Archeological Discoveries Of
Biblical Places People And Events
Just recently for the last 200 years there have been many archeological discoveries of biblical places, people, and events. Archeologists have discovered many biblical places that confirm the accuracy of the bible. The bible is not a fictitious book about fables. The bible accurately states the existence of places, people, and events.
This bible study will list various archeological discoveries of biblical places that will confirm that the bible is the truth and that our Lord Jesus is real. Jesus said at Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. For many years people have said that the bible is a joke. But the bible is the most accurate book ever written and everything in the bible is the truth. If the bible says that a place, person, or event existed eventually archeologists will confirm the accuracy of everything stated in the bible.
I encourage all my friends everywhere to read and memorize your bibles daily to obtain joy, peace, and strength. Jeremiah 15:16 says Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Let's all tell the Lord Jesus like Job at Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Get saved today and receive the Word of God (Jesus) who is the truth. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Pilate asked Jesus what is truth, not realizing that he was looking directly at the truth who is Jesus. Today when you look at a bible you are looking at the truth (Jesus) who is the Word of God. And if you know the truth, the truth (Jesus) will set you free. John 8:36 says If the Son (Jesus) therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Archeological Discoveries That Confirm The Truth Of The Bible
1) Absalom's Pillar In The King's Dale Kidron Valley
Absalom's pillar (also known as "Absalom's place" or "Absalom's monument") pictured above is only mentioned once in the bible at 2 Samuel 18:18 that says Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
Absalom built a pillar in his name in the King's Dale Kidron Valley because he didn't have any sons to carry on his name. Jewish history and the bible tells us exactly where Absalom's pillar is located. It's in the king's dale. And the king's dale is in Jerusalem outside the eastern gate (also called the Golden Gate or Stephen's Gate) on the eastern side of Solomon's porch. The king's dale (note that a dale is called a wide valley) is the Kidron Valley pictured above that rises up into the Mount of Olives.
The Lord Jesus will return to this earth after the seven year tribulation with His saved saints ruling on white horses to the Mount of Olives, traveling through the Kidron Valley, entering into the East Gate of the temple to be King of this earth for 1000 years during the millennium. Zechariah 14:4 says And His (Jesus') feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
For centuries, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim parents would take their children to Absalom's Pillar to throw stones at it. This was a symbolic act of rebuking Absalom for his disobedience to his father, David. Over time, a massive heap of stones buried the structure until it was cleared by archeologists in modern times.
In 1932 archeologists dug and cleared away all the stones and rubble in the king's dale in Jerusalem and they found Absalom's pillar pictured above. And it's not a tiny pillar. Absalom's pillar is 65 feet high carved directly into the limestone of the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem. These archeologists confirmed the historical accuracy of the bible that stated the existence of Absalom's pillar in the king's dale.
Before this archeological discovery, Absalom's pillar seemed to be an insignificant statement about an obscure pillar that existed thousands of years before Jesus walked this earth. No one really cared about Absalom's pillar. But God put Absalom's pillar in the bible to show skeptics that His Word is true and that to this day there exists a place called Absalom's pillar. You can go to Jerusalem today and see Absalom's pillar in the king's dale below the Mount of Olives in the Kidron valley before the East Gate.
Absalom's pillar reminds me of the Lord Jesus. Absalom hung on an oak tree and was killed. The Lord Jesus hung on a tree at the cross of Calvary and was killed. 2 Samuel 18:9 says And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
2 Samuel 18:14 says Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. Like Absalom, the Lord Jesus hung on a tree and was killed. Acts 5:30 says The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Absalom had no earthly children but Absalom is remembered by Absalom's pillar that exists today in the King's Dale Kidron Valley. The Lord Jesus had no earthly children but the Lord Jesus is remembered forever by the Word of God and infinite signs on this earth forever. 2 Samuel 18:18 says Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
Like Absalom's pillar used for his remembrance, the Lord Jesus during a Passover communion used bread and wine for His remembrance. 1 Corinthians 11:23 says For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
2) The Agora Marketplace Below Mars Hill In Athens Greece
Paul Preached At The Agora Marketplace
The Agora Marketplace below Mars Hill in Athens, Greece pictured above was the place where Paul preached about Jesus to the Greeks. When Paul visited Athens, Greece, he found a city full of idols. Paul's ministry and preaching occurred in Athens' two distinct locations that served as the commercial and intellectual heart of the city: The Agora Marketplace and Mars Hill (called Areopagus).
