October 16-November 1, 2026, Registration Form. An in-depth 17-day Bible-centered Holy Land tour to Israel that allows you to see more holy sites in Israel. Holy Land Trip Registration Form October 16~November 1, 2 026 Trip How to Register and Secure Your Spot on the Holy Land Experience Trip of a Lifetime! 1. Fill out and submit the online registration form below. 2. Upon receiving and accepting your form, we will notify you of availability and acceptance into the tour trip group. 3. Upon acceptance into the group, please pay your $500 non-refundable deposit to confirm your spot. Registration Deposit Link Final Paym ent Link CONTACT INFO: Pastor Todd Fink Phone: (541) 603-0881 Email: holylandsite.com@gmail.com Website: HolyLandSite.com NEXT STEPS 1. Upon receiving and accepting your form, we will notify you of availability and acceptance into the tour trip group. 2. Upon acceptance into the group, please pay your $500 non-refundable deposit to confirm your spot. Registration Deposit Link Final Payment Link 3. In the meantime, check out our video teachings to the left or see other info about Holy Land Trip orientation, etc. CONTACT INFO: Pastor Todd Fink Phone: (541) 603-0881 Email: holylandsite.com@gmail.com Website: HolyLandSite.com TOUR HOSTS Dr. Todd & Letsy Fink - Tour Hosts More about the Finks

See what Jerusalem looked like shortly after the time of Jesus. Understand the city layout like never before! This is a must-see tour to understand ancient Jerusalem from around 66 AD. Jerusalem Model Tour Photo Gallery Jerusalem Model Tour Introduction Welcome to the Model of Jerusalem at the Israel Museum. 1. It's located a couple of miles (km) west of Old City Jerusalem. 2. It's right beside the Shrine of the Book Museum, where many of the Dead Sea Scrolls are located. 3. This model will provide you with an exceptional understanding of what Jerusalem was like shortly after the time of Jesus. 4. We're going to explore and learn all about the city. 5. When we're done with this site, you'll understand Jerusalem and its layout shortly after the time of Jesus like the back of your hand. 6. We like to bring our tour groups here at the beginning of our time in Jerusalem so that they'll understand everything about Jerusalem and the surrounding area. 7. It's a must-see site to get the most out of your visit to Jerusalem. 8. Are you ready to explore and experience this site? Let's go! Location The Jerusalem Model is located at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The museum has several sections, and the model is located right beside the Shrine of the Book section. Historical Background 1. The Holyland Model of Jerusalem, also known as the Model of Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period, is a 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem from around 66 AD. 2. It covers an area of about 1,000 square meters and recreates the city at the height of its glory before the Jewish revolt against the Romans. 3. It was designed by Michael Avi-Yonah and moved from its original location at the Holyland Hotel in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem, to its new site at the Israel Museum in June 2006. 4. The model was built from 1962 to 1966. At this time, almost the entire area it represents was under Jordanian rule and, therefore, off-limits for Israeli archaeologists and visitors. Thus, its layout was based mainly on historians and the Bible. 5. The model is not entirely accurate, as many discoveries have been made since it was built in 1966. 6. However, it still gives us a fantastic example and layout of what Jerusalem looked like shortly after the time of Jesus. Sites of Interest Temple & Temple Mount Layout The outer courts of the Temple Mount were called the courts of the Gentiles. All non-Jews, unless they converted to Judaism, were allowed in this area but not in the inner courts of the Temple. Next is the Beautiful Gate. It was the gate leading into the Women's Courtyard. Here, Peter and John healed the lame man, as recorded in Acts 3. Each corner of the Women's Court had chamber rooms. We have the Chamber of Wood, the Chamber of the Nazarites, the Chamber of Lepers, and the Chamber of Oils. The Nicanor Gate led toward the temple. It led into the Inner Courtyard. Here was the Altar and Bronze Laver. From the Inner Court, you would enter the Holy Place, and then, beyond the curtain, the High Priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, would enter the Holy of Holies. The Royal Stoa stood on the southern end of the Temple Mount platform. We believe Pentecost took place around it. Antonia Fortress Eastern Gate Location Didn't line up with the temple. It was located where it is today. The Mishnah account of a gate through which you could see into the temple from the Mount of Olives refers to the Nicanor Gate. Damascus Gate Lions' Gate (Stephen's Gate) City of David Southern Stairs Huldah Gates ~ Entrance and Exit Gates Robinson's Arch Pilgrimage Road Ophel Mikvehs ~ 48 south side of Temple Mount, 25 west side. Dry Moat David's Palace Kidron Valley Hinnom Valley Tyropean Valley Gihon Spring Hezekiah's Tunnel Tomb of King David Pool of Siloam Western Hill Expansion by Hezekiah Hezekiah's Broad Wall (700 BC) Built to protect refugees fleeing from the north. House of Caiaphas Herod's Palace Complex Northern Towers and soldier barracks Palace Garden area Palace Soldier barracks Jesus' Route to the Cross Gethsemane Kidron Valley House of Caiaphas Pilate's Palace (built by Herod the Great) Herod Antipas Palace (Herod the Great's son) Via Dolorosa Jaffa Gate Gennath Gate Golgotha Walls of Jerusalem, Time of Jesus Walls of Jerusalem in 44 AD Pools of Bethesda Hezekiah built the Northern Pool around 700 BC. The Hasmoneans built the Southern Pool around 140 BC. They were living water pools because water ran in and out of them. Pool of Israel Struthion Pool Faith Lesson from Jerusalem 1. Jerusalem has played a key role as the center of God’s dwelling place and ministry on this earth. 2. Since the time it was first captured by King David, until now, it has been a place of extreme blessing and punishment. When the Israelites obeyed God, they experienced supernatural blessings, protection, and miracles, and became God's voice to minister to the surrounding nations. 3. However, when they disobeyed God, they experienced punishment, a lack of protection, and judgment, and were a terrible example to minister to the surrounding nations. What about us? Do we want God's blessings in our lives or be under his hand of punishment and judgment? 4. It's estimated that Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt around 40 times. God destroyed it as judgment for disobedience and rebuilt it through His blessings because of obedience. What about us? When we disobey God, He destroys our lives. However, when we obey, our lives are rebuilt and become testimonies of God's work and blessing. If we are wise, we'll seek the Lord and obey Him.

Tour Mount Nebo & all the sites of interest. It's the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land and died. Learn why Moses was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. Mount Nebo & Moses Overview Mt. Nebo & Moses Overview Mount Nebo is in the country of Jordan today. However, it was originally part of the Promised Land. It was conquered by the Israelites and then possessed by 2 1/2 tribes of Israel (Rueben, Gad, and 1/2 of Manassah). Location 1. Mount Nebo is a high mountain in Moab where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. It rises more than 4,000 feet or 1,200 meters above the Dead Sea. 2. It is located on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. 3. This site is on the highest place of the mountains in this area. It fits the biblical description of being on the peak of a mountain opposite Jericho. 4. Arc haeology, history, eyewitness accounts, and the Bible all support this site as the authentic place where Moses reached the end of his ministry. 5. There is no reason to dispute this site as the authentic place where Moses looked over the Promised Land. It's quite sobering to be in the very footsteps of Moses and ponder this place and site. Historical Background 1. The word "Nebo " was a reference to the Mesopotamian god, Nabu . From this false god, world leaders would attach it to their name. For example, Nebuchadnezzar did this. It would be like saying, "god Nebuchadnezzar." Nebuchadrezzar was king of Babylonia from approximately 605 BC until approximately 562 BC and is mentioned around 90 times in the Bible, most of which is in the book of Daniel. In biblical history, Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for conquering Judah and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC. 2. M ount Nebo has a long history of religious significance because it's believed to be where Moses stood to view the Promised Land before his death. 3. According to the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses died on Mount Nebo and was buried in Moab. 4. Sometime before 300 AD, a structure was built here to venerate this site. Its date seems unknown at this time. 5 . In the 4th century AD, a sanctuary mentioned by the pilgrim nun Egeria was built on Mount Nebo to honor Moses. This was certainly built upon the site of an even older structure. The church was finished by 394 AD and had three east apses flanked by funerary chapels on the north and south sides. 6. In the 6th century, the church was enlarged and transformed into a basilica with a sacristy and new baptistery (whose surviving floor mosaics date from c.530 AD). Soon the church was the heart of a large monastery and pilgrimage center that would thrive for nearly six centuries. The basilica still stands on Mount Nebo today and contains a fascinating collection of Byzantine mosaics. 7. The site was abandoned by 1564 and remained abandoned and neglected for several centuries. The Franciscans bought the site in 1932 and were responsible for excavating most of the church and monastery's ruins and reconstructing much of the basilica. During this period, a protective shelter was installed over the archaeological remains to protect them. Today, Mount Nebo is an active Franciscan monastery and the headquarters of the Franciscan Archaeological Institute. Sites of Interest Bianchi Sculpture The first site on the path to the Moses Memorial Church is a rock sculpture by Vincenzo Bianchi, commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul II to Mount Nebo, in the year 2000. Pope John Paul II visited the Mount Nebo in holy land, and during his visit to the Moses Memorial Church he also planted an olive tree. Mount Nebo Siyagha Memorial of Moses Stone Just past the Bianchi Scupture Stone is a large rock commemorating Moses. Abu Badd Rolling Sto ne This rolling stone was used as a fortified door of a Byzantine monastery in the old village of Faisaliyah, once known as Kufr Abu Badd. Some say this stone may be from the Tomb of Jesus. It stands today‬ as a memorial to ‪Moses, marking where it's thought Moses stood to look at the “Promised Land.” Moses Memorial Church A church was first constructed in the second half of the 4th century to commemorate the place where Moses died. The church design follows a typical basilica pattern. It was enlarged in the late fifth century AD and rebuilt in 597 AD. It has a large number of mosaics that date back to 530 AD. The mosaics have been well preserved and portray images of wildlife and hunting, a common pastime in the Byzantine era. The church is first mentioned in an account of a pilgrimage made by a lady name d Aetheria in 394 AD. Six tombs have been found hollowed from the natural rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church. In 1989 a new shelter consisting of a complete basilica was built over the ancient church. The Ancient Baptistery On the left side of the Memorial Church of Moses is the excavated Baptistery, complete with the most spectacular mosaics ever excavated. These magnificent mosaics are dated to August 531, thanks to an inscription in Greek. It also lists the three workers on this project and the Bishop when it was built. The Bishop listed was Elias. Theotokos Chapel This chapel was dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, and was added about 604 