Right beside the Garden of Gethsemane and the Tomb of Mary is an amazing cave where Jesus stayed while in Jerusalem. It was also where Jesus was arrested and taken to be condemned to crucifixion. Gethsemane Cave Grotto Photo Gallery Places of Interest Gethsemane Cave Grotto Introduction 1. This is the most likely place Jesus and His disciples stayed while ministering in Jerusalem. Therefore, you are in the footsteps of Jesus and His disciples right here. 2. This is the most likely place Jesus spent His last moments with the disciples before being arrested and crucified. 3. It was likely from here that Jesus went to pray. 4. In this area, Christ’s sweat became like great drops of blood. 5. In this vicinity, Christ was arrested and taken captive by the Jews. 6. It was a large cave complex used as an olive press. 7. When it wasn't olive season, it was used for lodging. 8. Many believe it was in this cave that Nicodemas came to Jesus at night, as found in John chapter 3. 9. In this place, you are literally in the same place Jesus was. Location 1. Gethsemane Cave is just north of the Garden of Gethsemane and beside the Tomb of Mary. Both are in the Kidron Valley, just east of the Temple Mount platform. 2. Access to the cave is along a narrow-walled passageway leading to the right from the open courtyard in front of the Tomb of Mary. 3. When people hear the word Gethsemane, they usually think of a garden. But Gethsemane wasn’t a garden. The word actually means olive press, not olive grove. It seems that everyone in Jesus’ time understood that Gethsemane was a cave—a location where olive oil was produced. In fact, the first time that we are aware of anyone using the term “Garden of Gethsemane” was around 1100 AD. Historical Background 1. Early Christians set this site apart and venerated it shortly after Jesus ascended back to heaven. 2. Since around 350 AD, this cave has been sanctified by the Christian faith as the place where the disciples waited for Jesus and later witnessed his arrest. A cistern, a fragment of a Greek inscription, and ceiling decorations attest to the site's use in both Byzantine and Crusader times. 3. In the Byzantine period, Christians recorded seeing some of the “Round Stone Beds” on which the disciples fell asleep while waiting for Jesus. 4. Parts of an ancient olive press prove the site is indeed Gethsemane (Gat Shmanim, in Hebrew, means oil press). 5. The natural grotto, which is about 200 sq. yards (190 sq. meters) in area, has essentially been unchanged since Jesus's time. 6. It is believed to be where the disciples slept while Jesus prayed, and where Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested. 7. It may also be the location of Jesus’ nighttime meeting with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). The Catholic Church is the custodian of this cave, and it teaches that Jesus met the Jewish ruler Nicodemus in this cave. In the third chapter of the Gospel of John, it says that in this room there was a conversation between Jesus and one of the leaders of the Jews – a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a secret follower of Jesus. And because this cave was outside the city limits, it would have been very easy for him to meet Jesus in secret at night. 8. The grotto is also known as the Cave of the Olive Press. 9. Around 350 AD, the grotto became a chapel. The floor was paved with white mosaic, through which graves were dug. More than 40 graves have been discovered, mainly from the 5th to 8th centuries. 10. The inscriptions on the wall have been interpreted in various ways. The line around the sanctuary seems to mean: “Here [in these representations]: The King sweated blood. Christ the Saviour frequented [this place with his apostles]. My Father, if it is your wish, let this chalice pass from me.” Places of Interest 1. Eyewitnesses from the fourth and sixth centuries attest to the remains of original artifacts, revealing this was the authentic place where the Gethsemane press was and where Jesus was arrested the night before being crucified. 2. Evidence of an olive press was found where the altar is now located. There was a hole in the wall that supported the arm used to hold the lever that pressed the olives. 3. Over the main altar is a representation of Jesus praying among the Apostles. 4. Paintings over the side altars depict the Assumption of the Virgin and the Kiss of Judas. 5. Bronze figures beneath the main altar depict two sleeping disciples. 6. To the right of the right-hand altar is a hole in the wall. It is just at the right height to hold one end of a wooden beam, which, when weighted at the other end, pressed crushed olives piled in loosely woven baskets. 7. Carved cross to the left of the altar. 8. Seven layers of writings on the ceiling toward the back of the cave, dating to shortly after the time of Christ. 9. Cistern toward the back of the cave. 10. Around 80 tombs, some dating to as early as 325 AD. 11. The stars on the ceiling were painted here during the Crusader era, about 900 years ago. These stars are reminiscent of the night when Jesus was arrested. 12. Garden of Gethsemane 13. Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat) 14. Temple Mount Gethsemane Cave in the Bible 1. This is the most likely place Jesus and His disciples stayed while ministering in Jerusalem. Luke 21:37-38: Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives , 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. 2. Many believe it was in this cave that Nicodemas came to Jesus at night, as found in John chapter 3. John 3:1-3: Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus , a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 3. This is the most likely place Jesus spent His last moments with the disciples before being arrested and crucified. Matthew 26:30-31: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives . 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 4. It was likely from here that Jesus went to pray. Matthew 26:36: Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane , and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 5. Christ’s sweat became like great drops of blood nearby. Luke 22:43-44: And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” 6. Christ was arrested and taken captive by the Jews nearby. Matthew 26:45-50: Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." 47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; seize him." 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. Faith Lesson from Gethsemane Cave 1. Jesus willingly went to the cross to pay for our sins and show His great love for us. What about us? Do we truly appreciate what Christ did for us? 2. Jesus was the perfect example of willingly submitting to God and resisting sin and temptation, even sweating drops of blood. What about us? Do we submit to God regardless of the cost? 3. It was here that the disciples fled and abandoned Jesus. What about us? Do we stand firm during trials and persecution?

