Exploring Israel — From Dan to Beersheba

Greetings!    From October 6 to 18, 2023 Mary and I will be leading a 13-day trip to Israel during which time we will Explore Biblical Israel from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.

Hiking into el-Araj — Biblical Bethsaida on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee

This trip not only includes Jerusalem and sites associated with the ministry of Jesus around the Sea of Galilee, but also some not-so-frequently visited sites such as Arad, Beersheba, Lachish (second most important Judean city after Jerusalem), Azekah (David and Goliath), Beth Shemesh (Samson), Shiloh (Tabernacle and Ark of Covenant), Mount Gerizim (Samaritan Temple), and Samaria (capital city of Ahab and Jezebel and others).

The excavator of Biblical Chorazin, Achia Cohen-Tavor, speaking to our group at Chorazin.

I will be giving mini-lectures along the way both on the bus and on the sites, drawing from my studies. I have spent 16 years of my adult life living in, and guiding, academic groups in Israel, Jordan, Greece, and Turkey (including living, teaching, and guiding in Jerusalem for 7 years).

Reading scripture at Azekah, high above the Valley of Elah—where David fought Goliath

Tour Dates and Cost:  October 6 — 18, 2023.  Cost: $4,990 per person in Double Occupancy; add $1,365 Single Room supplement; Includes airfare from New York to Tel Aviv and return.  Other departure cities are possible at extra cost.

For an Itinerary and additional information contact us soon (2foot.steps.tours+Blog@gmail.com).

You are invited to join us!  Carl and Mary Rasmussen

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We will be led by Master Guide, and my friend, Ofer Drori.  This specially planned itinerary is based upon my experience of leading/guiding/teaching over 100 groups in Israel and is structured to include as many important biblical sites as possible as we study the Bible in the Land of the Bible.

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Study the Bible in Israel/Jordan, Turkey, and Greece — April/May 2023

I am pleased to announce, in conjunction with Tutku Tours, that we will be offering a comprehensive 33-day Bible Study Tour to Israel/Jordan, Turkey, and Greece. You are invited to join this “once in a lifetime” trip.  Study the Bible in the lands of the Bible!  From April 11 through May 13, 2023.

Email Dr. Rasmussen for an Itinerary and Details at 2FootstepsTours@gmail.com.

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In the Israel/Jordan portion of the trip (April 11–23, 2023 ) we will begin in Jerusalem with a study of the city of Jerusalem.  As we head north along the Sharon Plain we will visit Caesarea-on-the-sea and Mount Carmel and Megiddo.  We will be staying on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and visit sites associated with the ministry of Jesus.  After this, we will cross into Jordan and visit Jerash, Mt. Nebo, and Petra.   Crossing back into Israel by Elat on the Red Sea (swim) we will travel north to the Dead Sea, visiting Tamar Biblical Park on the way.  The next day we will visit Masada, Arad, and Mamshit before returning to our hotel for the night.  Our final day will include floating on the Dead Sea and visits to Ein Gedi, Qumran, and (time permitting) the Jordan River and Jericho. Email me for the complete itinerary.

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In the Turkey portion of the trip (April 22-May 6, 2023), we will begin in Istanbul visiting the Hagia Sophia and the world-class Archaeology Museum.   From Istanbul, we will fly to Antioch-on-the-Orontes River, the third-largest city in Paul’s day, where believers were first called “Christians” and where Paul began all three of his missionary journeys.  We will visit Seleucia, the port where the first journey set sail (Acts 13:4), Tarsus (the home of Paul), Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch—places not usually visited by tours but all of which are of biblical importance.  After stopping for two nights in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, and visiting Perga, we will travel to Colossae, Laodicea, Miletus, Ephesus, and Smyrna—with many stops along the way (email me for the complete itinerary).

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In the Greece portion of the trip (May 5–13, 2023), we will begin in Thessaloniki in northern Greece.  We will begin touring with a day trip to Philippi, where the “Good News” was first preached in Europe.  As we motor towards Athens we will be stopping along the way at Berea, Vergina, Meteora, and Delphi—with overnights near Meteora and Delphi.  In Athens, we will visit the Acropolis, the Areopagus (“Mars Hill”), and the new Acropolis Museum.  We will take a day trip to Corinth and Cenchrea. Email Dr. Rasmussen for an Itinerary and Details.

Turkey and Greece in May/June 2022

Greetings!   Mary and I invite you to join us for an 18-day  “study tour” to Turkey and Greece—following in the Footsteps of Paul: Turkey, Greece, and Patmos—May 15–Jun1, 2022.  We have a handcrafted itinerary and excellent guides.