Recently archeologists discovered the ancient Agora Marketplace where Paul preached Jesus to the Greek philosophers below Mars Hill. This again confirms that the bible is accurate about descriptions of places that used to exist. Pictured above Americans rebuilt a modern market above the stones of the ancient market excavated by archeologists. You can visit the Agora marketplace in Athens, Greece today and walk where Paul preached.
The ancient Agora of Athens, Greece was the city's central marketplace and the hub of everyday life. The Agora Marketplace was used for commerce, politics, and social gatherings. It featured stoas (covered walkways) where people shopped, traded goods, and engaged in public debate. Paul reasoned and preached in the Agora Marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. It was here that he first encountered Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, who were intrigued by his foreign teachings about the Lord Jesus and the resurrection. The Agora Marketplace was Paul's primary platform for reaching the general public and intellectual elite before being invited to the more formal setting of Mars Hill.
Acts 17:16 says Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market (Agora) daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
In ancient Athens, Greece, Mars Hill or the Areopagus (Hill of Ares) that overlooks the Agora Marketplace served as the meeting place for the Areopagus Council, the city's most prestigious court and governing body for religious and legal matters. Greek philosophers took Paul and brought him to Areopagus Mars Hill to explain his new doctrine about the Lord Jesus. Standing in the midst of Mars Hill, Paul delivered his famous sermon to the Greek philosophers.
Acts 17:19 says And they took him (Paul), and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing, Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
The Testimony Of Dionysius The Athenian Judge
Who Got Saved After Hearing Paul's Preaching
Paul used the following key themes during his sermon to the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill. Paul used an altar he found with the inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD as a bridge to explain that the Lord Jesus is the true Creator of everything. Paul challenged the Greek philosopher's idolatry by declaring that the God of heaven does not dwell in temples made with hands. Paul's sermon culminated in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus that elicited mixed reactions where some mocked him while others, like Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris became believers. Acts 17:32 says And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Dionysius the Areopagite was an Athenian judge on the Areopagus council (the high court of Athens). He was converted to Christianity by the preaching of Paul at the Areopagus Mars Hill. Dionysius was the first bishop of Athens, Greece. Dionysius claimed that he witnessed a supernatural eclipse for three hours during Jesus Christ's crucifixion that he later understood through Paul's teachings. Dionysius traveled and preached with Paul for three years. He eventually became a missionary throughout Europe witnessing Jesus everywhere. During the persecutions under the Emperor Domitian around 96 AD, Dionysius and his companions were arrested and martyred.
The Neighboring Hills In Athens, Greece
Called The Acropolis And Areopagus (Mars Hill)
Paul Preached At Areopagus Mars Hill
In ancient Athens, the Acropolis and Areopagus were neighboring hills pictured above that represented the city's spiritual and judicial peaks, respectively. While spiritual Acropolis was the High city of the Gods, judicial Areopagus (Mars Hill) was the Hill of Ares where humans like Paul gathered for judgment and debate. When Paul preached on Areopagus Mars Hill, he could look up and see the Acropolis crowded with grand temples and idols, likely prompting his statement that the Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands. You can visit Areopagus Mars Hill in Athens, Greece today and stand where Paul preached to the Greek philosophers.
The Acropolis that rises 490 feet above sea level was the sacred precinct of Athens, Greece and home to its most important temples. In the 5th Century BC, under the leader Pericles, the Acropolis was transformed into a monumental complex to showcase Athenian power and devotion to idol gods. The Parthenon temple pictured above on the Acropolis is dedicated to the patron goddess, Athena Parthenos.
