The Issachar Tour

Israel II, The Issachar Tour (October 8-19, 2007), is Koinonia Institute’s one-of-a-kind experience to Israel that will give our explorers an INSIDERS look at the Israel of today. Besides visiting amazing Biblical sites, this trip will provide private briefings with members of the IDF, Mossad, and Shin Bet, as well as members of the Knesset.

These unique encounters with Israeli speakers will enlighten you to the real Israel of today—the one that you will never see on the 6 o’clock news or read about in your local newspaper. You will learn of Israel’s struggle for survival and see firsthand the locations that threaten Israel today!

You will also be given the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and serve alongside the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and be introduced to both Jewish and Christian organizations that are ministering in Israel today.

You will visit the Jerusalem Support Center, a Christian organization that serves Jewish immigrants as well as “lone soldiers” who have made their aliyah, having no families in Israel. You will also visit Hatzollah, a Jewish emergency response center that arrives on the scene for any emergency within 72 seconds! This one-of-a-kind trip will give you memories that will last a lifetime! (click here to see photo)

The Tour Itinerary

This trip will be divided into three distinct geographical locations. This allows us to focus on the three major threats to Israel today-Gaza, Lebanon and the Golan. We will begin on the Mediterranean Coast, then travel to the Northern area of the Sea of Galilee, ending up in the Golden City, Jerusalem.

Our first night will be in Tel Aviv. Here we will get a look at the ancient port city of Joppa and recount the life-changing events of both the Prophet Jonah and the Apostle Peter. Tonight we will have our Welcome Dinner and be greeted by Chuck Missler as well as our first Israeli Speaker.

From Tel Aviv you will have the opportunity to board small planes to experience a “bird’s eye view” of the Holy Land like none other. Those choosing this optional tour will take off in small prop planes from a small airport in Tel Aviv and be treated to the ride of their life!

As we leave the Tel Aviv area we will make our way through the Jezreel Valley, stopping at the Ramat David Air Force Base in Armageddon for a briefing by a spokesperson from this elite IDF airbase.

After this briefing we will head for the tarmac and see F16s taking off and landing from the Valley of Armageddon. Before leaving the area, we will be given a prophetic teaching concerning the events that will one day transpire in this setting!

Sea of Galilee Region

One “must-see” stop before arriving in the Galilee will be on the cliffs of Arbel for a majestic overlook of the entire Galilee region! One thing that is essential for our tours is to give our folks a chance to worship through the Land as well as walk through the Land. Arbel will be one of those spots!

The sites in Galilee will include: an experience at the Valley of Tears in the Golan Heights; a trip up the ski lifts to Mount Hermon-the spot of the Transfiguration; a hike through the nature reserve in Tel Dan; as well as the traditional sites along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee-Capernaum, Tabgha, and Mt. Beatitudes.

Due to security reasons, the speakers will not be listed, but we will have them salt and peppered throughout our trip-sometimes at the sites and other times in our hotel for evening sessions. We will also include a look over into Lebanon and Syria during our time in the Galilee.

On to Jerusalem

As we leave the Galilee area we will travel down the Jordan Valley and make a few stops before arriving in Jerusalem. We’ll visit the Springs of Gideon where you all will be observed drinking from the springs. The other stop will be at En Gedi, where we will give you some time to compose your own Psalm as well as a time of worship.

The Golden City of Jerusalem

Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. Psalm 48:12-13

Nothing can prepare the pilgrim for the moment that they see the Holy City-the name Jerusalem is like no other! The Psalmist declares:

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. Psalm 48:1-2

Jerusalem will be the city in which Jesus will reign for one thousand years, and even today it is the centerpiece … recalling the words of the Prophet Zechariah:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about...

We will take the time to walk about Zion as we visit the Mt. of Olives, have an evening set aside in the Garden of Gethsemane, wade through Hezekiah’s tunnel, pray together at the Western Wall, sit upon the Southern Steps, climb the Temple Mount and conclude at an empty tomb.(click here for photo) Before returning home we will visit both Yad Vashem and the Knesset.

As mentioned, this will be a one-of-a-kind trip! We cannot list the names of our speakers for security reasons, but we can give you a flavor by listing last year’s invitees: Shaul Kamisa, Benny Elon (Knesset Member), Mark Regev, Uzi Dayan, Shaul Mofaz, and David Hacham. For further information contact Sharon Stolebarger at 1-800-KHOUSE-1 ext. 251 or email sharon@khouse.org.