In last week’s article, a sampling of scientific facts presented in the scriptures far before the time when the authors could know them was presented. Just as with the scientific evidence that supports inspiration, there is a mountain of prophecies littered throughout the Bible that has come to be fulfilled. There are far more that can be adequately presented in this article, but hopefully, those provided will satisfy as a small sample.
First, consider that both Jeremiah and Isaiah foretold the capture and destruction of the City of Babylon and that it would never be rebuilt (Jeremiah chapters 50-51 and Isaiah chapters 13-14). Nahum and Zephaniah warn of the coming destruction and complete desolation of the City of Nineveh (Nahum chapters 1-3 and Zephaniah chapter 2). I can personally attest to the fulfillment of these prophets’ words long before the destructive events befell these cities. During 2004 and 2005, while deployed to Iraq, I had the collateral duty of being a liaison to the Iraq Department of Antiquity. In performing these duties, I had an opportunity to see the ruins of both Babylon and Nineveh. I can assure you that these cities still lay in ruin, just as foretold by Jeremiah, Isaiah, Nahum, and Zephaniah.
One prophesy of destruction comes with undeniable details in the final execution of what was foretold that it is undeniably divinely inspired. Ezekiel 26:3-12 there are provided details of the ultimate invasion and destruction of the City of Tyre. Ezekiel claims that the city will be destroyed, and the rubble will be cast into the water and become a place where fishermen spread their nets to dry. Many years after the death of Ezekiel, the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the bulk of the city that rested on the mainland coast…there was a small settlement of the city on an island just off the coast. This siege lasted for 13 years and saw the city on the mainland utterly laid to ruin. The portion on the island was spared as its inhabitants surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar to avoid being slaughtered. A couple of centuries later, Alexander the Great marched down the coast and set sights on taking the island city. But, without a navy to transport his army to the island, he concocted an ingenious plan while surveying the massive ruins of the mainland city that Nebuchadnezzar’s forces had previously destroyed. All the city’s rubble was cast into the sea, and Alexander and his army built a causeway from the ruins and marched to the island. If you visit that region today, you will see the local fishermen using the causeway built from the ruins of the old city to spread their nets on to dry.
Today all the above are well-known and documented historical facts. Keep in mind that these prophets foretold the coming of these events long before they took place. They wrote of historical events long before they became history; how is this possible unless they had received divine revelation?
In approximately 1450 BC, it was written in Deuteronomy chapter 28, a prediction to Moses of the future destruction of Jerusalem and the horrible persecution and suffering that would befall its inhabitants. It should be noted that this record was made before the Israelites crossed the Jordon River and took hold of the land promised to them by God. Before the city of Jerusalem was even established. Beginning in verse 49, he describes the destruction that would someday come upon the city and its people. It is stated that this treat would come from a nation to the north that speaks a language that the people of the land do not understand. It is of interest that at the time of this writing, you would have to travel north into the European continent before finding people that spoke a language unknown to the Israelites and that at the time of this prophesy being written, there were no nations on the European continent, only tribes. Moses wrote that this hostile force would destroy their crops and that the siege upon the city would cause such extreme hunger that even some of the mothers would eat their children.
This prophecy was not fulfilled until over 1500 years later when the Roman army marched on a rebellious Jerusalem and laid siege to it in 70 AD. As a point of reference, the Old Testament had long been completed. The New Testament was only one book short of being written, depending on the date for the writing of Revelation you are persuaded of. This devastating siege was recorded in complete detail by the first-century historian Josephus, who bore witness to the destructive fury the Romans brought upon the Jews. The record he records is in harmony with the words Moses recorded some 1500 years before the event… a record made before the Roman empire ever existed. How could Moses have such knowledge unless God provided it to him?
This is just a sample of the prophecies in the Bible that have come to pass in the annals of history and will hopefully serve to demonstrate the inspiration of scripture. Volumes of books have been written exploring all the prophecies found within the Bible and comparing them to the historical facts of their fulfillment. If you are interested in this, please seek such a book.
I hope this five-part series has provided insight into how we can be confident that God truly inspires the various text that comprises the Bible. Beginning next week, we will explore if we can indeed come to understand the contents of this divinely inspired book.
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
