Ein Karem (Kerem) is a charming hillside village famed for its centuries-old holy sites. Among these include the Church of St. John the Baptist, containing a cave said to be John's birthplace, and Mary’s Spring, where the Virgin Mary is believed to have drunk. Four other holy sites are in Ein Karem as well such as Visitation Church, the Notre Dame de Sion convent, the Greek Orthodox St. John Convent, and the Al Moskovia Russian monastery (originally called the Gorny Monastery). Ein - Karem (Kerem) Photo Gallery Places of Interest Ein Karem ~ John the Baptist Introduction Welcome to Ein Karem. Many events from the Bible took place here. Here are some of the highlights. 1. Here is where John the Baptist's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, lived. 2. John the Baptist was born here. 3. Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited Elizabeth here, and the baby leaped within her womb when she saw Mary. There are three sites here that will be our focus. 1. Church of St. John the Baptist - Birthplace of John 2. Church of the Visitation - Place Mary visited Elizabeth 3. The Spring of Mary - Place Mary quenched her thirst before climbing the hill to visit Elizabeth. Location 1. Ein Karem (Kerem) is located about 4.5 miles (7 km) southwest of Jerusalem. 2. Ein (spring) Karem (vineyard), together meaning “Spring of the Vineyard,” has a Jewish and Christian history and is still a tranquil place of trees and vineyards. Historical Background 1. In the Old Testament, Ein Karem is referred to as “BeitaKerem or Beth-Haccerem,” as found in Jeremiah 6:1 and Nehemiah 3:14. The area was within the jurisdiction of the Tribe of Judah. 2. In the New Testament, Ein Karem is best known as the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the birthplace of John the Baptist. 3. It is considered one of the top tour destinations for Christian pilgrims. Two Homes of Zechariah and Elizabeth 1. The two main sites in Ein Karem are the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist and the Visitation Church. It is believed that Zechariah and Elizabeth had two houses in Ein Karem. Zechariah was a priest and likely wealthy. Therefore, it is very possible he had two residences in Ein Karem. 2. Their usual residence was in the valley. However, a cooler summer house located high on a hillside allowed them to escape the heat and humidity during warmer months. The summer house is believed to be where the pregnant Elizabeth remained in seclusion for five months, as found in Luke 1:24. It’s also where Mary visited her. 3. John the Baptist was born in the house in the valley. It was also here that Zechariah finally regained his power of speech when he wrote on a writing tablet that the baby’s name was to be John. Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist 1. During excavations in the church, which has at its core the cave that Christian tradition identifies as the birthplace of John the Baptist, there have been discovered remains of two Byzantine chapels which mark the place where early Christians venerated this site as the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and the birthplace of John the Baptist. The Byzantine ruins include two chapels: the “Martyrs Chapel,” where the modern church is located, and another chapel under the southern side of the monastery. The Martyrs Chapel refers to the children killed by Herod in Matthew 2:16. An inscription in a mosaic panel reads, in Greek, “Hail martyrs of God.” Whom it refers to is unknown. 2. Two altars have also been discovered in this church. The high altar is dedicated to St John. To the right is Elizabeth’s altar. To the left are steps leading down to a natural grotto — identified as John’s birthplace and believed to be part of his parents’ home. Also found under this church are remains from the first century AD, including a flight of plastered steps recently identified as part of a typical Jewish ritual bath (mikveh) for purification. Some have linked the discovery to Zachariah. As a priest in the temple, he probably had to purify himself every day since his meals were often based on sacrifices brought by pilgrims. It is, therefore, possible that Zachariah had a mikveh in his own house. Therefore, the archaeological find is of major importance to substantiate the Christian tradition. 3. In the Crusader period (1099-1291), a church was built over the house believed to be the house of Zachariah. First mentioned by a Russian pilgrim, Daniel, in 1109, this church was one of the first to be built by the Crusaders. Church of the Visitation 1. The Virgin Mary’s visit to Elizabeth is depicted in a mosaic on the facade and is commemorated in a two-tiered church built on a slope of the hill south of Ein Karem. Several churches and monasteries were built during the Byzantine period. The Visitation Crusader's Church was built over one of them. 2. Later, the Crusaders rebuilt some of the ruined Byzantine churches. The upper floor of the visitation church shows remains of the Crusader’s church, especially on the south wing. 3. Antonio Barluzzi designed the modern church, which was completed in 1955. The artistically decorated Church of the Visitation is considered one of the most beautiful Gospel sites in the Holy Land. 4. This church is believed to be the site of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s summer house, where Mary visited her cousin. On the wall opposite the church, ceramic plaques reproduce Mary’s song of praise, as found in Luke 1:46-55. Mary's exultation is translated into 58 languages and can be found hanging on large plaques on the side of the church. 5. In the lower chapel, a vaulted passage leads to an old well. Ancient tradition suggests that a spring joyfully burst out of the rock here when Mary greeted Elizabeth. 6. A huge stone set in a niche is known as the Stone of Hiding . According to an ancient tradition, the stone opened to provide a hiding place for baby John during Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents — an event depicted in a painting on the wall. Mary’s Spring 1. In a valley south of the village is a fresh-water spring known as Mary’s Spring or the Fountain of the Virgin. Tradition states that Mary quenched her thirst from this spring before climbing the hill to meet Elizabeth. 2. The village of Ein Karem gets its name from this spring. Its meaning is derived from the Arabic “Ein” (spring) and Kerem (vineyard or olive grove). A small, abandoned mosque is built over the spring, another reminder that this was once an Arab village. 3. Southwest of Ein Karem, off Route 386, a Greek Melkite monastery and a Franciscan convent mark the Desert of St. John, a site where John the Baptist is believed to have lived in seclusion. Places of Interest Ein Karem is home to five churches and monasteries: 1. The Church of St. John the Baptist 2. Visitation Church 3. Notre Dame de Sion Convent: It is operated by an order of nuns of the Zion sisters and has been converted to function as a guest house. 4. Greek Orthodox St. John Convent: This serves the Greek-Orthodox community of Ein Karem. The ancient church (built in 1894) was restored in 1975. 5. Al Moskovia Russian Monastery (initially called the Gorny Monastery). Construction on this five-orange-domed structure started in 1905 and was completed in 2005. Later, its domes were painted gold. 6. Additionally, a focal point is the famous Mary’s Well, where it’s believed that Mary, miraculously pregnant with Jesus, sat and drank from its spring waters while sitting with Elizabeth, who was miraculously pregnant with John at the same time. John the Baptist in the Bible 1. John was the prophesied forerunner of Christ, whose purpose was to prepare the way of the Lord. Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies. Malachi 4:5–6: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.” 2. He had a supernatural birth and calling. Luke 1:11–17: Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall [l]name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 3. It was in Ein Karem that Mary magnified the Lord. The spiritual depth of Mary, a young virgin, is quite remarkable. Luke 1:46–56: And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is to generation after generation toward those who fear Him. 51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed. 54 He has given help to His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, 55 Just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. 4. His main message was a message of repentance. Matt. 3:1–12: Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’” 4 Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 At that time, Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance; 9 and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10 And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 5. He had the privilege of baptizing Jesus. Matt. 3:13–17: Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, 17 and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 6. He was beheaded for his message against the sin of Herod the Tetrarch. Matt. 14:1–12: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 And after being prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and his dinner guests. 10 He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus. Faith Lesson from Ein Karem 1. John's preaching was a strong message of repentance and judgment, the same message Christ preached. What about us? When we share the gospel, do we focus on the need for repentance, or do we skip over it? 2. The depth of Mary's knowledge of God and faith was remarkable. What about us? How deep is our knowledge and faith? Are we committed to growing and deepening our knowledge and faith or are we apathetic and lazy about it? 3. John died for preaching against Herod the Tetrarch's sin. What about us? Do we have strong convictions and stand against sin, or are we passive and silent?

