast and present that make this area so valuable. Next we willvisit the Wailing Wall and then the fascinating Rabbinical Tun-nels leading us through the Second Temple era. The tunnel andexhibit give a clear understanding of the amazing construction ofthe Temple Mount, giant stones, water supply and Roman streetwhere our Lord was led to judgment. Before exiting the tunnelwe see the immense cornerstone rejected by the builders. Wemove on to the Judgment Hall of Pilate, hear of those who con-spired against Him and are reminded of His brutal beating andhumiliation. From here we will also be able to see the Pool ofBethesda, Stephen's Gate and St. Ann’s Church. This afternoonwe visit the Southern Wall Excavations. This southern side ofThe Temple was the main entrance for the common folk,whereas the Priests and Levites had their own entrance from thehigher eastern side. Parts of the giant stairs, which led to theTemple Mount from the courtyard have been unearthed alongwith the purification pools. From here Jesus entered the TempleMount and drove out the vendors and money exchangers who

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Cam

el Ride

were exploiting the people. It is also likely that this is the placethat Peter stood and preached and where thousands were savedand baptized on the Day of Pentecost. We spend the remainderof the day surrounding the birth of Christ with a visit to Bethle-hem.

Day 10: Jesus' Steps, Last Days, Way of Suffering, Garden Tomb Today we walk where Jesus walked; beginning the day with apanoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of theRock from atop the Mount of Olives and then the Garden ofGethsemane. How many have wished to be whisked back in timeto get a glimpse of our Lord or hear His voice if only for a mo-ment? To walk between the ancient olive trees, read the scrip-tures of Jesus' prayer and take time for personal reflection isimportant here. Passing by the Protestant Cemetery, we visit the"Upper Room" just outside the Zion Gate where the disciplewhom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where laterThomas cried, "my Lord & my God." While walking along theVia Dolorosa, we are reminded of His way of suffering along witha visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Our guide will ex-plain the differing opinions on the route that Christ was led andthe actual place of crucifixion and burial is a very interestingstudy. The climax of the day is the area of Golgotha (place of theskull) and the Garden Tomb, where we celebrate the resurrectionwith communion and a time of praise.

Day 11: Israel Museum, Friends of Zion Museum, Houseof Caiaphas, Yad VashemAn interesting and educational time awaits us today at the IsraeliMuseum. Walk through collections of century’s old Israeli arti-facts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, and then a guided walkthrough an accurately detailed model of Biblical Jerusalem. Thismodel will help put into perspective all that you have seen overthe previous days touring. We then visit the Friends of Zion Mu-seum to learn of the 19th and 20th century heroes of the Jewishpeople. Next we spend time at the House of Caiaphas whereJesus was beaten and spit upon. See a pit where he may havebeen held for the evening and the ancient hillside steps hewalked as he was taken to be condemned. We conclude the daywith a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, for a neededreminder of what the Jews have suffered as a people. Thisevening we enjoy a special lecture by a local believer prior to din-ner, giving us a perspective of Messianic life in Israel.

Day 12: HomeA very early morning departure for the Tel Aviv Airport for ourflight homeward will allow for arrival home by early afternoon.

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Dead Sea Float

Qumran Caves

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