The Law Of Averages

Posted on March 29, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Law of Averages: …”real theorem that a random variable will reflect its underlying probability over a very large sample.”

This theorem is used in many areas of life, some for good and some not so good. None the less, it is called a LAW of averages; over time certain things will average out. We are looking at the populations of the earth today in comparison to the beginning of mankind after the Great Flood; Noah and his three sons: Japheth, Shem and Ham. They started as equal in numbers and over time, the count of their offspring will still average out to something on par with their beginning ratio.

What’s the point? We tend to incorrectly view the Jewish population today as representative of all of the Tribes of Israel when in fact they were only one of the *thirteen tribes to move into the lands promised to them by God himself; Tribe of Judah [yehudah/jews]. Due to this misunderstanding, well-meaning people tend to equate this with the whole of the Hebrew population.

The Aha Moment? Using the Law of Averages (probability theory, expected value, etc) this means that the number of Jews in Israel, New York and the rest of the world is but a small percentage of the total count [“…as the sands of the seas,” Genesis 32:12]. Since these peoples began as descendants of Shem, one of Noah’s three sons, factoring in the global count of people and the Law of Averages, there is valid reason to believe there are 2 billion Hebrews on earth today. So who are they even if they don’t know who they are? Think about it? 1/3 of the world’s population!

AHA MOMENT

. All Israelites are Hebrew but not all Hebrews are Israelites. Don’t forget the Arabs through Ishmael, the Edomites/Idumaeans through Esau and Ket’urah/Abraham’s six sons; all are Hebrew.

Simply put: All Jews are Israelites; all Israelites are Hebrew; all Arabs are Hebrew; All descendants of Ket’urah are Hebrew. all of these people carry Abraham’s DNA.

*13 Tribes of Israel in the Promised Land: http://www.uhcg.org/Lost-10-Tribes/13-Tribes-of-Israel.html

The Great Flood

Posted on March 29, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

Noah's Ark The Great Flood? In this short space the best we can do is outline some of what was discussed in our Bible Insitute on Wednesday evenings. [Geologist theory] “The earth’s axis shifted about 8,000 years ago. The obvious consequence of such an action would have been a dramatic change in atmospheric conditions. The polar ice caps, suddenly transposed to the temperate belt, would melt, and the level of the oceans would rise accordingly. Volcanoes would erupt, suddenly filling the skies with ash. This protective canopy of vapor would react like a greenhouse, and the resultant condensation would cause torrential downpours. The entire earth would be exposed to the full fury of waters above and below the earth”…just as recorded in the Bible.

Coincidently or conveniently for the sake of secular science/geologists/archeologists, a large *meteorite hit the oceans at the same time as the polar caps melted creating a big splash (theory only). This splash propelled indigenious species from one continent to foriegn lands. This explains, in minds of secular scientists that is, how their skeletal remains got there.

Talk about a great deal of faith, it takes less faith to simply believe that God’s hand was and remains in all activites on earth today. The Bible story is not a story. It is actuality history.

1. Nakhichevan/Naxuana at the base of Mt Ararat claims to be “where Noah settled” after the flood. They also claim his grave site is located in this city. Noah lived 350 years AFTER the flood, long enough to have established a city in this location.

2. The flood theory, according to some secular scientist, is a probability, but not due to a supernatural intervention. It is due to a rapid one day melting of the polar caps and a large *meteroite splashing into the ocean. [**JIV: the polar caps didn’t exist until after the flood when the world tilted on its axis. Up until then, the globe was tropical explaining why tropical plants and sketetal remains can be found in the thick ice caps; e.g. the Ark landed on ground, not snow swept mountain ice ridges Genesis 8:13]

*a. Meteorite Splash [secular scientist theory]
i. It was the splash that caused the appearance of a flood when the polar caps suddenly melted.
ii. The splash bounced land creatures and sea mammals to parts of the earth they are not considered today to be indigenious. This supposedly explains why geologists find their bones and fossils there today.
iii This means the ice caps melted and the meteorite were contemporaneous events (Wow! Scientific faith?)

3. The difference between historic and prehistoric is BCE [Before Current Era], and AD [Ammo Domini; Latin]

4. Adam lived 930 years and Methuselah lived 969 years. They overlapped by 243 years covering the prehistoric/antedeluvian period from creation of man to the Great Flood. Creation to the Flood is *1656 years
a. Methuselah [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methuselah, Hebrew Book of Jubalees and Book of Enoch ] died the year of the Great Flood ending the prehistoric/predeluge years.

*930 [Adam]+ 969 [Methuselah] – 243 = 1656 [Coincidence? Perhaps]

5. Berossus, a Babylonian historian of 300 B.C.E., basing his research on the Temple of Murduk stone tablets, named ***ten generations of kings/rulers living between creation and the Flood. Fact! He is a secular historian recording that the flood happened similar to as later stated in the Old Testament records written by Moses.

***The Bible records 10 generations between the creation of Adam and the birth of Noah (another coincidence? How many coincidences does it take to make an actuality?)

a. He records the last ruler before the flood was Utnapishtim (Babylon’s name for Noah)
b. Utnapishtim, Babylonian name for Noah, escaped the Great Flood in a boat.
c. Beside the Babylonians, the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Chinese, Fiji Islanders, Aboriginal American Indians, Brazilians, Peruvians, and many other cultures have a similar legend, or story of a Great Flood.

6. The *Gilgamesh Epic/Record: Noah’s own words of the flood parallel the records of Genesis.
a. Gilgamesh was the 5th king in the first dynasty following the flood.

8. *Secular records state that King Gilgamesh visited Utnapishtim’s post-flood home;
a. * Gilgamesh Seal, stone tablet record of the flood, now on display at the University Museum of Pennsylvania.
b. Why the visit? He loved reading the pre-deluge [flood] stone tablets [records] and …
c. …Noah lived for 350 years after the flood. He may have still been living when King Gilgamish visited.

AHA MOMENT

Additional Aha Moment:

Did Jacob and twin brother Esau have any other siblings? Genesis 27:29 is the only place in scripture where this curiosity question can be answered: “…the sons of your mother.”

The Noah Flood was Real

Posted on March 28, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

Is there supporting evidence in the Bible itself that the Great Flood was possible? We know the story of Noah, his wife, his sons, their wives, all saved along with all animal types. We also know of the “scientific evidence,” including fossils, used to prove or disprove the deluge [Great Flood]. Often the question is asked, “from where came all of that water?” Some argue that there isn’t enough “visible” water to cause such an event. Therefore, the flood must not be true? Correct? WRONG!!!

Here is our aha moment and the answer to whether it [the Great Flood waters] is possible and if support is found in scripture outside of the flood story itself. Go to Genesis 1:2 “[NIV] Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over … [over what?] the waters.”

Here is the story between the stories of the creation and the flood of Noah’s time. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the earth was formless and darkness was over the face of the DEEP. The deep what? Nothing at this point in scripture is said about land, just water and deep waters on top of that. So what must this mean? Obviously the earth began with enough water to cover it because it was coverd in Genesis 1:2. It isn’t until verse 9 that God revealed land; “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground [firmament; raw-kee’-ah] appear.”

In Genesis 1:6 God took some of the water covering the earth and called it atmospheric water. Then in verse 9 God created an equal void beneath the now visible crust, called “dry land,” to where the remaining excess waters on the earth could flow [re-reat; Genesis 1:9]. What does this mean in layman terms? The water that covered the earth at creation is still present but is now subterranian, oceanic, sea, lake, river (creek), well and atmospheric water.

YES! Before the flood there was and remains so today enough water to “flood the entire earth” but God promised to not do that a second time [Genesis 9:12-16]

You Are Here – Mother of All Earthquakes

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Bible often mentions earthquakes. If they are so, they are also a matter of secular records making these Bible records the same history as found in secular records. This series is designed to explore secular history, archeological digs [discoveries] and scriptural records of Biblical Earthquakes. This series will end with an article or two on End-Time earthquakes. This is article number six in the series.

