Apologetics: Is the Bible True?

6. Is the Bible from God?

Why should anybody believe the Bible is from God? Is If the evidence of the Bible is just historical, citing historical facts and recording historical events, then the Bible could be viewed as a book of history. If this were the total extent of the evidence in the Bible, we would have no evidence the words on the original manuscripts are God’s inspiration.

The Bible as a book extends beyond the claims of an accurate historical book. The Bible’s words make claim to “Super-natural” origination. The words claim to be from God, the First Cause of reality, who revealed the words through prophets. The question is, can we in anyway prove the claims of the words in the Bible or should we rely on “Blind faith”.

By simply comparing the words that claim super-natural inspiration to the facts, we can test whether the words spoken are super-natural or just vague guesses. We can also examine the probability of the events taking place. In the same way, we examine the improbability of matter and life entering the universe without a cause. We can examine to see if super-natural evidence corresponds with facts.

In examining the evidence, we need to ask several questions.

Is the evidence “Super-natural” in nature?
Is the evidence have been manipulated?
Could the source document been changed to fit the circumstances?

Greatness of Abraham Genesis 12:2-3 Abraham Was promised to: * Be source for a great nation * Have a great name * All peoples on the earth to Be blessed through Him	Genesis was written about 1450 BC Abraham, was just one of Many people who lived on the Earth. Today over ½ the Earth’s 6 billion People claim a connection to Abraham including Muslims, Jews and Christians. Both Jews and Arab’s Claim Abraham as the source their national identity	Both Muslims, Christians and Jews Claim descent and connection to Abraham. This prophecy was written Well before the growth of Christianity And Islam. Abraham name became great after Christianity spread 100 AD and Islam after 632 AD. If 15 billion people lived since the beginning of the Human race, the odds Of one man have a name of world wide Distinction is 1 out of 15 billion. If the Promise was recorded 3400 years Before the event it is super-natural.
Israel Scattered Deuteronomy 28:64 3450 years ago in the Bible Israel as a nation is told they will be dispersed throughout the world and suffer as a people for being Disobedient.	Two times in Israel’s history they Were scattered as a nation, first During the Babylonian captivity (605, 598 and 587 BC) Jer 51. Second, during the time of Roman Occupation. 54 BC-638 AD	For a people to be scattered is a A common event throughout history As one people group takes land and Settles in territory belonging to another. Israel as a nation is scattered and Gathered and then scattered again. The condition of the people in their Scattered condition is described in Detail, yet they remain a distinct people In the land of their captivity
Israel Gathered Deuteronomy 30:3 3450 years ago Israel is promised to be gathered back into the land promised to Abraham after being scattered. The gathering of Israel as a Nation from the nations is repeated throughout the scriptures Isaiah 11, Isaiah 14:1-2, Isaiah 56:8, Jeremiah 30-31, Ezekiel 36-37, Zechariah 10:6-12	Two times Israel has been gathered, Once following the Babylonian Captivity after the Persian defeat Of Babylon in 539 BC by Cyrus The second in our day with the Creation of the state of Israel as Jews from Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America founded the state of Israel	The creation of the state of Israel was Result of two world wars. First the Muslim powers were defeated and Only after ½ the world’s Jewish Population was killed in the Holocaust Would the nations agree to allowing A Jewish state to exist, in May 1948 Israel came into existence the first time A Jewish state existed in 2000 years. For a people to maintain national Identity after 1900 years and to be Gathered back into their land is Amazing enough…But for the event To be written about even before they Were a nation is super-natural.
Jerusalem Focus Of World attention Zechariah 12:3 foretells Jerusalem as the Center of worldwide Attention	We are told that Jerusalem will Be a burden for the world and the Object of conflict. The nations of the World will be at war with the Descendents of Israel.	Over ½ the Earth population view Jerusalem as spiritually significant. 2500 years ago when Jerusalem was just a small regional city Zechariah told about the coming day when all then nations will burden themselves with the possession of the city.
Temple destroyed The destruction of the Jewish temple following The death of Jesus was Foretold in Daniel 9:26 And Matthew 24:2	In 70 AD the Roman empire destroys The Jewish Temple. Every stone Was throne down as Roman soldiers Looked for melted gold. The destruction of the Temple along each stone being Taken down was recorded 600 years Before this event, Messiah was to Be cut off.	600 years before the event we are told about the destruction following the cutting off of the Messiah. Jesus claimed to be Messiah and as a result 2 billion people,1/3 of the earth’s population are connected to the city of Jerusalem. How Daniel could know the details of the Temple’s destruction as well as it being Connected with the Messiah being “Cut Off” is super-natural.
Jews from Ethiopia Gathered. In the Second gathering Jews living in Ethiopia are Foretold to be gathered to Israel ,2700 years ago in Isaiah 11:11 this gathering was written about.	Operation Solomon in 1980 and Exodus in 1991 rescued Jews living in Ethiopia from extermination and persecution. The Jews there have been traced back over 2000 years ago.	Isaiah 11:11 specifically mentions Jews From Cush (Ethiopia) as part of the Gathering from the nations. 2700 years Before the event
Exact month & year Messiah is killed. 70 Weeks of Daniel is a very specific prophecy foretelling the rejection and cutting off of Messiah 570 years before the event. Daniel 9:24-27	The 70 weeks of Daniel foretells the Exact time Messiah would be cut-off. Following a 483 year period (69 Weeks) after a command to rebuild The walls and streets of Jerusalem Was given to Nehemiah.	The Christian faith is the largest faith in The World and centers on the Messiah Being killed for the sins of the world. 570 before the death of Jesus, Daniel foretold the exact time of Messiah being cut-off with the Temple’s destruction following his death.

