Visiting the Land of Israel
By Apostle Thurlow and Lynda Switzer
“Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end” (Psalm 48:12 – 14a NIV).
To the glory of God and fully appreciating our privilege to visit the land of Israel, Lynda and I thoroughly enjoyed Israel! We spent our Golden Anniversary taking a wonderful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and dining at a beautiful restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. What a way to celebrate Fifty Years of Marriage! We had a thrilling time and our love is more beautiful than ever.
Our first week we were in northern Israel visiting Haifa, Caesarea, Mount Carmel, Nazareth, Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights, Capernaum, and Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. We worshiped the first weekend at Tents of Mercy Congregation. Eitan and Connie Shishkoff planted this Messianic Congregation and continue to provide oversight. We rejoice in the exciting testimony of what God has done there, producing five congregations. We visited several mountains, such as Mount Carmel where Elijah contested the false prophets of Baal. We drove the steep, winding road up Mount Tabor where the Transfiguration of Jesus occurred; we traveled to Mount Hermon in the extreme north from where all the pure waters flow to nourish the entire land--flowing from three main rivers into the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.
We walked the Mount of Beatitudes at Capernaum where Jesus taught Matthew 5-6-7 and where Peter’s ancient house and the synagogue next door are being excavated. We looked across the Sea of Galilee and saw the mountains of the Gadarenes. We ate lunch in the shadow of Magdala where Mary of Magdalena lived. We visited the Mount of Megiddo and looked out over the beautiful, huge valley of Armageddon, and we lived five days midst the hills of Nazareth, the village where Jesus grew up--all this and much more! We loved northern Israel: the views are awesome, the grass is green, the pace of life is slow and restful, and our hearts were refreshed.
Our second week began with our driving from Tiberias two and one-half hours along the Jordan River Valley to Jerusalem, where we worshiped with the Messianic Congregation started and led by Asher Intrater. We visited Ashdod where Samson brought down the Philistine Temple upon his tormentors. We traveled into Jerusalem three days, driving through the valley where Joshua commanded the sun to stand still for 24 hours, and through the valley where David fought Goliath. We stopped at Kiriath Jearim where the Ark of the Covenant rested for 20 years before David brought it up to Mt. Zion. We toured three days in the Old City of Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) enjoying all the historical sites there, climbing the stairs by the Golden Gate, walking the Via Dolorosa, praying at the western Wailing Wall of the old temple area, and enjoying the beautiful Garden of the Resurrection just outside the walls at Golgotha (Calvary), as well as other famous places commemorating the life of Christ. We visited the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Well of Salome, the City of David south of the temple mount, the Pools of Solomon, and drove down through the narrow Kidron Valley, the Valley of Jehosophat.
Our third week we stayed for five days in the Palestinian Area beyond the Checkpoints and the Wall in the Village of Bethlehem where we enjoyed the hospitality of the Bethlehem Bible College and worshiped with an Arab Christian Church called Immanuel’s Church. The Arab believers, the pastor, his wife and family were wonderful! We visited several places in Bethlehem proper, such as the Church of the Nativity. We climbed the steep hill of the famous Herodian site where King Herod was buried, as well as took a delightful trip to the grounds, caves, and church of the Bethlehem shepherds. We traveled to Jericho, stopped by the Sycamore Tree where Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus, and visited an ancient Moslem Temple area. On our last day, we drove to the Jordan River area where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. We toured Qumran, and at the Dead Sea we floated for a few minutes on top of the mineral-rich water.
While staying in Bethlehem, we heard the sounds of war, guns firing, people shouting as they rioted, allowing us to touch the tension existing between the Palestinians and the Israeli citizens. We must pray for peace in Jerusalem, for all Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Truly Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the hope for all people! We had a great time and returned home educated and renewed. Thanks for praying for us and for our safety. God bless you!
To the glory of God and fully appreciating our privilege to visit the land of Israel, Lynda and I thoroughly enjoyed Israel! We spent our Golden Anniversary taking a wonderful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and dining at a beautiful restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. What a way to celebrate Fifty Years of Marriage! We had a thrilling time and our love is more beautiful than ever.
Our first week we were in northern Israel visiting Haifa, Caesarea, Mount Carmel, Nazareth, Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights, Capernaum, and Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. We worshiped the first weekend at Tents of Mercy Congregation. Eitan and Connie Shishkoff planted this Messianic Congregation and continue to provide oversight. We rejoice in the exciting testimony of what God has done there, producing five congregations. We visited several mountains, such as Mount Carmel where Elijah contested the false prophets of Baal. We drove the steep, winding road up Mount Tabor where the Transfiguration of Jesus occurred; we traveled to Mount Hermon in the extreme north from where all the pure waters flow to nourish the entire land--flowing from three main rivers into the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.
We walked the Mount of Beatitudes at Capernaum where Jesus taught Matthew 5-6-7 and where Peter’s ancient house and the synagogue next door are being excavated. We looked across the Sea of Galilee and saw the mountains of the Gadarenes. We ate lunch in the shadow of Magdala where Mary of Magdalena lived. We visited the Mount of Megiddo and looked out over the beautiful, huge valley of Armageddon, and we lived five days midst the hills of Nazareth, the village where Jesus grew up--all this and much more! We loved northern Israel: the views are awesome, the grass is green, the pace of life is slow and restful, and our hearts were refreshed.
Our second week began with our driving from Tiberias two and one-half hours along the Jordan River Valley to Jerusalem, where we worshiped with the Messianic Congregation started and led by Asher Intrater. We visited Ashdod where Samson brought down the Philistine Temple upon his tormentors. We traveled into Jerusalem three days, driving through the valley where Joshua commanded the sun to stand still for 24 hours, and through the valley where David fought Goliath. We stopped at Kiriath Jearim where the Ark of the Covenant rested for 20 years before David brought it up to Mt. Zion. We toured three days in the Old City of Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) enjoying all the historical sites there, climbing the stairs by the Golden Gate, walking the Via Dolorosa, praying at the western Wailing Wall of the old temple area, and enjoying the beautiful Garden of the Resurrection just outside the walls at Golgotha (Calvary), as well as other famous places commemorating the life of Christ. We visited the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Well of Salome, the City of David south of the temple mount, the Pools of Solomon, and drove down through the narrow Kidron Valley, the Valley of Jehosophat.
Our third week we stayed for five days in the Palestinian Area beyond the Checkpoints and the Wall in the Village of Bethlehem where we enjoyed the hospitality of the Bethlehem Bible College and worshiped with an Arab Christian Church called Immanuel’s Church. The Arab believers, the pastor, his wife and family were wonderful! We visited several places in Bethlehem proper, such as the Church of the Nativity. We climbed the steep hill of the famous Herodian site where King Herod was buried, as well as took a delightful trip to the grounds, caves, and church of the Bethlehem shepherds. We traveled to Jericho, stopped by the Sycamore Tree where Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus, and visited an ancient Moslem Temple area. On our last day, we drove to the Jordan River area where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. We toured Qumran, and at the Dead Sea we floated for a few minutes on top of the mineral-rich water.
While staying in Bethlehem, we heard the sounds of war, guns firing, people shouting as they rioted, allowing us to touch the tension existing between the Palestinians and the Israeli citizens. We must pray for peace in Jerusalem, for all Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Truly Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the hope for all people! We had a great time and returned home educated and renewed. Thanks for praying for us and for our safety. God bless you!