Rev. Kevin S. Johnson in 1991 with the Mayor of Mettullah,the northern-most town in Israel. This town has been the site of many Katuysha missile attacks from Lebanon.  This picture was taken at "The Friendship Fence" gateat the border with Lebanon. The Lebanese hills can be seen in the background.

Above: Kevin poses in front of their tour bus with Ramona and Dr. David Allen Lewis.

In 1991, we were most honored to be asked to co-sponsor and lead Dr. David Allen Lewis' 50th tour to Israel. Dr. Lewis is the president of Christians United For Israel, and is a well known author and speaker in both Israel and the United States. He had a standing invitation with former prime minister Menachem Begin to meet and discuss the Bible, and did so on numerous occasions. On this trip we were allowed to see the "Ezekiel Stones" which was something that only David's groups were allowed to do. His tours focus not only on Israel's rich past but its present and prophetic future found in the Bible.

Here Kevin and fellow ICA board member Jim Korleski baptize Kevin's wife, Julie, in the Jordan river. Kevin baptized Jim and he in turn baptized Kevin. It was a very special time as Kevin had led both Julie and Jim to the Lord. Altogether eight people were baptized on this trip by Kevin and Jim.

Our excellent Israeli guide, Avigdor Rosenberg (blue striped shirt in the foreground), seems a little nervous as Kevin launches into shaking hands in a crowd of Druze leaders on Mount Carmel. ICA board members Jim Korleski (blue striped shirt and beard) and Gavin Rittmeyer (red shirt) calmly watch in the background. The Druze are an ancient and secretive sect that believes in reincarnation and is derivative from Islam, although they are not Muslims, and are enthusiatic supporters and citizens of Israel. They have fought beside the Jews in most of their wars.

Members of our past board (left to right Gavin Rittmeyer, James Korleski, Shari Korleski, Julie Johnson, Kevin Johnson, and Lisa Block) and friend Mark Warner (at very far right) ate dinner with Pat and Caryl Matrisciana and their children (to the right and children in front) at the Sheraton Hotel in Jerusalem. As owners and directors of Jeremiah Films, a Christian movie company in California, they had arranged to film with us in Israel. As a result of this, Kevin appeared briefly in the internationally released video Preview Of The Antichrist which also featured Peter Lalonde, Hal Lindsay, Chuck Missler and Dave Hunt. Pat and Caryl first videotaped interviews with Kevin at our Rockford Conference On Discernment and Evangelism in 1989 which resulted in several internationally released videos on the occult and Halloween. More filming was done with Kevin, Dr. Tommy Ice and Dr. H. Wayne House in Los Angeles while attending the first Conference of Jewish and Evangelical Leadership International.

The Matriscianas have both been frequent guests on our radio program. This was especially true when Pat was going through severe trials related to his brave exposes of the Clinton adminstration. Kevin has appeared in four videos to date involving prophecy, Satanism and the occult.

Shopkeepers in Jerusalem like to show their wares. This man's specialty is blowing the Shofar and does he get your attention!!

Jim Korleski, Kevin and Julie Johnson on the Sea of Galilee.

This is part of a kibbutz where we ate lunch. It is the very spring that Gideon's men drank from in the Bible. Some lapped like dogs while still looking around for the enemy, and others drank normally. The Lord had Gideon keep the men who lapped and had him send home the majority of his fighting force, showing that the battle is the Lord's.

Gavin Rittmeyer and Kevin at the "Gates of Hades" in the Golan Heights at Caesaria Philippi. Ancients used to sacrifice virgins in front of this cave as it was thought to be the gate of the netherworld where the spirits of the dead would enter at death. It was known as "Panias" or in Arabic "Banias" after the pagan god Pan who was worshiped here in ancient times.

It was here that Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" Matthew 16:13-18 tells us: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.""But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Jesus told Peter he was "Petros" meaning "pebbles or small rock", but upon this "Petra" or Rock of Peter's statement about Who Christ really is, He - Christ - would build His Church! He took them to the capital of occult and pagan false religions in order to make this point. Caesarea Philippi was also the farthest north He would ever go in His ministry.

Here Kevin and Gavin are on top of a stone tower at the Fortress of Masada where in 70 AD Jewish Zealots held out against the siege engines of the Roman army. They eventually committed suicide instead of surrendering to the humilation of the Romans.

No tour for the director of "Mount Carmel Outreach" would be complete without a stop at the top of the historic, biblical Mount Carmel. Elijah is featured in statue form over Kevin's shoulder. He is pictured with a drawn sword as he had the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth killed here. Today, under the New Covenant of Grace, we don't want false teachers killed, but we do want them to come to see the truth of Jesus and then be our brothers. We who believe are all considered "crucified with Christ." As the Apostle Paul said;

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20). God still puts false prophets to death by putting them into Christ!

Here Kevin is seen at the site of the "Dome of The Spirits" or "The Dome of The Tablets" on the Temple Mount. According to Dr. Asher Kaufman of Hebrew University, the interior of the ground is bedrock. He told our group that it was here that he believes the Ark of the Covenant rested in the Holy of Holies. Of course we don't know for sure, and recent discoveries say it probably rested on the rock inside of the Dome of the Rock Muslim shrine, but the names for this ancient cupola are provocative!

