The Detailed Records
Probably no historical
record has been more scoffed at than the Bible. However, the facts
show that if it weren't a book of religion and it had only recently discovered
by archaeologists, it would be proclaimed the most significant find in all
history. For, its details as to family lines, lands of occupation, life spans,
and events should provide positive proof to even the most skeptical observers
that its accounts are genuine and accurate; because, no one would go into such
minute detail if they were simply creating a forged document. Oh, they could if
they wished, but that would require a high level of sophistication and some very
dark motives.
Take for example, the
genealogies found at Genesis 4:17-5:31, 10:1-31, 11:10-32, 14:1-8, 21:32,
22:20-24, 25:1-4 & 12-19, 26:34, 28:6-19, 36:1-4 & 9-43, 38:1-5, 46:8-27,
48:7, Numbers 1:1-42, 2:5-32, 26:12-60, and 27:1,
just to start with. The details in these accounts prove the Bible to be a
compilation of amazingly accurate historical details.
Also, read the genealogies
that start in First Chronicles and you'll find many
names of ancient people who went on to found cities and countries that we're
still familiar with today. Also, look at the long lists of names of people,
then who their fathers were, who they descended from, the things they did, etc.
– things that nobody would be interested in today – and ask, why would anyone
make all of this up, and how could anyone fake so much detail? Also, realize
that the names all meant something in Hebrew, so they weren't just a jumble of
sounds.
Consider the fact that few
would question the authenticity of the
Tomb of King David (although the current location is
questionable), since it is so well documented by known accurate historians,
such as Josephus, for example. Why, Luke wrote in the book of Acts (the
authenticity of which few would argue) in Chapter 2, verse 29: 'It's good to
speak to you openly about the patriarch David; for he died, was buried, and
his tomb is still with us to this day.' Yet, many critics claim that David
may never have existed! And look at the meticulous records of the people who
served in the court of King David, as can be found from 1 Chronicles 23 to the end of that book.
Who they were, where they were from, who they were related to, and what their
positions were, are all listed in great detail.
Consider the well-documented historical accounts of
what happened when the king of Assyria attacked Judah during the time of King
Hezekiah; then compare those details to what is found in Second Chronicles 32. Also, notice that the
Pharaoh (Necho) who fought against Israel just before the destruction of Judah
by Babylon (2 Kings 23:29) is well known and documented in history (see Necho
II).
As for Moses and the
Exodus; consider the detailed record of the travels of Israel from their place
of departure from Egypt until they entered the Promised Land, as found at Numbers
Chapter 33. Why, every little town that they traveled past, the
directions they went, how long they stayed in each place, and the geography of
the land is covered in great detail!
Then look at the writings
of Luke (Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts)
in this Bible, and click on the dozens of links which lead to
historically-proven references to the names, the cities, the titles, and even
the specific homes (including a picture), as well as the people and places
mentioned there… such detailed and proven documentation is virtually
unparalleled in any other ancient writings!
For a fact, the Bible is a
vast wealth and storehouse of the history of ancient peoples, which through
ignorance and prejudice goes unexplored by many. Consider, for example, the
records of the peoples and the trade goods they supplied to the Mediterranean
trade port of Tyre in the Seventh Century BCE, as found in the
Twenty-seventh Chapter of the Bible book of Ezekiel. Where else can
such valuable records be found?
Recent
Archeological Discoveries
Why, some say that the 'Old
Testament' was written more than a thousand years later than its events claim,
and that the 'New Testament' and its accounts about Jesus were written almost
three-hundred years after he walked the earth. Although modern archeologists
have proven such claims (which originated in the mid-1800s) false, college
professors continue to teach them to their philosophy classes throughout the
world, and gullible students continue to believe them and pass them on.
Notice, for example, that
the oldest Bible text archeologists have discovered (of
the Pentateuch) appears to date to theSeventh Century BCE… which is
before the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon, and which dates to the time of
the Solomon's Temple. Yet, until this discovery, many scholars were claiming
that these texts were fabricated after Jerusalem's reconstruction, and that
there may have been no such Temple. However, Bible critics are still teaching
such things today, despite the archaeological finds!
Also, many have claimed
that there was no King David, and that Jerusalem was just a backwater town
during the time attributed to his reign. However, recent archeological
discoveries at Tel Dan (northern Palestine) have uncovered a
stelefrom the Ninth Century BCE that mentions the
family line of David… and they are currently excavating a major structure that
they think may prove to be David's (and Solomon's) palace.
Some have even gone so far
as to claim that there was no ancient nation of Israel; yet, a granite
stele commemorating the victories of Pharaoh
Merneptah, who is said to have reigned from 1212 to 1202-BCE (currently
on display at the Cairo Museum), brags of a conquest of the nation of Israel,
along with the nearby Philistine cities of AshKelon, Gezer, and YanoAm. So,
such claims have again been proven false by the findings of archeology.
And the fact that the
Philistines existed can be documented by modern archeological discoveries of
their major cities (such as AshKelon), and the land is called Palestine today,
which is just a Greek corruption of the name Philistine.
Also consider the fact that
most archeologists say that modern civilization began more than 5,000
years ago in the area of Mesopotamia… for this is when and where they find
evidence of the first written records, the first kings,
the first use of the wheel, and many other things. And all of these things
follow the Genesis account in amazing detail! For the latest information on
archaeological discoveries, see the link Affirming the Reliability of the Bible.
The
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Consider, for example, the
fact that archeologists have located what appear to be the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah, which are mentioned in the early parts of the Bible book of Genesis
(Chapter Nineteen), and have been confirmed as being destroyed during the
lifetime of the ancient Patriarch, Abraham (c. 2220 to 2370-BCE. See BBC's The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Why,
even the details of the destruction of these cities by God have been
documented! For photos, see the link, Sodom Found.