Zech 14:3,4 (The Mother of all Earthquakes)Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.

These two verses in Zechariah are fascinating and say more than first glance might reveal. The casual or even semi-serious Bible student needs to pay attention to the information this verse provides concerning the future. It doesn’t matter what is one’s Millennial or Rapture position. We will all know who is right per this theological debate when it is over. By then those who are in the rapture won’t care or know the difference since there is *no sorrow in Heaven. C.H Spurgeon and many others write on this subject (http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/0643.htm). *Please refer to “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”–Revelation 7:17 as a beginning discussion point. (The serious student should add Revelation21:1 and 4 to this must read list).

Let’s breeze by the obvious in this verse; i.e. God will be in full armor. Now look at the verse line that says, “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.” To even the serious Bible student it is easy to accept this location as just that… a location. But, consider today’s politics in the Middle East. The Palestinians, as they call themselves, want to partition Israel to the WEST of the Jordan River. The Mount of Olives is to the EAST of the “old city” of Jerusalem. This is territory that falls within the land claimed by the Arabs. In other words, Christ would, under today’s political lines, be returning to land dominated by Arabs and Islamists.

This means one of two things. Either Israel will NOT relinquish this land prior to the Return of Jesus Christ or The Arabs are in for one huge surprise. It doesn’t matter which it is. The event is prophesied and will happen as the Bible tells us it will.

What follows in Zechariah 14… ? “The Mount of Olive will split in two.” It will split east to west meaning half of the mountain will move north and half of it will move south creating a very significant valley. Will this be supernatural? Might the geology of this land and fault lines already be in place per secular geologists? Seismologists? Might the split be supernatural but it will be along already existing earthquake faults? Perhaps, however, like in the *plagues of Egypt He used natural events to make His point.

Let’s first look at a known fact per secular science. The seismologists map of this area shows a fault line known as the Jordan Valley riff, there is a natural plate movement that cuts right through the center of the Mount of Olives. Part of the plate is shifting to the north and part of the plate is shifting to the south. Just as Zechariah 14 claims will be a dramatic shift the rips apart the Mount of Olives. Just too as the plagues on Egypt prior to the exodus of the captive Israelis (the 10 Plagues) were mostly Return of Jesus Christ accelerated by God; water turning *“red as blood”, frogs, lice, locus, flies, diseased livestock… all natural events to Egypt. The difference is God exasperated and accelerated these events. He made them intolerable and many times their normal expectations in this land.

*The naturally occurring floods of the Nile, prior to the building of the Aswan Dam which was completed in 1870, would move tons of soil down-stream toward the mouth of the Nile River at the Mediterranean Sea. This would muddy the waters but not kill off the fish and make it undrinkable to livestock. The plague of the Nile was increased to the power of and made it totally undrinkable by anyone and killed off the fish. Why? It was turned not to just murky waters, but bloody.

The already existing fault line in the Middle East, as pointed out by secular science, fits very well with the Zechariah prophecy of over **2500 years ago. This old scripture was written well before seismologists had much of a science. It is ready to be an event accelerated by the Return of Christ when He plants his feet on the Mount of Olives.

**Zechariah is specific about dating his writing; Zechariah 1:1 (520-518 BC).

This is still an earthquake yet to come. However, according to secular sciences and reports, it will be a natural event and is well overdue. According to the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, in 31 B.C.E., 30,000 people lost their lives in an earthquake in this area. (http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-is-due-and-ill-prepared-for-a-major-earthquake-1.261497)

This earthquake to which Josephus Flavius refers is associated per per time lines associate with either the death or resurrection of Jesus Christ as also reported in the Bible’ three days apart. Simply put… The Holy Word of God is not a textbook full of religious stories and the basis of and handbook for a religion called Christianity. It is the same history as secular history but reporting on a specific niche in the history of a world God created. How else would it be that a prophet could predict an earthquake upon the return of Jesus Christ and be so pin-point accurate with location and fault lines? These are the fault lines with conditions that the same secular scientists of today tell us is well overdue for an earth shattering event.

Other sources saying the same thing but from different points of view:

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2012/12/dr-naseer-alomari-speaks-of-the-fault-lines-of-the-middle-east-on-westchester-on-the-level-december-.html
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yff80-sfp&va=fault+lines+of+the+middle+east
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message417568/pg1
http://www.tsunami-alarm-system.com/fileadmin/media/press/articel/en/National-Geographic-26_07_2007-Major-quake-tsunami-likely-in-middle-east.pdf
http://bibleproject.blogspot.com/2007/07/major-quake-tsunami-likely-in-middle.html

If this is all a coincident, I would need to be deliberately blind to what all of the authorities say per this pending earthquake. Perhaps if one is a non-Christian, s/he should take notice. The Bible tells us it will happen, where it will happen and the event that will cause it to happen. If this pending earthquake is soon to come, perhaps one should also believe that Christ too is soon to come. After the fact, it will be too late. You have been notified.

Paul and Silas

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Bible often mentions earthquakes. If they are so, they are also a matter of secular records making these Bible records the same history as found in secular records. This series is designed to explore secular history, archeological digs [discoveries] and scriptural records of Biblical Earthquakes. This series will end with an article or two on End-Time earthquakes. This is article number five in the series.

The Earthquake of Paul and Silas – Acts 16; Philippians; A Prison Letter

When we read the Book of Philippians, written from prison by the Apostle Paul, of an event recorded even in secular history. Many Bible teachers and scholars refer to the Book of Philippians as one of the “Prison Letters. [The other “prison letters” include Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon] Acts 16:16-39 records the same Bible history. We find Paul and Silas in chains due to the fact that they had cast out an evil spirit in a young girl, slave, who was able to predict (foretell) the future. In the Greek it means a μαντεύομαι, manteuomai: a prophet, soothsayer, one who utters spells.

SPECIAL NOTE: It is only fair to inform the reader of this article that the time period of this imprisonment is debatable. Many Bible scholars and well-meaning researchers have affixed multiple dates and places to this particular event. Some suggest it was around 52 A.D. and some go as far as to suggest it to be around 61 B.C. My personal approach in historical research is to look up major earthquakes in this region and connect the dots with Acts 16:26…[NIV] “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.” Secular historians and modern seismologist report such an earthquake around 58 to 61 A.D. in western Turkey near Ephesus.

We should keep in mind that Luke (supposed author of the Book of Acts) writes in Acts 16:16: “Once when we were going to the place of worship…” Note this is not at all specific to where this place of worship is and when it is. It is like telling a friend or group of people who are discussing particular life events that one of the participants simply starts in with the same introduction to the event s/he is going to explain; i.e. “Once when we (I) did such-and-such…”. It isn’t sequential, but it did happen sometime within his or her lifetime; perhaps as a teen, when just married, as an employee of whomever, while on a hunting trip or vacation, etc.
(Acts 16:20, 21) Paul and Silas’s accusers claimed “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us as Romans.” The fact that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens was unknown to their accusers and the magistrates who gave them a quick and speedy kangaroo trial (read the event in the Acts 16:37, 38 and see the terror that came over their accusers once this fact was revealed to them).

The documented record from the Bible and in Roman and Biblical history states that these men were put in prison with leg stocks; something usually reserved for only the most dangerous law breakers. In case the reader does not recall this recorded history, Paul and Silas were accused of anything but the truth. They had cast out an evil spirit that dwelt within this slave girl. This evil spirit recognized, as is stated in Acts 16:17, “these men are servants of the *Most High God.” She followed Paul and Silas around town with the spirit shouting out this fact.

