HEBRON
South to the Jerusalem Hebron is one of the oldest cities in the holyland. It is famous for
beautiful springs, fertile land made many to get settled in it.The information about anicient
Hebron comes from the Bible where it is called Kiriath arba and mamre located 22 miles (35
Kms) South West to Jerusalem in the territory.
Hebron became famous for the association with Abraham (Gen. 13:18). In Gen 18:1-10.
God appeared in the form of three men to Abraham near Oaks of Mamre (Elonei Mamre)
King David ruled Judah for 7 1/2 years before he made Jerusalem his capital (2 Sam 2:11).
Hebron is frequently mentioned in later sources from the Hellenistic period through the Ottoman
period.
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Abraham, Sarah, Isac and his wife Rebekah and Jacobs wife Lea barried in Machpelah.
The monument structure above the cave was built in second temple period. It is commonly
attributed to Herod the great. Hebron is seen from the Bible from different references gives
more details.
Telaviv: It is situated in 1909 means the hill of the spring. In 1909 some Jewish settlers
moved from Jaffa in the South to form new city and called it Tel Aviv. It is a home for many
immigrants, having population 400,000. It is the largest city in Israel with approximately 15%
of Israels, 3,100,000 Jewish people. It is a city of Museums, art galleries, concert halls and
theaters and a vigorous commercial and industrial center. Telaviv It is the ordest support and
also a rock of mud.
Long back it is called Joppa.This place is very strong hold for Israel. Financial organisation
is held here. It is named as Merina beach of mediterian sea.
A big stadium is built by king Herod is 20BC. In Ceseria it is famous sea port in the world.
It is capital for momas is 600 BC poulions pilot ruled this city. Philip served an person on the
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Chariot here Acts 8:40. It is also home for Israel Philharmanic Orehestra and Operahouse.
Now the city is filled with 15 Mayors house many buildings, including, Open roof cinema halls
are provided. It is an educational cultural and art center. One of the best museums is Diaspora
Important monasteries of the desert
East of Jerusalem and Bethlehem the dudean resert drifts down to the Jordan valley.
Though the desert may be smah in size, the significance fevrrogn out history has been enormons.
Hundreds of monks prayed in natural caves.
Monastery of St. Eheodisius Mar Saba Monastery Anicient Martyrius Monaslery which
was uncovered in residential area East of Jerusalem on the road to Jericho.
Jaffee or Joppa :
In hebrew “Yafo”. It is anicient Joppa. It is one of the biggest cities in the holyland. It’s
beauty is engraved in the minds of visitors since centuries. It is a port city Egyptians conquered
in 15 century BC. It is the gate way to holyland.
This is an anicient city 2 Chronich 2:2-16 dating back atleast 3,500 years named after
Japheth. The son of Noah. It is part of Davis inheritance; when Israelites settled the land. It
is known as Japho in Joshua time (Josh 19:46). During Solomons reign, it was 2 Chroni 2:2-
16.a chief sea port used to float the cedars of Lebanon to Jerusalem for use in building the
temple. Zerubbabel brought leaders here to rebuilt the temple. (Ezra 3:7). Jonah Sailed from
here to Tarshish rather than to Obey
God. (Jona 1:3). Dorcas Lived, died
and was raised from dead by Peter.
(Acts 9:36). Simon the Tanner lived
here. (Acts 9:43). Peter’s vision
and commission to take Gospel to
gentites.
Nazareth:
This is native place of mother
of Jesus Mary. It is a small village
i.e. Galilee now filled with Arabs and
Christians. It is in holy city in 1968.Church at Joppa
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Few churches were rebuilt with beautiful decorations. In the caves few found the incriptions
read XEMAPIA, means hail Mary First word of Gabriel in Greek. In the center is Mary well.
An anqueduct carried water from the spring to the well. Church of Gabriel is close to Marys
well.
CANA
Present day Kfar cana definitely not
the actual site of New testament Cana. It is
located 4 miles north east of Nazareth on
the road to Tiberias. (John 2:1-10)
The first miracle of Jesus was
performed. His public miracle in Cana of
Galilee changing water to wine.
Jesus healed nobleman’s son from
Capernaum in Cana. (John 4:46-54). It was
the home of Nathanael, one of Jesus
disciples. (John 21:2). Jesus came to the
place only two times in his life.Soon after
Jesus was tempted by Satan after his fast
for 40 days. Jesus healed the son of the
Chief . (John 4:46-54). The important church
is called Kerkana, When Jesus did his first
miracle.
The steeples of the churches stand erect
above the houses and serve as a constant
reminder of the significance of this place
for the story of Jesus.
DEAD SEA SCROLLS.
