Tag: Bible

Is the Bible Fact or Fiction

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Why Should You Believe? Is the Bible Fact or Fiction?

The popular belive in modern culture is the Bibile is just ancient myths and legends and that it has been corrupted and manipulated over time. Why should anyone who understnds these facts believe anything it says. Well what if those claims were actually lies?

  • What if theere was aechological evidence for the places, people, and activities described in the Bible? Would that make it more credible?
  • What if there was clear traceability showing only minor changes in the biblical text across thousands of years? Would that make it more reliable?
  • What if the prophesies predicted actually came true? Would that make the other writings more credible?  

Archeological Evidence for Bible Places, People, and Activities

There is substancial archeological evidecne for the Bible stories and for Jesus but it is not widely known.

The following is a list of facts that have been sustantiated with archeological evidence outside of the bible. Each contains a link to either a reference document or a video describing this discovery:

Isrealites / Worshipers of God YEWEH / Wandering in the dessert

  • A hyroglyphic inscription at the temple of Soleb describes a land of the nomadic followers of YAWEH dating from 1500BC (Video)
  • A hyroglyphic inscription on a stele in the Egyptian tomb of Merenptah recognizes a people of Isreal with no king in 1210 BC (Video)
  • Curse tablet from Joshua’s alter in Schecem references YAWEH in ancient Hebrew from 1200 BC (Video)

Unified period – Tabernackle 

  • Shiloh has pottery with Hebrew dated from time of Samuel and the Tabernackle ~1000 BC  (Video)

Sin and Judgement for Sin

  • The Amorites sacrificed babies and children at alters (Video)
  • Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone from above. (Video1, Video2)
  • Ninevah was controolled by Assyrians, Jonah was sent to address sin and depravity. It is located in Mosul in Iraq (Video)(Article) 

Jerico established, Destruction by Joshua approx 1400BC

  • Location, Colapse of Wall, City burned but not plundered, Abandoned for a period per the curse – approx 1406 BC  (Video)

Omri and Ahab were Kings of Isreal, Moabites and Hittites were real people, Shiloh was a real place

  • Moab stone inscription describes relationships (Video)
  • Tablets document Hittite nation (Video)

King David 

City of David

  • The City of David has been discovered and excavated verifying many details from the bible (Video Tour1, Tour 2, Tour3)
  • Pool of Siloam – 50Mx50M ritual bath for millions of pilgrims visiting 3x per year, and place where the blind man washed Jesus’ mud from his eyes and gained sight
  • Hezekiah’s tunnel to divert water from the single spirng under the city into the Siloam pool (Video)
  • The pilgrimage road up to the temple mount with shops on each side (Tour)
  • Coins minted in the second year of the rebellion against Rome, referencing Solomon’s original temple
  • Destruction in 70AD at the hands of Romans – charred remains, bodies found hiding in tunnels

Temple Mount

  • Mt Moriah,  where Abraham was willing to offer his son in faith before God offered a replacement. This is now the temple mount
  • Origiinl temple mount location established (Video) 

Assyrian Conquest of Israel, Refugees from 10 tribes flee to Judah

  • Nineveh was a real place, created by Assyrians, currently called Mosoul in Iraq. ie Jonah and the wale. (Video)
  • Hezekiah’s wall built in Jeruselum to acccomodate refugees, Assyrians attacked Judah and failed (Video).

Babylonian Conquest of Judah, Exile in Babylon

  • David’s decendants were taken captive by Babylonians and lived in exile (Video).

Cyrus defeat of Babylon, Decendants return to Jeruselum, Babylon never reinhabited

Roman Occupation

  • Harrod built a palace, a dedicated city gate, and it had a courtyard with a raised Judgement Seat (Video)

Jesus Birth in Bethlehem

  • Micah 5 prophesy in 700 BC of Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, a copy dated 125 BC found in dead sea scrolls, (Video)
  • Specific cave identified as birthplace – Archeology, Historical sources, Very early Tradition – Justin Martyr 150AD, Origen 248AD, Constantine 320AD, etc.

Jesus Life / Death

  • Nazereth existed in time of Jesus (Nazareth House Video)
  • Cesar Augustus ordered an empire wide census to begin in 8 BC, Judea was included in this census process
  • Capernaum, Synagog, Peter’s house (Jesus’ home base) estblsihed from time of Jesus (Video)
  • Inscription from ~400 AD in Kursi, Land of Gederenes, identified as locition of Miracle of the Swine  (Article)
  • Jacob’s well at Shechem in Samaria has been recognized since its creation (Video) 
  • Pontius Pilot was Governor (Video)
  • Crucifiction was a real roman punishment (Video showing preserved ankle bones / hand bones / nails used)
  • Jesus was a real person crucified by the Romans

Christians were persecuted from the beginning

  • There were hundreds of followers of Jesus who were convinced enough to accept death in the 1st century AD
  • Christians worshiped in caves  – inscription “Jesus is With Us” in a cave from 200 AD (Video)
  • Dead Sea scrolls hidden by Christians hiding under seige in a cave in 70 AD (Documentary)
  • City of Ephesus in Turkey excavated – Was subject of Ephesians and One of the churches in Revelation – eventually destroyed by fire (Video)

The colleciton of videos talking about this acreaology is available on my youtube playlist: Is the bible Fact of fiction?