Areopagus Mars Hill is the smaller, rugged rock outcrop that views the larger Acropolis hill pictured above. Areopagus translates to "Hill of Ares", named for a myth where the god Ares was tried here by other gods for murder. Areopagus also refers to both the physical hill and the prestigious council of elders that met there. By Paul's time, this council functioned as a high court for religious, legal, and educational matters. Because Paul was preaching about "foreign divinities" he was brought before this council either for a formal hearing or an informal explanation of his new teaching.
Paul's preaching at Agora and Areopagus reminds me of the Lord Jesus. Paul preached to the poor people at the Agora Marketplace and the rich people at Areopagus Mars Hill. The Lord Jesus preached to poor fishermen named Peter, James, and John and also preached to rich leaders and tax collector publicans named Nicodemus, Levi Matthew, and Zacchaeus. Only a few rich people named Dionysius and Damaris got saved by Paul's preaching. Most of the wise men in Athens, Greece refused to get saved from Paul's preaching. Only a few rich people like Nicodemus, Levi Matthew, and Zacchaeus got saved by Jesus' preaching. Most of the wise Pharisees and Sadducees refused to get saved from Jesus' preaching.
Jesus said at Mark 10:25 says It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 7:13 says Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
1 Corinthians 1:25 explains why many wise philosophers in Greece refused to get saved by Paul's preaching. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
3) The Street Of Beth Shan
Where The Bodies Of Saul And Jonathan
Were Hung On A Wall By The Philistines
The street of Beth Shan is only mentioned once in the bible at 2 Samuel 21:12 that says And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa.
It's incredible to note that the bible says that there was only one street in Beth Shan where the bodies of Saul and his three sons were hung by the Philistines. Pictured above when archeologists discovered Beth Shan, they found only one street in the entire city of Beth Shan surrounded by the ruins of many buildings. The bible accurately said that there was only one street in the city of Beth Shan.
The story of the burial of Saul and his son Jonathan's bones involves three distinct locations and a progression from public humiliation to a final resting place. After King Saul and his sons were killed by the Philistines at the Battle of Mount Gilboa, the Philistines took their bodies to Beth Shan. The Philistines beheaded Saul and fastened the bodies of Saul and Jonathan to the wall of Beth Shan as a trophy of their victory. Because Beth Shan sat on a high mound (called a Tel) at a major junction of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys, anything displayed on its walls or in its public square was visible from a great distance to humiliate and demoralize the Israelites.
A Tel is a man made creation (not a natural mountain) that consists of layers of superimposed cities rebuilt on top of one another after battles. New rulers built new homes and buildings on top of conquered cities. When archeologists dig down into a Tel they find remains of different civilizations in different uncovered layers or strata like the Philistine street of Beth Shan.
When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of this desecration, they acted out of deep loyalty to Saul. Valiant men from Jabesh-gilead traveled all night, took the bodies down from the wall of Beth Shan, and brought them back to their city (Jabesh). Decades earlier, Saul first major act as king was rescuing Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites. This was their way of repaying that debt. In an unusual move for ancient Israel, they burned the bodies (likely due to their mutilated or decomposed state) and buried the remaining bones under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh. They fasted for seven days in mourning.
Years later King David moved Saul and Jonathan's bones from Jabesh-gilead and brought them to Zelah in the land of Benjamin for a final reinterment by King David. David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead after repenting about seven innocent sons of Saul slain by the Gibeonites. Rizpah (a mother of some of the innocent sons of Saul) who pleaded with David for a decent burial of these sons caused David to repent and bury the bones of Saul and Jonathan. Saul and Jonathan's bones were interred in the family tomb of Kish, Saul's father, finally providing the royal family with an honorable burial in their own territory.
1 Samuel 31:8 says And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a (tamarisk) tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
2 Samuel 21:11 says And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa. And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.