CE at the time of Bishop Leontius. It's located next to the exit door and was added in the 7th century, where three monastery rooms previously stood. Its apse has a mosaic of a square object that may be a vessel for the Eucharist. The floor of the chapel is paved with mosaics of plants and flowers. Diakonikon Baptistery The Diakonikon Baptistery inside the rebuilt basilica houses several remains of antique mosaics. Narthex This marks the entrance to the old church structure. The Brazen Serpent Monument The Brazen Serpent is a sculpture situated on Mount Nebo. It has become so popula r that it is now recognized as the symbol of Mount Nebo. It was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni and is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14). A glimpse of the serpent protected one from the deadly plague God sent. Memorial Viewpoint A small sign at the viewpoint has lines pointing to some of the major landmarks visible from Mount Nebo, and if the day is clear, you can see all the way to Jerusalem itself. Ancient Monastery On the highest se ction of this site, the complete remains of an ancient Byzantine church and the original monastery can be seen. These were found in the excavation of 1933. The walls of this ancient monastery can be seen as you exit and go outside. Caves on Mount Nebo According to extra-biblical legend, the prophet Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave on Mount Nebo and said that this "place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy" (2 Maccabees 2:7). Museum The Mount Nebo Interpretation Center is a small, single-room museum at this site. Inside are several reconstructions of mosaics, a Roman milestone from the area, and a number of smaller archaeological finds from the surrounding areas. Mt. Nebo & Mo ses in the Bible 1. Mt. Nebo is where the ministry of Moses ended; he looked at the Promised Land from a distance and died. Deuteronomy 32:48-52: Now the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying, 49 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo , which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho , and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession. 50 Then you are to die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52 For you will see the land at a distance but you will not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.” Deuteronomy 34: 1-6: Moses ascended from the desert plain of Moab toward Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the entire land, from Gilgal as far as Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire territory of Judah all the way to out over the sea, 3 including the Negev, the Arabah, the valley of Jericho, and the city of the palm trees as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord told him: “This is the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by an oath when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ I’ll let you see it with your eyes, but you won’t cross over there.” 5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. 6 He was buried in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab, but no one knows to this day where his burial place is. 2. The life of Moses can be divided into three 40-year periods. From birth to fleeing to the land of Midian in Arabia. During this period, he was raised in Egyptian royalty and prestige. He knew he was called to deliver God's people. During this period, he could be classified as a "somebody." After killing an Egyptian in his attempt to deliver God's people by his own power and might, he fled to Midian, where he married and became a shepherd. During this period, he could be classified as a "nobody." Then God supernaturally moved in his life, and by God's hand, he delivered God's people and led them to Mt. Nebo, just on the edge of the Promised Land. During this period, he could be classified as an "everybody." 3. We should realize that Moses was a godly man who was used greatly by God. He was very humble and sought to please God in everything. Deuteronomy 12:3: Now the man Moses was very humble , more than any person who was on the face of the earth. 4. However, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land because of a major sin he committed. This sin is often overlooked, and God is viewed as harsh and overreacting. 5. What was this major sin, and why did God forbid Moses from entering the Promised Land after he had served God for 40 long, difficult years? There are two accounts where God provides water from a large rock supernaturally. Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land due to how he treated the rock, which represented God and Christ. 6. Account 1 Exodus17:1-7: Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why is it that you have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What am I to do with this people? A little more and they will stone me!” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock , and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 Then he named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” In this first account of the rock and water, Moses obeys God fully, so God is pleased with Moses. 7. Account 2 Numbers 20:1-13: Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled against Moses and Aaron. 3 Then the people argued with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! 4 Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our livestock to die here? 5 Why did you make us come up from Egypt, to bring us into this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink!” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them; 7 then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the staff; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it shall yield its water. So you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and have the congregation and their livestock drink.” 9 So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock ?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff ; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. In this account, God is displeased with Moses. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them .” 13 Those were called the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel argued with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them. First, we must understand that the rock represents God and Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4: For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; 2 and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ . 8. The three sins of Moses that prevented him from entering the Promised Land. 1. He did not trust God. “Since you d id not trust in Me" 2. He did not treat God as Holy in the sight of the Israelites. “Since you d id not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel" 3. He acted in anger toward the people and God. Psalm 106:32-33: They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went badly for Moses on their account. 33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. Faith Lesson 1. Moses was very humble and greatly used by God. What about us? Humility is not viewing ourselves as worthless but means that we rely upon God and not ourselves. 2. Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land because he did not trust in God the second time he was to bring water from the rock, which represented God and Christ. What about us? Do we follow God in the midst of storms and pressure? It's when we're under pressure and extreme stress that we reveal the depth of our spiritual maturity and faith. 3. Moses did not treat God as holy in the sight of the people he led. What about us? Do we treat God as holy and honor Him in our dealings with others? 4. Moses was angry with God's people and God. What about us? Do we deal harshly and angrily with others? 5. Even though God forgave Moses, there were still consequences for his sin. We see this also in the life of King David. What about us? Do we realize that God forgives us but doesn't always remove the consequences of our sins? Also, sometimes it takes time for the consequences to heal.

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.

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 Trip Deposit Secure Payment Link Registration Deposit Payment To complete your registration, please pay your registration deposit of $500 by either credit card, PayPal, or check. Payment can be made for more than one person if needed. If paying by credit card or PayPal, a 4% fee is added to cover 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. $500.00 Deposit Payment Payment can be made for more than one person if needed. If you would like to avoid the Credit Card fees, then you can send your check to the following address if you live in the U.S.A. or Canada. Holy Land Site (Make checks payable to: Holy Land Site) 6945 Burnett St., SE Salem, OR, 97317-5202 (Using regular mail is preferred as there's not always someone available to sign for certified mail).

See how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Feasts. Many people don't understand the importance of the Old Testament Feasts and how they relate to Jesus. See the Bible come to life as you see how the feasts are fulfilled in Jesus. The seven Old Testament Feasts are: 1. The Passover: This is the foundational feast 2. Unleavened Bread: This feast was to last for 7 days 3. First Fruits 4. Pentecost or Feast of Weeks 5. Feast of Trumpets 6. Day of Atonement 7. Feast of Tabernacles Jewish Holy Days & How Jesus Fulfills Them Understanding the Old Testament Jewish Holy Days and How Jesus Fulfills Them See how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Festivals (Feasts, Appointed Times). Many people don't understand the importance of the Old Testament Festivals and how they relate to Jesus. See the Bible come to life as you see how the festivals are fulfilled in Jesus. The seven Old Testament Festivals are: 1. The Passover: This is the foundational feast 2. Unleavened Bread: This feast was to last for 7 days 3. First Fruits 4. Pentecost or Feast of Weeks 5. Feast of Shouting (Also known as Trumpets) 6. Day of Atonement 7. Feast of Tabernacles These festivals can be broken down into two basic divisions: 1. The Spring Festivals 2. The Fall Festivals Spring Festivals 1. Passover Feast — Leviticus 23:4-8 This feast remembers the last plague in Egypt when the angel of death “passed over” the children of Israel who applied the blood of the lamb to their doors. The Israelites took a bundle of hyssop and dipped it into the blood in the basin at the threshold. Going up, they put it up on the lintel, then touched the two sides of the frame (Exodus 12). When you look carefully at the imagery, the way the blood was placed on the doorframe formed the shape of a cross. The first three feas ts of the Lord (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits) tak e place close together. Passover takes place on Friday, Unleavened Bread takes place the next day (Saturday, and lasts for a week), and Firstfruits takes place on Sunday. Passover began on a Friday of the 1st month (14th of Nisan) of the Jewish calendar, which was established by God because this was when the Israelites left Egypt. This was a major feast that all male Jews were required to attend in Jerusalem at the temple. Fulfillment in Christ When John the Baptist said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), he understood the Old Testament reference. And in the New Testament, we see that Jesus, born in a stable, visited by shepherds, and led to the slaughter, is that lamb sent for us. His death allows the judgment we deserve to pass over us. When we accept Christ, we accept the loving gift of a second chance — because of his death on the cross, we have a clean slate! Additionally, 1 Corinthians 5:7 clearly states that Jesus is the Passover Lamb: "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb , has been sacrificed." In summary , the Passover pointed to the Messiah as our Passover Lamb whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover, at the same time that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening. 