Super-natural objective evidence

The definition of Super-natural evidence is evidence that is outside of the natural order. Miracles and prophecies would fall under these categories since both claim a source outside of the nature. A prophecy describing future specific events is not a natural phenomenon. Super-natural knowledge is necessary about the event, this knowledge is outside of our natural order.

6“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.7And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them.8Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’”
Isaiah 44:7-8

9Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Isaiah 46:9-10

³“I have declared the former things from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.⁴Because I knew that you were obstinate, And your neck was an iron sinew, And your brow bronze,⁵Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, Lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, And my carved image and my molded image Have commanded them.’
Isaiah 48:3-5

The Bible use of prophecy for future events can be itemized as follows.

Only God can reveal events in detail thousands of years before they occur. (Isaiah 44:6)
Israel as a people and nation are witnesses to the events. (Isaiah 44:8)
God declares the end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:9)
The purpose of foretelling the event many years before its occurrence was to prove to the obstinate who would give credit to man. (Isaiah 48: 3-5

Objections to Super-natural objective evidence

People worked to fulfill the prophecy

This objection does not take into account the aspect of adverse history. For example, Jerusalem becoming the focus of world attention was a result of the spread of Christianity and Islam. Christianity grew in opposition to Jewish wishes; they did not accept Jesus as Messiah. The Roman Empire became Christian in spite of persecution of the Christians. In addition, any series of events could have changed the scope of the world prior to the spread of Christianity. Pagan Huns in the 5^th Century AD could have destroyed Christian Byzantium, conflict with Islam in the 6^th century; the Mongolian hordes of Genghis Khan in the 12^th century are only some examples of historical events that could have prevented this prophecy fulfillment.

To imagine that a group of people could manipulate world events in secret also fails to account for persecution by the leading powers of the world. Kings and princes in the land they settled persecuted the Jews as a group. The Spanish inquisition, forced Jews to renounce their Jewish culture, this same pattern of persecution occurred in Germany, England, Russia and Asia. How a persecuted people could control their persecutors, to fulfill prophecy written about the people even before they were a nation would be super-natural in its own right.

The prophecy was changed to seem like it was fulfilled.

The words recorded in prophecy are virtually the same in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament translated 250 BC. The Dead Sea scrolls dated to 100-200 BC also record the words of the prophets including Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Any changes to fulfill scripture would have to have been made by 250 BC well before the events themselves even occurred.

The prophecy is just a matter of interpretation.

Most prophecies have very specific qualifiers, giving us minute details, not vague generalities.

Israel, Jerusalem are distinct locations, not vague terms such as a “great city in the distant east”. The are terms which can compared to facts. The Bible also records historical figures such as Nebuchadnezzar along with events associated their lives. This allows us to simply compare the words with the facts.

The Seventy weeks of Daniel is a prophecy, which can be used as an example of associating facts with claims.

· We are told Jerusalem would be rebuilt with walls, and streets

· The Messiah would be killed 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and streets.

· The rebuilt temple would be destroyed by the descends of a future world leader.

· The Temple would be rebuilt and Temple sacrifices stopped.

Seventy Weeks of Daniel Chart

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Click for a more detailed study)

The Seventy weeks of Daniel is a prophecy, which can be used as an example of associating facts with claims.

God has a 490-year plan involving the Jewish People and Jerusalem.

· We are told Jerusalem would be rebuilt with walls, and streets

· The Messiah would be killed 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and streets is given.

· The rebuilt temple would be destroyed by the descends of a future world leader

· A future world leader who is descendent of the armies who destroyed Jerusalem would make an agreement to build a Third Temple.

· The Temple would be rebuilt and sacrifices stopped after 3.5 years.

Daniel’s 70 Weeks

Super-natural Evidence ( An Example)

o 539 years before the Birth of Jesus, the exact day, month and year Jesus is rejected is foretold

o Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem is foretold

o The future rebuilding of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount is foretold

o The future desecration of the Third Temple is foretold

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel

24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (539 B.C.)

