Meggido

Megiddo was situated on a 700 foot hill on the eastern slope of the Carmel range. The citizens of Megiddo enjoyed a commanding view of the Plain of Jezreel below it. To the northeast they could see the ridge on which Nazareth was later built, Mount Tabor and the Hill of Moreh which rose toward the eastern end of the plain, and Mount Gilboa in the southwest which guarded the northern border of what was later known as Samaria.

It was an ancient fortified city that was one of the most famous battlegrounds in the world. Historians believe that more battles were fought at this location than anywhere else on earth
We began our time at the base of Megiddo with Kay teaching the book of Revelation. It had been raining off and on hence the large green umbrella that had been brought in to save her Bible. The people standing behind Kay are helping in that they are giving a visual to the lesson of the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowl judgments of Revelation!
Now the three men - Bob, David, and Pete (all Precept ministers) represent the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet of Revelation 16:12-16
Kay would not be happy that I have included the above chart but it succinctly brings Revelation in to focus - much as she did at the base of Megiddo. (Thanks to my sweet Bible teacher, Karen!) That said, Revelation is one of the books of the Bible that comes with a blessing for the reader. "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3

As Kay was coming to the end of our lesson and was reading the scripture below, in the distance we heard the sound of galloping horse hooves but did not realize what was happening until the two came together. It was quite effective and for a moment took your breath away!

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16

Megiddo is the only site in the land of the Bible with remains of thirty cities built one on top of the other.
The area in the above diagram served as a focus of worship for over two thousand years, from the Early Bronze through the Iron period. The University of Chicago excavation section revealed a series of temples (1, 3-5) built one on top of the other. The Megiddo Expedition, led by a team from Tel Aviv University, uncovered an additional temple (2) unique in the Levant in its monumentality and the thousands of sacrifical animal bones found in and around it.

The round circle of stones in the above picture is the sacrificial altar which is striking in its size (32.9 feet diameter) and was located just behind the temple. (I am taking the picture from a vantage point high above.)




The video above was taken with my camera and I realize that it is not the best camera angle of Kay but it was the audio I was really after. Kay is explaining Revelation 14 and what will and will not take place in the Jezreel Plain.


These next four pictures are taken from the same spot with me turning as though I am taking a panaramic shot. It is of the Jezreel Plain.

For those that might have been skeptical if I was really there...

Needing secure access to its water supply, Megiddo utilized different watersystems over its history.

In the 9th c. B.C., Ahab constructed a massive system with a 30 meter deep shaft and a 70 meter long tunnel. This continued in use until the end of the Iron Age.
This Iron Age tunnel connected the bottom of Ahab's shaft to the spring. Before its construction, Megiddo residents had to leave the city walls in order to get water from the spring.

This tunnel was hewn from both ends at the same time and its builders were only one foot off when meeting in the middle.

This was a steep climb down but the sweet woman in front of me had a paralyzing fear of heights and realizing that there was a tremendous drop under the stairs that she could see we had to pray her down to the bottom!

Yardenet - The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River

After lunch at the hotel, we are back on the bus headed to the Jordan river. Because of the rain this morning our bus windows were a little streaked from the rain. I took this picture anyway because we were seeing such beautiful flowers along the way.

We are at the entrance to Yardenet where we have come for some to be baptized in the Jordan and for some to commerate their baptism from some earlier time in their life. Others of us were there just to witness and hear the testimonies. And, of course, all had the option of not coming.
This is the couple that sat in front of us on the bus, Jon and Theresa. They are commerating their baptism. They are from Fort Collins, CO and were a lot of fun to travel with.

This is one of the "back of the bus" couples from Minnesota who were also commemorating their baptisms. Donna and Bill were traveling with two other couples from Minnesota who sat behind Pat and me and with whom share a lot of laughs.

Ray and Jill, from Minnesota, were being baptized in the Jordan and shared a very sweet and tender testimony.
This is a group shot of those of us that were present. I know it is a little hard to see but Pat and I are there in the middle somewhere.

It was a wonderfully emotional day today and it was just beautiful when we got back to the hotel that evening. The Sea of Galilee was so peaceful that just looking at it was good for the soul!

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8