See an overview of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. This will help you see everything in perspective. Old City Jerusalem, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Triumphal Entry, Western Wall, City of David, Kidron Valley, Southern Stairs, Temple Mount, Bethesda, Pool of Siloam, Pater Noster Church, Chapel of Ascension, Dominus Flevit Church, Cardo, House of Caiaphas, Upper Room, Kidron Valley, Hinnom Valley, Via Dolorosa, Pilate's Palace and Judgment of Jesus. Jerusalem Holy Sites Overview Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jerusalem Sites Overview Summary of all the Biblical Sites and Their Locations 1. Mount of Olives 2. Bethphage Beginning of the Triumphal Entry. 3. Chapel of Ascension Place from which Christ ascended to heaven and will return to in power and great glory at the end of the Great Tribulation. 4. Pater Noster Church Place Christ taught the Lord’s Prayer. 5. Tombs of the Prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. 6. Triumphal Entry Pathway The road Christ descended on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before His crucifixion on Friday. 7. Church of Dominus Flevit Place Christ wept over Jerusalem on the Triumphal Entry and prophesied her future destruction. 8. Church of Mary Magdalene Christ cast out seven demons from Mary, and she became a passionate follower of Christ. 9. Garden of Gethsemane – Church of All Nations 10. Tomb of Mary (mother of Jesus) 11. Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat) Place Christ will gather the nations in judgment at the end of the Tribulation Period, and their blood will flow to the depth of a horse’s bridle down toward the Dead Sea and beyond. 12. Temple Mount It was enlarged by Herod the Great. It’s the size of 35 football fields (35 acres, 14 hectares). The original temple was located exactly where the Dome of the Rock is today. Place the prophets ministered. The glory of the Lord filled the temple here. Place Christ ministered. Place the apostles ministered. Place the early church met. The Antonia Fortress was located just north of the Temple Mount. 13. Dome of the Rock (not a mosque but a shrine) 14. Western Wall It was part of the original wall of the Temple Mount Herod built. It existed during the time of Christ. It is the closest place (for a large gathering) to the original temple where the Jews pray. 15. Pool of Bethesda - St. Anne Church A lame man was healed here after waiting 38 years. 16. Via Dolorosa (painful path) It’s the believed path Christ took on the way to the Cross. It has 14 stations. 17. Gordon’s Garden Tomb - Golgotha 18. Church of the Holy Sepulcher 19. Absalom’s Tomb 20. Southern Stairs Place Christ taught His disciples. Likely location of Pentecost. 21. City of David 22. David’s Palace 23. Gihon Spring 24. Wall repaired by Nehemiah 25. Pool of Siloam 26. Hinnom Valley Gehenna – Idea of hell and eternal burning. 27. House of Caiaphas Place Peter denied Christ. Place Christ was condemned before Ananias and Caiaphas the high priest. 28. Tomb of David 29. The Upper Room 30. Herod’s Palace ~ Later, it would become Pilate's Palace 31. Citadel of David Gates of Jerusalem 1. Eastern Gate (Golden Gate, Shushan Gate) Gate Christ regularly entered on His way to the temple from the Mount of Olives. Peter and James healed a lame man after entering this gate. Closed by Ottoman Turkish Muslims in the 1541 AD. 2. Lions Gate (Stephen’s Gate) 3. Herod’s Gate 4. Damascus Gate 5. New Gate 6. Jaffa Gate 7. Zion Gate 8. Dung Gate

Megiddo was one of the most important fortified cities in Israel! The name Armageddon is derived from “Har-Megiddo,” which is translated, as “Armageddon.” Har means hill, and Megeddon is the place. When these words are joined together, mean Armageddon. Megiddo lay at the juncture of several key routes (the main route is called the Via Maris), which linked Africa to Asia and Europe. For this reason, any country that rose to world power had to control Megiddo due to its strategic location. Megiddo: Armageddon Photo Gallery Places of Interest Megiddo Armageddon & the End Times Location 1. Tel Megiddo is located about 15 miles (26 Km.) east of the Mediterranean Ocean and about 25 miles (40 Km.) southwest of the Sea of Galilee. 2. Megiddo lay at the juncture of several key routes (the main route is called the Via Maris) which linked Africa to Asia and Europe. For this reason, any country that rose to world power had to control Megiddo due to its strategic location. 3. More battles have been fought in this location than any other place in the entire world. 4. The name, Armageddon is derived from “Har-Megiddo” which is translated, “Armageddon.” Har means hill, and Megeddon is the place. When these words are joined together it is Armageddon. 5. Today, this place is called Megiddo in English. It’s located in the most fertile valley in Israel called, The Jezreel Valley.” 6. It is a "Tel," which is made up of layer upon layer of different civilizations that make up an artificial hill. 7. Tel Megiddo is made up of 25–26 layers of civilizations. 8. Today, you can see a busy highway right beside Tel Megiddo that uses the same ancient travel route that has been used for 6,000 years. 9. One of the Pharaohs, Thutmose the III, said conquering Megiddo was like conquering a thousand cities. Historical Background 1. 4000 BC: Early Settlements. 2. 2000 BC: Massive city walls were built. 3. 1800 BC: A Canaanite gate was constructed on the north side. 4. 1500 BC: The gate and walls were rebuilt. 5. 1468 BC: The city rebelled against the Egyptians with other Canaanite cities and was conquered by Thutmose III after a great battle and a 7-month siege. 6. 960 BC: New gate and walls were built by the Israelites under Solomon's command. 7. 945 BC: Pharaoh Shishak conquers the city (1 Kings 14:25). A fragment of a tablet with Pharaoh Shishak's name was found here. 8. 850 BC: King Ahab fortified Megiddo and dug a water tunnel to access water within the city walls. 9. 732 BC: The city was captured by the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III. Megiddo became the capital of the Assyrian province of the Galilee. 10. 650 BC: Battle between the Egyptian Army and the Kingdom of Judah (King Josiah died in this battle). 11. 609 BC: The Egyptians replaced the Assyrians. 12. 300 BC: The city was abandoned, and the Tel was left in ruins. 13. 1918 AD: Battles between the British and the Turks in WW1. Britain gains control over Israel. 14. 1948 AD: Britain granted independence to Israel. 15. 1949 AD: Kibbutz Megiddo was established on the south side of Tel Megiddo. Places of Interest (Please See Maps Above) 1. Canaanite Gate with 4 Towers 2. Canaanite Palace 3. Israelite Gate with 6 Towers 4. Northern Horse Stables 5. Northern Palace 6. Large cut through the tel was carried out between 1903 and 1905 by Gottlieb Schumacher for the German Society for Oriental Research. 7. Canaanite Temple and Altar: Place of animal sacrifice, and possibly children, to false gods. 8. Burial Chamber 9. Public Structure 10. Four-room House 11. Grain Silo 12. Southern Palace 13. Southern Horse Stables 14. Assyrian City 15. Water tunnel dug by King Ahab to protect the water source from enemies. 16. View of the Jezreel Valley (Valley of Armageddon). Tel Megiddo In the Bible 1. King Solomon fortified Megiddo and used it for a fort of protection. He had 450 chariots stationed here. 1 Kings 9:15: Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied to build the house of the Lord, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo , and Gezer. 2. A monumental battle will be fought here and in Jerusalem at the end of the Great Tribulation Period. Revelation 16:1-21: Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God .” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon . 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. 3. Harvest of the earth in God’s winepress of wrath in Jerusalem. Revelation 14:14-20: Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city [Jerusalem] , and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia [ 180 miles, 300 km.] . Matthew 25:31-34: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:46: And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Faith Lesson from Megiddo 1. Part of the last battle of Armageddon will be fought in Megiddo and the other part in Jerusalem. The war seems to happen simultaneously. 2. This battle will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation Period. 3. Scripture says that unless these days were shortened no life would survive. 4. The Tribulation Period will be a time when God pours out His wrath on a world who has rejected Him after all He has done for them. 5. Where will I be at this battle? Will I be fighting with Christ or against Him? 6. Water was the main source of life for every city in ancient days. These cities could be conquered when their enemies cut off their water supply. 7. God’s Word is our water source of life. Our enemy, Satan, can defeat us by cutting off our intake of God’s Word. When he can do this, he can conquer us. To stand against Satan and his attacks, am I daily drinking abundantly from the water source of God’s Word?

