Description
Israel Tour with Dr. David Higgs & First Baptist Church of Henderson - June 2025
"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." Psalms 122:2 A journey to the Holy Land! We want to invite you on an unforgettable journey into the Holy Land which is filled with ancient biblical history, culture and spiritual blessings. Visit the places that witnessed the events of such decisive and enduring importance in the history of humanity. This journey will provide you a deeper understanding of scriptures traveling through the lands of the Bible. You will get a closer look at the life of Jesus Christ and His mission of redemption. When you make this journey in the company of friends and others of like mind, you can look forward to an unforgettable experience. Picture yourself sailing in a boat like the disciples on the Sea of Galilee (“And Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make you become fishers of men” Mark 1:17), floating in the Dead Sea, seeing our Lord Jesus’ birth place in Bethlehem, walking the streets of Jerusalem and having communion at the empty tomb where Jesus rose from the dead (“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” Matthew 28:6). At the end of this tour two things will most certainly be changed, you, and your understanding of the Bible. Join us on this life changing tour.
**Tour Full - Waitlist Only**
What's Included
Our tours are all-inclusive. Always.
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Itinerary
Day by Day
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Tuesday
Istanbul, Tel Aviv, TiberiasThis afternoon we will arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our flight to Israel. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Continue past Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel, to the famous Sea of Galilee in Tiberias where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Wednesday
Tiberias, Capernaum, Sea of Glilee, Beit SheanRIVERThis morning we continue our morning tour with a visit to Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. Circling the Sea of Galilee we stop at Bethsaida, hometown of the Apostles Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, and Philip and on to Gaderenes (Kursi) where Jesus met the demon possessed man. This afternoon we head south as we follow the Rift Valley running parallel to the Jordan, along the route Jesus most frequently traveled to Jerusalem. We visit Beit Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where King Saul was slain, see the evidences of Egyptian, Roman, and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient tel, Roman Theater and church mosaics. Our last stop today will be at the River Jordan for those who would like the opportunity to be baptized. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Thursday
Caesarea Philippi, Magdala"The Head of all those Kingdoms" (Joshua 11:10) The Sources of the Jordan.
This morning our drive takes us to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan. Here we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). Then a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan the Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith, recognition of Christ Jesus (Matthew 16). Driving along the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. On our return we will stop at Chorazin and then on to Magdala, one of the oldest synagogues dating back to the first century AD. Home of Mary Magdalena and was the fishing center where Peter would have brought his catch to be sold or processed. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Friday
Nazareth, Megiddo, Caesara, JerusalemJERUSALEM“We are going up to Jerusalem.” (Matt. 20:18). We drive west past Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first Miracle, turning water into wine (John 2). We proceed to Nazareth and ascend the Mount of the Precipice at the brow of Nazareth overlooking the Valley of Jezreel, synonymous with Armageddon. We then drive through the valley to the mound of Megiddo, Har Megiddo in Hebrew, which gave its name to Armageddon. We then ascend Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal.From there we drive towards the Mediterranean coast traveling south along the coastal highway to Caesarea by the Sea. We enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the east, which became the Christian springboard to the west. After the visit to this ancient harbor, we board our bus and we head up the historic Beth Horon road (Joshua 10:10) to the Benjamin Plateau, passing ancient Gibeon and continuing on to Jerusalem. Finally, atop Mt. Scopus, we behold majestic Jerusalem. Check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
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Saturday
Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea, JerichoToday we drive to Masada and ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Continuing alongside the Dead Sea, 1,300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we proceed to Ein Gedi where time permitting we will walk the path to see the waterfall in the desert. This afternoon we continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will have a stop for lunch and time for those that want to swim in the Dead Sea. We travel to Jericho, the world’s oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha’s spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We will head up to Jerusalem and return to the hotel for dinner.
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Sunday
Sifting Project, Shrine of the Book, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Pool of SoloamThis morning we begin our day at the Temple Mount Sifting Project located in a scenic pine grove at the meeting point of Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives. Here we have the opportunity to uncover the glorious past of the Temple Mount. Sift through rubble that originated in ancient buildings from the Temple Period and learn about findings from archaeologists and expert guides at the site. Continue on to the Shrine of the Book and the Model City, showing Jerusalem as it was at the time of the Second Temple. This afternoon we will board our bus, riding back in time for our exciting walking tour to The City of David, Hezekiah's tunnel and Pool of Siloam. See where King David, who had established the messianic throne, once had a palace looking out over the biblical stage to see the area where the beautiful Bathsheba had bathed by moon light. Descend by way of the mighty fortress encompassing the famous Warren's Shaft and stop at the Gihon spring that witnessed King Solomon's coronation, the only naturally flowing water source in Jerusalem, a gushing, karstic spring. Bring a flashlight to walk through the thigh high water gently flowing through Hezekiah's tunnel or walk an earlier dry ancient aqueduct and view the walls and tombs of the House of David, both leading to the Pool of Siloam where Jesus miraculously cured the blind man in John 9. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- 8
Monday
Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Bethlehem"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace." (Luke 19:42) Our drive this morning takes us past the Chapel of Ascension and Paternoster to the Mt. of Olives for an orientation view of Jerusalem and the opportunity of a group photograph overlooking Jerusalem. We then walk the traditional Passion walk. We descend to the church known as Dominus Flevit ("Our Lord weeps"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk downhill to Gethsemane, where we enter the garden and have private time to meditate on the Gospel text and then to view the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City and make our way to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, before we proceed to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park where we see the Steps that entered the temple and the Southern Wall. It was here that Jesus would have taught the disciples. See a video that shows the temple as it was at Herod's (or Jesus') time. "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord". (Luke 2:10-11). This afternoon we drive south to one of the possible sites for Shepherds' Fields at YMCA. We continue into Bethlehem itself, walking through the restored old town to the Church of the Nativity and visiting the manger and see the cave of St. Jerome. We drive back to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
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Tuesday
Old City, Via Dolorosa, Garden Tomb“He has risen!” (Mark 16:6) After breakfast we transfer to the Dung Gate, where we ascend to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, considered the third holiest site of Islam, located on the site of the ancient Temple Mount. Here the first and second Temples once stood. Just to the north we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church. The church is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. Continuing on we see Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man). We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) through the bazaars as far as the Holy Sepulcher. From there we walk from the Christian Quarter along the Arab Souks through the Cardo Maximo and past the Armenian Quarter. Continue on to the grounds of a church called Peter in Gallicantu, which affords the best view of early Jerusalem from the west. (Here, the Assumptions Fathers suggest, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus). We board our bus to the Garden Tomb where we will end our day with a special visit and the possibility of having a private communion on the grounds outside the city walls. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Wednesday
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, USAWe transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked inthe footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.
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