Then to carry the proof
even farther; note that the very cave which Abraham's nephew Lot (and his
daughters) fled to after the destruction of those cities, has apparently also
been located (see the link The Cave of Lot's Seduction). And the nations
that came though Lot's daughters (the Moabites and the
Ammonites) have also been documented by archeologists through
Egyptian and Assyrian inscriptions. If you're unfamiliar with the story, the
Bible tells us that Lot fathered sons by each of his two daughters after the
destruction of Sodom and GomorRah. The son by the eldest daughter was named
'Moab,' or, 'Of My Father' (see Genesis 19:37), and the son of the younger was
named 'AmMon,' or, 'Son off My Family' (see Genesis 19:38). So, even the names
of these people testify to the Bible's description of their coming from an
incestuous relationship.
As you can see; the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the best documented Bible accounts.
Yet, it dates back to the time of Abraham, and it predates the Exodus and the
origins of the nation of Israel!
The Existence and Reign of JoSeph
Was there a man named
Joseph who ruled Egypt under one of its Pharaoh's during the lifetime of his father
Jacob and his eleven other sons? There is a famous waterway (which still exists
today) that was created in Egypt around that period (the 12th Dynasty,
1991-BCE to 1802-BCE), called Bahr
Yussef, or Canal of Joseph. This is particularly
interesting, because JoSeph is a Hebrew name that likely
hadn't even come into existence prior to the birth of Jacob's 11th son.
For, Jacob's most-loved wife RachEl named her son that, which means in Hebrew,
'Jehovah (the Hebrew God) will Expand,' because he was her first son after many
barren years, and she hoped that God would give her more. So, why would
Egyptians have chosen a Hebrew name (which included the Name of the Hebrew God)
for this waterway, other than because it was the name of its creator, a Hebrew
man named JoSeph (Yussef)?
Yes, Yussef (or Yusef) is a
common Egyptian name today, because the modern religion of Islam recognizes
JoSeph as having been a great prophet. However, it couldn't have been a name in
the ancient Egyptian language, since the Egyptians worshiped other gods. And
according to local (Moslem) tradition, the Bahr Yussef was for a fact built by
'the Prophet Yusef,' to link 'the main branch of the River Nile to
provide water permanently to the Lake Qarun, to avert famines.'
Note that, according to our
calculations, Joseph died around the year 1847-BCE (at 147 years
old); so, he lived during the reigns of Pharaohs AmenemHat
1, SenusRet I, AmenemHat II, and SenusRet
II. Although some modern scholars say that Joseph lived at a much
later date (during the reign of Thutmosis III, 1479-1425 BCE); notice what was
said about SenusRet II in the link, 'Famous Pharaohs' (apparently, a poor
English translation): 'King Senusret II (1897 BC-1878BC) or Senwosret II or
Sesostris II was the fourth Pharaoh of the Dynasty 12. He was the first Pharaoh
who [br]ought in drainage canal in Faiyum between bahr Yusuf and
Lake Moeris. The purpose of Senusret II's project was to increase the amount of
cultivable land here.' So, as you can see, the Canal of Joseph was already in
existence well before 1878-BCE, which proves that our calculations for the
dates of the life of JoSeph (which many would like to argue, since this changes
the dates they give for the Downpour of Noah's day and the creation on Adam)
are very close to being correct.
The
Exodus and the Red Sea Crossing
Is there any archeological
evidence of the events that led up to the Exodus and/or IsraEl's escape through
a parted Red Sea? YES! However, most of it is simply ignored by secular
historians. For example: Notice how a plague-like destruction is described as
coming upon Egypt in fragments of the stela that is found on the third
pylon of the Karnak temple (see 'The Tempest Stele of Ahmose I'), which is
thought to have been inscribed around the death of Ahmose I, who is likely the pharaoh of the Exodus). If you read it,
you can clearly see that this is a description of one of the plagues that God
sent upon Egypt before Israel's departure, as explained by the hard-hearted
ruler of that country.
What is the opinion of
secular 'scholars?' Note the added comment after the translation of the stele,
as found on the site, The Tempest Stele of Ahmose I:
'This text, like so many others, is grist for the busy mills of Bible
apologists, in this case of those attempting to find proof for the Biblical
plagues and the Exodus. The incongruities of their arguments do not seem to
bother them, but it might be better for them to accept that (to this date at
least) no archaeological proof has been found yet for anything written
about in the Bible pertaining to the Bronze Age, save possibly the mere
existence of the people of Israel.'
So note: According to this
explanation, the evidence can't be accepted due to a lack of evidence… and the
fact that there is an IsraEl and that they have written records, doesn't count.
Can this statement be considered truly objective? Although history and
archeology are virtually FILLED with proofs of the Exodus, secular critics
continue to claim that they don't exist! Consider, for example, the fact that
Egypt's historical records tell of a people called the Hyksos, who are obviously the
IsraElites, since they lived in Egypt during the same period, and they were
identified as such by no less than the noted ancient Jewish historian Flavius
Josephus, in his famous work, Antiquities of the Jews. Why, their leaders
are listed in all Egyptian records as the Pharaohs of the Sixteenth Egyptian Dynasty!
No proof? How aboutignored proof?
There is an article by
Jonathan Gray, titled In Search Of Pharaoh's Lost Army, which offers
interesting (supposed) archeological evidence and conclusions concerning the
Exodus. We suggest that you examine this document cautiously, since we are
aware of the fact that Bible archeology (like secular archeology) is often
inaccurate and untrustworthy.
