Civilization at the Crossroads...

DAY SIX EXPERIENCING ARMAGEDDON AND AN AFTERNOON AT LEISURE

 

Our usual 8 am departure today took us to the most impressive fortified city built by King Ahab—an ancient city always at the crossroads, known as Megido. While the name may at first sound completely unfamiliar, it is also known in Scripture as Armageddon, the site of the final battle that is described in John's vision in the book of Revelation (see Rev. 16:12-16).

 

This ancient city that is approximately 7000 years old holds evidence of almost 30 layers of civilizations that were built upon this site. At the crossroads of the important Via Mares, the road most known for transporting supplies, livestock and people throughout this region since time began, runs north to south along the Mediterranean border of Israel. The ruler of Megido has always controlled the most important part of this trade route. King Solomon and King Ahab fought over Megido, the story of Deborah from the book of Judges took place here on the plains of the lush agricultural lands of the Jezreel Valley. From Megido, or Armageddon (meaning "mound of Megido"), we were able to see Mt. Tabor in the distance, and up close we were able to see the numerous stables that held 450 horses at the time of King David. The water supply of Megido was always outside the walls of the city, so there was an impressive underground tunnel dug out, chisel stroke by chisel stroke, to reach the nearby water source. We walked through this 30-meter long tunnel in the dark coolness of the carved rock, all the while being serenaded by a bullfrog hiding at the end of the tunnel in a small pond.

 

Our group joined a long and storied list of people to visit this impressive site with panoramic views and seemingly endless history—in 1964 Pope Paul VI and the President of Israel met here, in World War II this was the site of a major British vs. Turkish battle where the commanding British officer in his victory here won the title "Lord of Armageddon." In 1948 the Arab forces were defeated here and a kibbutz of Holocaust survivors moved in to begin life anew until it was soon thereafter obtained by the Israeli National Parks system, which maintains it still today.

 

We continued onto the town of Sepphoris, now ancient ruins on the outskirts of Nazareth. Sepphoris is known for its impressive mosaics that date back to the time of Jesus. It is said that perhaps this is where Jesus walked from Nazareth to help with carpentry needs in this bustling town during its heyday. 

 

After Megido and Sepphoris, our group of pilgrims enjoyed an afternoon at leisure in Tiberias. Many of us enjoyed eating at a restaurant over the water that is known throughout the region of Galilee as the best kosher restaurant in the northern part of Israel. Our table enjoyed fresh salmon, chicken, lamb, beef, duck, Mediterranean salads, onion rings, sweet potatoes and wild mushrooms. A highlight of the meal was the "Decks" Restaurant specialty—a crepe prepared at our table with brown sugar and cinnamon, filled with fresh berries and topped with seemingly creamy vanilla ice cream. We were in awe that this entire dessert had no dairy in it and yet its scrumptious flavor kept us coming back for more until the entire plate had been practically licked clean.

 

Other WellSpring pilgrims walked the coastal promenade alongside local artisan shops and visited various internet cafes. A local coffee shop was discovered that specialized in homemade Israeli pastries of filo dough stuffed with cheese, others with potato and quite a few variations with chocolate fillings. The freshness of these treats along with the political commentary the bakery owner and his buddies offered us about the upcoming American election—really given without any solicitation by us—was so memorable, that we returned the following morning as well to stimulate the local economy with our dollars and shekels buying up the best lattes made in Tiberias.

 

This afternoon at leisure allowed each traveler to welcome all of the rich experiences of the last few days that we have enjoyed upon and around the Sea of Galilee to move from being momentary activities, to truly being internalized as important personal moments that will inform our thoughts, actions and perceptions of our life and of God even once we have arrived back home.