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Beersheba (Beer Sheva) was located on a significant travel route linking Africa and Egypt with Asia and Europe. The Nabateans, who were centralized in Petra, passed through here on caravans with trade goods. Beersheba is the beginning place of God’s master plan for the Nation of Israel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob also lived in Hebron at times as well. Beersheba was in the territory of the Philistines (Gen. 21:33–34). Abraham’s Well (230 ft., 70 m. deep, is at Tel Beersheba. Beersheba Photo Gallery Places of Interest Beersheba Location 1. Beersheba is located in the Negev, which is a semi-desert. 2. The tel of Beersheba lies a little east of the modern city, which is the region's largest city and administrative capital. 3. It’s about 45 miles (70 km.) south of Jerusalem and about 30 miles (45 km.) from the Mediterranean Ocean. 4. It’s located between the Beersheba and Hebron Streams (which are dry much of the time). 5. It was located on a significant travel route linking Africa and Egypt with Asia and Europe. The Nabateans, who were centralized in Petra, passed through here on caravans with trade goods. Historical Background 1. Beersheba is the beginning place of God’s master plan for the Nation of Israel. 2. In essence, each person has the same tendencies as the Nation of Israel. Therefore, when God wanted to speak to all mankind, He used Israel as the example (1 Cor. 10:11). 3. The name Negev means “dry land” in Hebrew, but the Bible often uses the term to refer to the southern part of Israel. 4. Because Beersheba is in the Negev, which receives an annual rainfall of 6–8 inches (18 cm.), there was not a lot of population in the area, and most of the people living here were nomadic shepherds. 5. Beersheba was in the territory of the Philistines (Gen. 21:33–34). 6. After a conflict over Abraham’s well, which he had dug in Beersheba, a covenant was made between Abimelech and Abraham to settle the dispute (Gen. 21:25–34). To ratify the covenant, Abraham gave Abimelech seven ewe lambs. Therefore, Beersheba means “well of the oath” or “well of the seven lambs.” 7. Later, Abraham's son, Isaac, would have another conflict with Abimelech, and would confirm an agreement as well: "So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day" (Gen 26:30-33). 8 . When the writers of Scripture wanted to speak of all Israel, they would often use the expression “from Dan (the northern-most city) to Beersheba" (the southern-most city). Places of Interest 1. Four Horned Altar This altar belonged to cult worship or was misused by the Israelites as it doesn’t comply with Scripture. Altars were to be made of “stones on which you have not used an iron tool” (Deut. 27:5). This altar used hand-shaped stones. The altar was likely one of those torn down during the religious reforms of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:8). 2. Abraham’s Well – 230 feet deep (70 m.) 3. Outer Gate 4. Inner Gates 5. City Square 6. Governor’s Palace 7. Roman Bath Pools 8. Basement House 9. Four-room House 10. Casement Wall 11. Roman Fortress 12. Observation Tower 13. Storerooms 14. Street with Shops 15. Beersheba Stream 16. Hebron Stream 17. Water Cistern Beersheba in the Bible 1. About 2000 years before Christ, God called Abraham from Mesopotamia to leave his family and possessions and journey to a new land with the promise that his descendants would become a great nation. Genesis 12:1–3: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation , and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 2. After Abraham passed through the Land of Israel, he settled in the Negev area (Gen. 12:9). 3. When a severe famine came upon the land, Abraham left the Negev for a bit and went to Egypt (Gen. 12:10). 4. After the famine, Abraham returned to the Negev (close to Hebron), and God confirmed His covenant with him. Genesis 13:14–17: The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever . 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth , so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” The Abrahamic Covenant includes two promises: (1) a land, and (2) a nation of people. From this covenant comes the Nation of Israel and their land. 5. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham settled in Beersheba and “Lived there many days” (Gen 21:34), probably meaning the rest of his life. 6. Close-by to Beersheba, Hagar, the mother of Ismael, was sent away by Abraham and an angel of the Lord ministered to her, saying “Her offspring would be blessed” (Gen. 21:14–18). 7. Isaac, the son and heir Abraham and Sarah had waited all their lives to have, was born in Beersheba. 8. It was from Beersheba that Abraham journeyed with his son Isaac to Mount Moriah at Jerusalem, where God had ordered him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Mount Moriah is the exact place that Solomon would later build the temple in Jerusalem where countless sacrifices would be made, the most significant being the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Genesis 22:1-5: After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." Genesis 22:10-19: Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." 15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba. 9. It was at Beersheba that Isaac and Rebecca met, falling in love at first sight (Gen. 24:62–67). 10. Isaac’s son, Jacob, stole the birthright from his brother Esau while the family lived in Beersheba (Gen. 27). 11. Jacob lived in Beersheba when he and all his family moved to Egypt to live with Joseph (Gen. 46:45–47). 12. The Prophet Elijah came to Beersheba when he fled from Jezebel after the great showdown on Mount Carmel between God and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah. Elijah had the prophets killed, whom Jezebel supported, so he was running for his life. Faith Lesson from Beersheba 1. Beersheba is the beginning place of God’s sovereign master plan for the Nation of Israel, and through them, all mankind. 2. Beersheba played a key role in the lives of all the Patriarchs. 3. Abraham left his family and country in Mesopotamia in obedience to God and settled in Beersheba. 4. God tested Abraham at Beersheba, and he proved he loved God more than any earthly treasure, even his own son. 5. Do we understand that God often tests us as well? 6. Do we understand that God’s greatest question for us is, “What do you love more than me?” 7. Do I have anything in my life that stands between God and me? 8. Do I know what my “Isaac” is, and would I be willing to give it up to God if He asked me to? 9. Abraham is called "Our father of faith" because of his obedience and devotion to God. Do we have like Abraham?