2. Unleavened Bread Feast — Leviticus 23:6 This seven-day feast begins on the day after Passover (Saturday, 15th of Nisan) and lasts for a week ((15th - 21st of Nisan) . In the haste of the Israelites to leave Egypt, there was no time to add leaven (yeast) to their bread. During this time, remembering the hardships in Egypt and how God freed them from captivity, the Jews eat nothing leavened. Leaven often represents sin and decay in the Bible. Once incorporated, yeast becomes an inseparable part of the bread; the same is true for sin’s effect on our lives. The Jews were constantly sacrificing unblemished animals to atone for sin temporarily. Fulfillment in Christ Only the Messiah, the perfect, sinless sacrifice, could offer a permanent solution. The unleavened bread represents Jesus’ sinless life; he is the only perfect sacrifice for our sins. In John 6:35, Jesus boldly states that he is the bread of life. Not only does he remove our sins, He nourishes our souls! In summary , the Unleavened Bread pointed to the Messiah’s sinless life, making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus’ body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life. 3. Feast of Fruits — Leviticus 23:10 The Feast of First Fruits took place on the day after Unleavened Bread started (Sunday, 16th of Nisan), and is a harvest feast to thank and honor God for all he provided. Although they didn’t know it at the time, the children of Israel were celebrating what would become a very important day. The priests sacrificed Passover lambs on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, and the first day of Passover was the 15th. The Feast of First Fruits was celebrated the third day , the 16th of Nisan. So you can see how the first three feasts take place one right after another (with the Feast of Unleavened Bread lasting seven days). Passover is on Friday, Unleavened Bread started on Saturday, and Firstfruits on Sunday. Fulfillment in Christ This “third-day ” celebration was the same day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul refers to Jesus as the first fruits of the dead. He represents the first of the great harvest of souls — including you — that will resurrect to eternal life because of the new covenant in his blood (Luke 22:20). In summary , the First Fruits pointed to the Messiah’s resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to him in I Corinthians 15:20 as the “first fruits from the dead.” 4. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost — Leviticus 23:16 This feast takes place on the 7th day of the 3rd month, Sivan. This feast is the second of the three harvest feasts. It occurs exactly seven weeks after the Feast of First Fruits, so it’s also called Pentecost, which means “50 days.” Traditionally, people were expected to bring the first harvest of grain to the Lord, including two leavened loaves of bread. This was a major feast that all male Jews were required to attend in Jerusalem at the temple. Fulfillment in Christ God’s plan to save souls included more than the Jews. Through Jesus, this plan was revealed. In Matthew 9:37, Jesus tells his disciples that “the harvest is great, but the workers are few .” Then he put the plan into place: In Acts 1:4, he tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. That arrival was the day the Church was born — Pentecost — and the harvest began with 3,000 souls. The message spread to both Jews and Gentiles (the two leavened loaves of bread), extending the harvest to us! In summary , the Feast of Pentecost — (Called Shavuot today), pointed to the great harvest of souls, both Jew and Gentile, that would come into the kingdom of God during the Church Age. The Church was actually established on this day when the Messiah poured out the Holy Spirit, and 3,000 souls responded to Peter’s first proclamation of the Gospel. Interval Between Spring and Fall Festivals The long interval of three months between Harvest and Trumpets pointed to the current Church Age, a period of time that was kept as a mystery to the Hebrew prophets in Old Testament times. That leaves us with the three fall feasts, which are yet to be fulfilled in the life and work of the Messiah. Because Jesus literally fulfilled the first four feasts and did so on the actual feast days, I think it is safe to assume that the last three will also be fulfilled and that their fulfillment will occur on the actual feast days. We cannot be certain how they will be fulfilled, but they will be in God's way and timing. Fall Festivals Similar to the first three spring feasts, the fall feasts take place one right after another. The Feast of Trumpets starts on the 1st day of the 7th month, Tishri, the Day of Atonement on the 10th day of Tishri, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) on the 15th - 22nd of Tishri. 5. Fe stival of Shouting ( Trumpets) — Leviticus 23:24 This feast began on the 1st day of the 7th month, Tishri. In a beautiful declaration, God commands his people to rest. During this time, all regular work is prohibited, and men and women present a food offering to God. This feast lasts 10 days and begins with trumpet blasts to signal the time to prepare for the Day of Atonement Feast. Traditionally, it's also referred to as the "Ten Days of Awe." It's a time to afflict your soul and engage in serious soul searching. It's a time to repent and get right with God. In Leviticus 23:24, God commands his people to gather and commemorate the decree with trumpet blasts. Fulfillment in Christ In the same way, the sound of a trumpet is also associated with the rapture, or the time Jesus will return for his bride (1 Corinthians 15:52). Once he returns, there will be a wedding feast of celebration. Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb .” He’s preparing us to celebrate! In summary , the Feast of Trumpets (Called Rosh Hashana today), points to the Rapture when the Messiah will appear in the heavens as a Bridegroom coming for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:52). 6. Day of Atonement — Leviticus 16, 23:26-32 ; Numbers 29 This day was actually not a feast but a day of fasting. It began on the 10th day of the 7th month, Tishri. To make “atonement” is to make restitution for wrongs committed. As a day of humility and repentance to God, it was a time for the Jews to get their hearts, consciences, and lives right before him. The observance involved the sacrifice of animals as the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. What the High Priest did there couldn’t offer more than an annual payment for their sins. However, hiding in plain sight was the promise of one who could atone for their sins permanently (Hebrews 9:12). This feast is when the entire nation of Israel's sins were dealt with as a whole. It's when the high priest would go inside the Holy of Holies (only once a year and on this day) to offer atonement for the sins of the entire nation. Fulfillment in Christ Where is Jesus in these sacrificed animals? The bull and one of the goats were an offering of thanks, but the “scapegoat” took on their sins (Leviticus 16:10). The scapegoat was to be burdened with all the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness. The Jewish leaders condemned Jesus, and he — burdened with the sins of all mankind — was led out of the city to be crucified: “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins — and not only our sins but the sins of the world” (1 John 2:2). The necessity of the Day of Atonement was rendered void by Jesus’ death on the cross — our debt has been paid! In summary , the Day Atonement (Called Yom Kippur today), points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when He will return to earth. That will be the day of atonement for everyone and the Jewish remnant when they “look upon Him whom they have pierced ,” repent of their sins and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:1-6, 25-36). 7. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths — Leviticus 23:34 This feast takes place on the 15th - 22nd days of the 7th month, Tishri. Celebration always follows the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God’s provision and protection for the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. During the seven days of the feast, people live in temporary structures as they did in the wilderness. The Lord himself was with the Israelites in the desert, in a tented temple called the tabernacle, so the feast also celebrates his presence as he tabernacles (dwells) with us. This was a major feast that all male Jews were required to attend in Jerusalem at the temple. Because the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement were connected to the Feast of Booths, most Jews would arrive in Jerusalem to attend these three feasts that were one right after another. Fulfillment in Christ Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). He put on a temporary tabernacle — a human body — to dwell on this earth and offer himself as a sacrifice. This feast also points to the promise that God will return and rally with his people — in the person of Jesus. And when he does, he has promised that there will be no more death and suffering, that he himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). His return is the final answer to the hope we’ve carried our entire lives. What a day that will be! In summary , the Feast of Tabernacles (Called Sukkot today.) Points to the Lord’s promise that He will once again tabernacle with His people when He returns to reign over all the world from Jerusalem (Micah 4:1-7). Faith Lesson 1. The New Testament is full of imagery of that is based on the Old Testament. What about us? Are we students of the Old Testament and do we know it well? 2. If we don't know the Old Testament well, we will miss many treasures in the New Testament. What about us? Can we spot the fulfillments of the imagery and types in the New Testament? 3. Christ said that He came to fulfill the Law. What about us? Can we see how Christ fulfills all the Old Testament prophecies and imagery of the Old Testament? Credit for some of the information on this page: Wycliffe.org, ChristInProphecy.org

Take a tour of the stunning and mystical Dead Sea. See all the places of interest. Learn about its past and future, Bible prophecies, Dead Sea Scrolls, beaches, and more. Sites of interest include Zoar, Admah, Zeboiim, Jericho, Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qsar al-Yahud), Judean Desert, Jordan River, Northern Beaches, Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls), Avnat (Kidron Valley Drainage from Jerusalem), Ein Gedi, Sink Holes, Masada, Southern Beaches, Dead Sea Mineral Factories. Dead Sea Area Photo Gallery Places of Interest Dead Sea Area At the very lowest point on earth, at about 1,410 feet (430 meters) below sea level, lies a natural wonder replete with its own unique ecosystem, breathtaking desert views, and mineral treasures that have attracted visitors for thousands of years. Because of its unique location, healing properties, geological and historical background, surrounding ecosystem, and the epic biblical events that have happened around it, the Dead Sea is an irresistible venue for tourists. Location 1. The Dead Sea is a large salt lake located in the Judean desert of southern Israel. It's about 15 miles (25 km.) east of Jerusalem and is Israel's largest body of water within its borders. It also forms part of the border between Israel and Jordan, with Jordan being on the east side. Historical Background & Info 1. The Dead Sea is one of the world's four saltiest bodies of water. These special conditions are an outcome of its extreme geomorphological structure alongside a harsh desert climate. These create constant dramatic changes that form a landscape different from any other in the world. The unique mineral content of the air, land, and water in the area is globally renowned for its therapeutic qualities. Even since the time of Herod the Great (37-4 BC), it has been a health resort. 2. The Jordan River is the only major water source flowing into the Dead Sea, although there are small perennial springs under and around the lake, forming pools and quicksand pits along its edges. Today, after diversifying the waters from the Sea of Galilee in the 1960s, the only incoming water sources are from sulfur springs and wastewater, along with rare drizzles and flash floods. 