If a tour to Israel is something you would like to consider, we invite you to join us at the TBN Hillsong Worship Experience Tour 2017. This unique tour will be taking place from 18 April to 28 April 2017 . This tour will lead you in the footsteps of Jesus as you step into the pages of the Bible and will also give you the opportunity to worship God in Jerusalem, Galilee and Caesarea. Click here for more details about the tour.
Follow us over the next few weeks as we share about the various significant sites in Israel that you will be visiting.
The Old City of Jerusalem
The glorious charm of the Old City of Jerusalem that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Old City brims with opportunities for you to connect with the city’s magnificent past, history, culture and spirituality. Originally built by King David in 1004 B.C.E., the Old City has always been considered the center of the world. Ancient maps show the three continents known at the time: Europe, Asia, and Africa with Jerusalem at their center. As a pilgrim, walking through the narrow streets and alleys within the Old City, you are passing through history and tracing the footsteps of Jesus, Him being at the center of it all. The very walls and stones of the Old City relate many time-honored biblical tales. The Old City is home to many significant biblical sites including Temple Mount, Western Wall and Via Dolorosa.
Besides the city’s rich history, the captivating beauty of the Old City also comes from its colorful markets and the maze of pathways that leave many wanting to explore more.
A Pilgrim Song of David
Psalm 122, MSG
1-2 When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,” my heart leaped for joy. And now we’re here, O Jerusalem, inside Jerusalem’s walls!
3-5 Jerusalem, well-built city, built as a place for worship! The city to which the tribes ascend, all God’s tribes go up to worship,
To give thanks to the name of God — this is what it means to be Israel. Thrones for righteous judgment are set there, famous David-thrones.
6-9 Pray for Jerusalem’s peace! Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers! Friendly insiders, get along! Hostile outsiders, keep your distance!
For the sake of my family and friends, I say it again: live in peace! For the sake of the house of our God, God, I’ll do my very best for you.
You want to come to Jerusalem because at the Mount of Olives you can behold the city spread out before you. God said of it, “My Name shall be there” (1 Kings 8:29). You want to be on that spot where the Angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from laying his hand on his son Isaac. You want to stand at Golgotha and behold an empty tomb. You want to walk up the steps leading to the Temple where Jesus once climbed. Because this is what you seek, this is what leads you to Jerusalem.
Sign up with us today and get ready to experience an intimate time of praise and worship with our Lord Jesus in the land of His promise led by Hillsong UNITED!
Catch a glimpse of Hillsong UNITED worshiping at the Old City of Jerusalem and Golan Heights.
June 11-13, 2016
Date in Hebrew calendar: 6th and 7th of Sivan (May-June)
Scripture references: Leviticus 23:16; Exodus 23:15-19; Acts 2
Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Pentecost. It celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and commemorates the wheat harvesting in the Land of Israel.
Shavuot concludes the daily counting of the “omer” barley offering at the Temple which begins on the second day of Passover.
For Christians, Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples with tongues of fire and other languages and marks the birth of the church.
On Shavuot, it is customary to decorate the homes and synagogues with branches and flowers to remember the blossoms of the Land of Israel. It is a widespread custom to stay up the entire night learning Torah. At synagogue services on Shavuot morning, the Book of Ruth is read to describe the grain harvest in ancient days. Cheese cakes, honey cakes, and other dairy food are eaten to remember the Land of Israel as it was described as a “land flowing with milk and honey”.
It is a Jewish tradition to eat dairy foods on the first day of Shavuot. Just to name a few reasons:
- The receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai occurred on Shabbat when slaughter and cooking are prohibited. So the only alternative was to eat dairy which requires no advance preparation.
- The sweet nourishing value of Torah is likened to “honey and milk under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11). Many Jewish families, before discussing Torah at home, will place a drop of honey on each child’s tongue so the children will always associate the learning of the Torah as sweet.
- The Hebrew word for milk is chalav. The numerical value of chalav is 40. The Jews eat dairy foods on Shavuot to commemorate the 40 days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai receiving instruction in the entire Torah and the 40 years the Jews spent wandering the desert.
While the mention of places such as Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee evoke sentiments of the country’s religious importance, Israel has another side to it that makes it an exciting and fun place to be.