The Church of Pater Noster is located on the top of the Mount of Olives, just below the Chapel of the Ascension. Pater Noster Church, originally called "Eleona," is where Jesus taught about the Lord's Prayer, end time events, and where it's believed He ascended back to heaven. Take a tour of this place and learn how to pray and walk with God in this video. Sites of interest include: Mount of Olives, Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat), Garden of Gethsemane. Pater Noster (Eleona) Church Photo Gallery Places of Interest Pater Noster (Eleona) Church Introduction Welcome to Pater Noster Church. Pater Noster means "Our Father" in Latin. 1. This church was built over the cave where it's believed Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer, as found in Luke 11:1–4. The Crusaders discovered marble plaques on this site, on which the Lord’s Prayer was inscribed in both Greek and Hebrew. Modern archeologists have also uncovered a third plaque inscribed in Latin. 3. It's also the place where it's believed Jesus gave the famous Olivet Discourse about the end times, as found in Matthew 24. 4. We're going to enter the very cave where Jesus taught the Lord's Prayer, and even recite it there. 5. We're going to take a special walk to a place where few tour groups go, overlooking Old City Jerusalem, just like Jesus did with His disciples as He spoke the words of Matthew 24. 6. We'll be in the very footsteps of Jesus as we explore and experience this site. Location 1. The Church of Pater Noster is located on the top of the Mount of Olives, just below the Chapel of the Ascension. 2. It was first named the Church of Eleona, which means "olive grove." Then, later, in around 1100 AD, its name was changed by the Crusaders to Pater Noster Church, which means "Our Father" because it refers to the beginning of the Lord's Prayer. 3. It is part of a Carmelite Monastery, also known as the Sanctuary of the Eleona (Greek for olive grove). 4. It's believed to be the place where Christ taught about the Lord's Prayer, gave the Olivet Discourse as found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, and ascended back to heaven as found in Acts 1:9-11. 5. The location of the ascension of Christ to heaven was moved to the top of the Mount of Olives (where the Chapel of Ascension is located today) around 350 AD, as it was believed to be the actual site where it actually took place. Historical Background 1. Pater Noster means “Our Father” in Latin. 2. Soon after Christ ascended back to heaven, early Christians venerated this site because of its significance. 3. Writing around 318 AD, Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, who was an eyewitness to this site, writes: "According to the common and received account, the feet of our Lord and Savior, himself the Word of God, truly understood . . . upon the Mount of Olives at the cave that is shown there. On the ridge of the Mount of Olives, he prayed and handed on to his disciples the mysteries of the end, and after this, he made his ascension into heaven as Luke teaches in the Acts of the Apostles." 4. Around 330 AD, a church was commissioned and built by Constantine on this site, marked by Helena, the mother of Constantine. It was one of the numerous churches constructed by Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor. Some of these churches include the Church of the Nativity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of Pater Noster (formerly known as the Church of Eleona), a Church at Mamre in Hebron, a church at the Shepherds' Fields in Bethlehem, and others. The church was built in three levels on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, with stairs connecting each level. The church was built on the highest level and resembled a long, rectangular hall with two rows of columns. Its apse was on the east side, facing the rising sun. The remains of the apse can still be seen today by taking a set of stairs down into the grotto. The center level was an atrium, a colonnaded forecourt, and the lowest level was on the west side, consisting of a portico (porch) erected on six columns. Only its foundations were discovered during the excavations in the 19th century, including the crypt (cave), located under the eastern edge of the church. 5. The Byzantine church was built over a cave, which, according to tradition, was the place where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. 6. The Persians destroyed the church in 614 AD, but the memory of Jesus’ teaching continued to be associated with it. Some of the Byzantine church remains can be seen in the backyard outside the present courtyard. 7. When the Crusaders arrived, the site was explicitly associated with the Lord's Prayer, so the Crusaders rebuilt part of the church in 1099. 8. In 1851, the remaining stones of the 4th-century church were sold for tombstones in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Kidron Valley). 9. The site was acquired by Princess Aurelia Bossi de la Tour d'Auvergne (1809–1889) in the second half of the 19th century, and a search for the cave mentioned by early pilgrims began. In 1868, she built a cloister and founded a Carmelite convent in 1872. A convent church was erected in the 1870s. Aurélie, who had a special love for the Lord’s Prayer, decided to purchase all of these ruins, and it is here that she built a convent with a European-style cloister. Aurelie apparently heard about the plaques with the Lord’s Prayer inscribed in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, and it seems that this inspired her to continue the tradition by building 39 more plaques, all in different languages, to be displayed on the walls of the church. Today, there are almost four times as many plaques all over the walls of this church, each one reciting the Lord’s Prayer. 10. In 1910, the foundations of the ancient church that once stood over the venerated cave were finally found, partly stretching beneath the modern cloister. The convent was moved nearby, and reconstruction of the Byzantine church began in 1915. The half-restored church has the exact dimensions as the original, and the garden outside the three doors outlines the open-air area. 11. The reconstruction was stopped in 1927 when funds ran out, and the renewed Church of Eleona remains unfinished. The French architect Marcel Favier, who was appointed to oversee the reconstruction of the ancient church, arrived in Jerusalem in September 1926. 12. The tomb Princess Aurelia Bossi prepared for herself during her lifetime stands at the entrance of the modern church. She died in Florence in 1889, and her remains were brought to the church in 1957, according to her last wish. 13. The Carmelite Cloistered Sisters oversee the current church. 14. It is very likely that Jesus prayed in this vicinity because He had just visited Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ house in Bethany, a short distance away. 15. Jesus also regularly prayed on mountaintops, so the top of the Mount of Olives would be a natural fit. Places of Interest 1. The church has 140 large ceramic plaques containing the Lord’s Prayer in many languages. 2. The cave where it is believed Jesus taught about prayer is in an enclosed courtyard in front of the church and down a few stairs. The cave was partially collapsed when it was discovered in 1910. 3. To the left of the church's south door is an area paved with mosaics and identified as a baptistery. 4. The backyard of the church is where the original Byzantine church was located. 5. The apse of the Byzantine Church can be seen today. 6. The sarcophagus of Princess Aurelie In the year 1856 AD, an aristocratic widow named Aurélie de la Tour d'Auvergne, who had a special affection for the Lord’s Prayer, decided to purchase all of these ruins. It is here that she built a convent with a European-style cloister. She also intended to rebuild the church that once stood here, but it was never completed. 7. Bethany, the town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. 8. Top of the Mount of Olives 9. Old City Jerusalem The Lord’s Prayer in the Bible In the New Testament, the Lord’s Prayer is mentioned two times. The first and longer form is found in Matthew 6 and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. The shorter form is found in Luke 11 and is a response given by Jesus to a request from one of his disciples to teach them to pray as John had taught his disciples. Apparently, according to Luke 10:38-42, Jesus came to this place to pray while staying at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, located nearby to the southeast. 1. Jesus was asked to teach His disciples how to pray. Luke 11:1–4: It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” 2. Christ gave examples of how we should pray. Luke 11:5–13: Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” 3. Jesus also taught about how to pray in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:5–15: And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Olivet Discourse in the Bible The Olivet Discourse, as found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, is believed to have occurred here. In these passages, Jesus discusses the events leading up to His second coming and what we can expect. Matthew 24:1-31 Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. 6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will fall away, and they will [g]betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Difficult Times Will Come 15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no [q]life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Christ's Glorious Return 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Christ's Ascension to Heaven Acts 1:9-11 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Faith Lesson from the Lord’s Prayer 1. Jesus prayed regularly and was in constant communion with the Father. Do we do the same? 2. We should not pray repetitious phrases but should pray in a sincere and heartfelt manner. 3. The Lord’s Prayer is not an exact phrase we must pray, but it gives us principles of how to pray. 4. Jesus taught that we should be persistent in prayer. 5. Jesus taught that He is a good, loving Father who delights in answering prayer when it is best for us and His sovereign will. 6. Jesus taught that if we expect God to forgive us, we should forgive others as well. Do we have people in our lives we need to forgive? 7. Do we realize Christ's return will be a real event, and are we ready for His return?