3. The water level of the Dead Sea has been receding gradually, at an average yearly rate of about 3 feet (1 meter). This is causing large concern about the Dead Sea drying up. This drop in water level is caused by evaporation under the harsh desert sun, but also because little water is now flowing into the Dead Sea. 4. Why is it called the Dead Sea? For several reasons. Because it has 10 times more salt than other oceans. Because of this, fish and plant life cannot exist. There is absolutely no life whatsoever in the Dead Sea. In various languages, the Dead Sea is referred to by different names, all reflective of its characteristics. The earliest known name is recorded in the Hebrew Bible, referred to as “the Salt Sea," due to its significantly high salt content. It was also called the "Sea of Arabah." It's called in Hebrew "Yam HaMelaẖ" (Salt Sea), and in Arabic "Al-Baḥr Al-Mayyit," ( Sea of Death). Salt was a highly valued commodity in the later Roman era – Roman soldiers were paid in salt rather than money! This is also the source of the Latin word “salary,” which comes from “salt.” In a spiritual sense, some have likened it to being dead because water comes in but doesn't leave. That's what happens to us. If we only receive but don't give, then we will also be spiritually dead. 5. The Dead Sea is globally renowned for the therapeutic effect of the minerals in its waters and mud, which are especially high in concentration. Dead Sea minerals in the water and mud have helped improve many skin conditions, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and acne. 6. Why is the Dead Sea so salty? It appears that after the Great Flood, this body of water was landlocked. Like the other oceans, this water had a certain level of salt. Then, over the years, its salt content was derived from the erosion of rocks on land, with their salt ions driven by rivers into the landlocked lake. Its extremely low elevation means that water cannot escape the Dead Sea once it enters, and exposed to the intense heat, the water evaporates more quickly, leading to an intense salinity. Another reason it is so salty appears to be because God destroyed the area, as found in Genesis 19:23–29. Deuteronomy 29:23 mentions, "All its land is brimstone and salt , burned debris, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows on it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and in His wrath." 7. Why do you float in the Dead Sea? Because of the high concentration of salt, the water is much denser than plain fresh water, meaning that our body weight is lighter – which causes us to float! It's important not to say in the water for long periods as it can be dangerous. B e careful about getting water in your eyes or open cuts. It's best not to shave too soon before entering the water as this can cause burning and irritation. Lastly, it's best not to dunk your head under the water. 8. The drop in the level of the water after 1960 or so, has changed the physical appearance of the Dead Sea. Most noticeably, the peninsula of Al-Lisan gradually extended eastward until a dry land strip separated the lake’s northern and southern basins. In addition, the southern basin was eventually subdivided into dozens of large evaporation pools (for the extraction of salt), so by the 21st century, it had essentially ceased to be a natural body of water. The northern basin—effectively now the actual Dead Sea—largely retained its overall dimensions despite its great loss of water, mainly because its shoreline plunged downward so steeply from the surrounding landscape. 9. The Dead Sea lies in a desert. Rainfall is scarce and irregular. It averages about 2.5 inches (65 mm) of rain a year. Because of the lake’s extremely low elevation and sheltered location, winter temperatures are mild, averaging around 63 °F (17 °C) in the winter months. Freezing temperatures never occur. Summer is oppressively hot, averaging 93 °F (34 °C) in August, with a recorded maximum of 124 °F (51 °C). Evaporation of the lake’s waters often creates a thick mist above the lake. Places of Interest 1. Sodom Lot’s Wife Mount Sodom 2. Gomorrah Sphinx Pyramid 3. Zoar 4. Admah 5. Zeboiim 6. Jericho 7. Jordan River Crossing Site 8. Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qsar al-Yahud) 9. Judean Desert 10. Jordan River Inlet 11 . Northern Beaches 12. Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) 13. Avnat (Kidron Valley Drainage from Jerusalem) 14. En Gedi 15. Sink Holes 16. Masada 17. Southern Beaches 18. Dead Sea Mineral Factories The Dead Sea in the Bible There are many mentions of the Dead Sea in the Bible, and it has long been associated with mysticism, wonderment, and religious significance. 1. It appears the area around the Dead Sea was lush and well-watered before God destroyed the area with fire and brimstone. Genesis 13:10: Lot raised his eyes and saw all the vicinity of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt going toward Zoar. 2. It appears that after God destroyed the area, it changed to the state it is today, a dry, barren desert. Deuteronomy 29:23: All its land is brimstone and salt , burned debris, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows on it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and in His wrath . 3. It is referenced often to describe the borders of Israel. Numbers 34:12: And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea . This shall be your land according to its borders on all sides. 4. It was a densely populated area during the time of Abraham before God destroyed the area. Genesis 14:1-3: And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these kings came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 5. Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the other cities of the valley, were wicked, sinful people. Genesis 18:20–21: And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 I will go down now and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” 6. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:23–29: The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar [located south of Sodom and Gomorrah]. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord; 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley , and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. 29 Thus, it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley , that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. 7. The slopes of Mount Sodom are located in the southeast corner of the Dead Sea, and they feature salt formations that look like pillars – which are traditionally referred to as Lot’s wife. 8. At the end of the Tribulation Period, when God judges the nations in the Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat), the blood will flow from Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea, and south. The drainage system from the Kidron Valley empties into the Dead Sea at Avnat. Revelation 14:20: And the wine press was trampled outside the city [Jerusalem], and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of 1,600 stadia [185 miles, 300 km.]. The Kidron Stream is about 30 miles, 50 km., from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. This blood river will then flow south from Avnat for a distance of 150 miles, 241 km., to the Red Sea. 9. During the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth after the Great Tribulation Period, a supernatural river will flow from Jerusalem, using the same Kidron Valley drainage system, and will change the Dead Sea area entirely. Ezekiel 47:7-11: Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea [Dead Sea], being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh . 9 And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh ; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” Zechariah 14:8-9: And on that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem , half of them toward the eastern sea [Dead Sea] and the other half toward the western sea [Mediterranean Sea]; it will be in summer as well as in winter. 9 And the Lord will be King over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. Faith Lesson from the Dead Sea Area 1. The main lesson we'll take from this area is that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The reason it was destroyed is a serious, sobering message we should allow to sink in deeply. 2. The primary sin for which God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality. However, they sinned in many other ways as well. 3. Sodom and Gomorrah are a foreshadow of what hell will be like. 4. Jesus talked about how His second coming would be like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus also spoke more about hell than heaven. 5. If God, the prophets, Christ, and the apostles used Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the eternal judgment in hell that awaits the ungodly, then we should do the same today as well. 6. God is a God of love and has done everything He can to save us, but for those who reject His offer of salvation, eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire awaits them (Rev. 20:10).

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 Introduction 1. Welcome to Tel Megiddo—one of the most strategic, fought-over, and prophetically charged places on earth. 2. Beneath the Tel are the remains of more than 26 ancient cities, layer upon layer, built and destroyed across thousands of years. We'll see and experience each layer and place. 3. It's the location where one of the last major battles will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation Period. 4. 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, it is Armageddon. 5. Today, this place is called Megiddo in English. 6. Megiddo is the only site in Israel mentioned in the records of all Near Eastern ancient powers, and one of the most fought-over cities in the region. 7. More battles have taken place here than in any place in Israel. 8. It lay on the Via Maris, and whoever controlled it controlled the most important travel route linking Africa and Egypt to Asia and Europe. 9. We're going to explore and see this site, and look at the exact place and read from the Bible where part of the last battle on earth will take place. It will be meaningful and sobering. 10. We'll see an elaborate water system built to have access to water from within the city and protect it from invading armies. 11. So, gear up for an exhilarating journey back in time at the legendary site of ancient battles and biblical prophecies. Location 1. Tel Megiddo is located about 15 miles (26 km) east of the Mediterranean Sea 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) that linked Africa and Egypt to Asia and Europe. For this reason, any country that rose to world power had to control Megiddo due to its strategic location. 3. It’s located in the most fertile valley in Israel, called the Jezreel Valley. Historical Background 1. More battles have been fought in this location than any other place in the entire world. 2. It is a "Tel," which is made up of layer upon layer of different civilizations that make up an artificial hill. 3. Tel Megiddo is made up of at least 26 layers of civilizations. 4. 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. 5. One of the Pharaohs, Thutmose III, said conquering Megiddo was like conquering a thousand cities. 6. Megiddo was not important because it was large. It was important because it sat at the choke point of the land. Armies had to pass here. Merchants had to pass here. Empires had to pass here. That is why this place became a battlefield again and again. Historical Timeline 1. 4000 BC: Early settlements. 2. 2000 BC: 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: A new gate and walls were built by the Israelites under Solomon's command. 7. 