Many people
question whether the Bible can be trusted. In fact, in today's society, the
Bible has become to be seen as a book of fables by some people. For some the
Bible has become on par with any other holy book from any other religion—a book
of good principles to follow, but not the gold standard or guide by which
people should live. Question is whether Bible is the revealed will of God,
containing the unchangeable truth from an omniscient God. God by definition
is somebody who is omniscient, which means HE knows everything in the past,
present or future. The greatest acid test for any truth is the knowledge about
future. So when you compare Bible with any book of knowledge, we should
concentrate on prophesies contained in it. Bible is the only book with so many
prophesies. If these prophesies has come true or not, is a crucial identifying
factor. Satan doesn’t know the future completely, other than very intelligent
guesses. So any other book will not contain prophetic knowledge with accuracy.
God purposefully gave prophesies in the Bible for our conviction that Bible is
true “"I am the Lord . . . new things do I declare: before they spring
forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:8-9). "I am God . . . Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet
done." (Isaiah 46:9-10).
Apart from
prophesies, the field of archaeology has done much to prove the Bible's true
record of the past is true or not. But as we have said before knowledge of the
past even Satan has. Muslims may claim that Quran has knowledge of the
embryology of human body or about astronomy. But as we know Satan has done more
research in these things in the last 6k years.
1. Prophesy about
four world empires (with their characteristics in detail told) in Daniel
chapters 2, 7, 8, which were literally fulfilled in the empires of Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Some historians were so frustrated by this
prophecy, that they told book of Daniel was written only later. But then how
did Daniel prophecy about rise of RC, which occurred much later only. The
amount of Daniel fragments found in various caves near Qumran (Dead Sea
scrolls) also shows that it was written in that period only.
2. Bible prophesied
in Isaiah 45:1-3 that Cyrus will be the warrior to capture Babylon.
3. Bible prophesied
that After Babylon's destruction, it would never be inhabited again in Isaiah
13:19, 20 and Jeremiah 51:37.
4. Bible prophesied
that Egypt would never again have a commanding position among the nations
(Ezekiel 29:14, 15; 30:12, 13)
5. Bible prophesied
that Earth-shaking calamities and fear toward the end of time (Luke 21:25, 26).
This we are constantly experiencing in the ever increasing number of
earthquakes happening.
6. Bible prophesies
about Moral degeneracy and decline of true spirituality in the last days (2
Timothy 3:1-5). This we are seeing in people’s lives and media like TV, movies
and internet.
7. There are almost 125
prophesies in the Old Testament about Jesus Christ, which were clearly
fulfilled in Jesus. Dr. Peter Stoner, former chairman of the departments of
mathematics, astronomy, and engineering at Pasadena College (California),
worked with 600 students for several years applying the "principle of
probability" to the prophecies of the Messiah's coming. They chose just
eight from the many available and finally decided the chances of all eight
being fulfilled in one man in a lifetime is one in
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
a. To be born in
Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and fulfilled in Matthew 2:1
b. To be born of a
virgin Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-23
c. Will be born in
David’s lineage Jeremiah 23:5 and fulfilled in Revelation 22:16
d. Herod will
attempt to kill him Jeremiah 31:15 and fulfilled in Matthew 2:16-18
e. Will be betrayed
by a friend Psalms 41:9 and fulfilled in John 13:18, 19, 26
f. Will be sold for
30 silver coins Zechariah 11:12 and fulfillment in Matthew 26:14-16
g. He will be
crucified Zechariah 12:10 and fulfilled in John 19:16-18, 37
h. Lots will be
cast for His clothes Psalms 22:18 and fulfilled in Matthew 27:35
i. None of his
bones will be broken Psalms 34:20; Exodus 12:46 and fulfilled in John 19:31-36
j. He will be buried
in rich man's tomb Isaiah 53:9 and fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60
k. Prophesy about
year, day and hour of his start of mission and death Daniel 9:26, 27; Exodus
12:6 and which was fulfilled (Matthew 27:45-50). This is the one prophesy
really impressed Sir Isaac Newton, the great scientist.
l. He will be
raised on the third day Hosea 6:2 and fulfilled in Acts 10:38-40
8. Prophecy about
Roman Papacy coming true: In Revelation 13:1-10 talks about this power as beast
with seven heads (beasts in Bible prophecy symbolize nations or world powers
(Daniel 7:17, 23)). "Power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months." Revelation 13:5. The Bible predicted that the Papacy would lose
its world influence and power at the end of the 42 months. This prophecy was
fulfilled in 1798, when Napoleon's General Berthier took the Pope captive and
the papal power received its deadly wound.