We are long-term missionaries who use short-term mission teams in fulfilling the Great Commission! We are a non-denominational ministry. Please join us! Go Missions to Mexico Ministries We Are Long-Term Missionaries Who Us Short-Term Mission Teams in Fulfilling the Great Commission In Mexico! We Host: Youth Teams, Family Teams, Adult Teams & Church Teams. All with any kind of work & ministry emphasis desired! You’re Needed! Serving the Needs of Mexico for 27 Years! Go Missions to Mexico has organized over 12,000 short term mission trip participants and counting! Our Unique Style of Ministry Your mission team will minister at a specially chosen church while serving in Mexico. Through this church, you’ll do your ministries & outreaches. By strengthening and working with the local church, your fruit will remain long after you're gone. This philosophy of ministry ensures maximum fruit and impact! In our ministry you don't just serve the people of Mexico, you serve with them! Please join us in building Christ’s Church in Mexico! Books by Go Missions to Mexico Clink to see more For more on Go Missions to Mexico click GoMissionsToMexico.com

The Cardo is a remnant of Aelia Capitolina, the Roman city built over the ruins of Jerusalem following the Jewish rebellions of 70 and 135 AD. It was a paved, 22.5-meter-wide road running southward from the Damascus Gate. The Cardo Maximus, also known simply as the Cardo, was the main north-south boulevard of the ancient Roman city of Aelia Capitolina. The Cardos In Old City Jerusalem Photo Gallery Places of Interest The Cardos In Old City Jerusalem Introduction 1. The Cardo Maximus was the grand main street of Roman and Byzantine Jerusalem, running north to south through the heart of the city. Once lined with columns, shops, and markets, it was the bustling center of daily life almost 2,000 years ago. 2. The Cardo Minor was a smaller main street that ran north and south. It was located east of the Cardo Maximus and was closer to the Temple Mount. 3. Many of its ruins remain to this day, and we'll walk on the same stones and see the same pillars that have existed for almost 2,000 years. 4. Today, visitors can still walk along sections of the restored street in the Jewish Quarter, where ancient stones meet modern galleries and shops. 5. Let's explore and experience this site. Location 1. The excavated part of Cardo Maximus Street is located in the Jewish Quarter of Old City Jerusalem, near the main Jewish Street. It has an open-air section, a small museum, and art and jewelry shops. 2. Part of the Cardo Minor has been uncovered on the western side of the Western Wall Plaza. Historical Background 1. The Cardo is a remnant of Aelia Capitolina. Aelia is derived from the emperor’s family name (Aelius, from the gens Aelia), and Capitolina refers to the cult of the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva). 2. Aelia Capitolina was the Roman city built over the ruins of Jerusalem following the Jewish rebellions of 70 and 135 AD. The Cardo Maximus, also known simply as the Cardo, was a paved, 22.5-meter-wide road running southward from the Damascus Gate. It was the main north-south boulevard of the ancient Roman city of Aelia Capitolina. For 500 years, it was the city's main commercial avenue, lined with shops and vendors. Today, part of the street has been renovated, making it a unique experience in Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter in the Old City. 3. The Cardo Maximus, also known simply as the Cardo, was the main north-south boulevard of the ancient Roman city of Aelia Capitolina. Emperor Hadrian established Aelia Capitolina in 135 AD on the site of the destroyed city of Jerusalem. The term “Cardo” is taken from the Latin word “hinge,” signifying its role as the central north-south axis in Roman cities. During the Roman period, the Cardo Maximus originated at the Damascus Gate in the north and extended southwards, splitting into two branches. The western branch led up to the modern-day Jewish Quarter. The Cardo was the eastern branch that followed the route of Ha-gay Street towards the modern-day Western Wall Plaza. Historical Periods of the Cardo First and Second Temple Period - 700 BC to 70 AD Although the Cardo Maximus is already 2.5M under the Modern street level, there are more layers of history underneath it as we go back in time. Earlier layers reveal the Hasmonean, Hellenistic, and early Roman periods. There are even remains from the 8th century BC period. Roman Period - 132 to 314 AD The Cardo in Jerusalem was initially constructed during the Roman period, following the city's reestablishment as Aelia Capitolina by Emperor Hadrian in the 130s AD. This north-south thoroughfare was designed to facilitate movement and commerce within the city. The Roman Cardo began at the Damascus Gate in the north and extended southwards, forming the central axis of the city's layout. Its western branch probably led up to the northern gate of the Tenth Legion's encampment on the Western Hill of Ancient Jerusalem. The eastern branch followed the Tyropoeon Valley, which ran parallel to the Western Wall of the Herodian Temple Mount and presumably led toward the southern city gate in the vicinity of the modern-day Dung Gate. The two branches of the street were lined with colonnades and featured a central open-air passageway flanked by porticoed sidewalks and shops, reflecting the typical Roman architectural style. The construction of the Cardos was part of a broader effort to Romanize Jerusalem, integrating it into the empire's network of cities. Byzantine Period - 314 to 614 AD The Cardo appears on the Madaba map during the Byzantine period. The map is located at St. George's Church in Madaba. This detailed map, dating to around 542 AD, shows most of the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem. During the Byzantine period, significant developments were made to the Cardo in Jerusalem. In the 6th century AD, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, the Cardo was extended southward from its original Roman layout. This extension reached the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and continued to the Zion Gate. The Byzantine Cardo maintained the colonnaded design of its Roman predecessor, featuring a central open-air passage flanked by sidewalks and shops. Excavations have revealed a Byzantine level on the southern side of the Cardo, which included restored columns and other architectural elements. The Madaba Map shows the Cardo, underscoring its importance in the city's layout during this period. The Nea Church, built by