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In this lesson:
Is the Bible true? The case through Bible prophecy.
What makes Bible prophecy trustworthy? Compared to other religious writing, the Bible is unique. It is a one-of-a-kind compilation of 66 books written by 40 different authors over a span of 2,000 years. Many of these books contain prophecies concerning world events that have occurred just as recorded. The most amazing fact about these prophecies is that they were written centuries before the events took place. No other book in human literature does this with 100% accuracy!
The Islamic Quran does not have any prophecies in it, except a self-fulfilled prophecy that Mohammed would return to Mecca before he died. And he controlled that prophecy. Other world religious writings from the Hindus, Buddhists, New-Agers, Wiccans, and even the writings of many atheists, do not have world prophecies contained in them. But the Bible has many.
God is a God of Truth. If He says something will happen at a certain time, it is going to happen exactly as He says. If someone claims to be a prophet of God and foretells some event, if it doesn’t happen exactly as he says, he was to be executed. Thus, if the person is a true prophet and is speaking for God, their success rate has to be 100%!
World Kingdoms to Come and Go (Bible prophecy written around 600 B.C)
“You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Daniel 2:31-33 (ESV)
- Head of gold – Babylonian Empire (604 – 650 B.C.)
- Silver chest and arms – Medo/Persian Empire (650 – 337 B.C.)
- Bronze middle and thighs – Greek Empire (337 – 70 B.C.)
- Iron legs – Roman Empire (68 B.C. – 500 A.D.)
- Iron & Clay feet – Future events dealing with the Beast
- Rock – Future event with Messiah
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Egypt Never a World Power Again (Bible prophecy written around 590-570 B.C.)
It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations.
Ezekiel 29:15 (ESV)
Over the past 2,500 years, it still rings true! When written, Egypt was still a major kingdom in the ancient world, but since God made this declaration, it has failed to ever be that prominent again. It was ruled by the Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, and Europeans, and is today just an independent nation.
The Downfall of Edom (Bible prophecy written around 590-570 B.C.)
“Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, therefore thus says the Lord God, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate.
Ezekiel 25:12-13 (ESV)
This prophecy was fulfilled in the first century B.C. The nation of Edom was located southeast of Israel and almost annihilated by David, but around 715 B.C. they won back their independence from King Ahaz. The reason for this prophecy foretelling the doom of their nation was because of Edom’s mocking and ridicule when the Israelites were attacked and devastated by Babylon in 586 B.C. They acted like a cheering section for the Babylonians. The kingdom is still desolate and Petra, its capital, is a tourist attraction, used as a background in movies.
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The Destruction of Mighty Tyre (Bible prophecy written in 587 B.C.)
Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves…They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters…I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel 26:3-14 (ESV)
In 587 B.C., Tyre had reached the zenith. It was considered an impregnable city due to it having an island 1 mile offshore where a bulk of the city founded. Thus, there were two Tyre’s; one on the mainland and one offshore. Assyria tried to destroy this impregnable city, but residents simply escaped to the island offshore and were safe. Nebuchadnezzar spent 13-years trying to destroy the city but failed.
In 332 B.C., Alexander the Great conquered the mainland city. The residents did as before and fled to the island city for safety and even mocked Alexander from the walls a mile away. Alexander began a seven-month siege by taking the stones and rubble from the mainland city and making a road through the sea to the city to tear down its walls.
Thus, the impregnable city of Tyre fell. 58 years later it was partially rebuilt and survived until in 1124 A.D. when taken by Crusaders. In 1291 A.D. the Mameluke Muslims took it and reduced it to ashes. Today, modern Trye is a medium-sized city, but the smaller ancient site has never been rebuilt and is a tourist attraction and a place where fishermen spread their nets.
The Destruction of Nineveh (Bible prophecy written around 630 B.C.)
The Lord has given commandment about you: “No more shall your name be perpetuated;
Nahum 1:14 (ESV)
from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image.
I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, was one of the largest cities in the ancient world and was considered the most impregnable city in the world at that time.
God prophesized through Nahum that the city would not only be destroyed, but that it would be a grave, that is buried and never rebuilt. In 612 B.C., the great city was conquered and destroyed, being buried by the sandstorms until the 1842 A.D. when it was located by archaeologists.
Nahum prediction the fall of Nineveh and how the people will be drunk when the city is taken.
You also will be drunken; you will go into hiding; you will seek a refuge from the enemy.
Nahum 3:11 (ESV)
According to the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus: “The Assyrian king gave much wine to his soldiers. Deserters told this to the enemy, who attacked that night.”
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The Fall of Babylon (Bible prophecy written around 680 B.C.)
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.
Isaiah 13:19 (ESV)
Babylon was the greatest city of the ancient world. It had a river running through the city with bars extending downward to prevent anyone from sailing into the city. It had food supplies in reserve for more than a decade of siege. Its walls were 300 feet high. It was the symbol of the unconquerable city and nation. Babylon fell in 539 B.C. God even said who would be the conqueror of the city.
Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them..
Isaiah 13:17 (ESV)
In Isaiah 45, it was stated that Babylon would fall with its door opened. This is exactly what happened. The Medes came and laid siege to the city, but the people on the inside were not concerned. They were partying behind their massive walls. Daniel 5 tells of the event.
That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Daniel 5:30-31 (ESV)
The Medes dug a canal around the city to divert the river from flowing through Babylon. Then they walked in through the riverbed, under its bars and opened the gates while the Chaldeans were celebrating a holiday and the people were drunk. Jeremiah also declared that Babylon would fall, 50 years prior.
The Rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple (Bible prophecy written around 680 B.C.)
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
Isaiah 44:28 (ESV)
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ “
The prophet Isaiah spoke that the Jews would return, and city and the Temple would be rebuilt. This amazing prophecy came when Jerusalem and the Temple were still standing. Jerusalem at this time was in fact at its greatest size and strength. This prophecy must have seemed strange at the time. But it was 100% accurate. The most amazing item about this though was the naming of the person who would decree these events to happen, Cyrus the Great.
I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight.
Isaiah 45:13 (ESV)
He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free…
Around 580 B.C., Jeremiah predicted Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians and be utterly demolished and laid waste for 70 years.
This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jeremiah 25:11 (ESV)
Then, in his first year of reigning, Cyrus decreed the Jews to go back and rebuild their Temple and he gave back to the Jews the artifacts taken from it by Nebuchadnezzar 70 years before.
The Cyrus Cylinder discovered in what is today modern Iraq in 1879. It proclaims that Cyrus was allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and Temple. Time does not permit scores of other prophecies that came true concerning nations.
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