9. Prophecy about
USA coming true: read Revelation 13:11-18: USA was predicted to arise around
the same time the Papacy was receiving its deadly wound. “And I beheld another
beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he
spake as a dragon." The papal captivity mentioned in verse 10 took place
in 1798, and the new power (verse 11) was seen emerging at that time. The
United States declared its independence in 1776, voted the Constitution in
1787, adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world
power by 1798. The timing obviously fits America. No other power could possibly
qualify. This nation arises "out of the earth" instead of out of the
water as did the other nations mentioned in Daniel and Revelation. We know from
Revelation that water symbolizes areas of the world that have a large
population. "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are
peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15.
Therefore, the earth represents the opposite. It means that this new nation
would arise in an area of the world that had been virtually unpopulated before
the late 1700s. It could not arise among the crowded and struggling nations of
the Old World. It had to come up in a sparsely populated continent. Horns
represent kings and kingdoms, or governments (Daniel 7:24; 8:21). In this case,
they represent America's two governing principles: civil and religious liberty.
These two governing principles have also been labeled "republicanism"
(a government without a king) and "Protestantism" (a church without a
Pope). Other nations since ancient times had taxed people to support a state
religion. Most had also oppressed religious dissidents. But America established
something entirely new: Freedom to worship as you wish without government
interference or control--and with government protection. Absence of crowns
signifies a republican form of government, rather than a monarchy. Lamb-like
horns denote an innocent, young, non-oppressive, peace-loving, and spiritual
nation. Jesus is referred to as a lamb 28 times in Revelation. So this new
government was trying to uphold His principles. No other power on earth could
possibly fit the characteristics and time slot of the lamb-horned beast, except
America.
10. Prophecy about
Antichrist in Daniel chapter 7 coming true: the Bible indicates that he is
alive today! The Bible prophecies teach this antichrist power will play a
crucial role in the final events of earth's history. The Roman Empire, the
fourth world kingdom, is represented by a horrible monster with iron teeth and
10 horns (Daniel 7:7). The 10 horns represent the 10 kings or kingdoms into
which pagan Rome was eventually split (Daniel 7:24). (These 10 kingdoms are the
same as the 10 toes of the image described in Daniel 2:41-44.) Roving barbarian
tribes swept in upon the Roman empire and carved out land niches for their
people. Seven of those 10 tribes developed into the countries of modern Western
Europe, while three were uprooted and destroyed. "I considered the horns,
and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there
were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this
horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things."
Daniel 7:8. The "little horn" power appears next. We must identify it
carefully because God takes more space describing it than the other four kingdoms
combined. Why? Because the biblical characteristics identify it as the
Antichrist of prophecy and history. There must be no mistake in making this
identification. God gives us nine characteristics of Antichrist in Daniel 7.
a. The "little
horn" or kingdom "came up among them"--the 10 horns which were
the kingdoms of Western Europe (Daniel 7:8). So it would be a little kingdom
somewhere in Western Europe.
b. It would have a
man at its head who could speak for it (Daniel 7:8).
c. It would pluck
up or uproot three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8).
d. It would be
"diverse" or different from the other 10 kingdoms (Daniel 7:24).
e. It would make
war with and "wear out" or persecute the saints (Daniel 7:21, 25).
f. It would emerge
from the pagan Roman empire--the fourth world kingdom (Daniel 7:7, 8).
g. God's people
(the saints) would "be given into his hand" for "a time and
times and the dividing of time" (Daniel 7:25).
h. It would
"speak great words against" or blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25). In
Revelation 13:5, the Bible says the same power speaks "great things and
blasphemies."
i. It would
"think to change times and laws." Daniel 7:25.
