Encountering the Holy Land

Encountering the Holy Land

Taught by Carl G. Rasmussen

The Encountering the Holy Land course introduces students to the geography and history of Scripture with unprecedented clarity.

Course Details

  • 13 Units

  • Self-paced

  • 4 hours of video

  • Beginner

  • Encountering the Holy Land

12 Month Access
$179.99 USD

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Course Description


The Encountering the Holy Land course, featuring video lessons filmed on-location in the Holy Land, introduces students to the geography and history of Scripture with unprecedented clarity. Students will develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible by gaining a deep understanding of the land and culture in which it was written.

The first unit of the course introduces the "playing board" of biblical history – using maps and photographic images to bring the lands of the Bible to life. The following units, arranged historically, begin with Eden and trace the historical progression of the Old and New Testaments. Overall, the course provides an engaging and accurate introduction to the physical settings of God’s Word, illuminating the text with information and images from the Holy Land and Egypt. It concludes with a unit on the history of Jerusalem and the discipline of historical geography.

Throughout the Encountering the Holy Land course, scholar and professor Carl Rasmussen leads students through the Holy Lands to illuminate the geographical and historical context of biblical events. The Encountering the Holy Land course is destined to become a favorite guide for serious students of the Bible, inviting learners into the world of Scripture as never before.

By completing this course, you’ll gain

  • Foundational knowledge about the geographical and historical setting of the Bible
  • Greater familiarity with and appreciation for the Holy Land and Egypt
  • A deeper understanding of how the land and the culture shaped the world of the Bible
  • Confidence in your growing knowledge through personalized review sessions and unit assessments

Meet Your Instructors

Carl G. Rasmussen

Ph.D., Dropsie University

Carl G. Rasmussen is professor emeritus at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota and an adjunct professor at Jerusalem University College in Jerusalem. Previously, he served as Dean of the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. He is the author and creator of the Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible.

Course Outline

  • Introduction to the Middle East

  • Pre-Patriarchal Period, Patriarchs and the Egyptian Sojourn

  • Exodus and Conquest

  • Settlement in the Land of Canaan

  • Transition to the Monarchy: Samuel and Saul

  • The United Monarchy: David and Solomon

    MIDTERM EXAM








  • The Divided Kingdom and Judah Alone

  • Exile and Return

  • The Arrival of the Greeks, Maccabean Revolt and Hasmonean Dynasty, and Early Roman Rule in Palestine

  • The Life of Christ

  • The Expansion of the Church in Palestine and the Journeys of Paul

  • The Seven Churches of Revelation

  • Jerusalem and the Disciplines of Historical Geography

    FINAL EXAM


BibleMesh is now offering an integrated reading experience for our new book-based courses. As before, students will be guided through their reading with book excerpts embedded within the course. This allows for an improved reading experience within the course. Students will also be able to pop out the book reader into a full-screen, fully-featured web-based reading platform where they will be able to see the wider context of each excerpt and access the complete book.

Retain what you learn with Cerego's award-winning learning engine

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  • Track Your Progress

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