Is the Bible the Word of God? Part II
Regarding the Coming Messiah: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."11
Yesterday we mentioned a number of fulfilled biblical prophecies, all of which help verify the validity of God's Word, the Bible. Today we want to mention several more relating to major events that were still to come at the time they were predicted.
Hundreds of years before Christ came to planet Earth, both David and Isaiah predicted in specific detail the sufferings of Christ and the manner of his death. David, referring to and "speaking for" Jesus Christ, wrote in the Psalms, "They pierced my hands and my feet."12 This is precisely what happened when Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross.
Isaiah also predicted the fall of the then mighty Babylonian Empire, saying it would be conquered by the nation of Media. He predicted permanent extinction for Babylon. The site has been deserted since the fourth century B.C.13 (However, Saddam Hussein began the rebuilding of the city of Babylon, which Revelation 18:21 said will once again be "thrown down, never to be found again.")
Evidence from Israel. The nation of Israel is one of the clearest evidences for the validity of God's Word, the Bible. Its history is a continual story of biblical prophecy being fulfilled.
Some fifteen hundred years B.C., God said through Moses that Israel would turn from him [God] and be driven by enemies from their homeland. God said, "I will bring the land into desolation ... I will scatter you among the nations ... your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste."14
The result? In 721 B.C., the ten northern tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by Assyria, and in 586 B.C. the two southern tribes by Babylon. Seventy years later a small remnant of 40,000 Jews returned to Israel while the rest were scattered throughout the world. In A.D. 70 Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, and the remnant of Israelites was dispersed among the nations. Israel then became desolate as predicted 1,600 years before.
God's word also stated that the nation of Israel would be restored, saying, "Neither will I destroy them utterly."15 "For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries and will bring you into your own land."16 "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and live in them again,"17 and the nation "will blossom as the rose."18
The people of Israel have survived heinous atrocities committed against them by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, Hitler and others. Their repeated survival against overwhelming odds and the rebuilding of their nationâ€"which is still taking place at this timeâ€"twenty-five hundred years after God said that it would happenâ€"is irrefutable evidence of the validity of the Bible.
To be continued ....
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the numerous prophecies in the Old Testament section of the Bible, all of which have been fulfilled, which in turn verify the validity of Your Word, the Bible. Thank You, too, that this gives us the assurance that all future prophecies regarding the return of Jesus to earth -- and the promised home of Heaven -- will also all be fulfilled as stated in Your Word, the Bible. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
11. Micah 5:2 (NKJV). 12. Psalm 22:16 and Isaiah 53. 13. Isaiah 13:5-22. 14. Leviticus 26:32-33. 15. Leviticus 26:44. 16. Ezekiel 36:24. 17. Amos 9:14 (TLB)(NLT). 18. Isaiah 35:1.
<:))))><
|
Previous Page
Site Map
Top