Learn about Gaza and the 5 cities of the Philistines. What all happened in Ashdod? What is its history? Who were the Philistines, where did they come from, and where did they live? They are mentioned in many places in the Old Testament and were the enemies of the Israelites. The Other Cities Were: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Gath. Biblical Gaza Photo Gallery Places of Interest Gaza Location 1. Gaza is located south of Ashkelon and Ashdod, it also is on the Mediterranean Ocean and was one of the cities of the Philistine Pentapolis. It is the southernmost city. Today, virtually no ruins remain from this city as it has been destroyed in later years due to what appears to be political reasons. 2. It was on a hill rising about 200 ft. (61 m.) above the valley floor. There were sand dunes between it and the sea, which was about 2 miles away. 3. Today, because ancient Gaza lies in the Gaza Strip, where land is scarce and Israeli interests are not valued, the remains of ancient Gaza are practically nonexistent. Gaza in the Bible 1. In the conquest of the Promised Land, Joshua and the Israelites failed to conquer Gaza, along with several other main cities of the Philistines (Josh. 10:41, 11:22). 2. Later, the tribe of Judah captured Gaza but couldn’t control it for long, and it fell back into the hands of the Philistines (Judg. 1:18). 3. Samson had many encounters with the Philistines. In one encounter, Samson carried heavy gates from Gaza all the way to the Hebron area, a distance of around 42 miles (72 km.). Judges 16:1: Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and had relations with her. Judges 16:3: Now Samson lay asleep until midnight, and at midnight he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two doorposts, and pulled them up along with the bars; then he put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain which is opposite Hebron . 4. Samson met his death in Gaza. Judges 16:28-30: Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed outwards powerfully, so that the house fell on the governors and all the people who were in it. And the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime. 5. After the Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle and captured the Ark of the Covenant during the priesthood of Eli and his two wicked sons, Gaza, along with the other main cities of the Philistines, sent a trespass offering to God when the ark was returned to the Israelites at Beth-Shemesh (1 Sam. 6:17–18). 6. When Hezekiah reigned, he defeated and pursued the Philistines to Gaza but did not seem to have captured the city. However, the Assyrians later captured it in 720 BC. 7. In the New Testament, Philip was sent to Gaza to evangelize the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:26: But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza .” Faith Lesson from Gaza 1. The Israelites failed to conquer the people of Gaza and as a result, they caused continual problems for Israel. In the same way, if we fail to be victorious over sin and problems in our lives we will continue to suffer the consequences as well. 2. God used Samson to reveal Himself as God to those of Gaza. Therefore, they knew who the true God was and had no excuse for rejecting Him. 3. Unfortunately, Samson failed in many ways to fulfill the mission and calling God intended for him. He met his death in Gaza as a defeated, blind servant instead of a strong victorious, and successful servant. 4. What about us? Are we victorious successful servants of God or do we live weak defeated lives? God gives us all the power and grace we need to be victorious. Romans 8:37: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

How do we know that the Bible is true and God's Word? Through the fulfillment of prophecy. No other writing known to mankind dares to walk into the arena of prophecy. See a video that proves the Bible can be trusted. Filmed in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives overlooking Old City Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley, the place where Christ will return and judge the nations. Prophecy: Proof the Bible Is True Prophecy: Proof the Bible is True Welcome to the Holy Land and the biblical site of the city of Jerusalem. See the Bible come to life as we take a look at some key prophecies in the Bible regarding Christ’s first coming. We see clearly that the Bible is the inspired Word of God as only God can foretell the future and prophecy what is to come. Heb. 10:19-23: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Prophecies of Christ foretold in the Old Testament that Christ fulfilled in the New Testament. In the list below, the first verse(s) are the Old Testament prophecy and the second verse(s) are the New Testament fulfillment. Christ's pre-existence Mic. 5:2 - John 1:1,14 All nations blessed by Abraham's seed Genesis 12:3 - Matthew 8:5,10 From the tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 - Luke 3:33 Heir to the throne of David Isaiah 9:7 - Luke 1:32-33 Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" Isaiah 9:6 - Matthew 1:23 Born in Bethlehem Mic. 5:2 - Matthew 2:1 Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:18 His name called Immanuel, "God with us" Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:23 Declared to be the Son of God Psalm 2:7 - Matthew 3:17 His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah Mal 4:5-6 - Luke 1:17 Preceded by a messenger Mal 3:1 - Matthew 11:7-11 Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" Isaiah 40:3 - Matthew 3:3 Called out of Egypt Hosea 11:1 - Matthew 2:15 Slaughter of the children Jer. 31:15 - Matthew 2:18 Would be a Nazarene Jdg. 13:5; Amo. 2:11 - Matthew 2:23 Presented with gifts Psalm 72:10 - Matthew 2:1,11 Rejected by His own Isaiah 53:3 - Mat 21:42; Mark 8:31, 12:10; Luke 9:22, 17:25 He is the stone which the builders rejected which became the headstone. Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16 - Matthew 21:42; I Peter 2:7 A stone of stumbling to Israel Isaiah 8:14-15 - I Peter 2:8 Entered Jerusalem as a king riding on an ass Zec. 9:9 - Matthew 21:5 Betrayed by a friend Psalms 41:9 - John 13:21 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zec. 11:12 - Matthew 26:15; Luke 22:5 Forsaken by His disciples Zec. 13:7 - Matthew 26:56 Accused by false witnesses Psalm 35:11- Matthew 26:60 Silent to accusations Isaiah 53:7 - Matthew 27:14 Heal blind/deaf/lame/dumb Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6 - Matthew 11:5 Preached to the poor/brokenhearted/captives Isaiah 61:1 - Matthew 11:5 Came to bring a sword, not peace Mic. 7:6 - Matthew 10:34-35 He bore our sickness Isaiah 53:4 - Matthew 8:16-17 Spat upon, smitten and scourged Isaiah 50:6, 53:5 - Matthew 27:26,30 Smitten on the cheek Mic. 5:1 - Matthew 27:30 Hated without a cause Psalm 35:19 - Matthew 27:23 The sacrificial lamb Isaiah 53:5 - John 1:29 Given for a covenant Isaiah 42:6; Jer. 31:31-34 - Rom. 11:27; Gal 3:17, 4:24; Heb. 8:6-10, 10:16,29, 12:24, 13:20 Would not strive or cry Isaiah 42:2-3 - Mark 7:36 People would hear not and see not Isaiah 6:9-10 - Matthew 13:14-15 People trust in traditions of men Isaiah 29:13 - Matthew 15:9 People give God lip service Isaiah 29:13 - Matthew 15:8 God delights in Him Isaiah 42:1 - Matthew 3:17, 17:5 Wounded for our sins Isaiah 53:5 - John 6:51 Messiah not killed for Himself Daniel 9:26 - Matthew 20:28 Crucified with criminals Isaiah 53:12 - Matthew 27:35 His body was pierced Zec. 12:10; Psalm 22:16 - John 20:25-27 Thirsty during execution Psalm 22:16 - John 19:28 Given vinegar and gall for thirst Psalm 69:21 - Matthew 27:34 Soldiers