*The Greek for “Most High” is hupsistos. It means the “Supreme God.” This fallen angel (evil spirit) and agent of Satan had to acknowledge the fact of God being supreme even above its boss, ol’ Satan/Lucifer.

We should also understand that during this time in history the Romans who occupied almost the entire Mediterranean area allowed Judaism and its offshoot of Christianity as Romans thought it to be, to be practiced (and protected). Romans viewed it as just another cult or religion within the massive Roman Empire.

The Romans had many gods including one to “the unknown god” (see Acts 17). Some of the Roman authorities saw the God of Judaism as possibly the unknown god for which the Romans even had a statue. This means from the onset, Paul and Silas were accused of something the Romans did NOT object to AT THIS TIME. The Emperor Nero soon changed all of this.
Historical Note: The Romans and The Romans , during the time of the Maccabees, had made an alliance and agreement to cooperate in most of life’s matters. This secular history can be read in 1 Maccabees 8:19-21, 29. The conclusion… since the Romans initially saw Christianity as an offshoot of Judaism, what Paul and Silas were doing was within the law.

Back to the real reason for Paul and Silas’s kangaroo trial: Acts 16: 17-19… Once the evil spirit was cast out, she (the slave girl) was no longer influenced by the evil spirit therefore incapable of foretelling the future; i.e. the money-making business of her owners and the real reason for bringing charges against Paul and Silas. Consequently these owners of the slave girl were put out of business. This fact was never mentioned in the kangaroo trial of Paul and Silas.

A Reader’s Note: The reader should take a few minutes to examine the scripture surrounding this point in history. It is directly relevant to recorded secular history and the earthquake mentioned in Acts 16:26.

The short of it (the earthquake; v26)… shook the foundations of the prison opening the doors of not only the inner prison room in which Paul and Silas were chained, but all of the surrounding prison cells. In Roman times, this would mean death to the jailor if the prisoners escaped.

The aha-moment in secular and Biblical history…

In all likelihood, Philippi was not the epicenter of this earthquake and it is probable that Paul and Silas were not in prison in Philippi. After all, Paul was writing a letter to them. It may only be a coincident of timing but secular records and historians write that a very significant earthquake sometime around 59 to 61 A.D., the time in history when Paul and Silas were in prison, destroyed Laodicea, Colossus, and Hierapolis. These three cities were totaled as they lay within a natural fault between them and the Aegean Sea; the Northern and Western Anatolia Faults; the Lycus River Valley (http://www.padfield.com/2005/laodicea.html). A look at a map would also tell us that Ephesus was well within the tremors of this devastating earthquake recorded in both secular and Biblical history. After all, they are not separate histories. There is only one history and these coincide.

Scientist and seismologists tell us that tremors can travel thousands of miles and up to speeds of 500 plus miles per hour. The destroyed cities of Laodicea, Colossus, and Hierapolis were only a 90 to 100 miles, or so, from the eastern shores of the Aegean Sea where Philippi is/was almost on the western shores of this same Sea. Ephesus was next door to these cities within Turkey.

Secular records from Pliny, Eusebius, as do the Annuls of Tacitus record the same event within a few years [plus or minus] the earthquake record in the Book of Acts.

Coincidence… perhaps? But the records of the Bible and secularists match quite well. But, don’t take my word for it. Study it yourself. Secular history and Biblical history are not two unconnected stories. They are one history (not a story) recorded as a slice of the same historical pie.

Also see links:
1. http://religiouslyincorrect.com/Articles/TriCityAreaEarthquake.shtml
2. http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/history/laodicea.pdf
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_wave
4. http://www.friendsandheroes.tv/episode19_paul_and_silas.html
5. http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Philippians.html

a) Author: Philippians 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Philippians as the apostle Paul, likely along with the help of Timothy.
b) Date of Writing: The Book of Philippians was written in approximately A.D. 61.

Crucifixion

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Bible often mentions earthquakes. If they are so, they are also a matter of secular records making these Bible records the same history as found in secular records. This series is designed to explore secular history, archeological digs [discoveries] and scriptural records of Biblical Earthquakes. This series will end with an article or two on End-Time earthquakes. This is article number three in the series.

Earthquakes of the Bible and Secular History Coincide; secular views fail; the crucifixion

Before anyone reads the following article, I caution those who want to jump at conclusions steeped in one’s “belief” that now is the time; the end of the earth as we know it. Half-truths have done much damage to our Christian-based evangelical society. We (me included) accept without challenge statements that support our beliefs or desires without checking the facts. The World Wide Web has been one of the best tools for sending out half-truths.
Example: When in 2011 quarterback Tim Tebow and the Broncos beat the Steelers in overtime, a playoff they statistically never should have even been one of the competing teams, all sorts of “posts” were put out on the WWW that glorified the the view it was a “God supported” win. Perhaps the Broncos simply outplayed the Steelers. But what happens when a post goes viral stating that “amazingly four of the seven officials on the field were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John”; all key authors of Books of the Bible? What happens when it isn’t the truth yet it is forwarded to tens of thousands? Yes, it undercuts the reliability of Christian truth.

This is why we are using this series on the earthquakes of the Bible and secular history. When both sides identify the same earthquake, there is little room for middle ground.

In 1931 A.D., there were about seismograph stations 350 stations operating in the world. Today, there are more that 4,000 stations and the data now comes in rapidly from these stations by telex, computer and satellite. This increase in the number of stations and the more timely receipt of data has allowed us and other seismological centers to locate many small earthquakes which were undetected in earlier years.

This is not to say that writers like Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, Michael D. Evans, and Peter LaLonde, to mention but a few, point with some validity to the End Times being very close via reported earthquakes. This author maintains that we are concerned about the wrong thing. We should be less concerned about the earthquakes, the supposed increasing numbers and the horrendous damage such as in Japan just last year than a concern about the PEOPLE who died without Christ. None the less, let’s try to help those who think the Bible is *full of stories and that secular history is distinctly different and not full of stories; i.e. one is a story and the latter is history. We trust by pointing out that the Bible and secular records of a simple thing called earthquakes and huge storms are the same history recorded in the annuls of both scripture and secular history.

*Story (synonyms): tale, narrative, yarn, legend, fairy-tale, anecdote, rumor, report, hearsay, scoop, lie, fib, untruth, falsehood. These words all play a part in how the hearer of the Word and the world at-large can translate the facts of the Bible if we constantly call them “stories.” They are NOT STORIES! Bible events and history are facts that are often proven through science and secular histories.

One more word of caution and clarification for what too many pulpits, radio and television speakers point out as fact and it just isn’t so. We are often left with the impression that in scripture such as Matt. 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11 that the natural destruction of end time earthquakes will be an INCREASE in numbers. Double check the facts… the word “increase” just isn’t there. Yes, the intensity may increase but we have no scriptural evidence that this will be a time when there is an increase in the number of earthquakes.

Matthew 24:7 (ESV) Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places.

Mark 13:8 (ESV) Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places.

Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and other bad things in many places. In some places there will be no food for the people to eat. Terrible things will happen, and amazing things will come from heaven to warn people.

Yes, the intensity of earthquakes may increase, and we do know from secular records that there is an increase in recorded and reported earthquakes (see paragraph 3 above) throughout the world, but the Bible simply does not say there will be an INCREASE in earthquakes. For the record, we checked the following interpretations of scripture to verify that the Bible does not say anything about an increase in the number of earthquakes:

King James; Lexham English Bible; Modern King James Version; Revised Version; Young’s Literal Translation of 1898; 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible; English Standard Version; American Standard Version; The Apostolic Bible Polyglot Greek… (I think the point is made).

Why is this important? Remember the example of Tim Tebow and the supposed Gospel-names of four officials in the playoff game? We as Christians need to get the facts correct or the world will use our misuse of them against us. The secular world holds us to a different standard. When they slip-up, it is simply dismissed. When Christians get the facts wrong, it is headlines on major communication networks and publications; not to mention the hey-day on the World Wide Web.

