Today is the first day I've had a meal in Israel (I was too tired from walking during the day – fell asleep as soon as I got back to the hotel and didn't have time to eat). It turns out the dinner at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel is quite abundant. I had a small plate. I'm really not that interested in dinner (dinner can cause more than a dozen kinds of diseases; humans probably don't need dinner at all). Middle Eastern food is not greasy – pretty good.
Various raw fish slices and wild vegetables.
This is delicious – what is it?
Beautiful colors – don't know the name.
This one is light and bland.
Various desserts.
Caesarea – an important historical site today.
The Roman Theater.
Caesarea was the political center of the Roman government ruling over Palestine. Both Philip and Peter came here to preach the gospel (Acts 8:40; 10:1, 24). Paul used it as a port of entry into and out of the Palestine region on his missionary journeys (Acts 18:22; 21:8). After the Crusades in the 13th century AD, to prevent enemies from landing from the sea, they destroyed all the buildings along the coast. Thus, from 1265 onward, the city lay in ruins. Modern archaeological discoveries have shown that the ancient harbor and its massive breakwaters have sunk below sea level and are no longer visible. Only the above-ground structures – such as the theater and aqueduct ruins – can still be seen.
The Roman Theater.
A large Roman theater built by King Herod the Great, with seating for 3,500 people. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Herod Agrippa may have died here (Acts 12:19-23). Today, the theater is still often used for music or other cultural events. It's best to bring a soft cushion, as the seats are just stone slabs covered with a thin leather pad.
Apostle Frank preaching in the Roman广场.
He told the story of the three PPPs: Peter, Paul, Pilate – and their relationship to the city of Caesarea.
Peter – the first to preach the gospel to the Jews.
Paul – the first to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
Blowing the shofar in the Roman Theater, banners waving.
The New Testament mentions Caesarea fifteen times (in the Book of Acts). After Paul's conversion, he preached boldly in Damascus and Caesarea (Acts 8:40) but faced opposition from the Jews who plotted to kill him. He was sent there. He preached the gospel to Cornelius (Acts 20:1, 23-24), and as a result, Cornelius and his family and friends believed in Jesus, opening the door for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. Cornelius was the first Gentile to believe.
After Cornelius believed, all of us Gentiles came too!
The port of Caesarea – the Mediterranean Sea.
A Greco-Roman city.
Entering a wonderland.
Mount Carmel – releasing the anointing of Elijah.
A bird's-eye view of Mount Carmel.
"After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 'Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.'" (1 Kings 18:1)
http://bible.com/41/1ki.18.1.cnvs
Elijah kills the 450 false prophets.
"Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." (1 Kings 18:19)
http://bible.com/41/1ki.18.19.cnvs
The boundless expanse of Mount Carmel.
"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: 'LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.'
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!' Then Elijah commanded them, 'Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!' They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there." (1 Kings 18:36-40)
http://bible.com/41/1ki.18.36-40.cnvs
The miraculous Mount Carmel.
"So Ahab went off to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. The power of the LORD came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel." (1 Kings 18:42, 46)
http://bible.com/41/1ki.18.42,46.cnvs
Frank praying on Mount Carmel – releasing the anointing of Elijah, and the fire of the Holy Spirit coming down.
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still small voice. When Elijah heard it...
On Mount Carmel.
Night of February 24, 2018
Deborah Du, Jerusalem, Israel