A Permanent Trip To The Holy Land

While reading about Jesus going to the Mount of Olives, in John 8, and vindicating the woman judged for adultery, I researched the place. Finding a lovely sun-touched image of the hill to the east of Jerusalem, I was suddenly overcome by a desire to go there. That happens often when I view images of The Holy Land, either current or from the far past. I'd love to walk where Jesus walked.

Though the areas where ruins have been unearthed have been modernized, the landscapes I am sure still hold some of the atmosphere and environment of ancient Bible times. Here in America, we don't have the flora or the air quality that exists in the Middle East today. For one thing, there aren't any olive trees near me, and I don't know where any ancient ones exist here in the U.S.

When I am struck with a longing to visit Jesus' land as it exists today, I immediately remember that if I should never make it there in this life, I will see that wondrous place. In The New Heaven and The New Earth I will live there. I will see the beautiful Holy Land whenever I want to. God will have reestablished his beloved Jerusalem, The Holy City, and all will be without blemish, decay, death and evil. I will come and go as I please, sit among the new and refreshed olive trees and Holy Land landscapes. Most of all, I will talk and walk with Jesus. I will ask him questions about his life there, when he came to redeem and save us. We will enjoy together The New Heaven and The New Earth, created for Jesus and those who love him.

If God allows me to tarry more in this world, I would like to visit there today in this flesh. I have to say, though, that when I live in The New Heaven and The New Earth, my visit there will be much, much better. My trip there is guaranteed, because I am locked into my seat in the Kingdom of God. My flight is set, and my ticket is The Holy Spirit. When I leave here, whether I take off before of during The Rapture, I will arrive at my permanent destination. Unlike in the world today, I will never have to go home from my vacation. I will be at home for good, on an eternal vacation in a beautiful new Holy Land that is like the old, but untainted and perfect, as it was meant to be in the beginning. I will be with the person who loved and saved me, so that I can live forever with him in His Holy Land.

 

How To Be Saved

Romans 10:9

(NKJV)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Your seat has already been purchased by The Blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Your ticket is being held by The Holy Spirit. If you would like to receive your seat in The Kingdom of God, which is to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior. Come into my heart, and save me. I was born in sin and you died for me so that I can know God and not be blamed anymore. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way to understand and turn away from bad things. I don't have to fear death anymore, and thank you for Eternal Life. Amen 

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Scripture Source: John 8:1-11

Just How Large Is The Sea Of Galilee Anyway?

Was reading about Jesus' 5th sign, walking on the waves on the Sea of Galilee, John 6:15-21. When the sea is mentioned in the Bible, I often forget that most of the time it is referring to a massive lake, rather than a body of water like the Pacific or Atlantic ocean, or the Mediterranean Sea. In verse 16, it says that "And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea" (KJV).

I remembered that this is referring to a relatively small land-locked body of water. I wondered, Just how large is the Sea of Galilee anyway? I realized that because they knew very little, if anything, about the topography of the Earth, this massive water feature would naturally be a sea to them. So what is the area and some interesting facts about this water area with the 3 names?

I thought that there were only 3 names that it is known by:

• Sea of Galilee
• Sea of Tiberius
• Sea of Gennesaret

According to BiblePlaces.com, it is also known as:

• Sea of Chinnereth
• Ginnosar
• Bahr Tubariya.

This site states that this sea is "more properly designated a lake," and that it is "13 miles long and 7 miles wide." I am not good at judging distance, but that doesn't sound very large to me. I think Lake Gennesaret is smaller than I thought.

Wikipedia, my fav place to do research (though it is not academically accepted), states that Lake Chinnereth "is approximately:

• 53 km (33 mi) in circumference,
• about 21 km (13 mi) long,
• and 13 km (8.1 mi) wide
• area is 166.7 km2 (64.4 sq mi) at its fullest,
• and its maximum depth is approximately 43 m (141 feet)."

It doesn't seem very deep either. I wonder how there could have been waves so scary, on a body of water this size, so as to terrify the disciples, some of who were experienced fishermen? Do you think Jesus whipped up those waves to build their faith? At one point on shore at least, the opposite shore can be seen, showing how small the lake is. And when they got into the boat, they traveled from Tiberius to Capernaum, which would be north, along the coast. I don't know how far out they had to go to reach a navigable depth before they turned north, but it seems that they could not have ever been out of sight of land.

An interesting mystery! But, where Jesus is there are mysteries galore, and revelations, lol. Wikipedia states that The Sea of Galilee was also called the Sea of Minya.

Sources:
Wikipedia
BiblePlaces.com
King James Bible

Image: Wikipedia