945 BC: Pharaoh Shishak conquered 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 left in ruins. Places of Interest 1. Reservoir 2. Canaanite City Gate 3. Canaanite Palace 4. Israelite Gate 5. Lesser Canaanite Palace 6. Northern Stables 7. Northern Palace 8. Northern Observation Point 9. Canaanite Temple and Altar 10. Burial Chamber ~ Aegean Tomb 11. Israelite Administrative Structure 12. Southern Observation Point 13. Israelite Dwelling / Four-Room House 14. Southern Palace 15. Public Granary 16. Southern Stables 17. Assyrian Quarter 18. Assyrian Palaces 19. Gallery / earlier spring access 20. Water System Tel Megiddo Tour Route 1. Reservoir This reservoir is connected with the Israelite-period city gate. A staircase descends to a plastered pool, though the exact source of the water remains unclear. Water was life, and a city without water could not survive a siege. As we walk through Megiddo, notice how much planning went into securing water. The final stop—the great water system—will show us how seriously ancient people took survival. 2. Canaanite City Gate This Late Bronze Age (1500–1200 BC) gate was flanked by four chambers. Interestingly, the city was not fortified at that time, so the gate was likely ceremonial rather than purely defensive. It served as the entrance to the palace complex and later went out of use after the palace burned. Megiddo had been fortified in earlier Canaanite periods, especially in the Early Bronze (4000–2000 BC) and Middle Bronze 2000–1500 BC) ages. So Megiddo was walled at times, unwalled at other times, and fortified again later in the Israelite period. This gate reminds us that long before Israel controlled this city, Megiddo was a powerful Canaanite center. Kings, officials, soldiers, merchants, and servants would have passed through here. Joshua 17 and Judges 1 say Manasseh failed to fully drive out the Canaanites from Megiddo. This gate helps us visualize the powerful Canaanite city that Israel faced. 3. Canaanite Palace Only part of the palace remains, including a massive two-meter-thick wall. The palace reached its greatest size in the Late Canaanite period and included a large courtyard with surrounding rooms. Hundreds of carved ivory objects were discovered in a “treasure room,” revealing the wealth and international connections of Megiddo’s rulers. Megiddo was not a poor village. It was a royal city. The ivories found here show luxury, trade, art, and political power. This was a city tied to the great cultures of the ancient Near East. Power without God does not last. The palace burned, the rulers disappeared, but the Word of God remains. 4. Israelite Gate This is one of the most important stops for Bible teaching. The Israelite city gate had multiple chambers and was incorporated into the fortifications. Earlier scholars attributed it to Solomon, but present-day excavators often date it later, to the time of Jeroboam II in the eighth century BC. City gates in the Bible were more than entrances. They were places of judgment, business, defense, and leadership. Elders sat in the gate. Legal decisions were made in the gate. So when you stand in an ancient gate, you are standing in the civic heart of the city. 1 Kings 9:15 mentions Solomon building Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. "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 ." Archaeology confirms major Israelite construction here, while scholars still debate which structures belong to Solomon’s time and which belong to later Israelite kings. 5. Lesser Canaanite Palace This smaller palace belonged to the Late Canaanite palace complex. It had a large courtyard surrounded by rooms, and two stone basins were found in place. This stop helps us see that Megiddo was not a single building but an entire royal complex. The Canaanite rulers had gates, palaces, courtyards, storage areas, and service areas. Canaanite Megiddo was organized, wealthy, and deeply rooted. Israel’s struggle to possess the land was not against weak villages but against established city-states. 6. Northern Stables Two stable complexes were found at Megiddo, one in the northeast and one in the southwest. They show Megiddo’s importance as a cavalry base or horse-trading center. The construction has been attributed by different scholars either to Ahab in the ninth century BC or Jeroboam II in the eighth century BC, while some suggest the structures may have served other functions, such as storehouses, markets, or barracks. This is where Megiddo becomes a military city. Chariots and horses were the tanks and armored vehicles of the ancient world. Whoever controlled Megiddo could project power across the Jezreel Valley. Solomon is known for horses and chariots, and the northern kingdom of Israel later became a significant military power. Megiddo fits that world well. 7. Northern Palace The northern palace was a major ashlar-built structure from the Israelite period. Yigael Yadin suggested it may belong to the time of Solomon, while other scholars date it later, possibly to Ahab. This is one of the places where archaeology and the Bible meet—and where archaeology also reminds us to be careful. The Bible says Solomon built Megiddo. The ruins show a royal Israelite city. But the exact dating of some buildings is debated. It's important to understand that archaeology supports the Bible but does not always answer every question with perfect certainty. 8. Northern Observation Point From here, you can see the Jezreel Valley, the Carmel Range, the Nazareth area, Mount Tabor, the Hill of Moreh, the Gilboa Mountains, Samaria, and sometimes even the mountains of Gilead. Look around. This is why Megiddo mattered. Armies could move through this valley. Trade could flow through this valley. Whoever held this hill could watch the nations pass by and control its flow. 9. Canaanite Temple and Altar Here we can see a large cut through the tel. It was carried out between 1903 and 1905 by Gottlieb Schumacher for the German Society for Oriental Research. This is one of the most fascinating areas on the tel. The deep trench shows many layers of occupation, with more than 26 cities excavated down to bedrock. The temple area includes cultic activity from the fourth millennium BC through the beginning of the Israelite period. A circular altar about eight meters in diameter, with seven steps, remained in use, and animal bones were found at its base. This is one of the oldest and most powerful religious areas in the land. For over 2,000 years, people came here to worship false gods. It's widely believed that even children were offered to these false gods here. This helps us understand why the Bible speaks so strongly against the Canaanite religion. This stop helps explain the spiritual battle behind the conquest. Israel was not merely entering a land; they were confronting deeply rooted idolatry. 10. Burial Chamber ~ Aegean Tomb This arched-roofed structure was preserved in its entirety, but it was found empty, so its exact purpose and date are debated. Scholars have compared it with structures in the Levant and Greece and suggested it was a burial chamber. This tomb reminds us that archaeology often gives us clues, not always complete answers. We have the structure, but not the people. We have the architecture, but not the full story. Every ancient city was filled with real people—rulers, soldiers, families, worshipers, and the dead. Megiddo is not just stones; it is human history. 11. Israelite Administrative Structure This was an impressive Israelite-period structure, perhaps a palace or administrative building. Seven proto-Ionic capitals were found here; such capitals were typical of important public buildings in the Israelite period. Now we are looking at government and administration. Megiddo was not just a military outpost. It was a managed royal city with officials, records, storage, and public buildings. This fits the world of Israel’s monarchy—taxation, forced labor, military districts, and royal administration. 12. Southern Observation Point This is a great spot to observe and contemplate an epic end-times battle that will happen or be staged here. Revelation 16:13-16: 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 . 13. Israelite Dwelling / Four-Room House This dwelling reflects the classic Israelite four-room house plan: three parallel spaces with a fourth space perpendicular to them. The side spaces were used for storage, the middle as an open courtyard, and the perpendicular space as the living area. Here we move from kings and armies to daily life. People cooked here, stored food here, raised families here, and lived under the shadow of empire. Megiddo was not only a battlefield. It was home for many people. 14. Southern Palace Most of the southern palace was dismantled by the Chicago expedition to reach earlier layers, but its courtyard and gate remain. Near its outer gate, Schumacher found the famous seal inscribed “to Shema, servant of Jeroboam.” The original seal was lost, but it is known from a drawing. This palace connects us to the world of Israel’s kings. Even the name Jeroboam appears here in an administrative context, reminding us that these biblical kingdoms were real political entities with officials and servants. Some scholars connect the palace to the tenth century BC; others date it later, possibly to the ninth century BC, during Ahab’s reign. 15. Public Granary This huge silo is about seven meters deep and eleven meters in diameter. It had two staircases leading down, and wheat kernels and straw remains helped identify it as a granary. Its capacity was about 450 cubic meters, enough for roughly 1,000 tons of wheat. Food was power. A fortified city needed grain for soldiers, horses, officials, and civilians. This granary shows planning, wealth, and preparation for crisis. This is a great place to connect with the Bible’s frequent emphasis on grain, famine, siege, and storage. 16. Southern Stables This is one of Megiddo’s two stable complexes. The southern stables included long buildings opening onto a large training ground, with stone pillars, troughs, tethering holes, and even horse bite marks on the troughs. One of the stables has been reconstructed. The horses of Megiddo tell us that this city was built for movement and war. Chariots could move quickly across the Jezreel Valley. Megiddo was a military machine. Human power often trusts in horses and chariots, but Scripture says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God ” — Psalm 20:7. 17. Assyrian Quarter After the Assyrian conquest in 732 BC, Megiddo was rebuilt as an Assyrian administrative city. The Assyrian quarter represents the city after Israel’s northern kingdom fell under Assyrian rule. This is the world after Israel’s defeat. The northern kingdom fell, and Assyria reorganized the land. Megiddo became part of an imperial system. This connects with 2 Kings 17 and the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel. 18. Assyrian Palaces These palaces served Assyrian governors when Megiddo was the capital of an Assyrian district. Their plan resembles Assyrian palace architecture, though on a smaller scale. Here we see the footprint of empire. The Assyrians did not just conquer; they administered, taxed, resettled, and reshaped the land. Megiddo shows how quickly power changes hands. Canaanite, Israelite, Assyrian, Egyptian, Roman, Ottoman, British—each had its moment, but none lasted forever. 19. Early Spring Access Before the great water system was built, a narrow passage ran beneath the city wall toward the spring outside the city. Some scholars date this gallery to Solomon’s time in the tenth century BC, while others attribute it to Ahab in the ninth century BC. This was an earlier solution to the water problem. In siege warfare, the question was simple: could the people inside the walls reach water without being killed outside them? 20. Water System This is the dramatic finale. Megiddo’s inhabitants dug a 36-meter-deep shaft and a 70-meter-long horizontal tunnel to reach the spring outside the city walls. The tunnel was designed so that water would flow to the bottom of the shaft, allowing people to draw water from within the city. The outside entrance to the spring was sealed and hidden so enemies could not find it during a siege. This tunnel is ancient engineering at its best. It tells us that Megiddo expected war. The city prepared for siege. They hid their water, protected their people, and carved through rock to survive. Spiritual application: Cities prepare for temporary survival, but Scripture calls us to prepare for eternity. Tel Megiddo In the Bible 1. King Solomon fortified Megiddo and used it as 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 that 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?