In the early spring of 1947, a young
Bedouin boy made a startling discovery in
one of the more than 250 caves that riddle
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the hills of this area. In an at-tempt to retrieve a
lost sheep, he wandered into a lonely cave and
discovered the seven most famous scrolls in the
world, the first of many finds that make up the
Dead Sea Scrolls. Unaware of the importance
of these manuscripts, the lad took them to a
Beth-lehem merchant and antique dealer named
Kando. Four of the scrolls were purchased from
this dealer by the Archbishop Metropolitan
Samuel of the Syr-ian Orthodox Church in
Jerusalem. The other three were purchased by
the Israeli archaeologist Dr. E. L. Sukenik.
Subsequently the Dead Sea Scrolls be-came
known as “the greatest archaeological discovery
of the twentieth century.”
But why are the scrolls so important?
Because they are dated between 200 B.C. and
A.D. 100. The manuscripts from which our Old
Testament is trans-lated date to about A.D.
1000. Although the Dead Sea Scrolls were
written about 1000 years earlier than these
were, both are almost identical. This
won-derfully validates the accuracy of the
Bible. For that reason these scrolls are
extremely important. In fact, a special museum
at the Hebrew University was built just to house
these scrolls. It is known as THE SHRINE OF
THE :
ROOK
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Peter's House
Eliat -Red Sea
under sea a beautiful fish
The model photographed from the northeast: in the front is the third wall.
JERUSALEM
THE THIRD TEMPLE, ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN PROPHECY:
The Bible describes two temples that existed in the past. There was Solomon’s temple,
dedicated in 959 BC., and destroyed in 586 BC. by the Babylonians. Seventy years later in
516 BC, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the Israelites returned from the Babylonian
Captivity to rebuild the temple. The second temple did not have the majesty of the former one.
Herod the Great began a renovation of this temple in 20 BC., which continued through the
time of Christ. “Herod’s Temple”, as it was commonly called, was destroyed in AD 70 by the
Roman armies. But the Bible teaches that another temple will be built, and perhaps it will be
soon.
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Model of Ancient Jerusalem
In telling about the Antichrist, who will be on earth during the Tribulation, the Bible describes
him as one “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;
so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thess. 2:4).
In order for this prophecy to be fulfilled, another temple must be built. Since it will be used
during the Tribulation, it is sometimes referred to as the “Tribulation Temple”.
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Mount Zion and Dormition Abbey, massive Chrurchadjacent to the Last Supper Room
In trying to determine where the events of the Tribulation fit into God’s program in relation
to other events, Matthew 24 is a key passage. The disciples asked Jesus three specific questions:
“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end
of the world?” (v.3).
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THREE PERIODS OF TIME
In answering these questions, Jesus alluded to three different periods of time these events
would take place. The first period of time is found in Matthew 24:4-6. Jesus said, “Take heed
that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for
all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet”. When the Bible refers to the “end”,
we must determine whether the subject under discussion is the end of the Church Age, the
end of God’s program for Israel or the end of the world.
Matthew was writing primarily to Jewish Christians who were concerned about God’s
program for the nation. The ‘end” they were concerned about the Tribulation, which would
precede the Kingdom Age. Jesus told His listeners that although they would continue to hear
of many who would claim to be the Messiah (Christ), this would not prove that the end had
come. In other words, such claims would not prove that the Tribulation had begun.
TRIBULATION DIVIDED INTO TWO SEGMENTS:
The seven years of the Tribulation are divided into two segments of three and a half years
each. Matthew 24:9-14 indicates what it will be like during the first segment. The second
segment will be evident when people see “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, stand in the holy place” (v.15).
The “abomination of desolation” has to do with the desecration of the Holy of Holies.
When the Antichrist sits in the temple and demands to be worshiped as God (see II Thess.
2:4), this is the desecration of the temple, or the “abomination of desolation”.
Jesus described how terrible the last half of the Tribulation will be (see Matt. 24:16-26).
But at the end of the Tribulation, Christ Himself will return to earth to judge the Gentiles and
to establish His Kingdom. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with
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a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other” (vv.29-31).
DANIEL REFERS TO EVENTS
The Book of Daniel also refers to the events of the Tribulation. Daniel 9:24-27 records
Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks. A careful study of prophecy indicates that the length of
these weeks is seven years each. Sixty-nine of these weeks (483 years) have already been
completed. The 70th week is the seven years of Tribulation that will come upon Israel and the
whole world in the end times.