Julie on a camel -no hands! She didn't know she was pregnant with Daniel at the time!  This very cordial Arab man gives rides outside of Jericho.

Kevin on the same Camel but not quite as daring as Julie!

On this 1998 trip, Kevin was able to teach at Caesarea Mauritania at the same amphitheater where Herod and Pontius Pilate were entertained. It was here that the famous archeological discovery of the stone which bears the name "Pilate" was found. It was this amphitheater that Herod received the adulation of the crowds and was struck by God with worms and died: "And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." Acts 12:23

Kevin also sang here in front of a Jewish tour group from England, and Dr. Lewis' tour group seven years earlier. The song "The Ballad Of Sir Wilfred and Rebecca," written by Joseph Ravitts, was based on Ivanhoe and featured the chorus "Bless the Seed of Abraham, God has not forsaken them." Since this song features a "murderous crusader" who wanted the "Jewish maid Rebecca" to be executed, it is very fitting that this song was sung in the very shadows of a large well-preserved Crusader fortress next to the amphitheater. (See Below)

(Below) Kevin gives a teaching on the arrest and crucifixion at the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. It was here that an elderly Arab man complimented Kevin on his mustache!

In 1998, we co-sponsored a tour to Israel with Lena Free Church and Pastor Larry Marvel. There were 90 people who came with us and Larry and Kevin each had a tour bus that was packed. We had an Arab bus driver and a Jewish guide. Both the Arabs and the Jews were most friendly and helpful.

This is a picture of the group taken on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane.   Pastor Marvel and Kevin each had a full bus load dividing up the roughly 90 people.  (You may have to scroll to the side in order to see the whole group if you don't have the setting on wide screen.)

(Please click wide view) This is an exact replica of the city of Jerusalem during the time of Christ that is at the Holyland Hotel. The hotel was built to commemorate the life of the owner's son who was killed fighting for Israel just below where the hotel sits. The Jewish family originated in the States, but after their son's death, decided to move to Israel and honor his memory by building a hotel so other people could come and see the land he loved. The model commemorates the first century of Jerusalem common to both Jews and Christians and is built out of the exact materials. The actual Temple (represented in the forefront ) is destined to be rebuilt. (see Revelation 11:1,2; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; and Jesus speaking in context of it in Matthew 24:15)

Here are some of the Temple items that have already been produced by the Temple Institute In Jerusalem. The bronze laver for washing and the tunics that the priests will wear have been manufactured according to Mosaic/Biblical and halachic (traditional Jewish legal) specifications. At the far right is the end of the specially designed wooden loom for making the tunics. Over to the right is a picture of a red heifer that they are actively seeking to breed in order to have one to sacrifice and burn to make the Temple ritually pure. Some say they already have one. It is not a Christian duty to help the Jews in this endeavor but it is interesting to see!

Here you see the High Priest's golden crown or tiara that has "Holiness To The Lord" written on it in Hebrew. He is never to raise his hand above his head when he wears this crown. The golden incense container is also shown at the right of the tiara. The wooden box in the foreground contains the lots that will be used to determine which lamb will be the scapegoat and which will be the sacrificial lamb. The pointed silver container is to catch the blood from the lamb in order to pour it on the alter. It is pointed in order to make sure that it is not set down and left to clot the blood which would make it unclean.

Our tours to the Holy Land will always have the past, present and prophetic future of Israel in mind in our teaching. We will attempt to have indigenous speakers (with whom we may or may not always agree) address the group regarding issues that may reflect on biblical prophecy. All Christians are called upon to love both the Jewish and Arab peoples equally through Christ's love, while also taking a firm stand for what is recorded in God's Word - the Bible.

Here are some comments by others about our Ministry Involving Israel:

In January 1998 Rev. Johnson Co-led a Trip (90 People) To Israel With Pastor Larry Marvel of Lena Evangelical Free Church ...

Dear Kevin,

Rev. Johnson was asked to speak about Israel at a home schooling event...

Dear Kevin,

This is a note of thanks, a long overdue note of thanks. Thanking you for taking the time back in February to come to our history co-op class. My girls Hannah 10 1/2 and Ellie the little bi-racial girl 7 years old thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. I was not able to hear all of your presentation for the preschoolers which I was teaching that week became restless and begging to leave. I believe snack time was calling their names. After co-op my girls said, "Oh Mom you missed it. Mr. Johnson was sooo good!" At the dinner table they had to fill their Dad in on all the details. Little did we realize that your presentation was the tool used to cultivate the soil of their souls. The next day while the girls and I were reading the Bible they both gave their hearts to Jesus. Your presentation of Israel brought Jesus alive to the girls. They could see and touch the wall of David, experience the thorns pushed into Jesus' head and so much more. Thank you again for taking the time to plant the seeds. It was to our family's benefit, Love in Christ -Mr. and Mrs. D. from Rockford, IL

We hope you can join us sometime. 
When the timing is right we'll go!

Mount Carmel Outreach

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