Filmed in Israel on a Sea of Galilee boat ride! In-depth teaching of Jesus walking on water, calming the storm on the sea, Peter walking on water, feeding the 5,000, and more! See the mountain where Jesus prayed, where He fed the 5,000, Magada, Gennesaret, Tabgha, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kursi, Sea of Galilee, and more. Matthew 14:22, Mark 6:45, John 6:16. Sites of interest include: Mount Arbel, Magdala, Gennesaret, Tabhga, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kirsi, Feeding the 5,000. Jesus Walks on Water, Calms the Sea Photo Gallery Places of Interest Jesus Walks on Water and Calms the Sea Introduction Welcome to a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Two significant events from the Bible took place out on the water. Here are the highlights. 1. Jesus calms a storm on a boat ride from Capernaum to the country of the Gadarenes, where He healed two demon-possessed men. One of these men had a legion of demons in him whom Jesus cast into a herd of pigs, and they ran down a steep hill into the sea (Matthew 8:23-27). 2. The second account involves Jesus calming a storm and walking on the water. It's found in Matthew 14:22-36. This is the account we'll focus on here. Location 1. This miracle occurred in the middle of the widest part of the sea. John 6:19 suggests it was about 3–4 miles (5.5 km) from the eastern shore. The sea is about 8 miles (13 km) wide at its widest part, which would place them in the middle of the sea. 2. They were also far from land (Matt. 14:24). This means they were far from the northern part of the seashore as well. Historical Background 1. The disciples had just returned from an amazing time of preaching and healing throughout Israel (Christ had sent them out two by two). 2. Jesus took them to the eastern side of the sea, south of Bethsaida, to rest. However, instead of resting, a large crowd gathered, and Jesus taught them all day and then fed them. There were 5,000 men, not counting women and children, present, which means there were probably 15,000–20,000 people or more in total. Luke 9:10: On their return, the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida . 3. After Christ fed the multitude, they wanted to make Him King by force (John 6:15). However, what they had in mind was an earthly kingdom wherein the Romans would be overthrown, and Jesus would return them to their glory days. This was prophesied in Scripture, but Christ’s earthly kingdom would not be realized until His second coming. 4. The disciples were caught up in the frenzy of the crowd’s desire to make Jesus King, so He immediately sent them away by boat to the other side of the sea. 5. The disciples’ hearts were hard, and Scripture says they didn’t learn anything from the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 16:5–12). 6. After feeding the 5,000, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. He likely prayed that His disciples would learn the lesson of faith He was about to teach them. This lesson would involve sending a storm and revealing His deity to them. 7. Jesus purposefully allowed them to reach a state of utter disaster, fear, and desperation so that what He was about to teach them would sink in deeply. 8. The narrative of Scripture would place the disciples sailing from the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee to the western shore. Places of Interest 1. Feeding of the 5,000 location. 2. The mountain upon which Jesus prayed. 3. Departure beach 4. Bethsaida 5. Capernaum 6. Place where Jesus walked on water. 7. Gennesaret 8. Sea of Galilee Jesus Walks on Water and Calms the Sea in the Bible 1. Immediately after feeding the 5,000, Jesus sent His disciples to the other side of the sea. Matthew 14:22: Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. Mark 6:45: Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. John 6:16–17: When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. The summary of these verses indicates that they were headed west to the other side of the sea. 2. Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. Matthew 14:23: And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 3. Jesus sends a strong storm. Matthew 14:24: But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. Mark 6:48: And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. John 6:17–18: It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 4. Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25: And in the fourth watch of the night [3:00–6:00 am] he came to them, walking on the sea. John 6:19: When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat. 5. The disciples become terrified. Matthew 14:26: But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 6. The emotional state of the disciples: They were already exhausted from their ministry of being sent out two by two. They had a long day of ministry. They rowed all night in a state of panic and desperation. They missed a night of sleep. It was still dark, so it was probably around 4:00 am. They feared for their lives. They were alone. They were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on the sea. 7. Jesus spoke to them. Matthew 14:27: But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I [I AM, in Greek]. Do not be afraid." 8. Peter walks on the water for a moment. Matthew 14:28–31: And Peter answered him, " Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come. "So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 9. The disciples worship Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Matthew 14:32–33: And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Mark 6:52: And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded. This miracle was a major turning point in the lives of the disciples. The deity of Jesus was now deeply embedded in their hearts and lives, and they would never be the same. 10. Jesus and the disciples miraculously arrive at the other side of the sea at Gennesaret. Matthew 14:34: And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. John 6:21: Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 11. After already being exhausted and missing a night of sleep, they had more ministry awaiting them. Matthew 14:34–36: And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Faith Lesson from Jesus Walking on Water and Calming the Sea 1. Jesus embedded in the lives of His disciples that He was God. Do we believe in the deity of Christ and that He was God in the flesh? 2. Like Peter and the disciples, are we of little faith sometimes? 3. Like the disciples, we are often surrounded by serious problems. Do we realize Jesus cares for us during our storms? 4. Like the disciples, we can often feel tired and alone in our trials and problems. Do we understand that we are not alone and that God is caring for us? 5. Peter walked on the water for a moment and then took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. Therefore, he sank into the water. Do we understand that to navigate the storms in our lives, we must keep our eyes on Jesus despite the raging problems around us? 6. Jesus sent the storm to teach His disciples who He was and their need for faith in Him. Do we understand that Jesus also sends us storms to teach us the same truths? 7. Jesus and the disciples often had long days of exhausting ministry. Are we willing to do the same?

The Tower of David, also known as the Jerusalem Citadel, is a historic and iconic landmark located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. Its history spans several millennia and reflects the city's rich and diverse cultural heritage. King Herod’s Palace, located near the Tower of David, was one of the most magnificent structures in ancient Jerusalem. Tower of David & King Herod's Palace Photo Gallery Places of Interest Tower of David & King Herod's Palace Complex Introduction 1. Welcome to the Tower of David Museum, located at one of the most important entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem. This place is not only a museum. It is a fortress, an archaeological site, a lookout point, and a summary of Jerusalem’s history in one location. 2. Jerusalem is a city of layers. Here, we will see those layers very clearly: First Temple remains, Hasmonean fortifications, Herod’s towers and palace area, Roman traces, Byzantine memories, Early Muslim fortifications, Crusader halls, Mamluk rebuilding, Ottoman gates and minaret, British Mandate history, and the modern State of Israel. 3. The renewed museum reopened in June 2023 after a major renovation costing 50 million US dollars that included preservation of the citadel, restoration of the minaret, renewal of the archaeological garden, a new entrance pavilion, improved accessibility, and a new permanent exhibition in 10 galleries. 4. This site is a perfect place to begin a Jerusalem tour because it stands between old and new Jerusalem. The museum itself describes the citadel as a gateway to exploring Jerusalem, with a visitor route from the entrance pavilion through the galleries, up to the Phasael Tower lookout, and then out toward the Old City. 5. Its history spans over 2,700 years, dating to the time of King Hezekiah and the First Temple Period. 6 . It's part of Herod's Palace, which later was used by Pilate, where Jesus was most likely tried and condemned to crucifixion. Location 1. The Tower of David Museum, also known as the Jerusalem Citadel, is a historic and iconic landmark near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. Its history spans several millennia and reflects the city's rich and diverse cultural heritage. 2. King Herod’s Palace, located near the Tower of David, was one of the most magnificent structures in ancient Jerusalem. The Name “Tower of David” 1. Many visitors think King David built this tower, but he did not. The name "Tower of David" is a later traditional name. The name "Tower of David" was first used for the Herodian tower in the 5th century AD by the Byzantine Christians, who believed the site to be the palace of King David. They borrowed the name "Tower of David" from the Song of Songs, attributed to Solomon, King David's son, who wrote: "Thy neck is like the Tower of David built with turrets, whereon there hang a thousand shields, all the armor of the mighty men" Song of Solomon 4:4. 2. Later, Muslim tradition also connected the area with David, and Western visitors eventually applied the name especially to the Ottoman minaret. Today, the name refers to the whole citadel. 3. In Jerusalem, names are often ancient, traditional, and layered. A name may preserve memory, but it does not always identify the exact builder. Tower of David Historical Background The citadel guarded the western side of Jerusalem. But why here in this area? Because this was one of the most vulnerable and important approaches to the city. Anyone coming from the west, from the coastal plain, would approach Jerusalem near this area. That is why rulers kept fortifying this spot again and again. Therefore, the citadel is not one building from one period. It is a fortress made of many periods. 1. First Temple Period - 970 ~ 586 BC The earliest major remains in the citadel area go back to the First Temple Period. The museum identifies remains of a wall from the end of that period, apparently part of Jerusalem’s defenses in the days of King Hezekiah, around 2,700 years ago. Hezekiah ruled Judah when the Assyrian Empire threatened Jerusalem. The Bible describes the Assyrian crisis in 2 Kings 18–19, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36–37. Jerusalem expanded westward during the First Temple Period, and defensive walls became very important. When we talk about ancient Jerusalem, we usually think first of the City of David, south of the Temple Mount. But by Hezekiah’s day, Jerusalem had expanded. This western hill became part of the defended city. That is why First Temple-period fortifications matter here. 2. Hasmonean Period - 165 ~ 63 BC After the Maccabean revolt, the Hasmonean rulers expanded and fortified Jerusalem. Here in the citadel area, they built massive walls and towers. The museum notes that dozens of ballista stones were found near the places where they landed, giving us a vivid picture of warfare around Jerusalem. The Hasmoneans were the Jewish ruling family that came out of the Maccabean revolt. Their story is connected with Hanukkah and the rededication of the Temple in the second century BC. Recent excavations (2025–2026) in the Kishle area under the Tower of David complex uncovered a major Hasmonean wall foundation, about 50 meters long and about 5 meters wide. AP reported that this is one of the longest intact sections of the Hasmonean wall foundation found in Jerusalem, likely built after the Hanukkah-era events. This is one of the exciting things about Jerusalem: archaeology is not finished. Even today, new discoveries are helping us understand the city’s story. 