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Commentary
6197
“The Historical and Archeological Evidence for Biblical Accuracy & One Way to God”
by By Andy and Berit Kjos   
April 20th, 2009

"There can be no doubt that archaeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of Old Testament tradition." William F. Albright, one of the world's most renowned archaeologists.

"It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference."  Nelson Glueck, renowned Jewish archaeologist.

"How can I prove to my atheist friend that Jesus was God incarnate and that all other prophets (Muhammad, Joseph Smith, etc.) were just men?" asked a recent visitor to our website. "How can I can I show him that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to God and His eternity? And how can I explain it without making him say, 'How narrow-minded! It's ridiculous to assume that your religion is the only way."

Those important questions deserve answers. And since the Bible itself is a key source, let's begin with a look at its validity. After all, if the Bible is made up of myths and stories like most religious literature, it would be useless. But if it's verified by history and science (including archeology), its message about Jesus and His Way can't be dismissed.

Naval officer and oceanographer Matthew Maury, illustrates its validity well. Disabled by an accident in 1839, he left active sea duty and became the superintendent of the US Naval Observatory. In charge of the US Depot of Charts and Instruments, he could now explore the answer to a nagging question on his mind: What were "the paths of the seas" mentioned in Psalm 8? Confident that the Bible doesn't lie, he "devoted himself to studying the winds, clouds, weather, and ocean features." From old ships' logs--

"he compiled charts of ocean-wind and sea currents. To study the speed and direction of the ocean currents Maury set adrift weighted bottles known as 'drift bottles'. These floated slightly below the surface of the water, and thus were not affected by wind....From the location and date on which the bottles were found, Maury was able to develop his charts of the ocean currents-the 'paths' of the seas-which greatly aided the science of marine navigation.... He was elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. A monument erected in his honour... reads: 'Matthew Fontaine Maury, Pathfinder of the Seas, the genius who first snatched from the oceans and atmosphere the secret of their laws. His inspiration, Holy Writ, Psalm 8:8; Ecclesiastes 1:6.

We agree that the Bible is not a scientific textbook. But if it's truly "given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), it will be full of amazing facts known only by the Creator until the rise of modern science:

"The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible by important historical schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, certain phrases of which still appear periodically, has been progressively discredited. Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition to the value of the Bible as a source of history."

Scientific facts first found in the Bible

The evidence for Biblical accuracy is multiplying fast. Here are just a few more examples:

"Prior to 1906 critics of biblical historicity argued that the Bible's descriptions of the Hittite Empire were later insertions, since they were certain the Hittite Empire didn't exist.... But in 1906 archaeologists unearthed the Hittite capital and in the years following excavated what is now known to have been a massive and very prominent Hittite civilization."

"Job 26:7 says the earth is suspended on nothing. Early man thought Atlas, a huge turtle or elephants held up the earth..... Today we know it is gravity that holds the planets and stars in their orbits...."

"Job 38:16 tells us there are springs in the sea.... this was not known until 1913."

"Job 36:27-28; Ecclesiastes 1:6-7; Isaiah 40:12 and 55:10 explains the hydrological cycle. The condensation and hydrology maintain life, provide evaporation, transportation, precipitation and run-off . This describe the repeated cycle of precipitation, its evaporation, and condensation in the clouds....Here King Solomon, writing 3,000 years ago explains how the oceans are the origin of rain... tells us the wind has currents. ...'The phrase, 'the wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course' is an accurate and astonishing description of the circular flow of air around the earth, called the 'jet stream,' well known to anyone who watches the evening news weather reports"( also in Isaiah 40:12.)"

"Water is heavier than air, and is transported in clouds. Some see this process suggested as God continued in his conversation with Job "Dost thou know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?" (Job 37:16).

Historical and archeological facts that validate the Bible

Unlike the myths and legends of other spiritual traditions, the Bible's meticulous recording of historical events is consistent with secular history as well as archeological discoveries. Even the Old Testament droughts (which led to famines and wars) match the migrations, climatic changes, tree rings and other discoveries charted by recent scholars -- a fact that has baffled and persuaded skeptics through the centuries.

