Israel Bible Study with Mount Sinai in Arabia Tour 2027 – Israel & Saudi Arabia with Joel Richardson & Pastor Wes Martin

Departure flights (see Terms and Conditions Airlines) to Tel Aviv. We have a group block to Tel Aviv on American from St. Louis for those taking the Israel-only itinerary. Those opting to travel to Saudi Arabia will use the air schedule from Chicago.  Both arrive in Tel Aviv at the same time (5:00PM).

Arrive in Tel Aviv at approximately 5:00PM and drive past the site of Megiddo on the way to our lovely hotel on the Sea of Galilee. Ramot Resort Hotel for 2 nights. Welcome dinner.

Our first stop is the place where the Lord Himself gave us the Beatitudes. We will start our journey with a spectacular sermon “on the mount” and a time of quiet reflection. Next, we visit the place where Jesus spent most of his time in ministry – the lakefront town of Capernaum, visit the site of Magdala and its impressive ancient synagogue, have a fun, fresh fish lunch together on the sea, walk the remnants of Chorazin, as we recount the Lord’s statement against this remnant synagogue. Then we have a lovely time aboard a private boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. If you are up for a time in the hot springs, guests can take a separate trip this evening and enjoy some unique soaking in the hot mineral waters. Dinner at the hotel.

Today is our day to spend in the Golan Heights. The first stop is Tel Dan to see a very ancient Canaanite Gate and the place where a separate place of worship was used, against God’s plan, then we visit Banias or Caesarea Philippi. Lunch will be with a unique people group called the Druze. They have unique privileges in Israel, and they are tied to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who helped Moses at Mount Sinai in Arabia. Late in the day, we stop for a coffee at Mount Bental, where Joel will give us a special teaching while facing the Road to Damascus. We end our day at the Dead Sea. David Dead Sea Hotel for 2 nights.

Free morning – you can wake as early as you wish to soak in the mineral-rich Dead Sea. Spend this time on your own for a massage, reflection, or a nice lunch. We depart the hotel at 12:30PM and visit an area that was impacted by the dramatic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. After a unique visit to this barren landscape, we will be visiting a new archaeological site above the Dead Sea. The last item of the day is one of the favorite visits in all of Israel – Masada. Return to the Dead Sea for overnight.

Again, we have time this morning for a soak if you wish! Depart the hotel at 9:30AM, and visit Qumran – the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Next, we arrive at Ein Gedi and hike to the waterfalls. It is here that David cut the blue tassels from Saul’s robe while he was sleeping, and it is the place where David hid during his time of trials. Short drive to the precious town of Bethlehem, where we will have our favorite lunch in the “Tents” above the Shepherd’s Fields. Visit a set of quaint caves that would be very similar to Jesus’ birthplace. Finally, something very unique, a visit with a man who was called by God to recreate the Balm of Gilead in a small garden in the Judean Desert. If he is there, we will stop for a special visit to see where the prophesied Balm of Gilead, as well as the rare incense for the Temple, are being produced. Next, we come into Jerusalem, stand at Mount Scopus, and then walk right into the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem, where our precious boutique hotel and guest house will be hosting us for dinner INSIDE THE OLD CITY WALLS. It will be a lovely time tonight to meander around this protected place of God’s choosing.

Mount of Olives, Palm Sunday Road, Garden of Gethsemane, Kidron Valley, Absalom’s Pillar, a sweet time in a new quiet area very near the place where Judas took his life, to have a special time of sharing and a picnic lunch. We will stay at the Jewish Garden for a time of reflection and then walk back over the new hanging bridge to visit the City of David, Pool of Siloam, Gihon Springs, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, and then the Pilgrims Road for those who still have the energy. The rest of the group will meet us back at our quaint hotel for dinner. Enjoy a lovely time meandering the Old City or sitting high above it, looking onto the streets and the Christian Quarter that is our home for the evening.

For those who wish to join, we will do an early walk on top of the Old City Walls, almost circling the entire city! After the early ramparts walk, we all go together to Temple Mount, the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus performed one of his many miracles. Next, we have a brief time of worship in the beautiful sanctuary of St. Anne’s. Free time for lunch in the Old City, and then we walk together into the Jewish Quarter. Here we will see the Burnt Wall, the ancient wall of Jerusalem, the golden menorah for the 3rd Temple, and the Cardo, which was the ancient public area during the time of Jesus. There is a column in the Cardo associated with the white marble stone of Mount Sinai in Arabia that we will be pointing out. Next, we will sit at the Southern Steps in Archaeological Park. These steps are the known steps that were in place when Jesus walked multiple times into Jerusalem. We will have a time of teaching here, facing the Mount of Olives. Visit the Western Wall for a time of prayer alone and then return to our quaint home away from home for dinner.

After breakfast, we board our bus and drive an hour outside of the city to a very important site in Israel’s history – Shiloh. It is here that the Ark of the Covenant rested amongst the Israelites for 369 years, and Eli was its High Priest! This site was the actual FIRST site of the Temple of Yahoveh. There has been a very important archaeological project taking place here for many years, and you will be the recipient of some of the thrills they have found! And, if we are blessed beyond measure, the Red Heifers that are required for the 3rd Temple to be opened reside at Shiloh, because they are live animals; we cannot guarantee that they will still be there. In the Lord’s time, anything can happen! Lunch is included today, and then we visit a rare museum that is very enlightening, called the Samaritan Museum. We hope the High Priest (health permitting) can speak with us. He will go through their genealogy that originated at the time of Adam. It is a rather profound site, and you will walk amongst the burning pyres where they still perform sacrifices. Next, the intensity should not be missed by reading Deuteronomy 28. You will be visiting both sites – the Mount Ebal and the Mount of Gerizim. Circumstances permitting, we will visit the site of the Joshua stone at Shechem. Return to Jerusalem with a lovely dinner overlooking the Old City at Notre Dame.

After breakfast this morning, we will visit the Israel Museum, which houses many precious artifacts, including a foot bone of a man crucified in Jerusalem, the ossuary of Caiaphas, and many other Biblical pieces that will be such a strong encouragement of our faith! Finally, we will enter the Shrine of the Book – home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, where you will lay your eyes on the Word that was pristinely hidden by the Holy Essenes, especially the scroll of Isaiah 53, which outlines the prophecy of the coming Suffering Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ. After our visit here, we will have time to ourselves to grab lunch on our own at the museum, and then we will have our last stop together as a group – to the Garden Tomb, where we will share communion together and have a time of precious worship. Return to your rooms for a shower and refreshment. Those flying home and not continuing on to Saudi Arabia will be driven to the airport for their departure home. For those flying on our group block, we will be departing late this evening on American. You will have your room all evening, and dinner tonight, should you choose to depart on another airline schedule tomorrow.

Air is not included, but we have a group block returning to St. Louis on American via New York/JFK and Boston. You can choose to take our transfer to the airport and depart at a similar time or continue on with us to Saudi Arabia.