Family Fun at Holy Land | thebereancall.org

Family Fun at Holy Land

February 16, 2001
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A report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media.  This week’s item is from CNN, February, 2001, dateline Orlando, Florida.  While Disney World transports visitors into Tomorrowland, a new theme park that opened Monday takes travelers back to ancient Jerusalem.  The Holy Land Experience is a 16 million dollar Christian theme park filled with such Bible based attractions as a replica of Herod’s Temple and a recreation of the street Jesus walked along before crucifixion.  There’s also a replica of Jesus’ tomb and what founders say is the largest in-door model of first century Jerusalem.  Tourists who pay the 17 dollar admission fee can also voyage to the QumranCaves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Although park founder, Marvin Rosenthal says the goal is to spread Christianity, some critics take issue with the presentation.  Rosenthal grew up Jewish but is now a Baptist pastor.  His ministry is called Zion’s Hope, which critics say aims to convert Jews to Christianity.  Some Jewish leaders are troubled by some interpretations at the 15-acre park and prominently placed Jewish symbols.  Rosenthal said they are true to the period, but the critics see something else.  “All the menorahs—it’s there to entice Jews to make them think this is a Jewish park and there is a close connection between our ancestors and the notion that Jesus was divine and the Son of God,” said Rabbi Merrill Shapiro, of Congregation Beth Am in Longwood, Florida.  Jewish leaders say one of the most talked-about attractions, the Wilderness Tabernacle, illustrates their concerns, since the multi-media presentation also features Jewish songs and prayers.  To critics like Shapiro, Rosenthal says simply: If you don’t like it, don’t come.  But Shapiro says it’s not so simple.  “Those of us who don’t like it won’t come” he said, “but we are afraid that others who are not aware, who are not so sophisticated will come…will put down their money.”

Tom:

Dave, I’d like to approach this from the upside-down side.  On the one hand, I’m sure Marv Rosenthal’s heart in this is to bring people to Christ.  On the other hand, this is not unlike what we have been talking about [with] wearing crosses as jewelry, entertainment, this has got some problems.

Dave:

I would think the biggest criticism would come from Israel itself.  It’s going to cut down on their tourist trade over there because you don’t have to go over there anymore.

Tom:

Especially now with all the problems over there.

Dave:

Right.  No, I am sure Marv’s heart is right in this and not just to make converts either, but he wants to educate Christians as well as Jews and I’m sure this is a very good way to do it, to see what it looked like and so forth.  I don’t know what the byline of all the things they are going to say in your ear or however they communicate that.

Tom:

Dave, I’m not sure it’s really a good way to do it.  I think there is a better way to do it.  Because again, you are asking people to pay money to visit this.  If you are going to ask people to pay money, then the idea is you entertain them.  That has to be your first and foremost and now we have shifted off into a realm of Christianity, historic Judaism, whatever way you want to describe this, but now it’s…

Dave:

Well, I’m going to disagree with you.  We don’t rehearse this program.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be entertainment.  I know what you are thinking, that that’s what people want.

Tom:

It’s in Florida, it’s next to Disney World, come on Dave.

Dave:

Right, but it could be educational as well.  Disney even offers some educational stuff.  But anyway, I think the Jewish criticism, from the rabbis and so forth, is wide of the mark.  Don’t they recognize there is a connection between the Old Testament and the New?  There is a connection between what they would call Judaism, which much of it is not biblical, but there certainly is a connection between what happened to the nation of Israel, God’s revelation of himself to them, His protection and care over them, His promise of the land to them, the prophesies that God gave through His prophets in the Old Testament, the promise of the Messiah.  We just talked about it.  This was Isaiah I was quoting, who said that the Messiah would be God himself, the mighty God.  And then, if you went to Malachi:1:11, I would like to know what the rabbis say about that, where it say God is speaking.  He is telling Israel, I don’t accept your sacrifices anymore.  You have become rebellious, disobedient and my name, He says, “…from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in my name shall the Gentiles trust.”  There’s a connection right there.  Why would they be unhappy that it is through the name of Jesus that the name of God, the God of Israel, has become known because His name is what Isaiah says, The mighty God.  That’s the name of the Messiah, the everlasting Father.  So, how could you criticize that?  Furthermore, when in Daniel 9, it tells you the very day the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on that donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah:9:9.  It would be sixty-nine weeks of years after the going forth of the command to rebuild Jerusalem which Nehemiah 2, tells us when that was, 445 B.C.  So, the Messiah has already come.  I think the rabbis need to go back and check their scriptures and see if there isn’t more of a connection than they are willing to admit.

Tom:

Now, Dave, I agree, certainly, with what you have been saying, but I am not sure I agree with your evaluation as to this is the way to go about it.  So, the next time you are speaking in Florida I’m going to give you 17 bucks, okay?  I would like you to tour there and maybe, one time on our show we will come back to this and you give us a further evaluation.

Dave:

Well, if I’m ever close enough, Tom.  You’ve got to give me taxi fare, as well.

Tom:

I’ll cover you, don’t worry.

Dave:

Okay.

Program Number: 
0231b

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