What is your opinion of the Bible? Do you have a skeptical attitude toward the Bible? The Bible is one book, made up of sixty-six books and presents events of the past, present, and future. The divine author of the Bible is God who chose some forty human authors to write the books of the Bible. The Bible is also called the Holy Bible, God’s Word, or Holy Scriptures.
Essentially, books in general are an excellent source of information. And a great number of books have been written over time on a wide variety of topics. However, none can match or be equal to the Bible. The reason is “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every work.” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). This cannot be truthfully said about any other book.
The intent of this blog is not to write extensively on the accuracy of the Bible, but rather to present just a few instances where biblical predictions of the time of writing, have actually taken place. Obviously, some have yet to be fulfilled such as the “second advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is promised.
On the occasion of the Lord’s departure from earth to heaven, the apostles “as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11).
The Scripture points out the Lord’s ascension to heaven has already taken place. Note, “As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Also, “This same Jesus who was taken up from you.”
The return of Jesus Christ is yet to take place as a future event — day or night. Scripture doesn’t specify the actual day or date. However, Scripture does say, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36).
The Bible is much more than a history book. History books present only things in the past. That’s why they are history books. On the other hand the Bible confirms that the future belongs exclusively to God and not to man.
In the book of Isaiah, written in the 8th century B.C., the prophet Isaiah accurately predicts the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, which occurred about seven hundred years before it actually happened. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel in Hebrew means “God is with us.” And this is corroborated in 1st Timothy 3:16, which states, “God was manifested in the flesh,” meaning that Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary, His mother.
Isaiah continues to write about the birth of Jesus Christ as follows. “For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6). Note these words, “a child is born . . . a Son is given,” which are corroborated in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son . . .” A child is born is God appearing in human flesh. But a Son is given is Jesus the Savior of mankind.
Isaiah also writes about the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.” (Isaiah 53:4,5).
As Isaiah wrote “But he was pierced for our transgression.” David said this in Psalm 22:16, “They have pierced my hands and feet” approximately one thousand years before the crucifixion took place.
Isaiah 55 is a presentation of the gospel of God’s grace. Verses 6,7: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
David in Psalm 22:22,23,25 shifts from the crucifixion of Christ to His glorious resurrection. He says, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.”
Jesus Christ is alive today because He rose from the dead. And this justifies David referring not only Christ’s crucifixion but also His resurrection.
The bottom line is we can confidently trust the Scriptures. In His prayer to God for Christians in the world, the Lord Jesus asked His Father “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
(John 17:17). Do you believe the Holy Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible word to us today?