Welcome to this week’s blog. This week I'd like to pose a question to my readers that is first, a challenging question that I'm confident will get you to think before answering, and second will stir up a variety of thoughts for each of you before answering. Each of your unique answers will more than likely be heavily dependent on your current day knowledge, and wisdom of the Bible, as well as your upbringing, and what was or was not taught in your childhood church, home or schools. And then there's the question of what level of study have you applied to the Bible as an adult that would help you in answering this question? All of which impacts your answer to "How do you know the Bible is true?"
The question was first posed to me approximately a year ago in a bible study. Upon handing out our bible study material, we had a short prayer for guidance during our bible study. Our study guide then gave us a pop question right out of the shoot to our small group gathered around the dining room table that December evening. For me, it actually stumped me, and threw me into silence, as I observed others in the room, quietly waiting for their answers. I was unable to answer the question without giving it greater reflection. Exactly why I also posed the question to you in the forefront of this blog. I am looking to my readers to reflect on your answer, and give it some thought before answering.
It is my belief that most of us struggle with coming up with an answer, as there is no direct chapter or verse in the bible that would immediately help us answer this question. But it is my hope by the time you've read this blog in its entirety, while reflecting on the supporting scripture throughout this blog, that it will be much clearer, and easier for you to also answer this same question. I believe the bible scripture below will leave an impression on you, to help confirm the historical truths that make the Holy Bible a non-fictional testimony of prophecy. To help you realize what has been fulfilled, and future prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. This study should leave each of us without a doubt that the Bible is true both historically, and what is yet to come. There is no denying in Genesis, in the beginning, God makes known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, and what is still to come.
Again, "How do we know the Bible is true?" First know that the prophets declared throughout the Old Testament what would take place, and what would come to be (fulfilled) in the New Testament. The Old Testament prophets declared thousands of years before these events would be fulfilled in future times, and in future generations. We can even go as far back as the beginning of time. Let's begin in the first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis 1:1, where God proclaimed "In the Beginning" the end. God not only created the heavens and the earth in the beginning, but He also tells us the end (the future of the earth) in the very beginning of time. - Genesis 1:1 (NIV) - 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
In the book of Daniel, was a day for a year prophecy.
Foretold Prophecy (Old Testament - 530 B.C.) - THE SEVENTY "SEVENS"
Daniel 9:20-27 (NIV) - 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill—21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision: 24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Fulfilled (New Testament - 457 B.C.) - 457 B.C. minus 483 B.C. = 27 A.D. (Jesus' ministry) - Luke 3:23 (NIV) and 70-week (69 x 7 = 483) years (27 A.D.) - Decree to rebuild Jerusalem before the Anointed one returns - Daniel 9:20-27 (NIV)
Prophecy (Old Testament - 1,000 B.C.) - David wrote Psalm 22:16-18 (NIV) - 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
Fulfilled (New Testament) - John 19:24 (NIV) and Matthew 27:35 (NIV)
Foretold Prophecy (Old Testament - 750 B.C.) - Hosea 11:1 (NIV) - 1“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Fulfilled (New Testament) - Matthew 2:15 (NIV)
Foretold Prophecy (Old Testament - 680 B.C.) - Isaiah 50:5-6 (NV) - 5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. 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.
Fulfilled (New Testament) - Matthew 27:27-31 (NIV)
Foretold Prophecy (Old Testament - 680 B.C.) - Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV) - 1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 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. 10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 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. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Fulfilled (New Testament) - Crusificsion of Jesus Christ
Foretold Prophecy (Old Testament - 520 B.C.) - THE COMING OF ZION'S KING
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) - 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Fulfilled (New Testament) - Matthew 21:2-5 (NIV)
Foretold Prophecy - THE SIGN OF JONAH
Matthew 12:38-40 (NIV) - 38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Fulfilled (New Testament) - Matthew 28:1-6 (NIV)
The Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament again shows us the call of the nation of Judah back to God, and to tell of God's salvation through the Messiah. Once again, we see prophets in the Old Testament writing us, and telling us what is yet to come. What events will be fulfilled according to God's word. It is not ironic that these predictions and warnings of what is yet to come should not be taken seriously. Contrary to popular belief. There is solid proof that much of what was prophesized in the Old Testament would be fulfilled in generations to come. God is unique in His knowledge, and in His warnings, and His control of the future if we refuse to turn away from sin and follow Him. God has proven the legitimacy of His word through the fulfillment of His word. What more evidence do we need to put our faith and trust that our Savior is nearing return for His children?
As you can see the Old Testament prophet's prophesied what was to happen more than a thousand years ago, and what was yet to be fulfilled in the New Testament for future generations. One amazing prophecy is the prophecy of Zechariah 520 B.C. years before the birth of Christ. Zechariah starting writing this book approximately 480 B.C. The purpose of this book was to give hope to God's people by revealing God's future deliverance of the Messiah, a Savior. Zechariah prophesized the Messiah would come both to rescue people from their sin, and to reign as King. Upon His return, He would establish His Kingdom, conquer all His enemies, and rule over all the earth. Everything one day will be under His loving and powerful control.
So, we've now reached the end of this blog, and I believe the big question still remains on our hearts. "How do we know the Bible is true?" We know the Bible is true by the supporting scripture that shows us what was prophesized by our forefathers, and believe what it yet to be fulfilled from those prophesies. This is just one confirmation the Bible is true. But this is a two part answer. The second part of this answer is this. Historically what was prophesized has been fulfilled according to the Word of God. Then who are we to not trust or believe all that God has proclaimed, and will also be fulfilled? Everything has its own time according to God's Word.
Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull out what was planted, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to hug and a time to stop hugging, a time to start looking and a time to stop looking, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear apart and a time to sew together, a time to keep quiet and a time to speak out, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV).
For what He says, He will bring about. Why? Because He is God, and He is above the earth, the sky, and all that is in it. Don't be stubborn-hearted, scripture reassures us His righteousness is near, it's not far away. His salvation will not be delayed, but will be granted to His children, and will be delivered to His children by God's perfect splendor.
Blessings until next week my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) / New King James (NKJ) / English Standard Version (ESV)
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