In addition,  I will be giving mini-lectures along the way both on the bus and at the sites, drawing from my studies and from the 25+ trips that we have led to Turkey and Greece.  We will relate what we are seeing to the New Testament and the Early Christian Church.  Thus, it is not a mere tour, but a hands-on experience as we study the New Testament and its Greco-Roman background together!

Noteworthy!   We will visit all 7 churches mentioned in Revelation 1-3 and places where 15 of the 27 New Testament books were written to and/or from!  This year we are including a day trip to the Island of Patmos where John received his “revelation” (Revelation 1:9) and a visit to one of the “hanging monasteries” of Meteora.

You will be amazed at what you will be learning along the way and May and early June are perfect—not too hot, not too cool, and the wildflowers are still in bloom in some parts of the country!

We hope you will join us!  Contact us soon if you are interested (2footstepstours@gmail.com).

Our October 2021 Group on the Roman Road that Paul traveled on from Alexandria Troas to Assos — Acts 20:13–14

Exploring the Inner Harbor at Troas — Troas is mentioned five times in the New Testament. It was here, on Paul’s second missionary journey that in a vision he received a “call” to proceed to Europe — Acts 16:8–11

Sister and Brother at the Harbor of Cenchrea — Home of Phoebe, who may have carried the letter from Paul to the Church at Rome — Romans 16:1; Acts 18:18

Studying the Erastus Inscription at Corinth — Yes the Erastus of Romans 16:23

A brochure is available HereDownload

50% off Encountering the Holy Land to April 3rd

I am pleased to announce that Zondervan has a sale on my 13 lesson video Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible.  It is available via streaming and DVD formats.

The Sale Ends April 3rd.

The video series is an on-location visual overview of the lands of the Bible designed for students, Bible study groups, adult learners, travelers to the lands of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and all lovers of the Bible.  I hope that viewers will develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible by understanding the lands and cultures in which it was written.

55% off Encountering the Holy Land DVD set

I am pleased to announce that Zondervan has recently released my 13 lesson video Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible.

The DVD set is on sale for 55% percent off!  The sale begins on Monday, November 4 and ends Monday, November 11.

Click Here for details.

The video series is an on-location visual overview of the lands of the Bible designed for students, Bible study groups, adult learners, travelers to the lands of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and all lovers of the Bible.  I hope that viewers will develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible by understanding the lands and cultures in which it was written.

Video: An Introduction to Biblical Jerusalem

Greetings!

I am pleased to announce that Zondervan has released a 13 lesson video Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible.

We filmed this series on-site in the Holy Land, and Zondervan has richly enhanced the series with video footage from Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy!

You are invited to view our Introduction to Biblical Jerusalem (6 min 34 sec).

It is an on-location visual overview of the lands of the Bible designed for students, Bible study groups, adult learners, travelers to the lands of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and all lovers of the Bible.  I hope that viewers will develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible by understanding the lands and cultures in which it was written.

The first lesson introduces the “playing board” of biblical history, followed by lessons arranged historically that begin with Eden and trace the historical progression of the Old and New Testaments. The video study provides an engaging, accurate, and faithful companion to God’s Word–illuminating the text with footage filmed in the Holy Land and Egypt. This set of lessons provides an in-depth visual overview that will help viewers experience the geography and history of Scripture with unprecedented immediacy and clarity.

Throughout Encountering the Holy Land, I lead viewers through the Holy Lands to illuminate the geographical and historical context of biblical events. I hope it will become your favorite guide to biblical geography and the history of the Bible.

It is available in multiple formats including DVDs and Streaming.

Todd Bolen has published a Review of the Video that can be viewed Here.

Session Titles and Runtimes:

1 – Introduction to the Middle East (18 min)

2 – Pre-Patriarchal Period, Patriarchs, and the Egyptian Sojourn (16 min)

3 – Exodus and Conquest (22 min)

4 – Settlement in the Land of Canaan (22 min)

5 – Transition to the Monarchy: Samuel and Saul (19 min)

6 – The United Monarchy: David and Solomon (20 min)

7 – The Divided Kingdom and Judah Alone (15 min)

8 – Exile and Return (16 min)

9 – The Arrival of the Greeks, Maccabean Revolt and Hasmonean Dynasty, and Early Roman Rule in Palestine (16 min)

10 – The Life of Christ (24 min)

11 – The Expansion of the Church in Palestine and the Journeys of Paul (25 min)

12 – The Seven Churches of Revelation (13 min)

13 – Jerusalem and the Disciplines of Historical Geography (18 min)

 

Encountering the Holy Land — A New 13-Lesson Series

Greetings!