Ponder these amazing links between the Biblical account and archeological discoveries:

1. King Sargon: The prophet Isaiah tells us that "Sargon the king of Assyria sent" his commander to fight "against Ashdod," a coastal city in ancient Israel. (Isaiah 20:1). That name probably won't ring a bell, yet this verse fueled a controversy back in the early days of archeology. Some researchers had uncovered a stone obelisk with an engraved list of Assyrian kings. But it didn't include Sargon! So the university of Chicago announced that they saw a "glaring contradiction in the Bible."
      They were wrong. King Sargon's royal palace has now been excavated and studied. Researchers found Sargon's name engraved on numerous bricks in the palace walls -- along with a proud reference to his conquest of Ashdod. Later digs uncovered more engraved evidence of King Sargon's fame, arrogance and historical presence.

2. Ancient Israel: Even before God brought His precious people into the land He had promised them, he warned them through Moses not to follow the ways of corrupt neighboring nations. This brief summary of one such warning could be a wake-up call to Americans as well:

"...when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly  houses and dwelt therein;...thine heart be lifted up and thou forget the Lord thy God. ... thou say in thine heart, 'My power and the might of my hand  hath gotten this wealth' ... [I]f thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods... ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before you, so you shall ye perish, because ye would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 8:10-20)

But the people didn't listen. Within one generation after entering the promised land, most of the Israelites had forgotten this warning. Through the centuries, God kept raising up leaders who taught the Truth and brought the people back to Him, but eventually their moral and spiritual corruption (which included pagan practices such as sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, child sacrifice, etc.) -- had become so imbedded in their culture that God withdrew His protection. The powerful Babylonian empire, ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed the land and exiled most of the people. Faithful men such as Ezekiel and Daniel, were among the captives brought to Babylon, where they continued to serve God and minister to the people. 

3. The rise and fall of empires:  When Babylon conquered ancient Israel, the faithful Daniel was among the first group brought to the court of Nebuchadnezzar. There he interpreted the king's strange dreams and won his respect. One dream in particular was obviously fulfilled:

"...it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision and sought for the  meaning, there stood before me as the appearance of a man....  he said unto me, '...The ram which thou sawest, having the two horns- are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the kingdom of Greece. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but nit in his power....." (Daniel 8:15-22).

Decades later, Media and Persia conquered and ruled the vast Babylonian empire. They were replaced when Alexander's Greek armies swept through the Middle East. When Alexander died, his empire was divided among four generals. Its glory would soon fade. God is always right!

4. Casting Tyre into the sea: The prophet Ezekiel prophesied the unique destruction of Tyre -- a coastal center of Mediterranean commerce -- centuries before it was fulfilled:

"...because Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! She is broken that was the gates of the people;  she is turned unto to me... . thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee.... And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea.... I shall make thee a desolate city, like cities that are not inhabited, when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover you..." (Ezekiel 26:2-5,19-20)

4. Casting Tyre into the sea: The prophet Ezekiel prophesied the unique destruction of Tyre -- a coastal center of Mediterranean commerce -- centuries before it was fulfilled:

"...because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! She is broken who was the gateway of the peoples; now she is turned over to me... .Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you.... And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea.... I make you a desolate city, like cities that are not inhabited, when I bring the deep upon you, and great waters cover you..." (Ezekiel 26:2-5,19-20)

Thrown into the midst of the sea? But that's impossible!

Not according to history and archeology. The rich maritime city was first attacked and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's armies. But most of its residents escaped to a large island near the coast. Five centuries later (in 332 B.C.), Alexander the Great decided to add the well fortified island city to his Greek empire. When it resisted Alexander's assaults, his army built a 200 feet wide causeway out to the island -- using the sand and stones from the ruins of the ancient city to build the passage. They literally cast the its remnants into "the midst of the water."

5. Petra:  Years ago, Andy and I visited Petra, the "pink city" dramatized in the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The trip to Edom's ancient capital began in Amman, Jordan, with a four-hour drive south through the desert. Only an occasional camel train or bedouin tent interrupted the sandy, stony bareness. Finally, at the mountainous entrance to Petra, the passage once blocked to Moses and his followers, we walked through a narrow gorge.