Mount of Beatitudes
As you walk down the plantation through a dirt road, marvel at the beautiful landscape and expansive Sea of Galilee views from Mount of Beatitudes.
Tel Dan Nature Reserve
Close to the borders of both Lebanon and Syria, Tel Dan boasts extensive excavations, having hosted both an ancient Canaanite civilization and the Israelite tribe of Dan. Stroll through luxurious foliage and spend some time at the wading pool… a little piece of heaven.
Hezekiah’s Tunnel Tour
A highlight of the visit to the City of David where you experience an amazing engineering feat: the 1,500 foot long tunnel created by King Hezekiah to protect Jerusalem’s water source (the Gihon Spring) from the invading Assyrians.
Dead Sea Float
Dive in and experience the acclaimed healing powers of the water and mud at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. It is true what people say about the Dead Sea – just about anything floats, and you will have an amusing time playing around with the buoyant effect it has on your body.
Timna National Park
Timna is the site of the world’s first copper mine. You will see exciting finds near the spectacular Solomon’s Pillars, being natural structures formed by centuries of water erosion through fractures in the sandstone cliff until it became a series of distinct, pillar-shaped structures.
The Rose Red City of Petra
Carved directly into vibrant sandstone cliff faces, Petra was once a thriving trading centre but today is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and named one of the new seven wonders of the world. You can see varying blends of Nabatean and Greco-Roman architectural styles in the city’s tombs, many of which were looted by thieves and their treasures thus lost.
Give us a call today on (65) 6295 5193 or contact us here and find out more about this tour.
We say to you – visit Israel – it will be by far the best vacation experience of your life!
Besides visiting the sites that the Apostle Paul went as mentioned in part 1 and part 2, you can also enjoy a cruise to several ports of call such as Mykonos, Kusadasi, Santorini, etc and you can also sign up for a shore excursion at each port of call! Read on to find out more.
Iconic Aegean Cruise
Kusadasi, Turkey
Take a shore excursion to discover the ancient ruins of Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary.
Paul at Ephesus
Acts 19:1, NKJV
“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples”
It was here in Ephesus that a man name Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana started a riot, unhappy that he was losing business and profit because of Paul. Paul persuaded many people saying “they are not gods which are made with hands”, turning many away. After this incident, Paul departed to Macedonia.
Mykonos, Greece
Greece’s most famous island, a whitewashed paradise in the heart of the Cyclades.
Heraklion, Greece
Join a shore excursion to explore the island where the Minoan civilization once flourished.
Santorini (Thira), Greece
Site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world and what remains today is a submerged volcano and a caldera.
Patmos Island, Greece – UNESCO World Heritage Site
A significant Christian pilgrimage site where John wrote the Book of Revelation in the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse.
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Athens
Disembark at Athens where Paul addressed the Areopagus.
Acts 17:21-23, NKJV
“For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:”
After this, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.
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Meteora – UNESCO World Heritage Site
A bonus site for all!
Meteora literally means “middle of the sky”, “suspended in the air” or “in the heavens above”. It is known for its spectacular rock formations and the 24 monasteries that emerged on the countless summits of the rocks from the 14th until the 16th century. These monasteries were built by monks using ropes, folding ladders, nets and baskets to carry the construction material to the top of the rocks. Today, only 6 monasteries are left.
Pilgrims from all over the world come to visit this holy site today as it was regarded by the early Christians as the perfect place for absolute isolation, a place for spiritual elevation.
If you would like to discover more about Greece, contact us to find out more!
The Route that Apostle Paul Followed in Greece passes through places where the Apostle preached and forms an ideal combination of pilgrimage and sightseeing in some of the most beautiful places in Greece. His journey in Greece is a route that can touch not only the believers but also everybody who loves history.
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Kavala (Ancient Neapolis)
Acts 16:10-12, NKJV
“Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.”
Paul disembarked for the first time on European soil after a journey lasting two days at Neapolis, on the site where today’s Kavala was later built.
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Philippi
After walking 15 km northwest along Via Egnatia from Neapolis (Kavala), they arrived in Philippi. Philippi would most likely be the first place in Europe that hosted Christian congregation.
The Philippian Jailer Saved
Acts 16:24-26, NKJV
“Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
Lydia Baptized at Philippi
Acts 16:13-15, NKJV
“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.”