gambled for his garment Psalm 22:18 - Matthew 27:35 People mocked Him on the cross Psalm 22:7-8 - Matthew 27:43 People sat there looking at Him Psalm 22:17 - Matthew 27:36 My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? Psalm 22:1 - Matthew 27:46 Darkness over the land Amos 8:9 - Matthew 27:45 No bones broken, Psa. 34:20; Num. 9:12 - John 19:33-36 Side pierced Zec. 12:10 - John 19:34 Buried with the rich Isaiah 53:9 - Matthew 27:57,60 Resurrected from the dead Psalm 16:10-11,49:15 - Mark 16:6 Priest after the order of Melchizedek Psalm 110:4 - Hebrews 5:5-6, 6:20, 7:15-17 Ascended to right hand of God Psalm 68:18 - Luke 24:51 Make enemies His footstool Psalm 110:1 - Mat 22:44; Mark 12:3; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:34-35; Heb. 1:13 His coming glory Mal 3:2-3 - Luke 3:17 Key Points In order for just 20 of these prophecies to come to pass by chance would be like filling the state of Texas 3 feet deep in coins, marking one with an “X,” blindfolding a person, and then having that person pick one coin and it being the one with an “X” on it. Only God can predict the future. Prophecy assures us God wrote the Bible and Christ is the Son of God. No other writings of mankind that attempts to prophecy attain to the perfection of the Bible. Some writings have mentioned a few vague prophecies, but they have not come to pass, or were so general that it’s hard to prove that they did. Christ and the Apostles all referred to most books of the Old Testament as the inspired word of God. Christ said heaven and earth would pass away but the Word of God would abide forever. Application: Do we trust the Bible as God’s word? 2 Tim 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Pet. 1:19-21: And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Heb. 4:12-13: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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?

Google interactive maps, video maps, printable maps, books, models, writings, teachings, and other maps and resources about the Holy Land. Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, Negev, Dead Sea, Nazareth, Capernaum, Masada. Maps of the Biblical Sites Maps for Purchase Map of Israel Map of Jerusalem Satellite Poster of Israel In the Footsteps of Jesus Map Sea of Galilee Booklet & Map Via Dolorosa Booklet & Map Posters & Maps in General Maps for Viewing Map of the Holy Land During the Time of Christ Website with Many Maps of the Holy Land and Surrounding Areas Map of Abraham's Journey to the Holy Land Map of the Travel Locations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph Travels of Moses and the Children of Israel Location of the 12 Tribes of Israel in the Holy Land Harmony of the 4 Gospels (Chronological timeline of events of the Life of Jesus) Biblical Sites for Christian Visitors Booklet Great Website for photos and info on the Holy Land

God, in His sovereignty, placed Tel Gezer, Israel, on the crossroads of the ancient world. They were to be a shining light for all to see God’s wonders, love, and miracles. See the importance of this location. Gezer is one of the largest tels in Israel. Whoever controlled Gezer had significant control over the ancient world. Gezer began to be inhabited some 5,000 years ago. It has around 21 layers of civilizations. Many child sacrifices were done here. Tel Gezer: On the Crossroads of the World Photo Gallery Places of Interest Gezer: On the Crossroads of the World Location 1. Gezer is in the eastern foothills of the coastal plain (Shaphelah) of western Israel. It is about 14 miles (22.5 km.) east of the Mediterranean Sea and about 19 miles (30.5 km.) west of Jerusalem. Tel Aviv sits about 17 miles (27 km.) to the northwest of Gezer. 2. Gezer was on the international north-south travel route called the Via Maris. It was also on a major east-west route that linked the coastal plain to Jerusalem and beyond. The Via Maris connected three continents, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This location is significant because Israel forms a narrow land bridge to connect these three continents. To the east is a desert and to the west is the Mediterranean Sea. This forced trade and travelers to use the Via Maris. Whatever happened in Israel was taken to the known world at that time. 3. Whoever controlled Gezer controlled the trade and influence of the ancient world in biblical times. 4. God, in His sovereignty, placed Israel on the crossroads of the known world so they could be a light to the world and communicate His message to them. 5. Gezer was in the territory of Ephraim. Historical Background 1. Gezer is one of the largest tels in Israel. 2. Whoever controlled Gezer had significant control over the ancient world. 3. Gezer began to be inhabited some 5,000 years ago. 4. It has around 21 layers of civilizations. 5. A tel is a mound of earth that develops as one civilization builds upon another. 6. The Canaanites first lived here from around 3000 BC to around 2000 BC. 7. Sadly, there has been found on this site many sacrificed babies. 8. When the Israelites arrived in 1406 BC, they failed to drive out the Philistines and occupy Gezer. 9. As a result, the Philistines lived here from around 2000 BC until King David subdued them in around 1000 BC. 10. Gezer existed during the time of Christ. 11. Gezer is mentioned 14 times in the Bible. 12. During the Hasmonean revolt (167 BC), the Jews lived close to Gezer and used it for battle purposes. 13. The Ottomans (15th and 16th centuries) lived here as well. Places of Interest 1. Parking 2. Canaanite Tower 3. Canaanite Gate 4. Water System 5. Sheikh's Tomb 6. Israelite City 7. Solomon’s Gate 8. Standing Stones 9. Lookout Point Gezer in the Bible 1. In the conquest of the Promised Land, God gave the Israelites victory over Gezer. Joshua 10:33: Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining. 2. The tribe of Ephraim was allotted Gezer, but they didn’t fully drive out its inhabitants and conquer them. Joshua 16:10: However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer , so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor. 3. Gezer was one of the cities given to the Kohathite clans of the Levites. It was also a city of refuge. Joshua 21:20–22: As to the rest of the Kohathites belonging to the Kohathite clans of the Levites, the cities allotted to them were out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands, 22 Kibzaim with its pasturelands, Beth-horon with its pasturelands-four cities. 4. King David, some 200 years later, conquered the Philistines who lived in Gezer. 2 Samuel 5:25: Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer . 5. After King David, it appears Egypt also conquered Gezer and gave it to Solomon, who rebuilt and fortified it. 1 Kings 9:15–17: And this is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon drafted to build the house of the Lord and his own house and the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem and Hazor and Megiddo and Gezer 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife; 17 so Solomon rebuilt Gezer ) and Lower Beth-horon. Faith Lesson from Gezer 1. In the same way Gezer is on a hill found on the crossroads of the world, we too have been placed by God in the world to influence those around us. 2. Unlike the Ephraimites who failed to conquer Gezer and attain what God had promised them, we should subdue what God wants us to become and accomplish for Him. 3. Like the standing stones at Gezer, we should be firm in our faith and persevere under persecution and pressure. We should not allow the world to mold us, but instead, we should impact the world for Christ.