Article – the crucifixion and its earthquake

There is much evidence surrounding the earthquakes that occurred during the crucifixion of Jesus, His resurrection, and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Quoting Jennifer Viegas of Discovery News:

To analyze earthquake activity in the region (Dead Sea), geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geo-sciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea.

Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in *31 B.C. and a seismic event that happened sometime between the years *26 A.D. and 36 A.D. (see Science on NBCNEWS.com)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47555983/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/quake-reveals-day-jesus-crucifixion-researchers-believe/#.UK_DXvJDSSo

*These dates do not preclude that they could have occurred within hours or a few days of each other. The fact remains, there are secular geological records of two significant earthquakes surrounding the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
These dates also coincide well and are within the scripture records of two earthquakes that surround the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ: Matthew *27 & **28, Mark *15 & **16, Luke *23 & **24 (*the first chapter is the record of the crucifixion and the **second chapter in each book is the record of His resurrection). */**You can look these passages up in YOUR BIBLE.

Colin Humphreys, a British physicist, and Graeme Waddington , co-author and professor at Oxford University in the U.K., authored a paper that gives us some additional insight into the history surrounding these events.

• All four gospels and Tacitus in Annals (XV, 44) agree that the crucifixion occurred when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea from A.D. 26 to 36.

• All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.

• All four gospels agree that Jesus died a few hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (nightfall on a Friday).

• The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) indicate that Jesus died before nightfall on the 14th day of Nisan, right before the start of the Passover meal.
This suggests that the events of the death and resurrection of Christ and the earthquake records strongly coincide. They both settle in and around the same time period in secular and Biblical history. It should be pointed out that this means one is not a story and the other is history. They are both records of the same history, at the same time in history, and founded on research.

Is this another coincident or aha bible moment (ahabiblemoments.com)? You decide, but consider this additional information. Titus and Flavius Josephus, 37 C.E. to 100 C.E. were either youthful eyewitnesses to these events or lived so close to the time of these events, they heard it from people who actually witnessed this demarcation in history and eternity.

Bonus aha moments… The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, penned sometime between 50 A.D. and 60 A.D., were written during the lifetime of secular historian Flavius Josephus and Emperor Titus (Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus). This mean they are contemporary with the penning of these Gospels.

Thallus, a Greek historian who wrote The Chronicle of the Olympiad and was anything but a supporter of Christianity. He writes in his 3-volume edition of the History of the Mediterranean World about the darkness at the time of the crucifixion. He identified it as a lunar eclipse. Problem? A lunar eclipse by scientific standards can only occur during the evening hours; the moon is opposite the sun in the solar system during daylight hours and the earth is directly between the sun and the moon.

Don’t confuse a lunar eclipse as a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse puts the moon between the earth and the sun. One might argue that Thallus was incorrect in his terminally. I guess that would take unfounded faith that Thallus didn’t understand science simply using the wrong name for the occurrence. (read the closing paraphaph)

Christ died during the afternoon hours. A solar eclipse takes an hour to happen and last but a few minutes. The darkness that fell over the earth at the time of the crucifixion lasted over three hours.

http://jesusevidences.com/datesntgospels.php

Another coincident? Possibly, but you decide. Study the Word of God and compare it to history, archeology, geology, and seismology for yourself. The proof is there, but http://bible.cc/romans/10-17.htm (the word “faith” in this click on link is pistis in the Greek. it translates “TRUTH”. Therefore truth itself is assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity)

Mt. Sinai

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Bible often mentions earthquakes. If they are so, they are also a matter of secular records making these Bible records the same history as found in secular records. This series is designed to explore secular history, archeological digs [discoveries] and scriptural records of Biblical Earthquakes. This series will end with an article or two on End-Time earthquakes. This is article number three in the series.

Was Mount Sinai a Volcano – but first…?
Secularists Views Fail the test of validity and often, reliability.. Earthquake

To begin this article on earthquakes and volcanoes mentioned in the Bible and verified by secular geologist, volcano researchers, archeologists, and seismologists, the reader should note that much of the following information comes from articles and research written by people that do NOT buy into the Moses-Wilderness or any other story as reported in Bible history. In fact, one of the secular researchers studied for the writing of this article begins his paper by stating, “The legend of Moses.” Note the use of THE LEGEND: a myth, fable, fairy tale, etc. Some secular researchers of earth and human existence describe a volcano as “screaming or having a loud voice; perhaps loud like a trumpet”. Such statements are intended to cast questionable validity on Biblical records of similar sounds, voices, trumpets, and darkness on earth.One author and researcher goes so far as to state as a fact, “a volcanic eruption at night could easily be mistaken as a ‘pillar of light’ such as Biblical records indicate while in the 38 years of wilderness wandering the Israelites followed by night with a pillar of smoke by day.”With this article, I intend to briefly use some their own words against their conclusions; in the words of Gene Whittum in his fascinating articles on Ecclesiastes. :poke holes in their canopy under which they hide.”. We will also question their timelines and dating processes.

To support questionable “dating” of artifacts we immediately remind our reader of another article in this website where in Texas human footprints have been discovered alongside and in some cases within the foot prints of dinosaurs. This is not an isolated discovery. (see Paluxy River, near Glen Rose Texas; Mary Leakey’s famous Laoetoli Track in Tanzania; 1995 study of quasi-human ichnofossils (supposed human tracks) found with tracks of dinosaurs in strata near Tuba City, Arizona.)Journalist Alexander Bushev reported in the 31 January 1995 edition of Komsomolskaya Pravda (one of the most popular newspapers of the former USSR) that he had journeyed to the plateau near the village of Khodga-Pil in Turkmenistan. Here he found fossilized prints of dinosaurs and humans together. We shold remember that secular science “CLAIMS” that dinosaurs vanished long before humans existed. Their justification for this co-existence discovery of human and dinosaur: “If we could prove that they do belong to a humanoid, then it would create a revolution in the science of man. Humanity would ‘grow older’ thirty-fold and its history would be at least 150 million years long?” [emphasis mine] (Professor Kurban Amanniyazov, head of the expedition that discovered these footprints).Keep in mind these same people had no problem putting a dinosaur label on the large footprints but question the foot print with a human-like heel, five toes, and similar in size to homo-sapiens [humans] of today. Note also that rather than bring the dinosaur into more contemporary history, they want to move human existence backward 150 million years, even though no discoveries have been made to support or justify such a conclusion.

The article in the English version of Moscow News in 1983 (No. 24, p. 10) goes on to explain away the “coincidence” of both footprints in the same fossilized clay, Professor Kurban Amanniyazov states: “However, at present we don’t have enough grounds to say this. We’ve imprints resembling human footprints, but to date have failed to determine, with any scientific veracity, [to] whom [species] they belong to, after all.” *In other words, the human prints may look like human footprints, be similar in size and shape to modern day human footprints, and were recognized as human footprints upon their discovery alongside and sometimes within dinosaur prints there is no scientific evidence to prove the “human prints” come from humans. Yes, you read this correctly!!!

*Aha moments: Mr. Amanniyazov is basically saying… if it looks like a duck, quakes like a duck, swims and flies like a duck, and has webbed feet and duck feathers, one must find scientific proof to validate it is a duck. And secularist and atheists say Christian faith is crazy?

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v18/n4/footprints-in-turkmenistan

To continue this somewhat satirical or sardonic look at secular science and conclusions, we must include a Barnes and Noble ad with a web review of a book written by Barbara J. Silvertsen; The Parting of the Red Sea. Barbara Sivertsen [attempts to demonstrate; emphasis mine] demonstrates that the Exodus record found in scripture was in fact two separate exoduses both triggered by volcanic eruptions—and provides scientific explanations for the ten plagues including the parting of the Red Sea. She concludes that over time Israelite oral tradition combined these events into the one Exodus narrative known today.