These points can
fit only one power--the Papacy.
a. It "came up
among" the 10 kingdoms of Western Europe. The geographical location of the
papal power was in Rome, Italy--the very heart of the territory of Western
Europe.
b. It would have a
man at its head who speaks for it. The Papacy meets this identifying mark
because it does have one man at the head (the Pope) who speaks for it.
c. It would pluck
up or uproot three kingdoms. Three Arian kingdoms, however, did not support the
Papacy--the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths. So the Catholic emperors decided
they must be subdued or destroyed. Here is how Dr. Mervyn Maxwell, a theologian
and historian, described the results in volume 1, page 129, of his book God
Cares: "The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the
Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian
Heruls in 493. And the Catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the
Arian Vandals in 534 and significantly broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths
in 538. Thus were Daniel's three horns --the Heruls, the Vandals, and the
Ostrogoths--'plucked up by the roots.' "
d. It would be
"diverse" or different from the other kingdoms. The Papacy clearly
fits this description, also. It came on the scene as a religious power and was
totally different from the secular nature of the other 10 kingdoms.
e. It would make
war with and persecute the saints. That the church did persecute is a
well-known fact. The Papacy clearly admits doing so. Much supportive evidence
exists. Even conservative historians claim the church probably destroyed at
least 50 million people over matters of religious conviction. "That the
Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has
ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a
competent knowledge of history. (W. E. H. Lecky, History of the Rise and
Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Volume 2, p. 40.)In The
History of the Inquisition of Spain, D. Ivan Antonio Llorente provides these
figures from the Spanish Inquisition alone: 31,912 persons were condemned and
perished in the flames. 241,450 persons were condemned to severe penalties.
f. It would emerge
from the fourth kingdom of iron--the pagan Roman Empire. We are quoting two
authorities on this point: "The mighty Catholic Church was little more
than the Roman Empire baptised ... The very capital of the old Roman Empire
became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was
continued in that of the Pope." (Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the
Medieval Church, pp. 148, 149.) "Whatever Roman elements the barbarians
and Arians left ... [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was
the chief person there after the emperor's disappearance. The RC in this way
privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is
the actual continuation." ( Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (New
York: Putnam, second edition, revised, 1901), pp. 269, 270.)
g. God's people
(the saints) would "be given into his hand" for "a time and
times and the dividing of time." Daniel 7:25. Several things need
clarification in connection with this point: A time is a year, times is two
years, and the dividing of time is a half-year. The Amplified Bible translates
it: "Three and one-half years." This same time period is mentioned
seven times (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5) in the
books of Daniel and Revelation: three times as a time, times, and half a time;
twice as 42 months; and twice as 1,260 days. Based on the 30-day calendar used
by the Jews, these time periods are all the same amount of time: 3 1/2 years =
42 months = 1,260 days. One prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6;
Numbers 14:34). Thus, the little horn (Antichrist) was to have power over the
saints for 1,260 prophetic days or 1,260 literal years. The rule of the Pope
began in A.D. 538, when the last of the three opposing Arian kingdoms was
uprooted. Its rule continued until 1798 when Napoleon's general, Berthier, took
the Pope captive with hopes of destroying both Pope Pius VI and the political,
secular power of the Papacy. This period of time is an exact fulfillment of the
1,260-year prophecy. The blow was a deadly wound for the Papacy, but that wound
began to heal and continues healing today. This same period of persecution is
mentioned in Matthew 24:21 as the worst period of persecution God's people will
ever experience. Verse 22 tells us it was so devastating that not one soul
would have survived if God had not shortened it. But God did shorten it. The
persecution ended long before the Pope was taken captive in 1798.
h. It would speak
"great words" of blasphemy "against the most High [God]."
Blasphemy has two definitions in Scripture: 1. Claiming to forgive sins (Luke
5:21). 2. Claiming to be God (John 10:33). Does this point fit the Papacy? Yes!
Let's first look at the evidence for it claiming to forgive sins: "Does
the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are
remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the
power given to him by Christ." (Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism
of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p.
279.)The Papacy further undermines Jesus by setting up a system of confession
to an earthly priest, thus bypassing Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1; 8:1,
2) and only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Next consider the evidence for it
claiming to be God: "We [the Ps] hold upon this earth the place of God
Almighty." (Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter "The Reunion of
Christendom" (dated June 20, 1894) trans. in the Great Encyclical Letters
of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 304.) Here is another:
"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus
Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." (Catholic National, July
1895.)
i. It would
"think to change times and laws." But what about changing the
"laws"? The Amplified Bible translates "laws" as "the
law." The reference is to changing God's law. Of course, no one can really
change it, but has the Papacy attempted to do so? The answer is
"yes." In its catechisms, the Papacy has omitted the second
commandment against veneration of images and has shortened the fourth
commandment from 94 words to eight and divided the tenth commandment into two
commandments. (Check this for yourself. Compare the Ten Commandments in any
Catholic catechism with God's list of the commandments in Exodus 20:3-17.)
