Advent 2023 Open Trip to Israel
November 24 - December 5, 2023
Join Dr Nunnally on his 2nd Advent study trip to Israel. Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal and start packing for this incredible journey leaving the next day. This 12-day, educational study trip includes 9 days of on-site study with a focus on the prophecies of His coming, His birth narrative from a Jewish perspective, the role of John the Baptist and countless other aspects of the Advent message. This is an open trip that includes individuals, church small groups and a pastor with his church folks. Your Christmas will never be the same!
Trip Costs
Land only fee = $3450
* Registration – $500
* ½ due June 1, 2023 = $1475
* Final payment due September 1, 2023 = $1475
Registration closes June 30, 2023 – First come, first serve reservations
Travelers are responsible for their own airline reservations.
Early arrivals make their own hotel reservations.
Itinerary
Friday November 24 – Day 1: Sundown starts Shabbat
Depart USA
Saturday, Nov 25 – Day 2: Shabbat
Arrive in Israel. You will follow the ancient road called the Way of the Sea through the Plain of Sharon to get to your hotel. Overnight on Coast.
Sunday, Nov 26 – Day 3: Advent Sunday
We pack up and start the day with a stop at Caesarea where we will focus on Peter, Paul and the early Church. Next, we head up to Mt Carmel and address Elijah and the prophets of Baal and conduct our Advent service. Part of today’s journey will include a visit to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth where we will discuss the announcement of His birth, family and the kind of world in which Jesus was born. Mt Precipice will be our final stop of the day. Overnight in Galilee.
Monday, Nov 27 – Day 4
On our visit to Tel Dan, we will enjoy a hike through a nature preserve where we see the sources of the Jordan River, study Scripture, visit the high place of Dan and city gates from the time of Abraham and Jereboam. Next, the bus will carry us about two miles to Caesarea Philippi, the capital of Philip’s territory and discuss Jesus’ first revelation of His messianic identity to his disciples. Afterwards, we will ascend the Golan Heights to the War Memorial that provides an excellent view of the surrounding region. From this vantage point we will view Mt Hermon and discuss Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road. We will move on to Katsrin, a reconstructed ancient village from just after the time of Jesus. Will conclude the day with a stop at Gadara (Gergesa) for a discussion of the Gadarene demoniac. Overnight in Galilee.
Tuesday, Nov 28 – Day 5
Today we will travel around the Sea of Galilee with several stops. Our first stop will surround Matthew 11 and Luke 10 at the site of Korazin and then to Capernaum which was the home base of Jesus’ ministry. A favorite stop is the Yigal Alon Museum that holds a 1st-century fishing boat from the Sea of Galilee, similar to the ones Jesus used. The museum has a large gift shop. We too will travel on the Sea of Galilee by boat which will orient us to biblical locations around the lake. Our next site is Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, which has an excavated 1st-century synagogue where Jesus likely taught. We will then go to our rooms, as Magdala is our Galilee hotel! Magdala also has a fantastic gift shop! Overnight in Galilee.
Wednesday, Nov 29 – Day 6
We will leave our Galilee hotel, conduct Jordan River baptisms and drive south to Masada, which is Herod’s greatest fortress. We will travel about 20 miles to the settlement at Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls caves which contained some of our oldest Biblical manuscripts. Now on to a Dead Sea float at Kaliya Beach. On our way to Jerusalem we will view the Jerusalem-Jericho Road and discuss Isaiah’s words “In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord” and how this prophecy played out in John’s ministry and in the Incarnation. After our assent to Jerusalem is complete, we will stop for a night view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Thursday, Nov 30 – Day 7
We will start our day in Jerusalem at the premier Israel Museum where we will view many of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book. Also, the museum has a model of Jerusalem & the Temple in the time of Jesus and a large archeological wing.
Next is the City of David National Park. Extensive excavations take us through the periods of David and Solomon and back to the Jebusite period. An optional walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel is available. Bring shorts/capris and water shoes if you desire to walk the water tunnel. Several paths lead us to the Pool of Siloam and a discussion of Jesus’ healing of the blind man. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Friday, Dec 1- Day 8: Sundown starts Shabbat
The first stop of the day is the Tower of David Museum and Herod’s Palace where Jesus was turned over to Pilate. Next, we will visit the Davidson Center which includes the Pinnacle of the Temple and the Southern Steps leading to the Temple Mount.
We will travel south to Bethlehem, the city of the birthplace of our Savior. Our visit will include lunch, the Church of the Nativity related to Jesus’ birth, the Shepherds’ Field, an olivewood shop.
At dinner, our Israeli guide will share his experiences with Shabbat observance. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Saturday, Dec 2- Day 9: Shabbat
A brief bus ride into the Kidron Valley and we will arrive at the Church of All Nations. Here, we visit the Garden of Gethsemane and discuss the arrest of Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice. Next, we will visit the Garden Tomb. We re-enter the Old City through St. Stephen’s/Lions’ Gate and then enter St. Anne’s Church. This compound also includes the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed a man unable to walk. We conclude our study today with a visit to the Church of Holy Sepulcher/Resurrection, the traditional location of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Overnight in Jerusalem
Sunday, Dec 3 – Day 10: Advent Sunday
On this 2nd Advent Sunday, we will visit Jerusalem University College. Here we will conduct our Advent service and have communion. Next, we will visit Horatio Spafford’s gravesite and several archeological sites on the campus grounds. In addition, we will bless the students with care items brought from the USA as part of the service component of our trip. (Near departure, we will send out a wish-list of items.) We will proceed to the traditional site of the Upper Room, per Acts 2. Next is lunch & shopping in the Jewish Quarter in the Old City which provides many options including pizza, burgers, smoothies and local food!
The group is free to explore and shop in pairs/small groups and return to the hotel. You are also free to return to your favorite site to continue your exploration. Overnight Jerusalem:
Monday, Dec 4, Day 11
After breakfast, we will pack up our bags, leave the hotel and head to the Western Wall where we will pause for a time of prayer & reflection.
On our final day of exploration in Israel we will stop in the Elah Valley which is home to Azekah, Socoh, Sha’araim and the Brook Elah which leads us to a discussion of the battle between David & Goliath. We will stop for dinner and then on to Ben Gurion Airport for our departure.
Tuesday, Dec 5- Day 12
Arrive home
Schedules, housing and itinerary are subject to change without notice due to COVID-19, the devaluation of the dollar and political and religious uncertainties. This itinerary is based on the best possible use of time management, keeping in mind the complexities of Jerusalem traffic, the current political climate and operating hours as regards to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holidays and holy days.