Lydia was probably the first person who converted to Christianity in Europe. Although we do not know the exact location today, a small church has been built at the spot where it assumed that Lydia was baptized.
April 23-24, 2016
Scripture references: Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
The Feast of First Fruits is held on the Sunday following the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of the First Fruits are referred to as one feast.
The original Feast of First Fruits was celebrated in Spring to acknowledge the early crops. It was a thanksgiving offering to God. The Israelites brought the first sheaf of the harvest – the first fruits – to His Temple as a wave offering.
Since the Temple is not available today, the Feast of First Fruits is no longer celebrated the same way. Feast of First Fruits is now celebrated by counting of the Sheaves (Omer) to Shavuot (Pentecost), fifty days later.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23, NKJV
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”
Pesach (Passover), April 21-22, 2016
Scripture reference: Exodus 12:1-14
Passover or Pesach celebrates God’s protection over the Israelites during the tenth plague in Egypt – the killing of the firstborn. God ordered the people to take a lamb, slaughter it and sprinkle its blood on the lintel and doorposts of their home. At midnight, when the angel of death saw the blood on the doorposts, he passed over their homes, sparing them from the plague. Finally, Pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt.
The Passover has been celebrated for thousands of years on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month of the Jewish calendar, Nisan. Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper.
Today the Passover is celebrated in Jewish homes with a family ceremony – the Seder (Order). There is a prescribed order to the meal with prayer, food and drink. Each person is to recount the story of Passover as if he himself had been redeemed. They eat traditional symbolic foods to remind themselves of the suffering of their ancestors in Egypt and of that miraculous deliverance from bondage.
There are six traditional items on the Seder plate. Each item has its own symbolic meaning. Find out more here or watch the video below.
Date in Hebrew calendar: 14th and 15th of Adar
Scripture references: Esther 9:20-22
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Book of Esther. It’s a story of mystery and intrigue as Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, uncover and foil Haman’s plot saving the entire Jewish population. A two-day holiday was instituted to commemorate this event. Even though God is not mentioned in this book, His hand can be clearly seen in the many miraculous twists of the story.
Today, Purim is celebrated in Jewish homes and schools as children dress up in costume, put on plays re-enacting the Purim story, and give each other gifts of Haman’s Ears cookies and other treats. In the synagogue on the evening of Purim and on the following morning, the entire Book of Esther is read. Everyone is provided with or brings their own noisemaker so that whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, the congregation will drown out his name. Although Purim is a joyous light-hearted event, it recalls great danger, great deliverance and the great faithfulness of the God toward those who trust in Him.
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If you have been following us, you would know that the TBN Hillsong Worship Experience Tour 2017 is open for registration! Or you have heard about it but still undecided?
Follow us as we share about the various significant sites in Israel that you will be visiting.
This unique tour will be taking place from 18 April to 28 April 2017. This tour will lead you in the footsteps of Jesus as you step into the pages of the Bible and will also give you the opportunity to worship God in Jerusalem, Galilee and Caesarea. Click here for more details about the tour.
Today we bring you to the place where the famous Sermon on the Mount was preached.
Mount of Beatitudes
The Mount of Beatitudes is believed to be the setting where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:3-11, NKJV
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”
The word “Beatitudes” originates from the Latin word “Beatus” which means “Blessed“, the prefix of each verse as seen above.
As you walk down the plantation through a dirt road, marvel at the beautiful landscape and expansive Sea of Galilee views from Mount of Beatitudes. Within sights are the scenes of many of the events of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them...” – Matthew 5:1-2, NKJV
Have you ever wondered how the multitudes could hear Jesus even without the technology of microphone and speaker?
When you are there, do a role play where one of you climb up the hill and read out the Sermon on the Mount. You will be surprised how clear the voice travels down to where you are! God’s creation is simply amazing!
Depending on the time you arrive, you may also catch the beautiful sunset as you walk back to your coach.
Come and experience being present at the sites where Jesus preached, walked and performed miracles. Photos can never bring out the true beauty of Israel!
Sign up with us today and get ready for an intimate time of praise and worship with our Lord Jesus in the land of His promise led by Hillsong UNITED!
Hillsong UNITED worshiping on the Mount of Beatitudes. Enjoy and be blessed!