Prophesies fulfilled

Lets look at the second item on our list – prophesies fulfilled. Only God can predict the future, so if biblical prophets accurately predicted the arrival of Jesus and the circumstances of his life and death,  that would be pretty amazing. How many prophesies did they make,  2 or 3 ? I found a list of 25. And some claim there are 60.

#1. 4000 B.C. Jesus would have a mother but not father

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

No mention of an earthly father, unlike the rest of Genesis genealogies

#2. 1400 B.C. Jesus’ family line

Genesis 12:3 “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you [Abraham].”

Genesis 17:19 God said, “…your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him…[not Ishmael]

#3. 700 B.C. Jesus’ virgin mother

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

#4. 700 B.C. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times [eternity].”

#5. 700 B.C. Jesus’ sinless life

Isaiah 53:9 . . . he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

#6. 700 B.C. Jesus’ family fleeing to Egypt

Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”

#7. 400 B.C. Jesus entering the Temple

Malachi 3:1 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

The Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. so this has to be a past event

#8. 700 B.C. Jesus’ way prepared by John the Baptist

Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.”

#9. 700 B.C. Jesus’ performing miracles

Isaiah 35:5–6 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.

#10. 500 B.C. Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous & having salvation, gentle & riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

#11. 1000 B.C. Jesus’ betrayal by a friend

Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

#12. 500 B.C. Jesus’ betrayal for 30 pieces of silver thrown in the Temple

Zechariah 11:12–13 …they paid me 30 pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.

The Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. so this has to be a past event

#13. 700 B.C. Jesus beaten and abused

Isaiah 50:6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

#14. 1000 B.C. Jesus’ clothing gambled for

Psalm 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

#15. 700 B.C. Jesus hated and rejected

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, & familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, & we esteemed him not.

#16. 700 B.C. Jesus not defending Himself

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

#17. 1000 B.C. Jesus’ crucifixion

Psalm 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

Hundreds of years before the Persians started impaling people around 800 B.C.

#18. 700 B.C. Jesus’ death with sinners

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.

#19. 1400 B.C., 1000 B.C. Jesus’ bones not broken

Exodus 12:46 “Do not break any of the [Passover lamb’s] bones.”

Psalm 34:20 . . . he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

#20. 1000 B.C. Jesus forsaken by God

Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

#21. 700 B.C. Jesus’ death

Isaiah 53:8b For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

#22. 700 B.C. Jesus buried with the rich

Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

#23. 1000 B.C., 700 B.C. Jesus’ resurrection

Psalm 16:10 …you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

Isaiah 53:10–11 …though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering [death], he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied…

#24. 1000 B.C. Jesus’ ascent into heaven.

Psalm 68:18 When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train.

#25. 1000 B.C. Jesus seated at the Father’s right hand

Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

 

The Bible – Users’ manual for your life

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

The Bible : Users’ manual for your life 

How is everything going? Are you thriving? Feeling blessed? Confident in your future? Free from your past?

If yes – Great !!!

If no – Remember, He gave us a users’ manual for this life; The Word of God

The more we focus on it; understand it, internalize it, and apply it, the more He can help us transform ourselves and achieve the purpose He set for us.

You have a choice to find it now and realize your full potential or you can wait until life beats you into desperation and it becomes your last resort.

It has certainly changed my life. Happy to discuss if you wish.

What is it: 

The bible is the word of God

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The word is permanent and unchanging

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”(Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”(Isaiah 40:8)

Why:

God sent his word to help us and guide us

“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4-6)

He has high expectations for his word to create value in us

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

How:

The word of God is alive and powerful

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

We must focus on the word; read it, listen to people discuss it, study it until we understand it and believe it in our heart.  

“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:22)

We must pay attention, be receptive, and be willing to dig to find understanding

“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

You must dig a bit for meaning – it is an important investment

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15)

“All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.” Matthew 13:34

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” (Matthew 13:10-13)

There are consequences if you do not understand and follow the word of God

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”(Hosea 4:6)

We must do what it says to receive the promised blessings

“…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

If we struggle to understand the meaning, we have a living model of it: Jesus is the word made flesh

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus took sin to the grave – By his stripes you are healed

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5)

“(He)…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

God sent his word to heal you – Focus on his word (Written or in Flesh) and it will Heal you

“He sent His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20)

Take the initiative – Speak to your mountain

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:23)

If you have faith and believe, you will receive

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  (Mark 11:24)

As it is written, So let it be done

Hope this helps