Jesus’ Rebuke of Three Cities

Dr. Susan Michael
2 Aug 2016
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“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). The common application of Isaiah 9:2 is a spiritual one in which the “people walking in darkness” are those who lived prior to Christ and without knowledge of his saving power. And while that is a valid spiritual application, this verse is actually referring to the people of a specific geographical area: the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, known as the Galilee of the Gentiles. Upon them a great light would shine when, according to Isaiah 6, “unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son […]

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The Controversy over the Temple Mount

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Jul 2016
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The biblical, historical and future significance of the Temple Mount makes it the most hotly contested piece of real estate in the entire world. An example of the extreme sensitivity over ownership of the site is that Jews and Christians are not allowed to pray there. The Jewish place of prayer, where Christians are also welcomed, is below the Temple Mount facing the outer retaining wall of the complex known as the “Western Wall.” I witnessed this tension firsthand a few months ago when we took a tour group onto the Temple Mount. We were followed and even questioned by […]

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The Lord My Stronghold

Dr. Susan Michael
7 Jun 2016
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  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2 NIV). Psalm 18 is said to be a Psalm of David that was written when the Lord delivered him from the hand of Saul. We read about just such a day in 1 Samuel 24:22 where it says that after Saul and David made an agreement that “…Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.” A stronghold during the time of the […]

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The Lord My Stronghold

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Jun 2016
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“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2 NIV). Psalm 18 is said to be a Psalm of David that was written when the Lord delivered him from the hand of Saul. We read about just such a day in 1 Samuel 24:22 where it says that after Saul and David made an agreement that “…Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.” A stronghold during the time of the Israelites […]

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Entering the Promised Land

Dr. Susan Michael
3 May 2016
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The first glimpse of the Promised Land that the Israelites had from the east side of the Jordan River must have elicited a range of emotions. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, eating some unknown substance called “what is it?” (mannah), they must have been extremely relieved to be entering the land of milk and honey they had been told about. In addition, they felt fearful knowing that there were still giants living in the land they were entering. But, the children of Israel could have also been a little disappointed. Their view from the east side of […]

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The Passover Lamb

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Apr 2016
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Passover is known as the Festival of Redemption because it commemorates the children of Israel’s freedom from slavery in Egypt some 3,500 years ago. We know the story in Exodus well: God chose Moses and sent him to tell Pharaoh to “let My people go.” Pharaoh refused and Egypt was visited with ten different plagues that practically destroy the nation. The last plague was the death of the firstborn male of every family. The Lord used this plague to teach the children of Israel the principal of redemption through a substitute. He instructed them to choose a young male lamb […]

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Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Mar 2016
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One of the most memorable moments of any tour to Israel is standing on the Mount of Olives and looking across the valley at the Eastern Gate of the Temple Mount. One can’t help but imagine the magnificent Temple of King Herod standing there or Jesus walking through the Eastern Gate as He most assuredly did, and according to scripture, He will most likely do again. But, any casual observer will notice that the Eastern Gate has been sealed shut. Almost 500 years ago, when the Turks conquered Jerusalem under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent, he commanded that the […]

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Going Up to Jerusalem

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Feb 2016
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The city of Jerusalem is the highlight of any pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is not just a city that has some 4,000 years of history, making it one of the oldest cities on earth, but it is mentioned 806 times in the Bible with names as beautiful as “City of God,” “Joyful City” and “Desired One.” Jerusalem in Hebrew is Yerushalayim and is often translated as “City of Peace.” It is situated on the southern Judean plateau, which at its highest point is 2,500 feet above sea level. Just 37 miles west of Jerusalem is the Mediterranean Sea, […]

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Eight Reasons To Visit Israel

Dr. Susan Michael
5 Jan 2016
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  Millions of Christians have travelled to the land of the Bible over the last four decades and had their faith and biblical knowledge enhanced in transformative ways. There are so many different reasons why Christians are blessed and inspired by travel to Israel that it is an absolute must for anyone with the time and means to go there. Below is just a sampling of what awaits you in the land of Israel!   1.You will never be the same My first trip to Israel was in 1978, when I had the opportunity as a University student to do […]

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The Rest of the Hanukkah Story

Dr. Susan Michael
1 Dec 2015
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  The story of Hanukkah takes place during the period in-between the Old and New Testaments, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes became the King of the Hellenistic Seleucid empire. While the Hellenization of the region, including Judea, already threatened the survival of the Jewish religion, Antiochus seemed obsessed with ensuring the demise of the Jewish faith and the future of the Jewish people. He not only murdered the High Priest, Onias III, but he slaughtered 40,000 inhabitants of Jerusalem. All sacrifices, the service of the Temple, and the observance of the Sabbath and feast days were prohibited. The Temple was dedicated […]

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