Roman Emperor Justinian to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also known as the New Church (Nea). It was a massive church built on the Cardo Maximus. The false god temple that Hadrian built over Golgotha was torn down, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built in its place. As the false god temple Hadrian built was the central focus of Aelia Capitolina, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre became the central focus of the original and renamed Jerusalem. Crusader Period - 1099 to 1291 AD North of the modern Cardo shopping center in the Jewish Quarter are Arab shops. These shops are much older, owned by Arab merchants, and built over the Cardo Maximus. This section, 125m (136 yards) in length, is located between David Street (Suq el Bazar) and El Saraya Street. It is parallel and east of the Muristan section of the Christian quarter. Here, the Crusaders split the broad Cardo Street (22.5m, 74 ft) into three north-south narrow alleys, which were converted to covered markets. Along the walls are engraved inscriptions dating to the Crusaders' Period. These inscriptions, “ANNA,” “SCA ANNA,” and “SCA,” mark the owner of the Suq Lahamin market: the church of St. Anna. Other streets show inscriptions, such as Templars (“T”). The markets were one of the institutions' sources of income in Medieval Jerusalem. Muslim Period - 1291 to 1917 AD In the 7th century, when Jerusalem fell under Muslim rule, the Cardo became an Arab-style marketplace. Over the years, it slowly fell into ruins and was built over as the city was destroyed and rebuilt several times. Modern Period - 1917 to Present During the Israeli-Arab War in 1948, the Jordanians conquered the Jewish quarter and deported its Jewish residents. The quarter was left in ruins for 19 years, until 1967. However, as a result of the Six-Day War, Jerusalem was reunited, now under Israeli sovereignty. The state of Israel strived to rebuild the Jewish quarter and repopulate it. Before the construction began, a major archaeological project was launched, during which many discoveries were made. The archaeologists uncovered a section of the “Cardo Maximus.” Parts of the street, where Ottoman-era roofing was still intact, were developed into a commercial area, with some Byzantine-era columns repositioned. The modern restoration of the Cardo in Jerusalem began following its rediscovery during excavations in the Jewish Quarter in 1969. The restoration plan, heavily influenced by the depiction of the Cardo on the Madaba Map, aimed to preserve the ancient street's historical integrity while incorporating contemporary materials. A portion of the Cardo has been rebuilt as a covered shopping arcade, reflecting the style of an ancient Roman street. This restored section serves as a modern shopping lane, with stores housed in the ancient Crusader-era shops. The restoration has transformed the Cardo into a lively tourist area, maintaining its historical significance while adapting it for contemporary use. Cardo Maximus Excavated Sites of Interest Corinthian Columns Situated in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, this section's exposed length is about 150 meters and some 2.5 meters below modern street level. Only five full columns stand at their original height, and one at partial height. Simple bases supported monolithic shafts spaced 5.77 meters apart, which supported intricately carved Byzantine-style Corinthian capitals. Remains of the Shops The Byzantine street was open to the sky in the center but was covered on both sides with terra-cotta tiles supported by wooden planks. The roadway was divided into three parts: two colonnaded covered walks and a 12-meter-wide road in the center. Pavement The central open pavement served as both commercial access and ritual space. Some of the excavated Cardo sections are located under the modern houses of the Jewish quarter. The street was covered with replaceable hard limestone slabs, as was customary with paved roads. Pavers that were filed smoothly were exposed everywhere. Mural Painting A large mural painting shows what Cardo would have looked like 1,500 years ago. This vivid image of the bustling streets of Cardo displays the wears, a covered walkway, animals, and other colorful characters. Replica of the Madaba Map This can be found just south of the main excavated section of the Cardo Maximus. The part of the map depicts Jerusalem, with the Cardo Maximus, a colonnaded street, in the center. Two important structures along the Cardo were the Nea Church and the Holy Sepulchre. The Cardo's most striking visual feature was its colonnade, clearly depicted on the Madaba Map. Cardo by Damascus Gate Sites of Interest Cardo Shops by the Damascus Gate Today, the Cardo is the division between the Christian and Muslim quarters. As in ancient times, this street was the main thoroughfare in the Old City, but today, it is much narrower. For example, Suq Lahamin Street has 83 shops on both sides of the narrow alley. It is known by different names: “Vegetable Market,” “Spices Street,” “Herbs Street,” and “Butcher’s Market.” Places of Interest 1. Cardo Maximus 2. Cardo Minor 3. Damascus Gate 4. Zion Gate 5. Temple Mount 6. Muslim Quarter 7. Christian Quarter 8. Jewish Quarter 9. Armenian Quarter 10. Western Wall 11. Church of the Holy Sepulchre 12. Cardo Maximus Excavations 13. Cardo Minor Excavations 14. Model of Byzantine Jerusalem at St. Peter Gallicantu Church The Cardo In the Bible 1. Jesus' prophecy that Jerusalem would be destroyed is fulfilled in its history. Luke 19:41-44: And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44and tear you down to the ground , you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 23:28-29: But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Faith Lesson 1. God sent Israel and Judah prophet after prophet over a period of around 400 years to warn them against rejecting Him. God was more than patient with them. What about us? Do we take God's word and His warnings seriously? 2. Judah, the southern part of Israel, should have seen God's seriousness when it saw the northern part of Israel deported to Assyria in 722 BC. What about us? Do we heed what God does to others and realize He could do the same to us if we continue rebelling against Him? 3. God led all of Israel into captivity because they rejected Him. 2 Kings 24:20: For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence. What about us? Do we genuinely believe there will be consequences to our rejection of God and living life as we want instead of following God's will for our lives?