Hebrew historians and most
religious commentators usually agree that Moses wrote the first five books of
the Bible (known as the Pentateuch). However, that isn't totally accurate; for,
the words of Genesis (such as, 'This was the scroll of…' and 'This was the
generation of…') show that almost all of the first five Chapters were compiled
from previously written records or transcribed from ancient songs.
Where could such records
(if they were in fact written) have come from? We simply don't know, because
the Bible doesn't tell us. However, Moses could have collected them from
Egyptian libraries during his life as 'the son of the daughter of Pharaoh.' And
there is pretty good evidence that this is true; because, Egyptian history and
dates line up closely with Bible history and dates (see the subheading, 'How the Corrected Dates Align With Egypt's Historical
Records,' in our linked document, 'Why the Greek Septuagint?').
However, it appears as though some may have also been passed along as songs
through the Hebrew family line. Why do we say that?
There is strong evidence
that the first Chapters of Genesis had once actually been transmitted as songs,
which was likely the only way of transmitting history before the birth of
writing. This is not to say that Adam and his family didn't know how to write;
but if the did, the Bible doesn't say anything about it. However, the first
couple of Chapters in Genesis do mention that the words came from existing
scrolls. Yet, at the same time; Genesis Chapters One through Five reflects a
definite cadence and follows the rules of Ancient Hebrew poetry.
While Bible critics may
claim that the early Genesis accounts found in Chapters 6 through 9 actually
came from cuneiform clay tablets that were discovered in Mesopotamia, known as the
Epic of Gilgamesh; that story (which is also written as poetry)
reads more like a fairy tale and it contains no genealogies.
Did Moses In Fact Write the Pentateuch?
Yes, Moses did write parts
of the first five books of the Bible, because the accounts say so (see Numbers
33:1, 2), and Hebrew historians have always claimed that he did.
Yet, the fact that in most cases where his name is mentioned it is shown in the
third person, may belie this view. For if Moses wrote the words found at
Numbers 12:3, 'Now, Moses was the humblest man on the earth;' then,
what he said was an oxymoron (a saying that disproves itself). So, we have
concluded that although Moses was likely responsible for its writing; the words
may have been actually written by a secretary or scribe… possibly Moses' close
assistant Joshua. For, notice what was written at Joshua 24:26: 'Then he
(Joshua) wrote those words in The Scroll of the Laws of God.'
However, as in the
scripture above, even Joshua's name is occasionally written in the third person
in those accounts. And although speaking of one's self in the third person
isn't an unusual style for Bible writers (we find Matthew, Mark, and John doing
that in their accounts), their names aren't usually mentioned
in the third person, as was the name of Moses. Nor is it unusual for Bible
writers to use secretaries; because, that's what Paul obviously did. Yet, the
fact that Moses' name was used so frequently and in so many places (sometimes
up to three times per sentence in the Hebrew text), indicates that someone else
likely did the actual writing.
The book of Deuteronomy is
a good example of what we're talking about here. While its name implies (and as
it is often explained as meaning) that this was God's second giving of
the Law to Israel, covering the different circumstances they would
encounter when entering the Promised Land; a close examination of the texts
shows that the book was actually a compilation of written speeches that
were delivered on the very day that Israel was to enter the Promised Land (see Deuteronomy
1:1). So, Moses did write most of the speeches to clarify how the
Law would apply, but these speeches were later collected and compiled into the
book of Deuteronomy by someone else after his death. This has to be true,
because, Moses' death is also mentioned in Deuteronomy. So, Moses wrote the
Laws and speeches, but he likely didn't compile and write the actual books.
Bible History
or Secular History?
When Bible history and
descriptions clash with secular history and descriptions, most assume that the
Bible is wrong… once again. But is that really the case? Take for example, the
Bible's description of Darius, the king of the Medes. He was mentioned at Ezra
4:5 as being a contemporary of the Persian King Cyrus. However,
secular historians tell us that there was no such king of the Medes. They say
that Darius was in fact a Persian king, whose reign (522-BCE
to 486-BCE) followed that of Cyrus. Which is view is correct?
Notice that the same
account in Ezra (see Ezra 4:6, 7, 53, 54) agrees that there was also a Persian
king named Darius, who reigned after Cyrus. However, it says that his reign
came after that of Xerxes and his son ArtaXerxes. So, could modern historians
and archeologists have confused Darius of Media with his much later Persian
relative? We trust the account in Ezra, because no one questions the existence
of Ezra and the period in which he lived (seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra),
since he is the one that is credited with compiling most of the Sacred
Scriptures of Israel (OT) that we have today.
But, what about Dairus, the
king of the Medes? Not only do Jewish historians (such as Josephus) claim
that there truly was a Darius, king of Media, but they say that he
was an uncle of Cyrus on his mother's side. And the fact that Darius was a Mede
and that he did rule the land of the Chaldeans is once again confirmed by two
other Bible writers, Daniel (see Daniel
9:1) and Zechariah (see Zechariah
1:1). That this is not Darius the king of Persia who historians say
succeeded Cyrus, is confirmed at Zechariah 7:1-6, where it shows that God's
Temple had not yet been rebuilt, and it mentions the seventy years of Jewish
captivity as something that was ongoing. Also, the Persian king was said to
have lived sixty-three years, while the Bible shows that the
Median king lived at least sixty-six years.
So, we have three
contemporaries of Darius the king of Media, who tell us that there was such a
man.