The burial of Saul and his son Jonathan's bodies and bones by the men of Jabesh-gilead to prevent open shame reminds me of the burial of the Lord Jesus by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus to prevent open shame. John 19:38 says And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
The moving of Saul and his son Jonathan's anointed bones by David from Jabesh to be with his father Kish in the country of Benjamin at Zelah reminds me of when Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of mother Mary married to Cleopas whose son was James the Lesser of Alphaeus, and Salome went to the tomb of Jesus and could not find Jesus because He had risen to be with His Father (God).
Mark 16:1 says And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified, He is risen, he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man, for they were afraid.
Like anointed Saul and Jonathan who went to be with the father Kish after burial, the Lord Jesus after his death on the cross of Calvary went to be with His Father (God). Luke 23:46 tells us that when the Lord Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, He said Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Saul and Jonathan are not dead in a tomb. The Lord Jesus is not dead in a tomb. Saul, Jonathan, and the Lord Jesus are alive forever with the Father (God).
Saul, Jonathan, And Jesus Are Not Dead In A Tomb They Live Forever In Heaven
Click This Youtube Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6aBDS3drA
And Sing The Words Below For The Hymn He Lives
Written By Alfred H. Ackley In 1933
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today.
I know that he is living, whatever men may say.
I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer;
And just the time I need him, He's always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know he lives, He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me, I see his loving care
And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair.
I know that he is leading, through all the stormy blast.
The day of his appearing will come at last.
Rejoice, rejoice, O christian, Lift up your voice and sing.
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the king.
The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find.
None other is so loving, So good and kind.
To anyone reading this bible study, get saved with the hope that after death, you can be alive forever with the Father God who is Jesus. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.
Note the following scriptures below where saved christians will be raised up like Jesus to live forever with the Father (God). 1 Corinthians 6:14 says And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power. John 6:39 says And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Romans 8:11 says But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
4) Pontius Pilate's Administrative Residence Was At Caesarea Maritima
Proven By The Discovery Of The Pilate Stone
Pictured above archeologists recently discovered the official administrative residence and military headquarters of Pontius Pilate at Caesarea Maritima in Judaea located on the seashore of the Mediterranean Sea. For years people thought that Pontius Pilate was a fictitious character. But ancient inscriptions on an artifact called the Pilate Stone saying Pontius Pilate was the Prefect (Governor) of Judaea were discovered at Caesarea Maritima confirming the existence of Pontius Pilate.
The primary inscription associated with Pontius Pilate at Caesarea Maritima is the Pilate Stone pictured above, a significant archeological artifact discovered in 1961. The inscription was found by an Italian archeological team led by Dr. Antonio Frova while they were excavating the Roman Theater at Caesarea Maritima. The Pilate Stone was discovered in a secondary use, having been repurposed as a step in the theater's staircase during 4th century repairs.
The Pilate Stone was originally a dedicatory plaque for a building called a Tiberieum, likely a temple or public structure dedicated to the Emperor Tiberius. The English translation of the reconstructed inscription is as follows: "To the Divine Augusti, this Tiberieum, Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judaea, had dedicated this."
The Pilate Stone provides the only contemporary archeological evidence for the existence of Pontius Pilate. It confirmed that his actual title was Prefect, matching the terminology of the early 1st century, rather than Procurator, a title used by later Roman historians like Tacitus. The Pilate Stone corroborates that the Roman Governors resided at Caesarea Maritima and only traveled to Jerusalem for specific reasons, such as overseeing festivals like Passover.
The original Pilate Stone is now preserved at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, while a replica is on display at the Caesarea National Park. Archeology confirmed that the bible correctly stated that Pontius Pilate existed at 1 Timothy 6:13 saying I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. You can travel to Caesarea Maritima and witness the proof that Pontius Pilate existed and lived on the Mediterranean Sea at his military headquarters.
The Apostle Paul Was Imprisoned At Caesarea Maritima
In The Underground Prison Pictured Above
Pictured above is the underground prison at Caesarea Maritima that Paul lived in for two years from 58-60 AD. Paul's underground prison was originally a man-made cistern. Paul was under house arrest or guarded custody that allowed him to receive visitors and speak with Roman officials. During these two years, Paul appeared before two successive Roman Governors.