The Judean Wilderness runs from north of Jericho to the southern end of the Dead Sea. It lies on the western side of the Jordan Rift Valley. It’s about 60 miles (95 km.) long and about 13 miles (21 km.) wide. It receives less than 2 inches (50 mm.) of rain per year. Water is scarce and hard to find. Judean Wilderness Photo Gallery Places of Interest Judean Wilderness Location 1. The Judean Wilderness runs from north of Jericho to the southern end of the Dead Sea. 2. It lies on the western side of the lower Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea area. 3. It’s about 60 miles (95 km.) long and about 13 miles (21 km.) wide. 4. It receives less than 2 inches (50 mm.) of rain per year. 5. Average high temperatures in the winter run in the 70s (21 C.) and highs in the summer run over 100 (40 C.). 6. Water is scarce and hard to find, and very little vegetation grows in the wilderness due to its lack of water and poor soil composition. Historical Background 1. Even though the Judean Desert is dry and barren, it was settled long before recorded history began. Jericho, which dates to 5000 BC, is the oldest city in the Judean Desert and the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. 2. En Gedi is another notable place that dates to about the same time as Jericho. It’s a large oasis that had cities built around it for over 5,000 years. 3. Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other three cities around the Dead Sea date back to ancient times as well. 4. It appears God changed the climate of the Judean Wilderness after He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities. Scripture says that this area used to be like a watered garden of the Lord. Genesis 13:10: And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah .) 5. God will cause the Judean Wilderness to flourish during the Millennial Reign of Christ on this earth. Ezekiel 47:6–10: Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. 9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From En Gedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Places of Interest 1. Judean Wilderness 2. Jordan River 3. Jericho 4. Qumran 5. Dead Sea 6. En Gedi 7. Masada Judean Wilderness in the Bible En Gedi and King David 1. En Gedi was one of David’s main hideouts when Saul was pursuing his life. 1 Samuel 23:28–29: So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore, that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi . Qumran and the Essenes 1. The Essenes lived in the Judean Wilderness from about 200 BC to around 68 AD. They were a spiritually devoted group who left Jerusalem due to their belief that the priesthood had become corrupt. They devoted themselves to the study and strict obedience of Scripture. 2. They also devoted themselves to copying and translating the Bible. When they saw the nation of Israel falling to the Romans in 68 AD, they hid their translations in caves by the Dead Sea. 3. These translated manuscripts are called the Dead Sea Scrolls and were discovered in eleven caves along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea between the years 1947 and 1956. John the Baptist 1. He was the prophesied forerunner of Christ, whose purpose was to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). 2. His main message was a message of repentance. Matthew 3:1–12: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea , 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'" 4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist [similar to Elijah], and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 3. He had the privilege of baptizing Jesus. Matthew 3:13–17: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him . 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, 17 and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 4. He was beheaded for taking a stand against sin. Herod Antipas became the ruler (‘tetrarch’) of Galilee and Perea from 4 BC to 39 AD. He ruled from his capital at Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. He divorced his first wife in order to marry Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip. He imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist for criticizing his marriage (Matt. 14:1–12). Testing of Jesus 1. After Jesus was baptized, He was immediately led into the wilderness to be tested. Matthew 4:1-11: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted [tested] by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Faith Lesson from the Judean Wilderness 1. John the Baptist was a strong and serious witness for Jesus. John’s life is an example to us of the seriousness with which we are to approach the Christian life and our call to ministry. 2. John shows us how to stand firm in our faith no matter what the circumstances. Paul reminds us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). 3. Christ was tested and overcame each test of Satan with Scripture. 4. God tested many of His servants before He called them to ministry, i.e., Moses, David, and the Prophets. 5. We are often tested by God as well. 6. Scripture says that leaders are to be tested before being placed into ministry (1 Tim. 3:10). 7. Has God tested me in various ways in my lifetime? 8. How have I responded to the tests He sends my way? 9. Do I know God’s Word so I can overcome the temptations of Satan?

New discoveries show the history of the Eastern Gate, the true location of the original temple, the history of Jerusalem, its gates, and prophecies. This video shows more evidence the Bible is true. The Eastern Gate is located on the eastern side of the Temple Mount and faces the Mount of Olives. It is an important gate because it plays a central role in Scripture and prophecy. Eastern Gate Photo Gallery Places of Interest Eastern Gate Location 1. The Eastern Gate is located on the eastern side of the Temple Mount and faces the Mount of Olives. 2. It is an important gate because it plays a central role in Scripture and prophecy. 3. The current Old City of Jerusalem is surrounded by a wall containing eight major gates. Lions Gate (Stephen’s Gate) Eastern Gate (Golden Gate, Shushan Gate) Dung Gate Zion Gate Jaffa Gate New Gate Damascus Gate Herod’s Gate 4. The Eastern Gate is unique in that it is sealed shut. 5. It is the oldest gate in Old City Jerusalem. Historical Background 1. The original Eastern Gate was built by Solomon (960 BC), or at a later date, by Hezekiah (715 BC). The ancient posts located inside the gate today, along with the stones beside the gate of the Eastern Wall, date back to these time periods and would affirm its early existence and location at its present-day site. 2. It is very likely that Nehemiah rebuilt the Eastern Gate when he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in around 444 BC. Some believe the original gate was then named the Eastern Gate by Nehemiah at this time. 3. Herod the Great then rebuilt the Eastern Gate in around 19 BC and added a stairway, or rebuilt an existing one that led up to the gate. This stairway ran alongside the Eastern Wall. In the 1860s, Charles Warren discovered an outer wall that enclosed the stairway leading up to the Eastern Gate that Herod had built. 4. The best evidence suggests that the gate was then rebuilt during the Umayyad period (661–750 AD), on the foundations of the earlier gate dating to the time of Solomon or Hezekiah. Part of the gate from this time period has been preserved. As mentioned above, the remains of two massive ancient gateposts are preserved inside this gate. These gateposts are situated in the same line as the Eastern Wall of the Temple Mount. They also line up with the lower massive stone masonry on both sides of the Golden Gate. The gateposts, along with the masonry sections of the Eastern Wall, suggest they are all part of the same construction. The upper part of the southern gatepost is level with the top of the ancient stone masonry that can be seen south of the Golden Gate. The gatepost in the northern part of the gate is one stone course higher and is located just one stone course lower than the surface of the Temple Mount. These two ancient gateposts belong to the gate dating back to the First Temple period, which is most likely the Shushan Gate that is mentioned in Mishnah Middot 1.3. This gate was the only gate in the Eastern Wall at that time. 5. The current gate that is seen today was rebuilt by Suleiman in around 1541 AD and was built on the foundations of the earlier gates. The Eastern Gate’s outer facade today consists of two blocked-up gateways decorated with detailed carved relief arches. 