Who has the right to the Holy Land? The Palestineans of the Jews? What does history say about this debate and hotly contested land? Learn all about it here! Who Has the Rights to the Holy Land? Holy Land Site Video Coming Soon Who Has the Right s to the Holy Land? The Jews or Arabs? Introduction Who has the right s to the Holy Land? The Jews or the Arabs? Who was there first? What does history show us about this issue? What does the future look like in this troubled part of the world? Currently, there is a war going on between Hamas and Israel, and many other countries are getting involved. Things look chaotic and uncertain. Everything that is happening is because of the dispute over who has the rights to the Holy Land. I f you want to know about who has the rights to this land and understand the root cause of the conflict, read on to find out. Let's explore this issue and see what the truth is. Let’s Define Some Names and Terms 1. Secular Arabs – These are the descendants of Ishmael, one of Abraham’s sons. 2. Muslim Arabs – These are the believers in the Islamic faith, who are generally Arabs, which was founded by Muhammad in around 610 AD. 3. Secular Jews – These are Jews who are not religious and do not follow the Jewish faith. 4. Religio us Jews – These believe and practice Judaism. 5. Pales tine & Palestinian – Roman Emperor Hadrian first used these terms in around 132 AD. He used them after a major conquest and destruction of Israel to eradicate the Jews due to their uprisings. He changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina and the country of Israel to Palestine. He used the word Palestine to refer to the Philistines, one of Israel’s enemies from around 1400 to 1000 BC. His intent was to erase the names of Israel and the Jews and disassociate them from the Holy Land. However, during the time of Hadrian, there were no Philistines that lived. Nonetheless, he did this to eliminate the name Israel and replace it. The term fell out of use during the Byzantine era in around 324 AD and wasn’t used again until 1948. It is used in these latter times by some to promote the idea that the Jews today have no right to their God-given homeland. However, many use it as it has become the common name for the Holy Land. I don’t like to use the word much because there are no original Philistines from the time of the Canaanites living in the Holy Land today, and the original intent of the word was antisemitic. However, I will use it on occasion for understanding and clarity purposes. The Conflict Is Mainly Between Muslim Arabs and Jews Now, this discussion is not about all Arabs and is not intended to be anti-Arab. I have a number of Arab friends and have met many Arab people while in the Holy Land who are wonderful folks. God loves all people and wants them to come to the saving knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, who proved to be divine and fulfilled countless prophecies proving this. Both the Jews and Arabs need Jesus Christ, along with all of us. He is the only hope for peace and salvation. Every person is equal and created in the image of God. I also want to say that I feel deep compassion for the innocent people caught up in war. Wars are ugly, destructive, and sad. What Is the Conflict About? The basic conflict is over who has the right to exist in the Holy Land. The Muslim Arabs claim they are the rightful owners of all the Holy Land and want no state of Israel at all, and Israel says they have a right to exist in their homeland. What Is the Root Cause of the Conflict? To really understand this conflict, we must go back in time to around 4,000 years ago to the time of Abraham and his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. From the descendants of these two brothers comes the conflict that has gone on for the last 4,000 years. Who Has the Right to the Holy Land? God should have the last word on this issue, as He is the Creator and owner of everything. Let’s see what God says. To do this, let’s look at the Abrahamic Covenant God made with Abraham regarding the land of Israel as found in the Bible. The Abrahamic Covenant consists of three promises God established with Abraham. 1. A Land 2. A Nation or People 3. A Lineage – Through the lineage of Isaac would come Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The Abrahamic Covenant The Abrahamic Covenant is given numerous times in Genesis chapters 12-17 and continually reaffirmed throughout both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. You will notice that the Bible uses the name Abram before it is later changed to Abraham, which means father of many nations. God promises a land and a people: 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 throug h the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” God promises Abraham a son: Genesis 15:18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. After waiting a long time without Abraham and Sarah having a child, Sarah tries to fulfill this promise through her handmaid, Hagar. The birth of Ishmael: Genesis16:11-12 After Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, there arose bitterness between Sarah and Hagar. Then God describes the kind of person Ishmael would be. “Behold, you [Hagar] are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” What do we see here? 1. The bitterness between Sarah and Hagar begins the conflict we see today. Later, this bitterness would include Ishmael and Isaac. 2. Ishmael will be a wild donkey of a man and will be against everyone and everyone against him. We certainly see this throughout history. The fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant would come through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, not through Ishmael. Genesis 17:15-22: And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” 22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. What do we see here? 1. The Abrahamic Covenant, an everlasting covenant, would be through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. God’s covenant would not be through Ishmael. 2. Ishmael would be the father of a great multitude, which are the Arab people. 3. Through the Abrahamic Covenant, fulfilled in Isaac, would come Jesus Christ, the prophesied Savior. Galatians 3:13-14, 16: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles , so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed . He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. What do we see here? 1. The genealogies of the Bible, which oftentimes we think are boring, are so important. They prove that Jesus Christ fulfills the lineage aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant that dates back to around 4,000 years. 2. P rophecy is what sets the Bible apart from any other writing. It contains very specific, detailed prophecies. So, in summary, the Abrahamic Covenant, which is the major storyline of the Bible, includes three major aspects: 1. A Land through Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his offspring, which today is known as the Holy Land. 2. A Nation or people through Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his offspring, which today are called the Jews or Israelis. 3. A Lineage – Through the lineage of Isaac would come Christ, the Savior of the world. The Role of Islam in the Conflict The religion of Islam, which came into being in around 610 AD, completely denies the Bible’s storyline and radically changes it. Muslims believe that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mohamad and gave him a number of revelations from around 610-632 AD. The Quran and Muslim theology believe the following: 1. The Abrahamic Covenant was intended for Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 2. The Holy Land is for Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 3. The promise of a nation or people is through Ishmael and his offspring, not Isaac and his offspring. 4. Jesus Christ is not the Savior but just a prophet, and Mohamad is greater than Jesus and is the last prophet. 5. I t denies the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 6. It believes the Bible is corrupted and that the Quran is the true revelation from God. Note: This Muslim belief cannot be true because the Dead Sea Scrolls, written around 100 BC, 700 years before Mohamad, verify that the Old Testament we have today is the same as what was written in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, Islam does more than just claim the Bible has been corrupted. It denies about 95% of the Bible is even true. For example, the New Testament's main theme is that salvation is through Jesus Christ and how to live and serve Him as a result. Islam denies all this. So, saying the Bible has been corrupted is not an accurate statement. The truth is that Islam rejects virtually all of the Bible and what it teaches. 