Since the Hebrew portion of
the Bible was written over a period of almost sixteen-hundred years, we would
expect to see natural changes in its language over such an expended period. Is
this what we find? Yes! Although the first portions of Genesis are written in
the Hebrew language of Moses' time (they were probably translated by Moses or
Joshua); the portion that tells of the life of Abraham is written in an ancient
dialect called Ugarit, which reflects Hebrew as it was spoken
before the Israelite's 400-years of living in the land of Egypt.
After that, the language
continues to change until the time of Daniel, who wrote in a language that is
similar to Hebrew, Aramaic (in the mid-500s BCE), because of the influence of
the Jew's captivity in Babylon and their subjection to the Persians.
The next major Bible
language change came during the time of Jesus. Although Matthew, Paul, John,
Peter, James, and Jude may have originally penned their books in Aramaic or
Hebrew; Mark and Luke likely wrote in the common language of their day, Koine
(pronounced ko-ee-nay) Greek. And sometime after their writing (possibly as
late as the middle 2nd Century in the case of Matthew), the other NT books were
also translated into that language.
So as you can see, charges
that the Bible was written much later than its writers indicated are ludicrous.
The changes in the languages prove that this isn't true.
One of the most notable
stamps of authenticity in the Christian Era Scriptures is Matthew's mention of
Jesus preaching in a town called 'Caesarea Philippi' (at Matthew 16:13). While
some critics have claimed the Bible's Gospel accounts weren't written for more
than a century after Jesus' death, internal proofs, such as Matthew's use of
the city name Caesarea Philippi, show that this book had to be written prior to
the middle of the First Century. For, the name Caesarea Philippi was only
applied to that city (which is near the border of Lebanon) during the brief
reign of the Herods. Otherwise, it was known as 'Panas,' after the Roman God
Pan, whose idol was located there. Since this fact would have been lost to
history just a few years after that date, it proves that the Book of Matthew
had to be written shortly after Jesus' execution.
And notice the methods for
accurately dating events by the people who were ruling at the time of Jesus'
birth, which are found at Luke 3:1, 2. Although many modern Bible
critics claim that the Gospels were written 150-years or more after Jesus'
death; look at the links we've provided here, which prove that the writer
(Luke) knew exactly who these people were and when they ruled, as
documented in history! Ask yourself: How did the writer know all these
accurate details a couple of hundred years later? And if he did the research
just to create a forgery, for whose benefit was he doing this? Also, why would
he do such research, which might only be of casual interest to people who would
live 200 or 2,000-years later?
In addition; we have copies
of the writings of the early 2nd Century Christian Elder, Papias, still available, where he speaks of
the Gospels and writings of Matthew, Luke, and John. So, regardless of the
unfounded claims of modern critics, there is little question that their books
were all written in the middle and late 1st Century.
Another irrefutable proof
of the Bible's authenticity as a historical record can be found in the names of
people and places that have never changed! And the Bible even gives the reasons
why those names were chosen. Notice for example, the account found at Genesis
10:8-12, which says, 'Kush fathered Nimrod, who became a giant on the earth. He
was a gigantic hunter before Jehovah God. That's why people speak of Nimrod as the
gigantic hunter before Jehovah. His kingdom started with Babylon,
then Orech, Archad, and ChalanNe,
which were all in the land of Shinar. Then outside that land, [he went to] Assyria and
built Nineveh, the cities of RehobOth, Chalach,
and Dase (between Nineveh, and Chalach), which is the great city.'
You can see that the names
of well-known cities (not mythical) can be found there. And how did Babylon (a
Hebrew word for confusion) get its name? The account at Genesis
11:8, 9 tells us: 'And [Jehovah] scattered from there over the entire face of
the earth, so they stopped building the city and its tower. That is why
[the city] is named Confusion (Babylon); because, that's where [Jehovah]
confused all the languages of the earth, and scattered them from there over all
the face of the earth.'
Why, the fact that there
are so many unrelated languages among mankind today could only be explained by
the events of this Bible account, since linguists admit that languages come
from different roots. And what's more, the Bible's description found at Genesis
11:3 – that the people built the city out of bricks – and at 11:4, where it
tells of their building a sky-scraping tower, can still be seen in the ruins of
that ancient city in Western Iraq. And even the name of the founder of one of
these cities (Nimrod) can still be found in the ruins of an ancient city in
Assyria that was named for him, Nimrud (a
spelling variation due to language differences).
Also, Nimrod's
father, Kush, is still recognized as the progenitor of the people of
Ethiopia; for, his name is commonly used by archeologists and Egyptologists
alike when speaking of the people of that land. It's only in places like North
America and Europe (where the Bible is under attack) that anyone questions
these names that have been written and accepted as history for millennia!
And while those are
outstanding examples, the Bible is literally filled with mention of people and
places that have only recently been found and documented by modern archeology.
A good example of this is the nation known as the
Hittites. During almost the entire Nineteenth Century, archeologists
claimed that there was no such race; but now, they and their cities have
been found in abundance! These people appear to be the ancestors of the
modern-day Armenians, who (by the way) have always claimed a grandson of Noah
as their progenitor. For more information, see the Wikipedia linkTogarmah.
And for more information about the connection of modern peoples to ancient
descendants of Noah, see the links in Genesis Chapter Ten.
In fact, a stone commemorating
Jesus' judge, the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate (who was also once considered
mythical), has recently been located and deciphered.
So, while those who hate
the Bible claim that it is just a collection of myths and fairytales, the
records and ruins of places and events that we read about therein are
constantly being found, proving that the Bible is in fact, the most amazing and
accurate record of the history of the world!
What About the Long Lives?
Something else that has
stuck in the craw of Bible critics for centuries, is the fantastic ages that
people lived to prior to the downpour (Adam 930 years, Methuselah 969, etc.).