The Publishers Weekly tries to show the Silvertsen research and conclusion as somehow challenging Biblical records of the exodus and the ten plagues. In their review of her work they state: ‘Siversten locates an eruption in 1450 B.C. [a] submarine explosion of the island of Bali of south-east Indonesia just north of Australia, which would have caused the tsunami that inundated the Egyptians [army] in the “Sea of Reeds.”‘ If this is so, according to secularists, the tsunami would have had to wash over a myth, fable, fairy tale and over the heel of Africa before reaching the Sea of Reeds then eventually Egypt. However, they fail to point out any evidence that at the Sea of Reeds the tsunami somehow wiped out the Egyptian army but never reached the Egyptian mainland on the other side of “the Sea of Reeds”.

Even if she meant to say the Island of Yali in the Agean Sea, her Tsunami theory still can’t “hold water” (pun intended). The Tsunami flood would also have had to wipe out Egypt itself,a myth, fable, fairy tale and several other locations within the reach of this 1450 B.C. Tsunami.

Is this a bit odd or simply a sacrificial conclusion of truth? She also forgets to mention that the direction the supposed tsunami of 1450 B.C. moved was an east to west direction. This means the Israelites who were safely on the EASTERN side of the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea) would have been directly in the wake of this same Tsunami flood that destroyed the Egyptian army to the WEST of them. Somehow this tsunami traveled over land masses uninterrupted, skipped over the heads of 2 million fleeing Israelis, then drowned the Egyptian army on the other side. Even if the tsunaumi came from the other direction, the massive flood the wiped out the Egyptian army would not have suddenly halted at the Sea of Reeds leaving the Israelis on the other side unscathed.

Huh? Where is there any record of such a flood wiping out Saudi Arabia, India and the heel of Africa? The fact is such evidence simply doesn’t exist.

It even gets better. To quote the Barnes and Noble review of her book, they state that Silvertsen (attempts to) shows with secular research just how the first exodus followed a 1628 B.C.E Minoan eruption that produced the first nine plagues. The second exodus [in 1450 B.C.] followed an eruption of a volcano off the Aegean island of Yali (or Indian Ocean Island of Bali) almost two centuries later, creating the tenth plague of darkness.

Something is wrong with their review of her research. The Bible clearly states that the 10th plague was the death of the eldest son (including livestock). From where did the “DARKNESS” plague come; albeit the 10th plague? Even testier is the fact that she is concluding the first nine plagues happened 200 years (1628 B.C.) BEFORE the tenth plague (1450 B.C.). It was 200 years later the exodus from Egypt occurred.

Deuteronamy 34:5-7 “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, and He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-pe’or but no man knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; …”

Moses died at the age of 120. How does that fit with her dates, events and numbers of over 200 years between the 9th and 10th plague on Egypt prior to the the exodus? Simple third grade math, it doesn’t!

One who can read between the lines should note that their very review of Silvertsen’s book is a confession of the exodus, the plagues, the drowning of the Egyptian army, and the Israelite exodus from forced labor in Egypt. I quote a passage from UltimateRiddles.com, “Exodus 11:1 begins with God speaking to Moses about the next prophesy to announce the tenth plague, and verses 1 through 3 are in parentheses for a reason. Verse 2 begins with ‘Speak now in the ears of the People…’ and continues through verse 3 with instructions in preparation for leaving Egypt. For clearer understanding of the place and time of this address and the continuation in verse 4, students should note the last two verses of chapter 10.”

”And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die” Exodus 10:28 (KJV).

“And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more”; Exodus 10:29 (KJV).

PS: This incident in the history of the exodus is the basis of Hebrew celebration of Passover.
Mt Sinai? We haven’t forgotten our title to this article but wanted to poke holes in the canopy that secularist hide under. It would be so simple to poke many more holes but the point is made. They can’t even agree with each other and every new discovery changes their explanations of their previous discovery.

“And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” (Exodus. 19:18)

“The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.” (Psalms 68:8)

Atlantis

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Bible often mentions earthquakes. If they are so, they are also a matter of secular records making these Bible records the same history as found in secular records. This series is designed to explore secular history, archeological digs [discoveries] and scriptural records of Biblical Earthquakes. This series will end with an article or two on End-Time earthquakes. This is article number two in the series.

The Lost Continent of Atlantis (?) and Eber’s son [Genesis 10:25] PelegWe have heard many theories of the “lost Continent of Atlantis.” Let’s look at the stated facts, then I will share from the JIV how the scriptures, a man’s name and the disappearance of Atlantis are something simple enough to be actuality! Remember that JIV is Jim’sIntrospective View.First, go to an interview with Professor Arysio Santos. View it with much subjectivity as he tries very hard to validate his scientific theory with some of the Bible facts of creation and the Great Flood. http://www.atlan.org/ Caution! He as do many secular scientists tries very hard to use a few biblical events to validate his Atlantis theory. Students, beware. These kinds of folks teach in our schools and universities. You MUST BE PREPARED. Is Atlantis possible? YES but read the following to better understand how and why.

Few scientists can agree on Atlantis. Here is a quote and another theory: The Greek philosopher, Plato, brought to the world, the story of the lost continent of Atlantis. His story began to unfold for him around 355 B.C. He wrote about this land called Atlantis in two of his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias, around 370 B.C. Plato stated that the continent lay in the Atlantic Ocean near the Straits of Gibraltar until its destruction.http://www.crystalinks.com/atlantistheories.html

Many of these Lost Continent of Atlantis theories or historical records began during the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament but point back to a time much earlier in history.

Another researcher Alan F. Alford states in his book about Atlantis: “…this does not guarantee that the creation myth theory of Atlantis is correct, but it does make it the only satisfactory theory currently available.” Note that he had to add the word “myth” after the word “creation”. It is a way that the world wants to deny God; subtle and too often affective. Even the “father of History” Herodotus is referenced by others to support and at other time deny the existence of a Continent of Atlantis. Some historians make Atlantis a city-island therefore making it much easier to explain its disappearance into the sea/ocean. Whether it did or didn’t exist has little to do with eternity, but it is often used to try and mislead Christian high school and college students; cracking the early beliefs of young and old.

We can spend a long time debating above publications and many others we do not have the space to mention. Let’s look at the facts in the light of history and the Bible together:

1. There is some debate that the Continent (not an island) of Atlantis existed in the Atlantic Ocean. What other location makes sense of a name like “Atlantis”?

2. After the Great Flood, current mankind descended from Noah and the other seven who rode out the flood in the Ark; all populating then expanding from Mt Ararat.

3. Many scholars and researchers claim that Atlantis was the size of a continent equal to modern day Europe with Africa tied to it from the south. This is hardly an island.

4. Plato talks much about the major city of Atlantis being a “city of canals”;http://www.eridu.co.uk/Author/atlantis/; similar to cultures in the Yucatan.

5. The History Channel and National Explorer in early 2010 reported that Atlantis had been discovered “within” the current boundaries of South America. JIV: No surprise if in fact the American Continent is the legendary Atlantis prior to the birth of Peleg OR there was a great continent within the Atlantic Ocean as we know it today. See Mid-Atlantic ridge photograph below taken from space.

6. Egypt is very strongly tied to the story of Atlantis and coincidentally lines up well with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

7. Edgar Cayce, “The Sleeping Prophet,” once predicted that a tomb would be discovered beneath the Sphinx at Giza in which evidence of Atlantis’ existence would be found. [JIV: I do not promote the visions of Edgar Casey, but for those secularists who do, he too envisioned the existence of such a continent]. The Bible supports the possibility of an Atlantis [keep reading]…

8. Often references are made to Egypt being “east” of Atlantis. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is west in fact of Egypt making sense of this claim of Egypt being east of Atlantis.