I am pleased to announce that Zondervan has released a 13 lesson video Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible.

We filmed this series on-site in the Holy Land, and Zondervan has richly enhanced the series with video footage from Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy!

You are invited to view Lesson One Introduction to the Middle East that introduces the “playing board” of biblical history (18 min).

It is an on-location visual overview of the lands of the Bible designed for students, Bible study groups, adult learners, travelers to the lands of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and all lovers of the Bible.  I hope that viewers will develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible by understanding the lands and cultures in which it was written.

The first lesson introduces the “playing board” of biblical history, followed by lessons arranged historically that begin with Eden and trace the historical progression of the Old and New Testaments. The video study provides an engaging, accurate, and faithful companion to God’s Word–illuminating the text with footage filmed in the Holy Land and Egypt. This set of lessons provides an in-depth visual overview that will help viewers experience the geography and history of Scripture with unprecedented immediacy and clarity.

Throughout Encountering the Holy Land, I lead viewers through the Holy Lands to illuminate the geographical and historical context of biblical events. I hope it will become your favorite guide to biblical geography and the history of the Bible.

It is available in multiple formats including DVDs and Streaming.

Todd Bolen has published a Review of the Video that can be viewed Here.

Session Titles and Runtimes:

1 – Introduction to the Middle East (18 min)

2 – Pre-Patriarchal Period, Patriarchs, and the Egyptian Sojourn (16 min)

3 – Exodus and Conquest (22 min)

4 – Settlement in the Land of Canaan (22 min)

5 – Transition to the Monarchy: Samuel and Saul (19 min)

6 – The United Monarchy: David and Solomon (20 min)

7 – The Divided Kingdom and Judah Alone (15 min)

8 – Exile and Return (16 min)

9 – The Arrival of the Greeks, Maccabean Revolt and Hasmonean Dynasty, and Early Roman Rule in Palestine (16 min)

10 – The Life of Christ (24 min)

11 – The Expansion of the Church in Palestine and the Journeys of Paul (25 min)

12 – The Seven Churches of Revelation (13 min)

13 – Jerusalem and the Disciplines of Historical Geography (18 min)

 

Free Zondervan Atlas of the Bible Images

Greetings.  In June of 2010 Zondervan published a new, completely revised edition of my (now titled) Zondervan Atlas of the Bible.  To assist those who are using the atlas in a variety of classes, I have posted all the images that are included in the atlas.

Wadi Ram/Rum (Jordan) — Page 63 in Zondervan Atlas of the Bible

These images are available as free downloads for individuals to use in their private presentations—for reasonable rates for commercial publication please contact me directly.  Here is the link to the pictures.  Click on the folders on the left side of the page.  The folders are geared to the chapters in the Atlas.

Enjoy!

Click Here to view the Atlas at amazon.com, for the Kindle Version,  or Here for an electronic version.

Christmas Gifts

As Christmas approaches I thought I would repost a few relevant blogs.  Most will have to do with content, but here are some gift ideas.

I am grateful that recently some other bloggers (here and here) have recommended my two atlases so I thought I would use today’s blog to mention them and some other books as well.

Last year Zondervan released my Zondervan Essential Bible Atlas.  this is a distillation of my more complete Zondervan Atlas of the Bible and includes all of the important maps, commentary, pictures, and timelines.  It was designed for easy reference, personal Bible study, and is light weight enough to carry on a trip to the Holy Lands (recent amazon price – $15.53 paper).

My more complete Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010; Hardcover $27.28; Kindle $24.99), besides being available in print, is also available as an “app” for iPad, iPhones, Androids, Macs, Windows Desktops, and Windows Store.

For those traveling to Turkey, Mark Wilson’s Biblical Turkey — A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor is the best resource available (amazon $20.94 [a big price drop]).

And for the whole New Testament, I continue to recommend Jonathan Reed’s The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament. (a STEAL at $2.08+shipping!!).

Accordance Electronic Zondervan Atlas of the Bible on Sale

The beautiful Accordance version of my  Zondervan Atlas of the Bible is temporarily on sale for $27.90 (save $12.00).

Click Here for this deal and a nice review—expires Oct 20, 11:59 PM EDT.  For a screen shot, see here.