3. Herodian Period - 37 ~ 4 BC Herod the Great made this area one of the strongest and most impressive parts of Jerusalem. Herod, who took power over the Hasmonean dynasty, added three massive towers to the fortifications in 37–34 BC. He built these at the vulnerable northwest corner of the Western Hill, where the Citadel is now located. His purpose was not only to defend the city but also to safeguard his own royal palace located nearby on Mount Zion. Herod named the tallest of the towers in memory of his brother, who had committed suicide while in captivity. Another tower was called Mariamne, named for his second wife, whom he had executed and buried in a cave to the west of the tower. He named the third tower Hippicus after one of his friends. Of the three towers, only the base of one of them survives today. Of the original tower itself (now called the Tower of David), some sixteen courses of the Herodian stone ashlars still rise from ground level, upon which were added smaller stones in a later period that added back significantly to the height of the remaining stump of the Herodian tower. The museum identifies the surviving tower as the Phasael Tower, though scholars have debated whether the surviving tower should be identified as Phasael or Hippicus. The museum identifies this as Phasael Tower, one of Herod’s great towers, and is where today the observation point is located. Herod was Rome’s client king over Judea. He rebuilt the Temple Mount on a massive scale and also built palace-fortresses such as Masada, Herodium, and Caesarea Maritima. In Jerusalem, his western palace stood near this area. Herod the Great is the king in Matthew 2, during the birth of Jesus. Later, Herod’s palace area may also be relevant to the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, though this is debated. Some scholars and Christian guides argue that Jesus may have been tried by Pilate near Herod’s former palace in the western part of Jerusalem, rather than at the Antonia Fortress. The Kishle excavations have renewed discussion of this possibility. The Jerusalem Post notes that many Christian leaders, historians, and archaeologists increasingly connect the trial setting with the area near the Tower of David/Kishle, while also acknowledging the long history of other traditional locations. HolyLandSite.com's position strongly leans to the area by Herod's Palace as the best candidate for the trial of Jesus. We have done several videos about it. Here is a link to see more: Pilate's Palace: Judgment & Condemnation of Jesus | HolyLandSite.com 4. Roman Period in Israel - 63 BC ~ 324 AD In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple. Simon Bar Kokhba, the leader of the Jewish uprising, made the tower his residence. Josephus says the Romans left some of the great towers standing to show how strong the city had been and how great the Roman victory was. The museum notes that Josephus recorded the survival of Phasael Tower after the Roman destruction. After the revolt, the Tenth Roman Legion was stationed in Jerusalem. The museum notes that Roman legionaries camped in the ruins of the fortress and left clay pipes stamped with the seal of the Tenth Legion. This means that after Jerusalem’s destruction, this area did not become empty. It became part of the Roman military presence in the ruined city. 5. Byzantine Period in Israel - 324 ~ 638 AD In the Byzantine period, Jerusalem became a major Christian pilgrimage city. This is the period of Constantine, Helena, and the development of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Churches were built, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Byzantine monks lived near the fortress and mistakenly believed it was connected to King David. This is when the name "Tower of David" became attached to the site. This was so because the Byzantines mistakenly identified the hill as Mount Zion and presumed it to be David's palace, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:11, 11:1-27, and 16:22. The Byzantine period did not only build churches. It also reshaped the memory of Jerusalem. Places were identified, named, and connected to biblical stories. Some identifications were accurate, and some were traditional or mistaken. 6. Islamic Period - 638 to 1099 AD After the Arab conquest of Jerusalem in 638, the new Muslim rulers refurbished the Tower of David and then referred to it also as the Citadel of Davd, or citadel. This mighty structure withstood the Crusaders' assault in 1099 and surrendered only when its defenders were guaranteed safe passage out of the city. T his area continued to serve as a fortified point. The museum explains that an enclosed citadel was built here in the Early Muslim period. It was smaller than the present citadel and was attached to the Phasael Tower. In the courtyard, the base of a round tower about 10 meters, or 30 feet, in diameter can still be seen. This is the period of the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, and other Muslim rulers. The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque belong to the broader early Islamic transformation of Jerusalem. Notice how every ruler reused what came before. Instead of clearing the whole area and starting over, new rulers built onto earlier fortifications. 7. Crusader Period - 1099 to 1260 AD When the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, they turned this area into a major castle. The museum says the Crusader castle was built in a French feudal style, with knights’ halls, arches, defensive walls, and a moat. The Crusaders gave the fortress much of its present size and dimensions. During this period, thousands of pilgrims undertook the pilgrimage to Jerusalem through the port at Jaffa. To protect pilgrims from the menace of highway robbers, the Crusaders built a tower surrounded by a moat atop the citadel and posted lookouts to guard the road to Jaffa. The citadel also protected the newly erected palace of the Crusader kings of Jerusalem, located immediately south of the fortress. The Crusaders controlled Jerusalem from 1099 until Saladin’s conquest in 1187, with later periods of partial Crusader return and conflict. The citadel guarded the western entrance to the city and the road system leading into Jerusalem. The Crusader period is easy to feel here because of the heavy stone halls, arches, and defensive character of the site. This was not just a symbolic building. It was a working military fortress. 8. Mamluk Period - 1260 to 1517 AD After the Crusaders, the Mamluks ruled Jerusalem. Most of the rooms now used as museum exhibition spaces were built by the Mamluks on the structural base of the Crusader fortress. They enlarged and strengthened the fortress and added more advanced defensive features. The Mamluks ruled from Egypt and controlled Jerusalem as part of their wider empire. Jerusalem was not usually a political capital under them, but it remained a holy city and a place of pilgrimage, learning, and religious endowment. In 1310, the citadel was rebuilt by Mamluk sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun, who gave it much of its present shape. 9. Ottoman Period - 1517 ~ 1917 The Ottomans ruled Jerusalem for 400 years. They rebuilt the Old City walls under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent from 1537 - 1541. Here at the fortress, they renovated the fortress, built the monumental entrance gate, the stone bridge, the cannon plaza, and the minaret. The minaret became the famous symbol most people now call the Tower of David. For 400 years, the citadel served as a garrison for Turkish troops. The Ottomans also installed a mosque near the southwest corner of the citadel, erecting a minaret between 1635 and 1655. In the 19th century, the conspicuous minaret still stands today and became commonly called the "Tower of David." During World War I, British forces under General Edmund Allenby captured Jerusalem. General Allenby formally proclaimed the event, standing on a platform at the outer eastern gate of the fortress. When tourists take a picture of the Tower of David, they often photograph the Ottoman minaret. So, the most famous symbol of the "Tower of David" is not from David, not from Herod, and not from the Crusaders. It is Ottoman. 10. British Mandate Period - 1917 to 1948 In 1917, British forces entered Jerusalem. The museum notes that the British declared the conquest of the city on the eastern side steps to the fortress. During the Mandate period, the first archaeological excavations in the complex were carried out, and the fortress was used as an art gallery, museum, and cultural center. General Allenby famously dismounted his horse, as a symbol of humility and respect for the holiness of Jerusalem, and entered it on foot through Jaffa Gate in December 1917. The British wanted to show respect for the holy city by not entering as conquerors on horseback. During this period, the Tower of David served as a military headquarters. Additionally, th e High Commissioner established the Pro-Jerusalem Society to protect the city's cultural heritage. This organization cleaned and renovated the citadel and reopened it to the public as a venue for concerts, benefit events, and exhibitions by local artists. In the 1930s, a museum of Palestinian folklore was opened in the citadel, displaying traditional crafts and clothing. Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Arab Legion captured Jerusalem and converted the citadel back to its historical role as a military position, as it commanded a dominant view across the armistice line into Jewish Jerusalem. It would keep this role until 1967. This fortress, once built for war, became a cultural site. That is one of the beautiful changes in the story of the Tower of David. 11. State of Israel Today 1948 ~ Present After the 1948 War, the fortress was used by the Jordanians as a fortress. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel took control of the Old City, and the citadel came under Israeli sovereignty. After extensive excavations, it opened in 1989 as the Tower of David Museum. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, the citadel's cultural role has been revived. The Jerusalem Foundation opened the Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem in 1989. Located in a series of chambers in the original citadel, the museum includes a courtyard with archeological remains dating back 2,700 years. The exhibits depict 4,000 years of Jerusalem's history, from its beginnings as a Canaanite city to modern times. Using maps, videotapes, holograms, drawings, and models, the exhibit rooms each depict Jerusalem under its various rulers. Visitors may also ascend to the ramparts, which command a 360-degree view of Jerusalem's Old and New City. The Tower of David stands as a testament to Jerusalem’s complex and layered history, reflecting the many civilizations that have left their mark on the city. Today, the museum tells the whole story of Jerusalem: ancient, biblical, classical, Islamic, Crusader, Ottoman, modern, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. That is what makes this site so powerful. If you ever visit, you’ll find it offers a fascinating glimpse into the past! Places of Interest Tour 1. Entrance The entrance has changed since 2023. It's now located on the west side of the Tower of David Museum just south of Jaffa Gate. 2. Gallery 1: “On the Edge of Eternity” — Introduction to Jerusalem This is the introductory gallery. It welcomes visitors to Jerusalem and presents the city’s 4,000-year history through projections, artifacts, a topographical map, an illuminated globe, and a 12-meter interactive timeline. This first gallery gives us the big picture. Jerusalem is not just a city of stones. It is a city of memory, faith, conflict, hope, and longing. The timeline helps visitors see the full sweep of history before we enter the details. This gallery shows the following history of Jerusalem: Canaanite/Jebusite city → Israelite/Judahite Jerusalem → Babylonian destruction → Persian return → Hasmonean kingdom → Herodian Jerusalem → Roman destruction → Byzantine Christian city → Islamic city → Crusader city → Mamluk and Ottoman city → British Mandate → modern Jerusalem. 