Now, for The Rest of the Bible Story:

Names of people have historically been benchmarks of events, timetables, or special occasions. This is noted of names recorded in both secular history and the Bible (which is actuality history). Geophysicists and Oceanographers have identified an active fault line (earthquake deep under the ocean floor) between Europe and the American Continent.

This fault line separates the North American Plate from the Eurasian Plate. Find it at:http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html#anchor5567033(USCG)

“We can measure how fast tectonic plates are moving today, but how do scientists know what the rates of plate movement have been over geologic time?” Might there have beena a time when there was a dramatic movement of tectronic plates?

Genesis 10:25 tells us of a son born to Eber (see previous article in this web site) named Peleg. His name means, “When the firmament separated.” This is the same word [firmament] used in the creation story. Firmament in Hebrew is transliterated “raqiya [raw-kee’-ah]” meaning: “an expanse of land, i. e. the firmament or (apparently) visible [at the] arch of the skyline.” In short, Atlantis was visible on the horizon at the arch of the skyline. Raqa in Hebrew means “to expand; make broad or spread abroad.” The Hebrew word raqaq basically means: “to split apart, separated by waters.” All three words come from the same root in Hebrew.

Put the definition of these 3 Hebrew words together. During the life of Eber “the earth separated [Peleg]. It was a great expanse, was visible on the skyline and it split from a main body of land.” To any observer, a ship on the horizon going away from the observer looks like it “sinks” into the sea. Some translators include the word “Great earthquake” in their definition and use of the word Peleg. Some secular researchers also use the same words to describe what happened to Atlantis; it [appeared] to sink into the sea after a great earthquake.

Timetables of ancient historians and the existence of the Continent of Atlantis often conflict. Bible believers accept the fact that all current peoples descend from Noah and sons Japheth, Shem and Ham. A natural question would be how did the American Indians, beginning with the Maya get to the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico? Keep in mind that many secular archeologists claim the American Indian descended, at least in part, from an expansion of peoples descending from the Mayan Indians. The Bible claims the same thing when it states all descended from Noah’s group of 8 people and Mt Ararat.

What does all this mean if you haven’t already surmised? It takes much less faith to believe and there is less conflict of recorded events to believe that Atlantis was, at least in part, on the west side of the natural fault line in the Atlantic Ocean; reachable from the Mediterranean and African continent. According to Scripture in Genesis 10-11 the firmament separated giving Peleg his name/definition providing grounds for the “supposed legend” of the lost Continent of Atlantis. This is not someone’s reality but very much a probability if we follow scripture. People lived on this “large continent” called Atlantis before the flood and occupied it again after the flood. Atlantis didn’t sink into the sea, but during the great earthquake it separated the known land mass of Bible times; disappeared over the horizon no longer reachable by then known water craft.

Of course we haven’t even discussed the facts of the similarities between Egyptian and Mayan cultures, architecture and religious practices; i.e. similar pyramids, temples of worship, sovereign rulers, math skills, astronomy, and story of a Great Flood. Coincident? You decide.

Northern Michigan Institute of Bible Studies
Article on the Bible, earthquakes, and secular history

fault line

Note the Caribean & S. American Plates

In the late 18th century Benjamin Franklin hypothesized that Africa and South America were once joined. We now know that he was right. JIV: Peleg means “when the earth was separated, split apart by an earthquake”What began as a small crack in the Earth’s crust is now the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a giant undersea mountain range. As magma rises to escape along this ridge new crust is formed, sea-floors spread, and continents drift apart. It may have orginally been a sudden and catastrophic split in the earth and how Peleg got his name. [When the firmament/earth/raqiya divided by a great shaking of the earth’s crust]http://www.platetectonics.com/oceanfloors/africa.asp

Amos’ Earthquake

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

The Bible often mentions earthquakes. If they are so, they are also a matter of secular records making these Bible records the same history as found in secular records. This series is designed to explore secular history, archeological digs [discoveries] and scriptural records of Biblical Earthquakes. This series will end with an article or two on End-Time earthquakes.

Earthquakes reveal much. Our classes on this at Northern Michigan Bible School, September 2011 through April 2012, studied this prophetic and profitable stroke of God’s hand upon his chosen people and end time events. The purpose of this first article is what is known by many as The Amos’ Earthquake; 750 B.C.Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam II the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake; ESV.It is rarely discussed from the pulpits in America and I have personally met not a single person who questioned the curious fact of the Bible mentioning this particular earthquake. Over 200 years later the Prophet Zechariah points to it in Zechariah 14: 4, 5.It is easy to understand other earthquakes mentioned in the bible such as: Matthew 27:51-54 (crucifixion), Matthew 28:2 (Christ’s resurrection), Numbers 16:32 (wilderness revolt against Moses), Job 9:6, Nahum 1:5 (end times), I Samuel 14:15 (Jonathan and his armor bearer attack the Philistines)… etc. But, the question of curiosity and the demand for inquiry come in to play when there seems to be more to the verse mentioning an earthquake.

This new series begins a study of such earthly disasters and God’s judgment paralleling modern day seismic activity and recording of their history with the Bible mentioning of the same thing at the same time in the same places. When end times come into play, we have an even greater curiosity; will we look at it as just that, a curiosity or will we realize God is telling us something about the end of this old earth and his tolerance of sin? See and read Matthew 24.

We will use the USGS (United States Geological Society records), secular history as recorded by the ancients, the Beck Index and the Bible throughout this series. It will be discovered by the reader that there is NO CONFLICT between these independent records of the earth shaking, burning, convulsing, up heaving, splitting mountains into two or three separate mountains with new valleys and the fact that the Bible is not full of stories, but historical facts that align with scientific facts.

In 750 B.C. and as recorded originally in Amos 1:1 there was a significant earthquake. Yes, we are beginning in the middle of much historical timeline fact/data, but this is where God took this writer over the past weekend while doing my personal Bible Studies. So this is where we will begin.Creation Faith Facts records: “Widely separated archaeological excavations in the countries of Israel and Jordan were conducted in 1955 by archaeologist Yigael Yadin. He found architecture bearing damage from a great earthquake…earthquake evidence is seen prominently at Hazor, Israel’s largest ancient city. Excavations in Hazor revealed tilted walls, inclined pillars, and collapsed houses. The city of Gezer was also severely shaken. The outer wall of the city shows hewn [hand-cut] stones weighing tons that have been cracked and displaced several inches off their foundation. Earthquake debris at six sites…is tightly confined [by strata] to the middle of the eighth century B.C. So, the evidence points to a single large regional earthquake that occurred about 750 B.C. at magnitude 8.2 on the Richter Scale”Isn’t it a curiosity in and of itself that even secularists call the great earthquake in the Middle East of 750 B.C. Amos’ Earthquake? Why? As far as I can tell Amos predicted it and it happened when God’s hand of judgment once again fell on the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel. He made it a cornerstone of a major event in his writing of the Book of Amos and what made it an even more memorable was the 8.2 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in northern Israel/Lebanon. There must be secular records of this event.We must back up a bit in history to pull things together during the time of Amos and the earthquake he mentions in Amos 1:1. Much archeological work has been and continues to be done in the Middle East, Palestine, Egypt, Israel and Jordan (river basin and country). These ventures make discoveries and log the findings as secular findings of past events. Recall the history of Samson. He was a judge of the combined original Tribes of Israel in the Promised Land being ruled by judges. Samson was not a Samuel or a Moses; other judges of Israel. There was not yet a king over Israel at the time of the judges. Each Tribe “did what was seen as right in their own eye” Judges 17:6.

