Description
Israel Tour with Rev. Dale & Shirley Keffer - April 2025
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 26:6).
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.
Rev. Dale & Shirley Keffer
What's Included
Our tours are all-inclusive. Always.
Itinerary
Day by Day
- 3
Friday
Jaffa / Caesarea / Nazareth / Megiddo / TiberiasThis morning we proceed to Jaffa and see the ancient port that Jonah left from. We will go via the Mediterranean to Caesarea, capital of the Roman procurators of Judea. Visit the Roman port, Crusader’s Moat, Roman theater and aqueduct. Continue to Muhraka on Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged Baal’s priests.
This afternoon we proceed to Megiddo to visit the excavations that unearthed 20 different civilizations. This is Michener’s “The Source”. We proceed to Nazareth and Ascend the Mount of the Precipice at the brow of Nazareth to an overlooking surveying the Valley of Jezreel, synonymous with Armageddon. We then travel through Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first Miracle, turning water into wine (John 2).Then, it’s on to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
- 4
Saturday
Dan / Caesarea Philippi"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. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- 5
Sunday
Tiberias / Sea of Galilee / Beit She’an / Jericho / JerusalemThis morning we take a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where we will be able to look to the shore where so many miracles occurred. We continue to Capernaum and see first century ruins, then visit Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. Our last stop this morning will be at the River Jordan for those who would like the opportunity to be baptized. This afternoon we travel via the Crusader fortress of Belvoir along the Rift Valley to Beit She'an, where King Saul and his sons were pinned to the walls. It became the Decapolis Capital and was traveled by Jesus and known as Scythopolis. See the ancient theater, Circus Maximus and Cardo Maximo. We head down the Jordan River road to Jericho, the world’s oldest city. Enjoy at late lunch before we make our way to the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho where we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha’s spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We continue on to the Golden City of Jerusalem. We will stop for a panoramic view of the City of David. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- 6
Monday
Qumran / Masada / Dead SeaToday we drive to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. 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. Heading south we make our way 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. We will have time for a late lunch and then on to the Dead Sea for those that want to swim. We will head up to Jerusalem and return to the hotel for dinner.
- 7
Tuesday
Jerusalem / Western Wall Tunnel / Wohl Archaeological Museum / Yad Vashem / Shrine of the BookAfter 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. Continue on to the Western Wall Plaza our exciting tour to the famous Western Wall Tunnel . Here we go down to the foundation of the Second Temple. We will see a model that will demonstrate where we are in location to the Temple in the time of Christ. Continue along the tunnel as we proceed to the Gateway of the Priests entry to the Holy of Holies. We will continue to the Wohl Archaeological Museum, considered to be one of the most fascinating Jerusalem museums. Here we see the remains of six houses from the Herodian period, excavated in 1967. In Temple times, this part of the city was home to wealthy priestly families.
This afternoon we will head to Yad Vashem and see the Museum of the Holocaust. Continue to Shrine of the Book and the model city of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- 8
Wednesday
Mount 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 take time to meditate on the Gospel text and view the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City and make our way to the Jerusalem Archeological 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 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.
- 9
Thursday
Old City / Via Dolorosa / Garden Tomb“He has risen!” (Mark 16:6) After breakfast we transfer to the Old City where 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. Continuing on to Mount Zion we visit the Upper Room and the Tomb of King David, and then 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.
From New York