3. Courtyard Archaeology Overview The courtyard is one of the best places to show that Jerusalem’s history is layered. The museum states that Jerusalem’s ancient fortifications are displayed in the courtyard and archaeological gardens under careful conservation practices. This courtyard is like an open-air history book. Some remains are walls. Some are towers. Some are water systems. Some are foundations. The important thing is not just one object; it is the sequence. Jerusalem was destroyed, rebuilt, conquered, restored, renamed, and reimagined many times. Main periods that can be seen in the courtyard: First Temple wall remains, Hasmonean fortifications, Herodian tower remains, Roman military traces, Byzantine cisterns, Early Muslim round tower, Crusader moat and halls, Mamluk rooms, Ottoman gate and minaret. 4. Gallery 2: Judaism — “The Holy City: Tracing Sanctity” This gallery explores the more than 3,000-year connection between Jerusalem and the Jewish people. It includes animations, videos, installations, archaeological artifacts, and a detailed model of the Second Temple and Temple Mount made with modern 3D printing. For Judaism, Jerusalem is the city of the Temple, the city of David, the place of sacrifice, prayer, kingship, exile, return, and hope. Even after the destruction of the Temple, Jerusalem remained central in Jewish prayer and identity. Bible connections: 2 Samuel 5 — David captures Jerusalem. 1 Kings 8 — Solomon dedicates the Temple. Psalm 122 — “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2 — “The law will go out from Zion.” The model of the Second Temple helps visitors visualize Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, Herod, and the early church. This was the spiritual heart of Jewish life in the Second Temple period. 5. Gallery 3: Christianity — “Sacred Geography: Tracing Sanctity” This gallery focuses on Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem and on the Byzantine and Crusader periods, when Christian rule shaped the city. At the center is a model of the original Byzantine Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For Christianity, Jerusalem is holy above all because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The final week of Jesus’ life took place in Jerusalem: the triumphal entry, Last Supper, Gethsemane, trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Jerusalem’s Christian geography developed over time. Some sites are strongly supported by history and archaeology; others are based more on later tradition. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the most important Christian site in the city because it preserves the traditional location of Jesus’ crucifixion and tomb. 6. Gallery 4: Islam — “Praises of Jerusalem: Tracing Sanctity” This gallery presents the Muslim connection to Jerusalem beginning with the 638 AD conquest. It includes a model of the Dome of the Rock as built in 691 AD, and an animated installation about Muhammad’s Night Journey and ascent, which gives Jerusalem its status as the third holiest city in Islam. The Dome of the Rock, built in 691 AD, is one of the oldest and most beautiful Islamic monuments in the world. It was built on the Temple Mount, right over where the original temple King Solomon built, Zerubbabel rebuilt, and Herod the Great rebuilt again to its most glorious state ever. Jerusalem is one city, but it is sacred in different ways to different faiths. This museum helps visitors see those different layers side by side. 7. Gallery 5: “Jerusalem: The Circle of the Year” This gallery uses video art on the vaulted ceiling, music, chants, prayers, and touchscreens to present the yearly cycle of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy days in Jerusalem. This room is not only about dates on a calendar. It is about the living rhythm of Jerusalem. In this city, the year is shaped by Passover, Easter, Ramadan, Sukkot, Christmas, Hanukkah, and many other holy days. In Jerusalem, history is not only in the past. It is lived every year. 8. Gallery 6: The Tower of David This gallery tells the story of the citadel itself, using projection mapping, video archives, artifacts, and digital games. It presents the Tower of David as a symbol of Jerusalem and shows archaeological evidence from the First Temple Period to modern times. Now we focus on the building we are standing in. The citadel is a small version of Jerusalem’s whole history. Every empire that came to Jerusalem left something here. The Tower of David is not the story of one king. It is the story of many rulers, many faiths, many destructions, and many reconstructions. 9. Gallery 7: Temporary Exhibition Gallery It's called the "Temporary Exhibition Gallery" because the museum changes its exhibitions regularly. Because this gallery changes, it reminds us that Jerusalem is not only ancient, but also modern, artistic, musical, and personal. Every generation tells the city’s story in a new way. 10. Gallery 8: “From a Bird’s Eye View” — The 1873 Illés Model This gallery displays the large Stephan Illés model of Jerusalem as it appeared in 1873. It measures about 4 by 4.5 meters and shows streets, alleys, buildings, mountains, and valleys. The model was made by Stephan Illés, a Hungarian pilgrim who arrived in Jerusalem in 1864; it was first shown in Vienna in 1873 and later rediscovered in Geneva before being returned to Jerusalem on permanent loan. This is one of the best tools for understanding 19th-century Jerusalem. The city was still mostly inside the Ottoman walls. Soon after this, Jerusalem began expanding outside the Old City in a major way. In the model we can see the Jaffa Gate, the citadel, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Temple Mount, Mount of Olives, valleys, roads, and the first neighborhoods outside the walls. This model captures Jerusalem at a turning point: still ancient in appearance, but about to become a modern city. 11. Gallery 9: Modern Times — Jerusalem as Center of the World This gallery tells the story of the last 200 years through photographs, films, archival material, and documents, showing Jerusalem’s modernization in the 19th and 20th centuries and its role as the capital of the State of Israel. In the modern period, Jerusalem changed rapidly. New neighborhoods were built outside the walls. Foreign powers opened consulates. Pilgrims, archaeologists, photographers, scholars, and political movements all came here. Jerusalem became not only a holy city, but also a modern political and international city. 12. Gallery 10: “Eye Towards Zion” — Photography and Modern Jerusalem This gallery is dedicated to early photography and photographers of modern Jerusalem. It shows how Jerusalem became an important subject soon after the invention of photography in the mid-19th century. It also includes a reading library and views from the windows. Photography changed the way the world saw Jerusalem. Before photography, many people imagined Jerusalem through Scripture, maps, paintings, and pilgrims’ stories. With photography, people could see the real streets, gates, walls, people, and holy sites. Jerusalem has always been both real and symbolic. Photography brought those two together. 13. Phasael Tower Observation Point This is one of the best views in Jerusalem and offers a 360-degree view. From here, we see east and west, old and new, sacred and modern. This view helps us understand why Jerusalem matters geographically. From here we can see: To the east: Old City, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, Mount of Olives. To the north: Christian Quarter, Church of the Holy Sepulchre area, Muslim Quarter, Damascus Gate direction. To the south: Armenian Quarter, Jewish Quarter, Mount Zion, Dormition Abbey, Upper Room. To the west: New Jerusalem, Mamilla, modern city expansion outside the walls. Jerusalem is not large, but its meaning is enormous. From this tower, we see why this city was desired by kings, empires, pilgrims, armies, and worshipers. 14. The Moat The moat reminds us that this was a fortress. A moat made it harder for attackers to reach the walls. In the Crusader and later periods, defensive planning shaped this site. The museum notes that the Crusader citadel was surrounded by a moat and included halls, arches, and defensive walls. The Tower of David today is peaceful, but its architecture was born from centuries of conflict. 15. The Kishle The Kishle is an archaeological part of the Tower of David. It was originally the northern part of King Herod's Palace complex. Over the years it has been converted into a prison during the Ottoman and British Mandate periods. Under its floors, excavations have revealed layers from many periods of Jerusalem’s history: First Temple, Hasmonean, Herodian, Roman, Crusader, Ottoman, British, and modern. It is one of the clearest examples of Jerusalem’s layers in one building. Recent excavations reached bedrock and revealed a major Hasmonean-era wall, one of the most complete and longest sections of Jerusalem’s First Wall found so far. Archaeologists also found evidence such as medieval dyeing basins and prison graffiti from the Ottoman and British periods. Some believe Herod’s palace area near the Tower of David may be the better location for the praetorium where Jesus was tried before Pilate. The Kishle is powerful because it brings together archaeology and human stories: kings, soldiers, prisoners, pilgrims, rebels, and worshipers. 16. Exit The exit is near the inner passage by the Gift Shop, close to the route toward the Moat and Kishle area. As we leave the Tower of David, remember this: the citadel is not really about David alone. It is about Jerusalem. It shows us a city, built layer upon layer, period upon period, empire upon empire. Here we see walls from the days of Judah, fortifications from the Hasmoneans, towers of Herod, traces of Rome, memories of Byzantine Christians, Muslim fortifications, Crusader halls, Mamluk rebuilding, Ottoman symbols, British history, and modern Israel. Jerusalem is a city where history is not hidden far away. It is under your feet, in the stones, in the walls, and in the names. The Tower of David is one of the best places to understand that story. 17. Optional Evening Add-On: Night Spectacular or King David Show The museum also offers night experiences projected on the walls of the citadel. These are not part of the regular museum ticket, but they can be a strong evening add-on for groups. The museum describes the Night Experiences as open-air sound-and-light shows projected on the citadel walls, about 40 minutes long, designed for speakers of all languages. King Herod's Palace Historical Background 1. King Herod’s Palace, located near the Tower of David, was one of the most magnificent structures in ancient Jerusalem. 2. Herod the Great built it from 25-10 BC. The palace was renowned for its grandeur and luxury. 3. The palace complex included two main buildings with banquet halls, baths, and gardens, all surrounded by impressive fortifications. 4. It served as the administrative center of Herod’s rule and later as the residence of Roman governors, including Pontius Pilate. 5. The Tower of David and Herod’s Palace were part of the same fortified area, with the palace located just to the west of the citadel. 6. Excavations have uncovered parts of Herod’s Palace near the Tower of David, providing valuable insights into the period's architectural and historical context. 7. The Kishle and King Herod’s Palace offer fascinating glimpses into Jerusalem’s layered history, from ancient times through various periods of conquest and rule. If you visit the Tower of David Museum, you can explore these areas and learn more about their historical significance. Faith Lesson from the Tower of David and Herod's Palace 1. The stones here cry out that God’s Word is true and is verifiable through the fulfillment of many prophecies. What about us? Do we see that written all over the history of Jerusalem and Israel are fulfilled prophecies from the Bible? Does this increase our faith and confidence in the Bible? 2. A famous statement about Jerusalem, which is a sad but very true, says, “The Jerusalem Stone, so resilient and supple, bows to the transient follies of humankind, bearing a testimony like a hundred witnesses, and yet, remains silent.” What about us? Do we understand that disobedience to God only results in folly and destruction? 3. We find in all that has happened to the Jews a powerful and sobering message for us today. Obedience brings God’s blessings, but disobedience brings His discipline. 1 Corinthians 10:11–12: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. What about us? are we enjoying God's blessings or His discipline? Do we realize His discipline is for our own God to draw us out of destruction and into His blessings and life?