How the Antichrist fits into the 70th week of Daniel is seen in verse 27: “He shall confirm
the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it
desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
So, at the beginning of the Tribulation, the person known as “the Antichrist” will make an
agreement with Israel, but in the middle of the week (after three and one-half years), he will
break his agreement with the nation. This coincides with other prophecies that indicate the
Antichrist will place himself in the temple and will demand to be worshiped as God in the
middle of the Tribulation.
Again, believers are to be reminded that for these prophecies to be fulfilled, a third temple
must be built in Israel.
SITE CHOSEN FOR THE TEMPLE
Israel’s religious history revolved around two temples. The Bible reveals that a third
temple will be in existence during the Tribulation. A major consideration concerning the third
temple is where it will be built.
In tracing Israel’s history, it is interesting to note that a particular spot had special
significance as long as 2000 years before Christ. This was the spot where God told Abraham,
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of
Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell
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thee of “ (Gen. 22:2).The mountain God showed Abraham is thought to be Mount Moriah, on
which other significant events were to take place later.
On Mount Moriah David purchased a threshing floor from Ornan (also known as Araunah)
in order to offer burnt offerings to God (see II Sam. 24:18-25) .Second Chronicles 3:1 shows
that this was the same place where Solomon’s temple was later built: “Then Solomon began to
build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto
David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the
Jebusite”. After Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, it was rebuilt on the
same spot about 70 years later and then remodeled by Herod about the time of Christ.
Some say that what is known, as the “Wailing Wall” today is the remains of the western
wall of Herod’s temple. Whatever the case, it is evident that the location of the temple has had
special significance in Israel’s history for nearly 4000 years. Today it is believed that Islam’s
Dome of the Rock stands in this precise place.
JERUSALEM HOLDS A UNIQUE POSITION
The city of Jerusalem has held a unique position in God’s program for Israel, and it will
continue to play a prominent role in the future. At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the
Lord said through Solomon, “Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of
Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be
there; neither chose I, any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: but I have chosen Jerusalem,
that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel” (II Chron.
6:5,6).
The city of Jerusalem has had violent history, and it will experience extremely difficult
times in the future, according to biblical prophecy. Both the past and the future of Jerusalem
are referred to in the Gospels.
Luke 21:20 says, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that
the desolation thereof is nigh”. Notice that the sign of desolation was an encompassing of the
city by armies.When this sign occurred, the instructions were “Then let them which are in
Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not
them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all
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things, which are written, may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them
that give such, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this
people” (vv. 21-23).
These are the recorded words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He concluded these statements
by saying, “They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all
nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles, be
fulfilled” (v.24). The tragedy predicted here was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Titus, the general of
the Roman armies, destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Israelites among the nations. The
people of Israel will remain scattered “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”.
Another prophecy concerning Jerusalem is recorded in Matthew 24. Christ said, “When
ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in
the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into
the mountains” (vv.15,16). Notice that the sign given here concerning Jerusalem’s destruction
is “the abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place. This refers to the Antichrist, who
will stand in the third temple during the Tribulation and demand to be worshiped.
Although there are many similarities between Luke 21 and Matthew 24, there are also
significant differences. The sign given in Luke 21 was the encompassing of the city by armies;
the sign given in Matthew 24 is the abomination of desolationk in the holy place. Luke 21
refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in A.D.70. It also foreshadows
the surrounding of Jerusalem by armies in the future. Matthew 24 refers to the enemy’s
coming in, although the city is not completely destroyed.
Matthew 24:27-31 tells what will occur at the end of the seven years of tribulation. The
Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth. At the Rapture of the Church, referred to in I
Thessalonians 4:13-18, the Lord will only appear in the clouds to catch away believers from
the earth. But at the end of the Tribulation, Christ will return to the earth (see Zech. 14:1-5).
Notice particularly that verses 4 and 5 say, “His feet shall stand in that day upon the
mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave
in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great
valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
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And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach
unto Azal: Yea, Ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah
king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee”.
THREE TIME PERIODS
Although Luke 21 refers especially to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman
armies in A.D. 70, three time periods are actually referred to in this chapter. The first one
refers to the destruction that occurred in A.D. 70: “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed
with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.... And they shall fall by the edge
of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations” (vv.20,24). The second one
talks about the times of the Gentiles: Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (v.24). The third time period refers to the return of
Christ to earth at the end of the Tribulation: “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the
moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and
the waves roaring... And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory” (vv.25,27).
The first time period is already past; the second time period appears to be almost over,
and the third time period is still ahead.
Although God has not given all the details of what is going to take place. He has given a
broad outline of events. It is important that Christians be faithful witnesses for Him while
there is still time. Now is the time to accept the Lord and to be fallowers of Lord Jesus. May
the good Lord prepare for His Kingdom. Praise the Lord. Amen.
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