6. Mohamad is the main example of how we should live. This even includes marrying children, as Mohamad married a 6-year-old girl when he was 51 and then consummated the marriage (had sex with her) when she was 10 years old. Marrying children is extremely common among Muslims. The Bible’s Claim About Islam According to the Bible, Islam is completely opposite to what the Bible teaches and is an antichrist religion. This explains why they hate Christians and Jews so much. The Jews believe in the Old Testament, and Christians believe in both the Old and New Testaments. Will the coming Antichrist be a Muslim? Many believe that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. This makes sense as Islam theology believes in a coming world leader called Mahdi. He will make a peace treaty for seven years, rule from the temple in Jerusalem, intend to kill all Jews and Christians and force all people to worship Allah. This Mahdi is exactly what the Bible describes as the Antichrist. Also, there is no other religion that is so against Christians and Jews like Islam. Additionally, Muslims believe Jesus will return to earth from heaven. But in their version of Jesus, he returns as a Muslim and will tell all the Christians that what the Bible says about him is wrong. He will destroy Christianity and demand that everyone convert to Islam and set up Islam as the one world faith. As you can see, Islam is anti-Bible and totally changes what the Bible teaches about the Abrahamic Covenant, which includes a land, a people, and a lineage. And most importantly, it teaches that Jesus was not who the Bible claims He is. Jesus warned about this when He was on earth. In Matthew 24:3-5, when Jesus was talking about the end times it says: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. What Islam teaches is the very thing Jesus warned believers to be on the lookout for and not to be deceived by it. So, at the root of the conflict we see playing out on the world stage right now is a spiritual conflict that began thousands of years ago and continues to this day. This conflict was experienced and prophesied in Psalm 83: Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah Islamic World Conquest Through Jihad Explains the Conflicts in Israel The theology of Musli ms is to conquer the world for Allah and institute Muslim rule over the entire world. This rule is also known as Sharia Law. After this is done, they say, then peace will finally come to the world. This is why, since the inception of Islam, Muslims have been engaged in conquering land for Allah. This can be clearly seen in its nearly 1500-year-old history. Therefore, Islam is a violent faith that conquers lands and peoples for Allah by whatever means necessary, as taught in the Quran. We can see this in the following quotes and teachings of Islam. 1. World conquest and Jihad is taught in the Quran and Islamic theology. Quran 8:60: And prepare against them all the power you can muster, and all the cavalry you can mobilize , to thereby Allah’s enemies and your enemies. By using terrorism, governments and people yield to Muslims because of fear. They see the horrifying acts of terrorism and don’t want to make the devoted Muslims angry so they won’t be terrorized. Quran 8:39: Fight them until there is no more persecution, and religion becomes exclusively for Allah. But if they desist—Allah is Seeing of what they do. Quran 47:4: When you encounter those who disbelieve, strike at their necks. Then, when you have routed them, bind them firmly. Then, either release them by grace, or by ransom, until war lays down its burdens. Had Allah willed, He could have defeated them Himself, but He thus tests some of you by means of others. As for those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will not let their deeds go to waste. Quran 9:14: Fight them. Allah will punish them at your hands, and humiliate them, and help you against them , and heal the hearts of a believing people. Quran 9:29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah. The theology of Islam promotes the raping and sexual slavery of women if it’s done in connection with Jihad. That’s why the men are generally killed, and the women taken into slavery. 2. Jihad groups, like Hamas, use as part of their warfare, placing their rockets and military operations behind women, children, schools, hospitals, mosques, and so forth. This way, when these places are targeted and destroyed, they can cry out that horrific abuses have been done to their innocent places and people. 3. According to the current leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Mahmoud Abbas, no Jews would be allowed to live in the land of Israel unless they converted to Muslim if a State of Palestine was created. This is completely opposite to what the state of Israel allows. Israel has many Arab citizens, has Arabs in their government leadership, and allows for complete freedom of religion. 4. According to a Muslim statement, Muslims should not submit to any form of government that is not Muslim, and no non-Muslim government has the right to rule Muslims. And if they do, Muslims have the duty to dislodge non-Muslim governments from power by any means possible. 5. Under Muslim-run countries, there is no separation of church and state. The government rules as a theocracy for Allah. This is also known as Sharia Law. 6. When Muslims conquer countries, they persecute and pressure non-Muslims to convert, or life will become unbearable for them, even to the point of execution. 7. They also destroy all religious sites like churches, synagogues, and so forth. They do this to show dominance and conquest. This is why they built the Dome of the Rock exactly over where the temple once stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 8. In Islamic Jihad, it is okay to lie to defeat non-Muslims. This is partly what happened with the recent Hamas invasion of Israel at the time of this filming in 2023, where they killed around 1,400 people and kidnapped around 220 people. They told Israel they wanted peace. Therefore, Israel let their guard down and were deceived. 9. It is also commonly promoted that Islam is a peaceful religion. This is done to deceive the ignorant. History and Muslim theology clearly state that Islam’s purpose is to conquer the world for Allah through Jihad, which is war by all means necessary. 10. There are also terrorism and death sentences in Islam for those who leave Islam or convert to another religion. This includes honor killings, imprisonment, and persecution within Muslim-run countries. I have personal Arabic friends living in Israel who have left Islam and are under threat from family members and other Muslims who want to kill them. 11. Many Arabs and Arab Muslims just want to live in peace and live their lives. However, the devoted Islamic Jihadists are the ones causing most of the trouble. That’s why when peace agreements are made between Israel and Arabs, the Jihadists increase their terrorism. This was clearly evidenced by the OSLO agreement that President Bill Clinton oversaw. The peaceful Muslims don’t do or say anything contrary to the Jihadists out of fear for their lives. So, it’s the devoted Jihadists who control most of the Arab countries. Again, the goal of the devoted Jihadists is to conquer the world for Allah. 12. The devoted Jihadists reject peace because, in their view, peace is losing ground and yielding power. According to them, it stops the progress of conquering the world for Allah. 13. The Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as Hamas, is a Palestinian Islamist militant group founded in 1987. The group’s primary objective is to establish an independent Islamic state in all the Holy Land. To accomplish their purpose, they want to eliminate Israel from the Holy Land. Hamas is known for its armed resistance against Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by many countries. 14. The group’s charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in what they call “historic Palestine.” Hamas has been governing more than two million Arabs in the Gaza Strip since 2007. 15. In summary, the Quran, Muslim theology, Mohamad’s life, and Muslim history all call for Jihad to punish and fight for Allah in the conquest of the world. Quran 9:14: Fight them. Allah will punish them at your hands, and humiliate them, and help you against them , and heal the hearts of a believing people. This is what the Bible says about Islamic Jihad. John 16:2-3: They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God . 