Also, notice the long reproductive periods: Genesis 5:21 'Enoch was a
hundred and sixty five years old when he fathered Methuselah.' Could these
be actual years?
Yes they could; for, as
anyone who has reached the age of 70 or 80 can tell you, our lives are really
too short.
But, what about the fact
that human life spans seem to be about average when compared the life spans of
other animals? Well, it could be (and it's likely true) that animal life spans
are also much shorter than they were prior to the downpour. How could this
happen?
We've heard many
explanations, such as the changes in the atmosphere, or that man was getting
'farther from perfection.' And while these things could be true, the most
obvious reason is that it is all the result of prolonged inbreeding. Whereas
there were eight humans who survived the downpour, only six produced children
thereafter, and three of them were brothers.
Consider, for example, the
lines of the Hebrews (which likely reflected what was true of other families
throughout the world at the time): Abraham's father was Terah and his wife's
father was Terah; so, she was his half sister. Their son Isaac's grandfather
was thus a direct descendant of Terah on both sides, and the grandfather of the
woman he married was also Terah on at least one side. So, Isaac's son's
(Jacob's) great-grandfather was Terah through at least three sides;
then, two of the wives he married (Rachael and Leah) were also
great-granddaughters of Terah through multiple lines… and the descendants of
their sons intermarried.
It was only after God gave
His Laws to Israel that sexual relations and intermarriage among close family
members was forbidden. And this proves that a Divine power recognized the
genetic damage that would result from further inbreeding. Also, remember that
these laws were given just to the descendants of Israel, not to any of the
other nations of the world; so, inbreeding could have continued throughout the
world until the results became obvious.
What about animals? The
Bible account tells us that most animals (the 'unclean') were brought into the
chest (ark) insingle pairs; so, even more genetic damage was possible
for them than it was for humans. For, why do such intelligent animals as dogs
or such large animals as horses live less than twenty years? This isn't normal
– it's illogical!
Then, notice how human life
spans progressively decreased after the downpour (which disproves the teaching
that, 'they counted years differently back then'):
Noah lived 950 years
His son Shem (the first
progenitor of that line) lived 600 years
His son Arphaxad lived 500
years
His son Kainan lived 460
years
His son Sala lived 460
years
His son Heber lived 404
years
His son Phaleg lived 339
years
His son Ragau lived 337
years
His son Seruch lived 330
years
His son Nahor lived 304
years
etc.
So, by the time of the
exodus from Egypt, we find the Israelites living just 70 or 80 years; for, the
Bible tells us that only Joshua and Caleb of all Israel's warriors who left
Egypt, survived to enter the promised land.
Note this conversation
between the Pharaoh of Egypt and the patriarch Jacob, as found at Genesis
47:7-9:
'Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and stood him before Pharaoh, and
Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh asked Jacob: How old are you? And
Jacob replied to Pharaoh: The years of my life that I've lived are a
hundred and thirty. But these years have been too few and too troubled. I
haven't reached the age that my ancestors [achieved], back in the days when
they lived.'
So, the very aged man Jacob
verified that his ancestors had lived to be much older than him!
What do scientists tell us
is the likely cause of the human (and possibly animal) aging process? They say
it's because the ends of our DNA
strands break off as cells divide – an apparent genetic
problem.
Notice that even secular
history agrees with the long lifespans of ancient times! Look, for example, at the
Egyptian history of their Pre-Dynastic kings (see the link, 'Pharaohs Timeline'). It says: 'Up to 13
kings ruled from Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt during this period who
were known as the Horus-people or the Hawk-people.'
Then,look at the period during which these supposed 'Up to 13 kings' (we count
12 to Adam) ruled… 2,500 years… that is about 200 years of rule for
each of them, according to Egyptologists!
As you can see, there's
really no reason for anyone to question the Bible's accuracy, authenticity, or
the dates that are provided there. The facts are too detailed and too well
substantiated in history… and the ages of men descend in a logical order that's
well in line with the understandings of modern medical science.
Recently, the National
Geographic Society sponsored a genetic
study to prove absolutely whether man has a single common
ancestor (Adam), or if, as it has been stated many times before, man descended
from 'a large group of evolving primates that numbered in the thousands.' The
study surveyed people from all around the world, checking the variations in
their Y (male) chromosomes, and it proved beyond a doubt what earnest Bible
students have known all along: that the Bible was right and we all did
for a fact descend from a single man, whom they dubbed, 'The Scientific Adam.'
While this shocking and
amazing finding should have proven the Bible's authenticity beyond a doubt, it
shouldn't surprise anyone that after proving the Bible once again right, the
folks at National Geographic Society concluded that the Bible has all the
details wrong. For, rather than man originating from a place in the area of the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers some seven-thousand
five-hundred years ago (as the Bible says), they say he actually
originated in Northwestern Africa some sixty-thousand years
ago. Of course, this implies that 'modern man' (their words not ours) existed
well before the 'stone age,' 'cave men,' and even 'Neanderthals.' But that's
another story.
Their method for
determining all of this was to look at genetic variations in the Y-chromosomes
of modern people and search for common variations that would link all humans to
a single person. Then they looked for a race of people whose Y-chromosomes are
the closest to the original, and they found them in Northeast Africa near
Ethiopia. So, they concluded that 'Adam' was a dark-skinned man from Northern
Africa.
Of course,
in their skepticism, they neglected the fact that we all have a much closer
common relative than Adam, Noah. So, what they may have found was him… or at
least his grandson Cush (or Kush), whose descendants in Ethiopia still call
themselves 'Kushites.' And they also overlook the fact that the original
Kushites (black people) settled in MesoPotamia (Nimrod was a Kushite); and
later in Bible records, part of that family line lived in the area of Iran
southwest of Mount Ararat. So, this Scientific Adam apparently
didn't really live in northeastern Africa to begin with (although his
descendants do live there today). For more information on this, see the Note in
Genesis titled, 'Edem,' and the Associated Press document, 'Roots
of Family Tree are Shallow.'