Historical
statements in the Bible and ArchaeologyBible historical
statements are accurate. Sometimes, temporarily, evidence may not be found to
substantiate certain historical facts from the Bible, but in time the evidence
surfaces.
1. Skeptics said
the Bible was unreliable because it mentions the Hittite nation (Deuteronomy
7:1) and cities like Nineveh (Jonah 1:1, 2) and Sodom (Genesis 19:1), which
they denied ever existed. But now modern archaeology has confirmed that all
three did, indeed, exist.
2. Critics also
said that Bible-mentioned kings Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1) and Sargon (Isaiah
20:1) never existed. Once again, it has now been confirmed they did exist.
3. Skeptics also
said the Bible record of Moses was not reliable because it mentions writing
(Exodus 24:4) and wheeled vehicles (Exodus 14:25), neither of which they said
existed at the time. They, of course, know better today.
4. At one time the
39 kings of ancient Israel and Judah who reigned during the divided kingdom
were authenticated only from the Bible record, so critics charged fabrication.
But then archaeologists found cuneiform records that mentioned many of these
kings and, once again, the Bible record was proved accurate.
5. Tyre: When Tyre
was at the height of its power, the prophet Ezekiel prophesied this: “And they
shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape
her dust from her...and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust
in the midst of the water... thou shalt be built no more” (Ezekiel 26:4,12,14).
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged the city and conquered it. Nebuchadnezzar
then rendered the city to ruins. For two and-a-half centuries, these ruins remained
like that. When Alexander the Great conquered the Medo-Persian Empire, long
after Nebuchadnezzar's siege, the new island city of Tyre resisted his
advances. Frustrated by their efforts, Alexander ordered his troops to build a
causeway to the island by throwing the ancient ruins of mainland Tyre into the
midst of the sea, and using the dust to create a way for his troops, thus
fulfilling the prophecy that Tyre would be thrown into the midst of the sea.
6. Petra: Petra is
the Greek word for "rock." In the heart of Mount Seir, halfway
between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba in a valley surrounded on all sides
by very steep rocky cliffs the city of Petra was built. Its Biblical name was
Sela. Jeremiah predicted that the city would lose its power and become
uninhabited (Obadiah 3-4; Jeremiah 49:16-18) because of sun worship and human
sacrifices. About 400 BC, the Edomites were driven out this city by the Arabian
Nabataeans. These people made Petra their capital. Nabataean lost its power,
Petra became deserted and forgotten. All the references in Scripture were
considered by higher critics to be figments of the imagination. They claimed
the non-existence of Petra as proof for the unreliability of Scripture. In the
year 1812, the Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt discovered the lost city.
7. Egypt: Critics
regard Biblical stories, such as the accounts of Joseph and the Exodus, as
mythology.It was only after 1799, when the Rosetta Stone was discovered, that
the ancient records could be deciphered. It took Jean-François Champollion 20
years to decipher the ancient hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone. The Stone
was unique in that three languages were inscribed upon it, each telling the
same story. Today it is possible to not only read hieroglyphics, but also the ancient
cuneiform writings. Astoundingly, the ancient relics have succeeded in
silencing many of the Biblical critics. Concerning the story of Joseph, it is
known that the Semitic Hyksos overthrew the Egyptian dynasties from the year
1780 BC to 1545 BC. In recent times, frescoes have been found in Egyptian tombs
depicting fat and thin cows, and inscriptions have been found referring to
seven lean and seven opulent years, making this Biblical story more than just a
myth.
The greatest
evidence of Bible’s trueness is found in the lives of people. The Bible says,
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. The
changed lives of those who follow Jesus and obey Scripture constitute the most
heartwarming proof of Bible inspiration. The drunkard becomes sober; the
immoral, pure; the addicted, free; the profane, reverent; the fearful,
courageous; and the rude, kind. An American skeptic was visiting an island
whose natives were originally cannibals. When he spotted an old man reading the
Bible, he ridiculed him for reading a book "full of myths which had
already been exposed." The native smiled at him and said, "My friend,
be grateful we do believe this book. Otherwise, we would be serving you for
dinner." The Bible really does change people.