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father nor Me. Is Israel Occupying the Holy Land Unjustly? Let’s look at a brief history of the Holy Land. 1. The Holy Land was promised to Abraham and his descendants by God and first inhabited by Abraham in around 2000 BC. This promise would come through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. 2. Later, God commanded the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites from the Holy Land because of their extreme wickedness. This happened in around 1406 BC when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. 3. The nation of Israel became the world’s dominant power under the kingships of King David and King Solomon in around 1000 BC. It was a vast empire. 4. Because Israel disobeyed God in many ways, He allowed foreign countries to conquer and subdue them. Many Jews were exiled. The first conquest happened in 722 BC by the Assyrians and 586 BC by the Babylonians. However, there always remained a Jewish presence in the Holy Land, and Jews returned from exile back to Israel. 5. Over the next 2,500 years, until 1948, the land of Israel would be ruled and occupied by the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Mameluke Muslims, Crusaders, Ottoman Muslims, and the British. However, there always remained a Jewish presence in the Holy Land during all this time. 6. After Israel’s rejection of Christ, their Messiah, God would judge them severely, as prophesied by Jesus. This resulted in the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem in 70 and 132 AD. 7. However, God had a plan and purpose for Israel and prophesied He would regather them into a nation again in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948. 8. In 1917, the Ottoman Empire fell because of World War I and the League of Nations entrusted the British with overseeing the Holy Land. This included all of the country of Jordan today, as well as all of Israel. 9. At this time, the Ottomans, by formal cession, gave the Holy Land to the League of Nations, who, by international law, gave it to Great Britain, known as the British Mandate, to facilitate a homeland and nation for Israel. 10. After much fighting and tension between Britain, the Jews, and the Arabs, Britain handed the Holy Land over to the UN (United Nations) to facilitate the conflict. 11. In November of 1947, the UN voted to recognize Israel as a state, and the British Mandate would end on May 15, 1948. 12. On May 15, 1948, after Israel was recognized as a state by the UN and the British Mandate ended, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria invaded Israel. Israel was victorious and won the war. 13. Egypt ruled the Gaza Strip, and Jordan ruled the West Bank from 1948-1967. 14. After the Six-Day War in 1967, when Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan were planning an attack on Israel in their attempt to take full possession of Israel, Israel launched a preemptive strike and won the battle. They took possession of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. 15. In 2005, Israel gave the Gaza Strip away to Arab leadership in exchange for peace. They also gave the Sinai Peninsula away to the Egyptians in exchange for peace as well. Therefore, Israel has not occupied the Gaza Strip for many years now. It has been under Arab control since 2005 and under Islamic Hamas leadership since 2007. Hamas receives billions of dollars in aid each year to better the country. Unfortunately, they spend most of it on terrorism and their own personal wealth instead of on building a better country for the people living there. 16. In addition to Israel giving full control to Arab leadership in the Gaza Strip, there are many areas of the Holy Land where Arabs have full control. 17. Most Arabs living in Israeli-controlled areas are very happy as the standard of living is much higher. The Arab-controlled areas, and especially the Gaza Strip, are where the standard of living is very low. 18. Today, there are around 9 million Jews and 2.1 million Arabs living in Israel. Many of the Arabs vote, serve in the military, hold office, are parliament and supreme court members, university professors, and doctors. They are very happy, peaceful, and supportive of the state of Israel. 19. Israel has accepted every two-state solution in the Holy Land, but Arab leadership has rejected every proposal. The Arab leadership wants Israel removed entirely from the Holy Land. This is their stated goal. Therefore, Arab leadership does not want peace but the elimination of the state of Israel. 20. It would be good to mention that there have been wars since the beginning of time. Kingdoms have risen and fallen. If Israel is wrongly occupying the land, then should the Muslims give back all the land they conquered over 1500 years and possess today? For that matter, should every country over the entire history of the world return conquered land? And if so, how far back do we go? War is just a reality of this fallen world, and it’s unrealistic to return all land to its original occupiers. And if we use history as the measure of the right to occupy land, then Israel has more rights to the land because they conquered it in 1406 BC. The Muslim Arabs didn’t conquer it until around 631 AD, then lost it later. 21. In all of the history of the Holy Land, there has never been a Palestinian State. In fact, as mentioned earlier, the term Palestinian fell out of use after the Byzantine conquest of Israel in around 324 AD and wasn’t used again until around 1948. 22. The main reason Israel is now against a two-state solution is that if they give the West Bank to Arab leadership, they will have the same issue they face today with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From the West Bank, rockets could then reach every part of Israel, and their existence would be threatened. And with the stated intent of Muslim Arab leadership to totally eliminate the Jews, this would be a dangerous reality. Israel Becoming a Nation Fulfills Bibl e Prophecy In Ezekiel chapter 37 is a vision Ezekiel received about a valley of dry bones. These bones represent the nation of Israel and how God would regather them into their homeland in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel was recognized by the UN and the International Community as being its own country. Ezekiel 37:11-14: Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land . Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” This amazing prophecy has been fulfilled and lets us know that the Bible is God’s word and true, as only God knows the future. We must realize that the creation of Israel as a state is God’s doing. It fulfills His master plan for the nation of Israel. God is the Lord and owner of everything, so we must realize it is His will for the nation of Israel to exist. Nothing will change His plans. Therefore, the fact that Israel is a state is ultimately by God’s sovereign work and plan, not people’s. Faith Lesson 1. God is the Creator and owner of everything. This includes all the earth and the nations on it. He raises up nations, and He removes nations according to His good purposes. God gave the Holy Land to Israel through the Abrahamic Covenant, so they have a right to exist in their homeland. 2. Other people lived in the Holy Land besides the Jews as well. Some of these were people from other nations whom the Assyrians and Babylonians brought in, some joined in the Jewish faith like Ruth, and some lived there because the Jews failed to conquer them in the conquest of the Promised Land in 1406 BC. According to the Jews, other nationalities are welcome to live in the Holy Land as long as they are peaceful. However, terrorists are a huge problem. 3. The Jews have agreed to virtually every peace treaty presented to them. They even gave up the Gaza Strip to the Arabs for peace and the Sinai Penisula to Egypt for peace. However, in the case of Gaza, they have only received terrorism and war. That's why Israel is not in favor of a two-date solution. All they would likely get is another Gaza in the middle of their country, where rockets could easily reach every part of Israel. 4. According to the devoted Muslims who follow the Quran, they are not interested in peace because that would be failure to conquer the world for Allah. Therefore, peace is not an option, and they will continue to fight against the Jews and all non-Muslim countries moving forward. 5. God has a plan for Israel, and He will be the one who defends them supernaturally. God will fulfill this major prophecy as He has fulfilled every other one. You can count on that. 6. God loves both the Jews and Muslims, and for that matter, all people and desires that everyone comes to salvation through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish , but that all should reach repentance.