And what about the
sixty-thousand years of man's existence, as opposed to the Bible's seven
thousand, five hundred? Well, their dating was based on the number of genetic
mutations, which they extrapolated to come up with a starting date… but that is
risky science at best. For, they simply assume certain
very-long periods between mutations. And as we pointed out earlier, the
shortening of life spans between the time of Noah and Moses seems to indicate a
period of rapid genetic decline, possibly due to prolonged inbreeding.
Also, see the interesting
proof that these extended dates are wrong from the 2005 New Man magazine
article by Doug Trouten, 'The Search for Adam,' when discussing genetic
discoveries about Adam's 'Y chromosomal bottleneck.'
Then, why do studies show
that man originated in Northeastern Africa, not the Middle East? Those who do
these studies, in their quest to prove the Bible wrong, fail to recognize the
fact that populations have migrated or have been forced to relocate.
History shows, for example, that both the ancient Babylonians and the ancient
Assyrians relocated entire populations after conquering them. And the people of
Northeastern Africa (ethnic Ethiopians) prove this when they clearly claim to
be descendants of Noah's grandson Kush.
Bible history shows that these people once lived in and around the ancient
Assyrian Empire (Middle East), and that they were conquered by the Assyrians in
the late 700s BCE. For more information, see the Note, 'Edem' in Genesis, especially toward the end, where it
speaks of the genetic proofs of the migration of these people.
Anyhow, as science
continues to make advances, we are sure they will eventually get their details
right.
What
About 'Cave Men,' 'Neanderthals,' and Other 'Human Ancestors?'
As we've already shown, DNA
evidence proves that we are all descended from a single human couple that
looked very much like us; but that doesn't stop anti-Bible 'scientists' from
trying to prove something else. Was there really another race of humans that we
now call 'Neanderthals?' Yes, but DNA evidence indicates that they were
descended from the same 'Scientific Adam and Eve' as we are. For, many of us apparently still carry their DNA,
which just ties back to that first modern-prototypical-human couple. And as
anyone with a knowledge of genetics already knows; if we had different origins
and DNA variations were too great, interbreeding would have been impossible!
At this point, we could go
off into long explanations of why each of the popular 'scientific' myths on the
origins of man are poorly substantiated; however, we've already shown that
known and provable evidence such as DNA verifies the Bible account of our
origins. And for those who wish to argue the dates; we have shown that the
current dating methods are unreliable. So, we won't carry this any farther,
since those who wish to believe such things will continue to do so, regardless
of the evidence.
Of course, the most
important and most accepted argument against the Bible's chronology leading
back to the creation of the first man and woman (around 7,500 years ago by our
calculations) is radiocarbon dating. For, the figures that scientists provide
carry the first human back some 60,000 to 80,000 years (and some even farther
back than that). How does the radiocarbon 'clock' work?
Radiocarbons are formed in
our atmosphere when cosmic radiation bombards nitrogen molecules, turning them
into carbon 14 (14C), which are thereafter consumed by plants and animals. But
when these living things die, they stop taking it in. And because 14C has a known
rate of decay (turning it back into nitrogen molecules), all a scientist has to
do is measure the amount of radiocarbon in dead plants and animals to tell us
how long ago they lived (with an accuracy of plus or minus 40 to 100 years).
So, this is a pretty accurate way of determining the age of things that used to
be alive.
However, nothing is ever
quite that simple. For, as it turns out, the amount of 14C varies according to
how much cosmic radiation is bombarding the earth, and this has changed over time.
Notice how this is explained in the Wikipedia article, 'Radiocarbon dating,'
under the subheading, 'Calibration': 'Dates may be expressed as either
uncalibrated or calibrated years (the latter abbreviated as cal or cal.). A
raw BP date cannot be used directly as a calendar date, because the level of
atmospheric 14C has not been strictly constant during the span of time that can
be radiocarbon dated. The level is affected by variations in the cosmic ray
intensity, which is in turn affected by variations in the Earth's
magnetosphere. In addition, there are substantial reservoirs of carbon in
organic matter, the ocean, ocean sediments (see methane hydrate), and
sedimentary rocks. Changes in the Earth's climate can affect the carbon flows
between these reservoirs and the atmosphere, leading to changes in the
atmosphere's 14C fraction.'
As the result, a lot 14C
dating of things carries us back 5,000 years, and then we see huge jumps to
60,000 years or more. Could this be due to the fact that there was much less
cosmic radiation hitting the earth prior to the great Downpour (flood) spoken
of in Genesis Chapter 6?
In addition, notice this
quotation that is found under the subheading, Measurements: 'This
age is derived from that of the calibration blanks used in an analysis, whose
14C content is assumed to be the result of contamination during processing (as
a result of this, some facilities will not report an age greater than 60,000
years for any sample).' In fact, other
sources limit the accuracy to less than 40,000 years. So, any
dates provided by 14C testing of 40,000 years or more can't be trusted, because
there is simply too much background contamination to be sure of the accuracy.
And recognize that 14C testing is the only means for determining the ages of
things that were once living.
Two more methods for
determining the ages of ancient things are potassium-argon dating and
thermoluminescence dating. Potassium-argon dating is one of the most widely
used; but, notice that it can only be used to date rocks and minerals.