6. The original gate was thought to have been discovered in 1969 by Dr. James Fleming and was believed to be east of the current Eastern Gate a bit and about 8 feet (2.5 m) lower. However, after significant research and archaeological work was done and analyzed, it appears what Dr. Fleming found were arches of a stairway that led up to the Eastern Gate that Herod the Great built. Again, inside the gate are ancient posts that date back to the First Temple period. These reveal that the level of the current Eastern Gate is relatively the same as it has always been. The bedrock beneath the Eastern Gate rises sharply upwards from the Kidron Valley to the Temple Mount, so this would make it very unlikely that the original gate was beneath the current one as the bedrock would be in the way and prevent this. Moreover, the stones of the arch that Dr. Fleming discovered are Herodian, which are much later than the original Eastern Gate, making it unlikely the arch that was discovered was part of the top of the Eastern Gate. Again, reputable archaeologists now believe that what Dr. Fleming discovered was one of the arches of the stairway leading up to the Eastern Gate. Herod built this stairway, so the stone type that was found would match this time era as well. However, it should be noted that what Dr. Fleming discovered does provide more evidence that the Eastern Gate’s current location is accurate. 7. The Eastern Gate gives the most direct access to the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. 8. The Eastern Gate is unique in that it is completely sealed shut. Some commentators see the Eastern Gate’s obstruction as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. It was closed by the Muslims in 810 AD, reopened in 1102 AD by the Crusaders, and then walled up by Saladin after regaining Jerusalem in 1187 AD. Ottoman Sultan Suleiman rebuilt it together with the city walls and again walled it up in 1541 AD, and it has stayed that way until today. It’s believed that the closing of the Eastern Gate was to prevent the Jewish Messiah from gaining entrance to the temple on the Temple Mount. Muslims also put a cemetery directly in front of the gate as an extra layer of precaution, believing that the Messiah, being a good Jew, would not walk through it and become unclean in doing so. However, whatever Christ touches becomes clean, so that presents no problem. 9. Jewish tradition states that the Messiah will pass through the Eastern Gate when He comes to rule. For Christians, Christ already did this at His first coming and will do it again at His second coming. Ezekiel 44:1–3: Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. 2 And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore, it shall remain shut. 3 Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.” 10. Though it is formally called the Eastern Gate, it is also known as the Golden Gate, the Gate of Eternal Life, the Mercy Gate, the Shushan Gate, and sometimes as the Beautiful Gate. Scripture says in Acts 3:1–10 that the Beautiful Gate was one of the temple gates. This would make the Nicanor Gate the best candidate for being the Beautiful Gate. 11. Some believe the Eastern Gate was in direct alignment with the gate into the temple's outer court, inner court, and main entrance doors. This belief comes from a misunderstanding of a writing in Middot 2.4 (which is part of the Jewish Mishnah) that says: “All the walls there were high, save only the eastern wall because the [High] priest that burns the [Red] heifer and stands on top of the Mount of Olives should be able to look directly into the entrance of the sanctuary when the blood is sprinkled.” However, the view from the top of the Mount of Olives through the Eastern Gate would only allow one to see into the ground because the gate was lower than the temple. So, this presents an impossibility as you cannot look from a higher elevation through a lower gate and then see something that is higher than that gate. Therefore, a line of vision from the top of the Mount of Olives through the Eastern Gate makes it impossible to see anything on the Temple Mount, let alone the temple. Therefore, it appears that what was meant in the writing of Middot 2.4 referred to the Nicanor Gate. This was an outer gate of the temple complex. From the top of the Mt. of Olives, one could easily look directly through the Nicanor Gate and see the sanctuary. Therefore, the Eastern Gate was not in alignment with the temple, as some suggest. The original temple has very strong evidence that it was in the exact location where the Dome of the Rock stands today. 12. Some also believe that during the time of Christ, according to the Mishnah (collection of Jewish oral laws), a bridge (causeway) led out of the Temple Mount eastward over the Kidron Valley, extending as far as the Mount of Olives. The Hebrew word for causeway is Kevesh , usually translated as “ramp,” not as “bridge.” It is very unlikely there was a major causeway spanning the Kidron Valley as it would have been massive in size, extremely difficult to build, and expensive. This causeway mentioned most likely refers to the stairway leading up to the Eastern Gate that ran along the eastern wall. Moreover, it wouldn't have been far to walk up the Kidron Valley a bit and then back to the Eastern Gate. People in ancient times were used to walking, so this seems more likely than saving a few steps to walk over a large bridge spanning the Kidron Valley. However, if there would have been a causeway or bridge that did exist, it would have been on a small scale. 13. It should also be mentioned that the archaeological evidence supporting the Eastern Gate as being authentic provides strong evidence that the original temple was located on the current Temple Mount. Additionally, the ancient stones of the Eastern Wall dating back to the first temple period also validate the temple’s location. Places of Interest 1. Eastern Gate 2. Ancient Gate Posts 3. Ancient Stone Masonry 4. Eastern Wall 5. Stairway Leading Up to the Eastern Gate 6. Outer Wall Encompassing the Stairway 7. Temple Mount 8. Nicanor Gate 9. Original Location of the Temple 10. Inner and Outer Courts of the Temple 11. Mount of Olives 12. Other Gates of Old City Jerusalem The Eastern Gate in the Bible 1. It is the likely gate the ashes of the Red Heifer sacrifice were carried through and then deposited in a clean place outside the city (Num. 19:1–10). 2. The glory of the Lord left the temple because of Israel’s disobedience. Ezekiel 10:18–19: Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. Ezekiel 11:23: And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city [Mount of Olives]. 3. The glory of the Lord will return to the temple at Christ’s second coming. Ezekiel 43:1–5: Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east , 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Zechariah 14:4: On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east , and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 4. When Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday (Triumphal Entry), He most likely used the Eastern Gate. Luke 19:37–38: As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives —the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:45–46: And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 5. It is the gate that Jesus would have entered and exited through repeatedly as He taught in the temple and then retreated to the Mount of Olives to rest and sleep. Luke 21:37–38: And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet . 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. 6. The Beautiful Gate (most likely the Nicanor Gate) was where Peter and John healed a lame man. Acts 3:1–10: Now Peter and John went up together to the Temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour, and a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms from those who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Faith Lesson from the Eastern Gate 1. The Eastern Gate has seen many prophecies fulfilled. 2. There are still more prophecies it will witness. 3. Prophecy proves the Bible is accurate and that we can place our full confidence in it. 4. If all past prophecies have been fulfilled, we can rest assured that what is still prophesied will also come to pass. 5. Do we fully believe the prophecies in the Bible and are we living in such a way that proves it?