Why is the Holy Land so special? See amazing and interesting facts and truths about Israel, the Holy Land. Videos, maps, books, talks, archaeology, Bible teachings, history, walls, gates, people, and language of the people and places in Israel. Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, Masada, Negev, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Hebron, Shechem, Samaria, Jordan River, Beersheba, and more. Holy Land Overview: Why It's So Special Israel – God’s Chosen Land Israel . . . Land of the Bible . . . Land of Faith . . . the Holy Land, revered throughout recorded history as the cradle of monotheistic religion. For a person of faith whose beliefs are rooted in the Bible, there is no place on earth like the Holy Land. In this narrow strip of land lies the source of religious belief of much of mankind. Here, amongst the barren hills and fertile plains, man’s spirit learned to soar and from here a new message went out to all the world: “. . . and many peoples shall come, and say, “Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For out of Zion (Hill next to Jerusalem) will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3,4). The unique factor about the Holy Land is its special location in the World. Situated as it is, straddling the divide between Africa and Asia, the area has almost always been a battleground. Wave after wave of conquerors poured into it, anxious to control the strategic trade routes linking the centers of the ancient world. It’s not by accident that it’s virtually in the center of the world. In God’s master plan of creation, He decided to place in exactly in the center of His creation. Located on a tiny land bridge between Africa and Asia, there is no other way to get between the two of them except through Israel. It’s located on the crossroads of the world. Whoever wanted to trade between the two continents, or control the known world, had to conquer and control Israel. For this reason there have been more wars and events that have taken place in Israel than any other country on earth. God positioned Israel in its unique location in order to influence the world and be on “Center Stage” so all of creation would know that He alone is God. For nearly 2,000 years, Christian visitors from all over the world have come to the Holy Land, the land of their spiritual heritage. With Bible in hand, they have walked the places Jesus walked, and prayed in the places He preached and prayed. For Christians, Israel is a place like no other. It provides them a one of a kind opportunity to experience the land of the Bible, to deepen their faith, and to be spiritually transformed for a lifetime.

Capernaum was the ministry base of Jesus during His ministry time on earth. Learn about the amazing things that happened there and in the surrounding area. Capernaum is located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum was located on the Via Maris, which was the main international highway of the known world during the time of Christ. Sites of interest include: Mount Arbel, Magdala, Gennesaret, Tabhga, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kirsi, Feeding the 5,000. Capernaum Photo Gallery Places of Interest Capernaum Introduction Welcome to Capernaum. Many significant events from the Bible took place here. Here are the highlights. 1. This was Jesus' ministry base for 3 1/2 years. Christ left Nazareth to live and establish His ministry base in Capernaum. 2. Jesus most likely lived with Peter, whose home is here. Jesus frequently taught in the Synagogue in Capernaum. 3. Jesus healed Peter’s mother and many others here in Capernaum. 4. In Capernaum, Jesus forgave and healed a paralyzed man. This likely happened right at the home where Jesus lived. 5. Christ marveled at the great faith of a centurion in Capernaum. The Parables of the Kingdom were preached close to Capernaum. 6. The miracle of Peter getting money from a fish's mouth to pay the temple tax for himself and Jesus happened in Capernaum. 7. Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, close to Capernaum. Capernaum was one of the three towns Christ cursed because of their unbelief in Him. 8. Here are some special sites we're going to see here: Peter's home and most likely the home of Jesus as well. Synagogue where Jesus preached. Ancient artifacts, one of which is mentioned in the Bible. The homes of Capernaum. We'll be going to the seashore, where many biblical events happened, and where we'll have our Bible teaching. 9. At the seashore, you can dip your feet in the water if you'd like. Location 1. Capernaum is located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. 2. Capernaum was located on the Via Maris, the main international highway of the world at the time of Christ. The Via Maris linked the three continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Travelers were forced to use this route as there were few other options for traveling to and from each continent. The north shore of the Sea of Galilee was even more traveled than the roads and routes leading through Jerusalem. It may seem that Christ established His ministry base in a remote location. However, just the opposite was true. He chose the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee (and Capernaum was located at a key point along the Via Maris) as a center stage so that His message would reach as many people as possible worldwide. By spending most of His ministry time in the northern Galilee area, Christ’s miracles traveled by word of mouth to the ends of the earth. This laid the groundwork and sowed the seeds of the gospel to the rest of the known world. As a result, evangelism carried out later by the apostles would be easier and more acceptable. 3. Because it was located on the Via Maris, Roman soldiers were stationed here to monitor all traffic and activities in the area that was overseen by a centurion, the one who built the community's synagogue (Luke 7:5). It was also equipped with a customs office and tax collection station. 4. Today, Capernaum is shared between two sites. The Franciscan site receives around 90% of visitors, as it features the synagogue, Peter’s home, village ruins, ancient artifacts, and provides nice access to the beach. The Greek Orthodox site has chosen to remain basically unexcavated and serene. Historical Background 1. The name Capernaum is derived from two words: Caper, which means "village," and Naum, which means "rest," and is also from the title, Nahum. Therefore, some believe that the town was named after the Prophet Nahum, and some believe it was simply a place of rest. 2. Capernaum was a fishing village with a population of around 1,000 during the time of Christ. It encompassed what is today both the Franciscan and Greek Orthodox sites. 3. Capernaum became the hometown of Jesus after He moved from his boyhood home of Nazareth. It also became the ministry headquarters of Christ during His earthly ministry. Matthew 4:13–17: And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Why was the Galilee area called "Galilee of the Gentiles ?" After the Assyrian conquest around 722 BC, the Assyrians removed a significant portion of the Jewish population and imported people from other areas they had conquered into the region. Later, after the Babylonian conquest, the Jews repopulated the area. However, many of these foreigners remained in the area, so it was called Galilee of the Gentiles. 4. Capernaum is mentioned more than any other town around the Sea of Galilee. 5. Capernaum was also the home of Peter, James, Andrew, John, and Matthew. 6. The Synagogue in Capernaum was built by a Roman Centurion, of whom Jesus healed his servant. Luke 7:5 says regarding this centurion, “For he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue .” 7. The synagogue that existed during Christ’s time is made from black basalt stone, and its foundations are under the current synagogue, built out of limestone. 8. The current synagogue was built in the 4th century and was quite luxurious and impressive. This happened because Capernaum became a venerated site due to its role as the ministry base and home of Jesus and other apostles. 9. The home of the Apostle Peter has been identified, and a large modern church has been built over it. The location of Peter’s house is certain and has been verified by many substantial archaeological excavations. 