Sampson, as did future generations of Israel, often contended with the Philistines. They had five basic cities in the area south-west of Israel; Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, *Gath and Ekron; I Samuel 6:17. Mario Seiglie , Scott Ashley, Tom Robinson co-authored an article in God, Science and the Bible, about many archeological digs and discoveries. While doing a dig within the territory occupied by the Philistines, they discovered evidence of several earthquakes; one of them dating to the precise time of Amos’ Earthquake, 750 B.C., as recorded in Amos 1:1. Note: *Gath, a Philistine city, is recorded in scripture as the hometown of Goliath.

Previously in 1955 archeologist Yigael Yadin discovered and dated the same earthquake while doing a dig in Hazor, Israel’s largest ancient city.

Point in history: Amos is a contemporary of Hosea, Isaiah, *King Uzziah (aka: Azariah) of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel. The theme of the Book of Amos is the Judgment of God, then and yet to come..

*LEARNING NOTE: King Uzziah is listed in the Bible as within the genealogy line of Jesus.

Here is another fascinating learning note in bible/secular history. Uzziah was struck with leprosy for falling away from God (2 Kings 15:5); (2 Chronicles 26:19-21). Edwin R. Thiele (archeologist, renown author and Old Testament professor) dates Uzziah being struck with leprosy to 751/750 BC, at which time his son Jotham took over the government as co-regent. Uzziah died with his leprosy in 740/739 B.C. Why is this 750 B.C. date so important? It is the same date as Amos’ Earthquake; a judgment brought on Judah and Israel for their low-point in following God.

We read in 2 Chronicles 26:15-16. Uzziah’s pride led to his downfall; even after many years of “doing what was right in the eyes of God” [2 Kings 15:3]. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. As a lesson to God’s people, Amos warns about the wrath of God (the earthquake hit at the same time as Uzziah was stricken with leprosy. End Times Note: Zechariah cautions us that in the end times there will be a future earthquake that will rattle people as much or more than did Amos’ Earthquake.

Here is the key to Amos’ Earthquake and the immediate leprosy of King Uzziah as seen through the writings of secular historian Flavius Josephus…

Josephus, the First Century Jewish historian, described the events in Jerusalem during this earthquake [750 B.C.; emphasis mine]. King Uzziah was in the Temple trying to offer incense on the altar at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a duty only allowed the High Priest (Lev. 16 and 17). The priests tried to stop him, but he was defiant. Josephus records what happens next: “But, while he [Uzziah] spoke, a great tremor shook the earth, and, as the temple was riven, a brilliant shaft of sunlight gleamed through it and fell upon the king’s face so that leprosy at once smote him” (Antiquities of the Jews 9:225; LCL 6:119; II Chronicles. 26:19-21, 23). The Bible does not place the two events together chronologically, but Josephus had access to records that are no longer available to us.

Here is aha-bible/secular history from this time period; i.e. 750 B.C.

• King Uriah struck with leprosy at the same time as the 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck the area
• King Sardui of the Kingdom of Urartu, a small but powerful enemy of the Assyrians caused great consternation in the heart of Assyrian rulers
• It marked the beginning of the end for the northern Kingdom of Israel
• The legendary Romulus ruled in Rome
• Hosea, Micah, Isaiah were contemporary prophets at this time
• The Greeks began colonizing Italy and Sicily.
• Harnesses and horse bits began to be used
• Sparta becomes a very disciplined society. The famous laws of Sparta were said to have been given by the legendary Lycurgus shortly after the time of Homer. Plutarch in his Life of Lycurgus credited the lawgiver with redistribution of the land into equal lots. [redistribution of wealth; sound a bit like America today… 2008 – ?]
• Egyptians build the first known dam called the Sadd el-Kafara; 37 ft tall, 348 ft wide of rubble masonry filled with 100,000 tons of gravel and stone.
• Homer writes the Iliad and the Odyssey
• Caste System firmly established in India
• 750 to 612 is “the time of the Assyrians we read of in the Bible”

Enough said as we begin our study of earthquake history and its implications to world events including the Bible times of this same world during the Amos’ Earthquake. We will limit our scope of study to the earthquakes mentioned in the Old and New Testaments with the sole purpose of demonstrating to the reader that the Bible is not a story and world history something else. They happened at the same time and are a part of the same history book; one of these books is the inspired Word of God.

What Is The Law Of Christ?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

Do we have excess baggage in our lives? “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). The obvious question from this verse is… What is the law of Christ?

First, law is instituted when common sense is uncommon and self is only self-centered. Law is enacted when guidelines do not or no longer serve their intended purpose. Law is specific and there is no gray area. A speed limit posted for 45 mile per hour is a specific maximum. Traveling 46 MPH is just as much a violation of this speed law as is 66 MPH. Both speeds violate the same law; just as scripture tell us that we if violate one of its laws we violate all of the laws. There is none perfect; no not one; Romans 3:10.

Jesus assured us, “For the law was given through Moses; [but] grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Paul told disciples, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing [i.e. fulfilling the law], it is the gift of God – not because of works[living within or following the law of Moses], lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8). The grace of God appeared, teaching us (Titus 2:11). The gospel is the message of grace to be believed for salvation (Mark 16:15). We are saved by grace; however, under Moses’ law men had also or included justification by law. There is a tendency for *disciples to seek righteousness through keeping of a supposed system of law also. They seemed, as many of us still do today, to forget that keeping the law still required a sacrifice for forgiveness.

Disciples: Mathetes (a learner), Matheteuo (a pupil, scholar), Mathetria (female learner).

1. CAN ONE BE SAVED BY WORKS OF THE LAW?

Paul gave a definite negative answer to this question. “For no human being will be justified in his (God’s) sight by works of the law, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 2:20). “By works of the law shall no one be justified” (Gal. 2:16). “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Gal. 2:21). “Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law” (Gal. 3:11).

The law had a weakness: it required a penalty or cost for any violation; i.e. Click it or Ticket. It [the law] made nothing perfect (Heb 7:18). A person was/is required to keep all the law or be cursed (Gal. 3:10), and none could keep it all, so all had the sentence of death. We continue to deal out a “personal death penalty” when we continue to try ourselves for past sins for which we have sought forgiveness. This is Satan at work in our lives; telling us we are not truly forgiven.

Author’s note: When Satan tries to remind me of my past sins, I remind him of his future. When we violate a law, it remains on our book of life on earth. When God forgives us, it is no more held accountable to us as it would be under the law [see Hebrews 10:17]

Law has no power to save, only to judge, fine and punish. John assures us that all of us sin (1 John 1:8). James 2:10 adds, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it”. If we keep 99% of the law but fail in the remaining one percent, what happens? We are back to zero! EXAMPLE: If we make 59 months worth of car payments out of 60 in the repayment coupon book we do not own the car, truck, motorcycle, or RV; the bank does. They are the ones who made the law and agreement to which we are obligated.

So if keeping most of the law won’t do it, what will? It is all by grace! If one is to be saved, it must be totally by grace. One cannot be saved partly by law keeping and partly by grace. If grace saves only to the extent that one is able to keep law, then none can be saved. If one could keep all the law, he would need no grace. Our traditional challenge to others who fail to keep all the law, our perception of right and wrong, is “Try harder!” While giving lip-service to grace, we frustrate disciples [learners] by urging that they must attain it by keeping all the law – or earning a passing score, whatever that may be. The claim of justification by law keeping was “some other gospel” according to verse 6 in Galatians 1:6-9. Any effort to be justified by legal means is a falling away from grace (Gal 5:4). Grace is not a quality of law. They are at opposite ends of the continuum or spectrum.

Huge Caution: Don’t confuse God’s grace with an all loving God that will simply overlook everyone’s sins at the final judgment of mankind. Believing in God and accepting Jesus Christ as our master is not the same as believing that there is a God; .i.e. Yes, I believe that there is a God.