Background

The Prophecy takes place in 539 B.C., in the First year of Darius the Mede. Daniel an old man, between 83 to 90 years old. As a boy He was taken captive by the Babylonians in 605 B.C. In 586 B.C. The Babylonians destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. Jeremiah foretold a 70-year period of desolation on the city for their sin. Daniel was praying for the city to be restored since 67 years had now passed.

Gabriel the angel was sent to Daniel to answer his prayer and tell him God’s time plan for his city, Jerusalem and his people.

Seventy weeks[1] are determined[2] (7 x70=490) A 490 year period of time is established on “ Your city” Jerusalem and “Your People” the Jewish People.

Seven events happen within these 490 years.

1.        Finish Transgression
2.        Make an end of sins
3.        Make reconciliation for iniquity
4.        Bring in everlasting righteousness
5.        Seal up vision and
6.        prophecy
7.        Anoint the Most Holy.

Super-Natural Objective Evidence

· The focus of Jerusalem and the Jewish People

The 490-year period begins with the command to “Restore” and “Build Jerusalem” including the walls and streets in the times of trouble.

The command to rebuild the walls and streets takes place in March/April 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:8) Nehemiah is given orders to build the walls of Jerusalem, and access to the King of Persia’s resources.
Gabriel tells Daniel from the command given (March/April 444 B.C.) until Messiah the Prince will be 7-weeks (49 years) and 62-weeks (434-years) totaling 483-years[3]. (7 Weeks + 62 Weeks=69 Weeks)

(69 x 7=483) From the Command given in March/April 444 B.C. to until Messiah the Prince is 483 Jewish years[4]. Our equivalent to Daniel’s calander is 476 years and 24 days.

The Command was given in March/April 444 B.C. 476 years and 24 days later is March 29^th 33 A.D. the Jesus Christ was “Cut off” by the Jewish Priesthood. (John 19:6)

Super-Natural Objective Evidence

· The Exact month and Year of Messiah Death 500 years before his birth

Gabriel tells Daniel after the 62 Week (434 year) Messiah the Prince is cut off. Not for Himself, Messiah dies for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53).

Following his death Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed again, after they were rebuilt, following Daniel’s prayer. The people of a prince who is to come , destroy Jerusalem and Temple 37 years after the death of Jesus Christ. Daniel foretold of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem over 600-years before the event. Gabriel Tells Daniel the desolations on Jerusalem and the Jewish people will continue to the end.

The Dome of The Rock, the third most site in Islam occupies the Temple-site. The Temple-Mount is the center of world focus pitting the world of Islam and Judaism against each other. There is a growing movement to rebuild the Temple. The problem is 1.3 billion Muslims hold the Dome of the Rock as their sacred site.

The 490-year clock stopped at the death of Messiah at the end of the 69^th Week, as desolations were determined till the 70^th week.

Super-Natural Objective Evidence

· The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple following the death of Christ

· The continual desolations that befell the Jewish People after the Temple

Gabriel tells Daniel, a future 7-year agreement will allow the Temple to be rebuilt allowing sacrifice and offering to take place. He is the prince to come, descended from the people who destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem, the Romans. Rebuilding the Temple is a growing movement in Israel, for a several reasons.

· Growing religious movement, looking for the return of Messiah

· Removal of Muslim claims to Jerusalem

· Establishment of spiritual and cultural identity

Gabriel tells Daniel, In the midst of this agreement 7-year agreement, 3.5 years, the Prince to come breaks the agreement and stops sacrifice and offering, until the consummation, or destruction which falls on those destined for Judgment.

Super-Natural Objective Evidence

· The future problem of the Temple-Mount site

· The rebuilding of the Temple

· The need of a peace-agreement to allow the Temple to be rebuilt

[1] The Hebrew word for seven is [wbX Shabuwa means seven, or period of seven and could be 7 days or years. Year of Jubilee takes place on the 50^th year after 7 periods of 7. Leviticus 25:8.

[2] The Hebrew world for determined is #rx Charats and means to cut, sharpen,decide, a 490 year period has been ‘Cut” on Jerusalem and the Jewish People.

[3] A Jewish Biblical year was 12 months of 30 days per month and based on a lunar calendar. Genesis 7-8, Noah’s arc was in the water 150 days, 5months (See Genesis 7:11,24,8:3,4)

[4] 483 Jewish years =476 years and 24 days with our Solar calendar. 1. 360x483=173,880 2. 173,880/365.242= 476.06792 years 3. 444 B.C. -476 years=33 A.D. 4. March 15^th was Nisan 1^st that year, Add 24 days for .06792x 365=24 days. 5. Messiah cut off March 29^th 33 A.D.

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