This is also true of thermoluminescence testing, which dates items to the last
time they were heated. However, as with the accuracy of radiocarbon dating
techniques, radiation levels do not remain constant over time, and fluctuating
levels can skew the results. For example; if an item went through several high
radiation eras, thermoluminesence will return an older date for the item.
What
About Obvious Evolutionary Changes?
We do find one of the
latest scientific theories interesting, in line with the Bible, and sensible.
It's the teaching thatretroviruses (which pick up and share DNA with their
hosts) cause variations within species. So, it could be that God
created viruses to help all creatures adapt to their environments, and that
viruses only become problems outside of their native environments (which the
spread of HIV testifies to). This would explain the predominance of marsupials
in Australia, the prehensile tails of the monkeys in the Americas, and the
reasons why variations within family types (such as parrots, horses, etc.)
can't crossbreed.
Obviously, this is just
another theory. However, the chest (ark) of Noah could only have held a limited
number of animal types; so, there are surely more animal types today than there
were then.
Yet, it is argued that DNA
similarities are proof positive that mankind wasn't created by God, as the Bible
says. For (as an example), humans can be proven to be less than 1% away
genetically from chimpanzees. So, as the logic goes: we clearly have evolved
from them. But, don't overlook the fact that using this same logic proves that
we are also direct descendants from bananas, since we share 50% of our DNA with
them! No, you can't have it both ways!
The flaw in this DNA logic
is that it makes the assumption that creatures which look similar (and are
therefore built using similar plans) are proof that the Bible is wrong. This is
about as logical as saying that one brand of automobile evolved on its own from
another, because the two look very much the same. And when asked about how
something as complicated as an eye or an ear could have come into being on its own;
those who hate the Bible give credit to another God, 'Mother Nature.'
However, we shouldn't be
inflexible when it comes to our understanding of how God did things; because,
He knows how He actually did it. In the case of Adam's woman Eue (Eve); God brought
her into existence through existing DNA (Adam's rib). Likewise, He could have
brought other new forms of life into existence by modifying existing DNA. We
just don't know, and He didn't tell us.
So, What
About All the Things You See on TV?
It is shocking to us that
most people get what they believe to be reliable information about the Bible,
its history, and its authenticity from television programs. For there, you will
listen to 'the experts' talk about their 'facts.' Yet, no one asks why these
people are considered to be authorities, or why they were specifically chosen
by the show's producers.
What makes a person a
'Bible expert?' Are such ones chosen because they've done decades of unbiased
Bible research and translating, or because they've passed religious courses
taught by skeptics and atheists? This is an area where the foxes have clearly
been put in charge of the hen house. Yet, people tend to believe all that they
see on TV as proven fact, because 'the experts' said so.
Our years of Bible research
and translating experience (as well as watching such programs) clearly prove
that few of such 'experts' have really done much personal Bible reading (they
miss major details), and that most choose to deny and overlook all
historically-proven evidence of the Bible's authenticity. So, the public in
general is being fed on a diet of skepticism and the viewpoints of atheists or
agnostics.
Take, for example, all the
programs that talk about the coming of the 'Antichrist.' Do you know what the
Bible actually says about this and who it is identified as being? We suspect
that you don't; because, most people just believe what they've seen on
television or heard from some non-Bible-reading preacher. But, why not just
read what the Bible says? Go to First John 2:22… you'll be surprised to see
what it says there. It's nothing like you've been told before by the 'experts!'
Has Much
Been Lost Through the Ages?
One of the most common
arguments against the authenticity of the Bible is its age. And the question is
often asked, 'How do we know that what's written in there is really what was
originally meant?' For, it's a fact that the Bible has been copied and
translated hundreds if not thousands of times down to our day, and errors have
obviously crept in (we can prove it).
Yes, it is true that there
are many errors in common Bibles. How do we know this? Because many very
ancient Bible texts have been found (such as 'the Dead Sea Scrolls') that show
where changes have been made. Sometimes the errors are copy mistakes, while in
other instances there are deliberate attempts at fraud. Yet, modern scholars
are aware of most errors and honest Bible translators are making the changes as
they are discovered.
We not only have the Dead
Sea Scrolls, but we have ancient translations of the Bible, such as the
Septuagint Greek text, and what has been found is that (in most instances)
there may be variations in words, but the meanings still remain the same.
What is called the
Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) hasn't seen many changes; for,
these words of creation and law were copied and spread throughout Israel, and
any error would have been quickly pointed out by the zealous. However, the
words of the Prophets haven't fared as well; because, the things they wrote
condemned Israel for the errors of their ways, so they weren't read or copied
as much. And the older the writing, the easier it is to see that much has been
lost. Yet, there is enough redundancy between the writings of the Prophets that
any major errors would stand out, and many of the words of the Prophets have
been verified, because Jesus and other Bible writers quoted them.
Understand that it is our
belief that the Bible was written logically and coherently; so, where we find
text that doesn't make sense, we assume there has been an error in copying or
translating, and we are spurred on to do more research.
A good example of this
corruption of text is the book of Habakkuk,
which was likely written during the early Seventh Century BCE. We found it
extremely difficult to translate from Greek, and when checking the Hebrew-based
texts, we found that they had the same problems. And because both types of
texts (the Hebrew and the Greek) reflect the same problems; we can see that the
corruption began sometime between the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (c.
600-BCE) and their return from Exile (c. 537-BCE). Yet, later writers are generally
easier to follow and translate.
We were surprised to find
several significant differences in the Psalms; but that book is just a record
of ancient inspired songs, and we realize that the songs have likely changed
through the ages.
We also found differences
between the Greek and Hebrew texts in the Proverbs; so, we suspect that people
changed proverbs to fit their needs. Yet, the way that the Psalms, the
Proverbs, and the books of the Prophets were written helps to show up any
errors or deviations; for, much of this writing was in done in poetry or song.