Near the end of the stony corridor the view grew spectacular. The vertical rock walls at our sides framed a sliver of the "pink palace," permitting a teasing glimpse of the rose-colored columns and sculptured ornaments of a palatial wall. What an oasis!  But when we reached the once-flourishing city, the stark sunlight exposed the faded facades of a lifeless ghost town. Behind the broken ruins of a lost civilization hid empty caves - the stripped tombs of a people who long ago rejected God. The path led no further. The well-traveled old roads were gone!

Actually, the Bible had told us what to expect in Petra:

"... it shall lie waste; No none shall pass through it.... and thorns shall come up in its palaces,
Nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof; It shall be a habitation of dragons...
The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island... (Isaiah 34:9-15)

Talk about climate change! This calamity wasn't caused by chlorofluorocarbons or overpopulation. God did it, because the ancient Edomites dared disobey the King of Kings. Smug and secure in their mountain hideout, they despised Israel and mocked God's covenant. Their arrogant rejection of God's truth and ways brought destruction to the land and people:

"Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom... 'The pride of thine heart hath deceived you, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground?' Though thou exhalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will bring thee down, saith the Lord."" (Obadiah 1: 3,4)

Edom literally dried, wilted, and died. Its streams and vineyards turned to dust, and they could do nothing to save their land:

"Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, Thet shall buld but I shall throw down;...the Lord will be magnified from the borders of Israel."  Malachi 1:4,5..

As archaeologist Joseph Free said,"Archaeology has confirmed countless passages which had been rejected by critics as unhistorical or contrary to known facts."

 

Old Testament prophesies fulfilled by Jesus

1. He would be born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2

Fulfilled! Luke 2:4-7

2. He would be born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14

Fulfilled! Luke 1:26-35

His death would redeem us from sin and judgment: Isaiah 53:5-7

Fulfilled! 1 Peter 2:20-25

4. He was rejected by those He came to save: Isaiah 53:3

Fulfilled! John 1:9

5. Identified with our sins, Jesus was separated from our Holy God: Psalm 22:1

Fulfilled! Matthew 27:46

6. He would face mockery from ruling authorities: Psalm 22:7-8

Fulfilled! Matthew 27:41-43

7. Nails would pierce his hands and feet: Psalm 22:16

Fulfilled! Luke 24:38-39

8. They "cast lots" for his clothes: Psalm 22:18

Fulfilled!Mark 15:24

9. God's decree and promise after the fall: Genesis 3:14

Fulfilled! Ephesians 2:1-9

Proof of the resurrection

Mark 16:2-6  Mark 16:12-14 

1. The massive stone had been rolled away! Matthew 28:1-4    Matthew 28:11-15

2. The tomb was empty -- except for the burial wrappings: 

3. More than 500 witnesses could confirm His post-resurrection appearances: 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

6. The disciples and others who followed Christ would face persecution and death for proclaiming the resurrection:

Before the crucifixion, the disciples were too frightened to even defend their Lord. Their fear didn't diminish after the crucifixion. But after the resurrection, everything changed!

His faithful disciples boldly proclaimed the gospel, the resurrection and the victorious name of Jesus in spite of the threats against them. They faced imprisonment, torture, stoning and death. What changed them? Only an absolute certainty that Jesus, their Lord and King had indeed risen! 

 

Only One Way

 

Jesus is the Way - the only way - to life with God today and forever.  Yet, millions of seekers are choosing spiritual paths that lead to bondage, disillusionment and despair. Most seek blindly, for they can neither read nor follow God's signposts.  They don't see the chasm that separates His Way from all other ways; nor will they seek help from the only One who can bridge that gap.

Our sovereign Lord wrote the blueprint for life, salvation and victory! His Word will stand no matter how many people reject it. They make it abundantly clear that there are no alternative pathways -- no other trails up the mountain -- that can bring us near to God and open the Door into His wonderful eternal Kingdom. Only Jesus Christ, our Lord, can show us the Way:

John 10:9-10  John 14:6   Matthew 7:13-14

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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