Thursday, March 27, 2014:

After a wonderful buffet breakfast we set out by tour bus to visit our schedule.

Caesarea by the Sea:  Caesarea was originally a poor harbor on the Mediterranean coast.  It was founded by Herod the Great in 22 BC and was the seat of the Roman government for over five hundred years.  The city was named in honor of Caesar Augustus and was the home of the Roman procurators including Pontius Pilate.  Pilate’s name was discovered in the 1960’s, on an inscription that identified him as the “prefect of Judah”.  The existing walls and gate of the harbor were built in the time of the Crusades (12^th century AD).

Caesarea Theater:  We arrived at the Theater, climbed the stairs and took a seat in a bowl shaped theater with a view of the Mediterranean sea in the background.  Negotiating the irregular stone steps without a hand rail was a challenge. This was the first place that Dr. David Jeremiah  would speak to the entire tour.  After some music by the Hoppers and others, the theme of the message became evident:  “Grace”.

Near the theater was an aqueduct built by Herod the Great and later modified by the Romans in the second century AD.  The aqueduct was built in order to bring fresh water to Herod’s palace swimming pool.  An amazing construction feat when you consider that the aqueduct slopes just 10 inches in its 10 mile length.  Only portions of the aqueduct remain today.

Mount Carmel:  Mount Carmel is a wooded mountain range, thirteen miles long, projecting into the Mediterranean Sea at Haifa.  From the time of antiquity, alters to strange gods were erected on its heights, especially for the worship of Baal.  In 1 Kings 18: 19-39 it is recorded that this is where Elijah had his contest with the prophets of Baal.

Megiddo:  Megiddo is on the southern end of the Jezreel Valley and commands one of the most strategic points in Israel.  Destroyed and rebuilt many times, twenty-two separate layers of occupation have been found here, each one built on the ruins of the previous city.  Evidence has been found here dating to the time of Solomon. Originally the water source was outside the city walls.  An impressive system of water works was built to provide access to the water from inside the city. The tour descended 197 feet on a stairway down to the bottom of the well. This is perhaps the Holy Land’s best-known Biblical city.  Megiddo is better known in its Latin form “Armageddon”.  In Revelation 16:16 it is revealed that it is here, that the battle between the forces of good and evil will be fought before the Judgment Day.

Tomb:  An ancient tomb near the side of a road (it was discovered when the modern road was constructed) illustrates what the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb might have looked like from the outside.  In Luke 23: 51-53 we learn that Joseph made his tomb available for Jesus.

Gideon Springs:  It was at Mount Gilboa where Gideon followed the Lord’s commands to select the 300 (the soldiers who lapped putting their hand to their mouth) to defeat the forces of the Midianites.  Judges 7:6-7.  Frank tried to get down to the spring to drink but the step was deeper than he could manage.  Our bus tour captain obliged with the photo op.

Caprice Diamond Factory:  At the end of the day we visited the Caprice Diamond Factory.  This factory cuts and polishes diamonds from around the world and 61% of its business is exporting diamonds to the United States.  Sharon was able to replace the 40^th anniversary ring from Frank that she lost several years ago.