Megiddo and Cana

Day 7 - 14 April 2011


Armagidon Valley:

The word “Armageddon” comes from a Hebrew word Har-Magedone, which means “Mount Megiddo” and has become synonymous with the future battle in which God will intervene and destroy the armies of the Antichrist as predicted in biblical prophecy (Revelation 16:16; 20:1-3, 7-10). There will be a multitude of people engaged in the battle of Armageddon, as all the nations gather together to fight against Christ.
The most likely location is the hill country surrounding the plain of Meggido, some sixty miles north of Jerusalem. More than two hundred battles have been fought in that region. The plain of Megiddo and the nearby plain of Esdraelon will be the focal point for the battle of Armadeggon, which will rage the entire length of Israel as far south as the Edomite city of Bozrah (Isaiah 63:1).


The valley of Armageddon was famous for two great victories in Israel’s Barak’s victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4:15) and Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judges 7). Armageddon was also the site for two great tragedies: 1) the death of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:8) and the death of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:29-30); 2 Chronicles 35:22).

Holy Prophet Elijah the Thesbite (Mar Elias) was one of the great prophets of the Old Testament - Holy Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) was filled with zeal for spreading the word of Holy God. He lived during the reign of King Achab (875-845 B.C.). His actions are in the First and Second Books of Kings in the Old Testament of the Bible. Prophets are people who were sent by God to speak the truth to those who were disobedient. 

Prophets of Baal:Under the influence of his Tyrian wife, Jezabel, King Achab, erected a temple to the Tyrian god Baal in Samaria. Also, King Achab inported many prophets of Baal.Holy Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) bid King Achab to summon the prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel for a decisive contest between the god of Baal and Yahweh, the God of the Jews. The contest was held, Yahweh won, and the prophets of Baal were killed

The Holy Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) rode a chariot of fire into heaven. The Holy Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) did not die. "As they (The Holy Prophet Elijah {Mar Elias} and Holy Prophet Elisha) walked conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (2 Kings 2:11) Holy Prophet Elijah the Living, because he was taken up to heaven in a flaming chariot. 

BATTLE between ELIJAH and BAAL PROPHETS - Photos 


Emaus Nicopolis:

The city Emmaus-Nikopol (Nikopol from the Greek means "City of Victory") is a great importance in the Byzantine era. At that time, in the city there was 2 temples (4-5 century AD). The Temples destroyed in the 7 century AD with the Persian invasion, and only 12 century temple was restored crusaders. But this temple is destroyed, and only in 1878. 



Emaus Nicopolis

Emmaus is mentioned in the Luke, Chapter 24, 13-31 as the village where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his crucifixtion and resurrection:

That very day two of them were going to a village (one hundred and) sixty stadia away from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were speaking about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were speaking and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on further. But they urged him, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is declining.’ So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
EMAUS NICOPOLIS - Photos 

  

John Baptist Birth Place



Church of John the Baptish



The village of Ein Kerem (Karem), on the west side of Jerusalem,   is according to tradition the birthplace of John the Baptist. Five churches and monasteries are located around the village: St John (birthplace of John), Visitation Church (named after virgin Mary's visited to the summer house of John),  Russian Monastery (AlMoskovia), Greek Orthodox convent of St. John, and the monastery of Notre Dame De Sion.

JOHN BAPTISH BIRTH PLACE - Photos 



Passing on Holy water from Shiloach Pool

 Shiloach Pool:

The small Shiloach Pool, to which the waters of the Gihon flow today, is part of a pool from the Byzantine Era. Fragments of pillars which can be seen today in the pool, appear to be remains of the Shiloach Church that was built in this location. Archeologist believe that during the second Temple Era, the waters continued to flow south and were collected in an additional larger pool. This pool was discovered during the summer of 2004 and is continuing to be uncovered today.

 According to John 9:7, Jesus sent a blind man to wash his eyes in the "pool of Shiloach," and he was healed. From the Middle Ages onward, the name Shiloach referred to the village on the eastern slope of the Kidron Valley. The village was a suburb of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants worked the fields on the hill of Ophel.

SHILOACH POOL - Photos

WEDDING at CANA   

Jesus attended a wedding that took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. (John 2:1-11) When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so. The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. In the picture below you will find the stone jar that was used at the wedding.

Church Stands now at the location of Wedding of Cana

CANA WEDDING - Photos

BAHAI GARDEN OF HAIFA
Haifa's most striking landmark is the splendid Baha'i Shrine and Gardens, located on the edge of the city center. It is the second holiest shrine of the Baha'i Faith. The immaculate Baha'i Gardens, completed in 2001, are a tranquil memorial to the founders of the Baha'i Faith. Pilgrims come to Haifa from all parts of the world to pay homage to the first leaders of their religion, which emphasizes unity across cultures and religions.

Bahai Garden

Haifa is the international headquarters for the Baha'i Faith, which began amidst persecution in Persia in the mid-19th century. Baha'is believe in the unity of all religions and believe that messengers of God like Moses, Jesus and Muhammad have been sent at different times in history with doctrines varying to fit changing social needs, but bringing substantially the same message.



Mediteranean Sea View from Bahai Garden

 The beautiful gardens were originally planned by Shoghi Effendi, the late Guardian of the Faith, and they have recently undergone a massive redesign aimed at putting them on the world's horticultural map.The Baha'i gardens are now a geometric cascade of hanging gardens and terraces down to Ben Gurion Boulevard -a gift of visual pleasure to the city that gave the Baha'i religion its home and headquarters.