A New Testament legal system did not replace the one given in the Old Testament. The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus. Grace and truth were not a system of law to replace the old one. God did not send another law, but He sent His Son in whom we may be justified. To those who are saved persons, Paul explained, “For *sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Rom 6:14).
*Law of sin is judgment.

Justification apart from law is by grace, as is a free gift, to those who believe. Righteousness is not attained by rule keeping, but it is a free gift (Rom. 5:17). Galatians 3:23 through 4:7, shows us that faith has come, the law is no longer in charge and that God sent His Son instead of another legal step. Ours is a personal relationship in Him instead of a legal relationship. Christ fulfilled the law as in “completed” it. He didn’t add to it, rather he completed it; replaced it; finished it… a new covenant; a new commandment.

2. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD?

Proverbs 17:3 Fire (the law) tests the purity of silver and gold, but God (love) tests the intent of the heart.” The Spirit [not our personal efforts] makes us new creatures in Christ. “But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit” (Rom 7:6). This new relationship is accomplished through the new birth (John 3:3), by which we are all sons [children] of God through faith (Gal 3:26), and in which our life becomes hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). It is not a legal relationship, but a spiritual one. What Christ provided for us is not letter-of-the-law, but the spirit-of-the-law of relationship (Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron as one man does the countenance off another”).

We enter into a covenant relationship. God made a covenant with Abraham and sealed it by circumcision (Gen. 17:9; a practice expressly intended for the Israelite sons and descendants of Jacob). Later the law was given to guide the covenant people (Deut. 4:4).

The new covenant is sealed in us by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). This is done when we receive the Spirit at the time of our obedience to the gospel; the other teachings are given to guide those in covenant relationship. God’s covenant with the people of Israel through Abraham is not always applicable to the Gentile (Greek) born again believer of New Testament times.

The new covenant is not a written code of conduct. Paul wrote that God “has qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code judges, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). Hebrews 8:7-8 further emphasizes that the new covenant would not be like the old one. His law [The Law of Christ] is to be written on our hearts.

How can law be written on our hearts if we are not under law? To say that we are not under law is not to say that we are not under the lordship of Christ and the sovereignty of God. Law has a range of meanings. Law may be a legal system which demands perfect obedience. Law also can be a principle of action. We are justified through the principle of grace through faith (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:27; 8:1). That grace activates our love. Jesus Christ came to fulfill; i.e. complete the law therefore the law of Christ (fulfilled) is to love HIM with all your heart, might, mind and living moments. The second is like unto the first, love your neighbor as yourself. THIS IS THE LAW OF CHRIST.

3. WHAT IS THE NEW COVENANT RULE OF ACTION?

It is love which God in His grace infuses into our hearts. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Rom 5:5). “We love, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God initiates the principle of loving action, writing His law, the Law of Christ, upon our hearts. This however does not negate tough love. Fact being it demonstrates true love.

The love which He has created in us is the master key to unlock the chain of any other law. “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Any other commandment is summed up in this sentence, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the *law” (Rom. 13:8). *Law of Jesus Christ.

Paul emphasizes this again in Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but, through love, be you servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one short phrase: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” What greater and more comprehensive law – principle of action – could we want?

How would a listing of authoritative demands help a person show love? In America we have a law forbidding discrimination and prejudice. Does this law therefore supersede our personal feelings? Do we now have no personal prejudices or discriminatory senses or urges? The answer is obviously NO! A law cannot change my heart, feelings, or intensity.

In tennis is is “the accepted practice” to sit on the sidelines as an observer but one is not supposed to jump up and down as one might at a football game. However, when my granddaughter plays tennis, the thrill of a good serve or counter-serve is too much for me to contain and it simply GETS OUT as an emotion. My celebration outburst is the intent of my heart (kavanah in Hebrew). God looks at the intent of our heart. Not if we can sit quietly on the sidelines only clapping when appropriate. Think about this in our worship services too. We often restrict outbursts of CELEBRATION and mumble an occasional amen. Why do we do that?

God’s law directs us into a right relationship with Him and man through His son Jesus Christ. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:37). This is the Law of Christ; the one He came to fulfill. A law can set up standards within we must operate but they cannot CONVINCE us or the correctness of that law. It is external to us; not written on our heart.

All through the ages, God was trying to help us simply to love Him and one another. Man has tried consistently to include lawful requirements, but God sent Christ to fulfill it; complete it; finish its requirement. Men argue, fight, and divide over lawful interpretations and thereby defeat the love into which God was directing. “For in Christ Jesus [the doctrine of] neither circumcision nor un-circumcision (legal hair-splitting) is of any avail, but faith working through love” (Gal 5:6).

As [New Testament] covenant people, we are guided by principle, not justified by them. When we sin; i.e. step outside of love, as Christians, we depend upon God’s grace for our forgiveness rather than obeying more laws (1 John 1:5-10; 2:1-6). This is often the divider within denominations. One can’t associate with the other because they don’t fit the [laws] doctrines of a particular denomination/religion. Tell me how this lines up with the Law of Christ?

“How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Rom. 6:1). Paul warns against abuse of our freedom, then cautions, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify [center on] the desires [lusts] of the flesh” (Gal. 5:13-16).

4. WHAT IS THE LAW OF CHRIST?

Some would contend that the entirety of the New Testament writing is the law of Christ. The law of Christ is not a book, a listing, or a code of laws. Where is such a catalog of laws to be found? The Jews had/have 613 laws in their legal code; Halakha served many Jewish communities as an enforceable avenue of civil and religious law. How many laws has Christ given us? Since we are to keep the law of Christ, surely someone has counted and listed those laws so we should have a check-list, right? Where is it?

Christ’s law is love; yet He gives us commands, examples, exhortations, warnings, and principles as guidelines for the expression of love… Galatians 5:6

Christ’s law is love. His laws (plural) are (1) love God and (2) love man. Love is the new commandment (John 13:34) which John’s readers had heard from the beginning of their discipleship (1 John 2:7). “And now I beg you not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have heard from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love” (2 John 5).

This takes us back to Galatians 6:2 “And this commandment we have heard from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:21) is a re-emphasis of the first and second commandments. Love is the royal, kingly law (James 2:8).

JIV: Works demonstrates our love of Christ and fellow brothers and sisters. We take responsibility and demonstrate it by our “works.” Might it be bold to suggest that these works also mean that we as born again believers demonstrate or work via the use of our Spiritual Gifts within the local church, albeit, the Kingdom of God? [JIV: DrJ’s Introspective View]

Expressed love fulfills the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). Love is the perfect law, the law of liberty (James 1:25, 2:12) – liberty from a judgmental legal code and efforts for legal justification or even litigation. It is the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12), that ageless law which conveys the intent and message of the law and the prophets.

How beautiful this is! God initiates the response of love: “We [know how to] love, because he first [showed us how he] loved us.” He begins the working of His law by writing them in our hearts. He wants us to express it. His directives guide us in expressing it: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). So, our expressions of love becomes God’s expressions of love through us (Ephesians 5: us being the reflected light), “For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). No burden! “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

CONCLUSION:

We are justified by grace through faith in obeying the gospel. Efforts to be justified by law would nullify the grace of Christ. Our response to God’s grace is the love which God initiates in us. The New Testament writings guide our love into proper expression. This includes how we forgive ourselves once we take a burden or violation of his commandments to him. If we continue to hang ourselves for a sin forgiven, we are followers of the *law, not grace; i.e. we dupe ourselves into believing that the violation is written on a book somewhere so though forgiven, it can and will not be es-ponged from our record.

*”Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10).

AHA Bible Moments

Monthly Archives: March 2015

The Law Of Averages

The Great Flood

The Noah Flood was Real

You Are Here – Mother of All Earthquakes

Paul and Silas

Crucifixion

Mt. Sinai

Atlantis

Amos’ Earthquake

What Is The Law Of Christ?

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