10. Greek Orthodox site of Capernaum. This church was built in 1931 over the ruins of earlier churches and dedicated to the twelve apostles. Places of Interest 1. Peter's Home It has been clearly identified and verified by five layers of archaeological excavations. It has also been identified as the home of Jesus. This makes sense, as single people didn't live alone but with family or close friends. This is verified by the 1st-century AD graffiti, which includes words such as "Jesus," "Lord," "Christ," "Peter," "Amen," “Lord have mercy,” and “Lord, Jesus Christ, help your servant.” There were prayers on the walls, as well as pictures of branches, trees, flowers, fruit, and crosses. It contained the central kitchen and living quarters, with individual bedrooms connected to it. The original home's floor and some walls can still be seen today in the very center of the buildings. Layers of Evidence Layer 1: 50-75 AD ~ Early Christian believers marked out this site and began venerating and protecting it soon after the return of Christ to heaven. Layer 2: 375 AD ~ Christians built a wall around the home of Peter to protect and set it apart from the other homes of Capernaum. This wall would be outside the octagonal church walls built around 450 AD. This building was likely used as a church as well. Layer 3: 475 AD ~ An octagon-shaped church with a small apse was built over the earlier church. The apse points east. A Pilgrim of Placenza who visited this site during this time period also verifies this. This church was destroyed by the Persians in 614 AD. It would lie abandoned for some time. Layer 4: 1100 AD ~ During the Crusader period, several structures were built in the area of the abandoned earlier church. Layer 5: 1990 AD ~ In 1990, the current church was built over Peter’s house’s previous ruins. You can walk inside it and look down at the ruins through a glass floor in the church. 2 . Village Houses Millstone These homes were constructed with black basalt boulders. Most of the homes are not built by hewn, squared-off stones, but rather by naturally rounded stones that are held in place by smaller stones and gravity. A typical home in a Galilean town was called an insula. It consisted of a large central courtyard, with several modest homes extending off in every direction. The roofs were made of either stone or wooden beams and thatching, mixed with mud. The floors were very bumpy cobblestone. 3 . The Synagogue The lower synagogue, constructed from basalt rock, dates back to the time of Jesus. The current synagogue, constructed from limestone, dates back to the latter part of the fourth century (375 AD). About 10 feet (3 m.) from the entrance inside the church, there was a raised platform, called a bema, where the Old Testament Scrolls were read. Jesus likely taught from this platform on several occasions. Mark 1:21–22: And they went into Capernaum , and immediately on the Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. The synagogue has an adjacent building that was likely used for studying the Scriptures, a schoolroom for children, and a meeting area. This synagogue had two levels. The lower level was designated for men, and the upper level was reserved for women. The Torah Scroll Cart would be rolled into the center of the synagogue to read the Scriptures. The people would sit around the edges of the synagogue. The synagogue also functioned as a community meeting place and school. This pillar on the left features an inscription written in Latin, commemorating the Italian archaeologist Father Gaudenzio Orfali for his work in reconstructing the White Synagogue in 1921. This ancient pillar, located on the right, was erected during the construction of the white synagogue, and the inscription on it is written in Greek. It says, “Herod, son of Monimos and Justus, his son, together with his children, erected this column.” 4. The Open-Air Courtyard beside the synagogue. This was added to the white synagogue around 450 AD. There was a roofed portico on three sides, and it was probably not used for religious purposes, but rather as a community meeting room. On the floor of this courtyard are inscribed Roman strategy board games. 5. Ancient A rtifacts Stairs that led up to the second story of the synagogue during Jesus' time. Olive Press and a Gethsemane (press for crushing olives). The first press of olives, called "virgin oil," was sent to the temple in Jerusalem. The second press was used for cooking and eating, as well as for lubrication, ointments, medicinal purposes, and oil lamps. Via Maris Roman Road Post Marker ~ This verifies that Capernaum was located on the Via Maris. Pillar inscribed with a family name (Alphaeus) mentioned in the Bible. The marker says: "Alphaeus, the son of Zebedee, the son of John, made this column. May it be for him a blessing." This column was created and donated by a family member of Matthew's several generations later. Mark 2:13-14: As He passed by, He saw Levi [Matthew] the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. Alphaeus was a family last name. A Frieze with a Star ~ Some misunderstand this star and think it refers to the Star of David. Actually, it refers to a verse in the Bible found in Numbers 24:17: "I see him, but not now; I look at him, but not near; a star shall appear from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel." So, it doesn't refer to the Star of David. The six-pointed star emerged in the 17th century AD and became the official seal of many Jewish communities, as well as a general symbol of Judaism. Torah Scroll Cart Stone Carving ~ This carving shows the Torah Scroll Cart, which would have scrolls inside and be rolled in and out of the synagogue when needed. Winepress ~ Grapes were crushed by foot to avoid crushing the seeds, which would make the wine bitter. 6. The modern church built over the home of Peter. It was built in 1990. It features a window on the floor in the center of the church, allowing for viewing of the home of Peter below. 7. Statue of the Apostle Peter 8. Seashore There was a boat dock here. In Jesus’ day, this shore was bustling with the activity of sailing vessels, which would generally disembark in the evening and return early in the morning. In this area, Jesus preached from a boat about the parables of the Kingdom. Capernaum in the Bible 1. Christ left Nazareth to live and set up His ministry base in Capernaum. Matthew 4:13-16: And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned.” This quotation from Isaiah 9:1–2 emphasizes that in this region where the Assyrians decimated and scattered the northern tribes of Israel, which brought darkness and death, would be the first to receive the light brought by the preaching of the Messiah. 2. Jesus frequently taught in the Synagogue in Capernaum. Mark 1:21–28: And they went into Capernaum , and immediately on the Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching . 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 3. Jesus healed Peter’s mother and many others here in Capernaum. Mark 1:29–34: And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 4. In Capernaum, Jesus forgave and healed a paralyzed man. This likely happened right at the home where Jesus lived. Mark 2:1–5: And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven.” 5. Christ marveled at the great faith of a centurion in Capernaum. Luke 7:1–10: After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum . 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. 6. The Parables of the Kingdom were preached close to Capernaum. Matthew 13:1–3: That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables. 7. The miracle of Peter getting money from a fish's mouth to pay the temple tax for himself and Jesus happened in Capernaum. Matthew 17:24-27: When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" 26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself. 8. Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, close to Capernaum. Matthew 9:9: As Jesus passed on from there [Capernaum], he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 9. Capernaum was one of the three towns Christ cursed because of their unbelief in Him. Matthew 11:23–24: And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. Faith Lesson from Capernaum 1. Christ astonished the large crowds who followed him because He taught with authority. He was completely different from all other teachers because He was God in the flesh. Are we astonished today as we read Christ’s teachings in His Word? 2. Christ healed multitudes of people in and around Capernaum. He also showed that He was God as He forgave their sins. Forgiving sins is something only God can do. Do we believe Christ was God in the flesh? 3. Christ marveled at the great faith of a Roman Centurion. Do we trust God in such a way that He would marvel at our faith? 4. Unfortunately, Christ cursed the town of Capernaum because of their unbelief in Him. After all they had seen, and after many of them had been healed by Jesus, they still were filled with unbelief. Unbelief is, therefore, a sin. Do we have unbelief in Christ and who He claimed to be? Do we also have unbelief in trusting Him in our daily lives when things don’t seem to make sense?

If you want an in-depth Bible-centered trip and see more holy sites in Israel than other tours, then this trip is designed for you. Holy Land Trips Final Payment Secure Payment Link Holy Land Trip Final Payment To complete your final deposit payment, please send your payment of $1,350 by either credit card, PayPal, or check. The payment is set up for single and double payments. Just select the one that applies to you. If paying by credit card or PayPal, a 4% fee is added to your total amount due to fees charged by credit cards and PayPal. If paying by credit card or PayPal, click the button below. PayPal does not require you to create a PayPal account to use your credit card. Please refresh your browser before paying for latest button updates. Single Person Payment $1,350 Double Person Payment $2,700 If paying by check, please send your check to the following address: Holy Land Site (make check payable to this name, please) 6945 Burnett St. SE, Salem, OR, 97317-5202