From Mark Logan - 

We departed after breakfast from our beautiful resort hotel La Meridian David and headed to Qumran. On the way, we marveled at the sink holes of fresh water, bullrushes, date palms, and long green grass between the road and the Dead Sea. Truly the healing of the area around the Dead Sea has begun in preparation for the prophecy in Ezekiel 36:35. At Qumran pastor told the story of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls and the history of the little shepherd boy finding the scrolls.  The official announcement of the finding of the scrolls was on the same day as the UN announcement of the formation of the state of Israel.

In an unexpected event, the Israeli military allowed us to go right to the Jordan river where John baptized Jesus, where Elijah parted the water and was raptured, leaving Elisha with his mantle and a double portion of his sprit. Pastor spoke also at this site about Joshua leading the Israelites across the river parted by God and getting 12 stones to place in Gilgal. We sang Holy, Holy,Holy as the people in the Jordanian side waved their approval and as we thought about John proclaiming “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world” and the voice of God from heaven proclaming “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

At Jericho we were reminded of the precious truths of Psalm 23 as we stared down a narrow gorge to the ravine below - the Valley of the Shadow of Death. We rejoiced in the “Unseen Hand” of God as pastor Rodney sang at the valley's edge. Many events have happened at Jericho, Elish healing the spring which still supplies the fresh water, the temptation of Christ on the high mountain of the wilderness, and the falling of Jericho’s walls.

The drive north was filled with reminders from our guides about the many events which took place in Judea . We stopped along the side of the road to get an up close view of the desert blooming as a rose. (Isaiah 35:1) We examined rows of huge peppers, vineyards, and green houses from desolate rocks and sand. These fields appeared for dozens of miles making the Bible come alive like never before. Truly today was packed with visual evidence of God’s hand at work through His people in His land!

Mark Logan