So, where we find deviations from the common forms of Hebrew poetry, we know to
look for errors.
There is also strong
indication that the Gospel of Matthew is badly corrupted in many places…
although most religions prefer to quote from that book, while ignoring the more
accurate accounts of Mark and Luke. There are, in fact, too many instances of
proven textual corruption to even list here, but they start with Matthew 1:18
and run through 28:19. The reason for this, is because that book was originally
written in Aramaic (the 'Hebrew' of Jesus' day), and it was translated into
Greek sometime in the early Second Century, after Christianity had started
turning from the true faith as taught by Jesus. We know that there have been
changes, because Mark and Luke were in most cases quoting from the original
book of Matthew (which we can prove was written first). And you can see that
there are important differences in what Mark and Luke wrote, and what is
currently written in Matthew.
What about other books,
such as those of the Apocrypha and other supposed Christian writings? Some
wonder why they aren't included in Bibles such as this. But if you read them,
you'll see why most learned collectors have rejected them; for, most clearly
speak of things that contradict the canon of sixty-six approved books, which
all show a harmony and single inspiration by God.
The Dead
Sea Scrolls a Hoax?
Through the years since
their finding, several supposed scholars have come forward to label the Dead
Sea Scrolls a hoax. Why, in the early 1950s, Professor Solomon Zeitlin of
Dropsie University in Philadelphia argued strenuously that the antiquity of the
Dead Sea Scrolls should be rejected on philosophical grounds. However,
subsequent carbon-14 tests on their linen wrappers firmly dated the finds to
the late Second Temple Period (prior to the lifetime of Jesus), which should
have laid to rest arguments concerning the antiquity of the scrolls. Yet,
although there are hundreds of both Bible and secular documents in that find,
which no one in his right mind would go through all the trouble to forge
centuries ago and then fail to reveal; the claims that they are forgeries (by
those who hate the Bible) continue to make the news as though their statements
were true.
One of the more recent
claims is that the story of Jesus originated in the written myths of the pagan
Roman religion; for, several important features of Jesus' life are found
written in Roman lore about their pagan Gods. Yet, the fact that people who
point to such similarities fail to mention, is that those Roman epics were
written some two-hundred years after Jesus' death. So, who borrowed
from whom?
The above claim was written
in a recent book about the Bible that seems to turn its entire writing into
mysticism and intrigue. And it all starts out with the premise that DaVinci's
painting, 'The Last Supper,' shows Mary Magdalene (not John) sitting next to
Jesus, whom the writer claims is Jesus' secret wife… and thousands believe
this!
Yes, the person sitting on
Jesus' right in DaVinci's painting does appear to be a woman; for, he or she is
not depicted the traditional Jewish beard. But, did you also notice that the
head is at an odd angle, separated from the neck, and is smoother than the
other features in the painting? And it also appears to be up and to the left of
a previous face. While this may not have a bearing on the veracity of the
claim, the female face does look more like a recent addition to the painting…
and why does an Apostle have his hand resting on her shoulder, if she is Jesus'
wife?
Now, if it were a woman;
why would anyone suspect that it was Mary from Magdala? She is mentioned only
briefly in the Bible accounts as part of the large crowd that traveled to
Jerusalem with Jesus, and as one of the two women who visited his tomb… but
never again in any bible record after that. For, if DaVinci did include a woman
in his painting, wouldn't it be more logical to assume it to be Jesus' mother
Mary, in view of where this artwork was painted?
But, let's ask: What did
Leonardo DaVinci know about Jesus, since he lived fourteen centuries
after Jesus died? And even if there was in fact a 'DaVinci Code;' from whom
did the painter receive it, and why should we trust these words more than what
is written in the Bible?
As for the accuracy of
DaVinci's knowledge of Jesus and the Bible; look at his painting… remember that
early Jews didn't sit at a table, they reclined,
and the table was low. There's no record of anyone sitting at
a table in the Christian Era Scriptures, but there are records of their reclining (lying
down) to eat. So, how much of this painting should we trust as an accurate
account of history? And while we're at it; allow us to point out the name was Jesus,
not Christ!
Yet, this artist's
questionable depiction started a growing belief that the Bible is some sort of
secret codebook, and that Jesus got his teachings while traveling in India.
This is total nonsense, and it could only be believed by those who are truly
unfamiliar with the Bible.
The book also claims there
were other 'Gospel' accounts that were hidden, because they tell a different
story of Jesus' life. But it fails to mention that these 'Gospels,' which are
obviously fakes, are dated to more than a century after his death!
What
Translating Has Taught Us
One of the things that we
are often asked, is whether we have learned anything new in our translating.
And the answer is YES! In fact, after doing all the research, we we've been
surprised to see how accurate and provable it is, despite all the un-researched
and poorly-thought-out negative things that people have written, said, and
believed. In fact, the amount of hatred and misinformation that comes from all
sources – including religions and 'religious experts' – is shocking when you
realize how little such people actually know and how little Bible research they
have done. As for us; We've found absolutely no reason to doubt its
authenticity or accuracy; and after many years of advanced research and
translation, we are more sure of it than we were before starting this project.
This only scratches the surface of all of the evidence available to support the validity and authenticity of the Bible.
Over the course of the next several months we will delve
into a study that will challenge us in ways that most of us have never been
challenged before. We will be called upon to put aside many of our
presuppositions as it pertains to Christianity and the Christian way of life.
Those of us that are willing to engage this study with a heart that is
surrendered to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit will become inspired to
walk in a realm of supernatural power in a manner that few have experienced. 