Marcus Antonius Felix kept Paul in custody without a formal charge, reportedly hoping for a bribe. Portius Festus succeeded Felix and eventually granted Paul's request to have his case heard in Rome, Italy after Paul appealed to his right as a Roman citizen. While imprisoned, Paul famously defended his faith before King Agrippa II and his sister (wife) Bernice in the palace audience hall. Agrippa noted that Paul could have been set free if he had not already appealed to Caesar.
The Pilate Stone was demoted to a stepping stone in a Roman theater at Caesarea Maritima. Paul was promoted from an underground prison at Caesarea Maritima to be caught up to the third heaven paradise to live in peace forever with the Lord Jesus. Jesus said at Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself (Pilate) shall be abased (brought low); and he that humbleth himself (Paul) shall be exalted.
5) Ancient Babylon
Called Mystery Babylon That Is The Roman Catholic Church
When Babylon was in its glory, the prophet Isaiah wrote the following prophecy about Babylon. Isaiah 13:19-22 says And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah (in other words there will not be a blade of grass growing there). It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
Isaiah 13:21 says But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful (howling) creatures (jackals, coyotes, and hyenas); and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs (half man and half goat) shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.
For years skeptics said that Babylon and the bible was a myth. But when anyone tells you that the bible is a myth, tell them that they are mythstaken, mythstified, mythinformed, and mytherable. Archeologists proved the skeptics wrong when they discovered Babylon pictured above after performing excavations for 14 years from 1899-1913. And lo and behold Babylon looked exactly like Isaiah's description from the bible. The bible is accurate because modern day Babylon is uninhabited and a desolate place where weird creatures exist at night. No Arabian sheik pitches his tent in modern day Babylon.
DL Moody told a story about a Turkish soldier on a hunting expedition in Babylon that also confirms the accuracy of Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon. The soldier paid an Arabian sheik a large sum of money to accompany him on a hunting expedition to Babylon. After pitching their tent during the day, the sheik said that the animals only come out at night in Babylon. But before night settled in, the sheik began to remove his tent and flee from Babylon.
The Turkish soldier told the sheik you can't leave. You must stay in Babylon tonight because I paid you a large amount of money for this hunting venture. The sheik replied "It isn't safe in Babylon at night. No mortal flesh dare stay here after sunset. In the dark, ghosts, goblins, and all sorts of things come out of the holes and caverns."
Then the Turkish soldier told the sheik "I'll pay you double if you stay in Babylon and help me hunt." The sheik replied "I couldn't stay for all the money in the world. No mortal flesh has ever seen the sun go down on Babylon and lived to tell the tale. We'll leave Babylon and come back at daybreak." Finally the Turkish soldier had to abandon his hunt in Babylon.
And Jeremiah also prophesied about Babylon at Jeremiah 51:26 saying And they shall not take of these a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate forever, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 51:29 goes on to say And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.
In other words Jeremiah said that the stones of Babylon will remain and not be torn down while Babylon becomes desolate and uninhabited. Jeremiah's prophecy from the bible is correct because if you travel to modern Babylon today, you will see the stone walls and buildings of Nebuchadnezzar's palace remaining with inscriptions on the walls glorifying the kings of Babylon.
Jeremiah's prophecy about Babylon is exactly opposite from Jesus' prophecy that every stone would be torn down from Solomon's porch. Jesus spoke about Solomon's porch for the temple that had many magnificent buildings everywhere at Mark 13:2 saying Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Jesus' prophecy was accurate about Solomon's porch because in 70 AD the Roman leader Titus conquered Jerusalem and removed every stone from Solomon's porch by the temple. You can go to Jerusalem today at Solomon's porch and you will not find one stone on top of another stone.
Mystery Babylon Is The Roman Catholic Church
Revelation 17:1 speaks about a great whore sitting on a scarlet coloured beast that is the Roman Catholic church. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: an dI saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads, and ten horns.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. Revelation 17:18 says And the woman which thou sawest the that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Reasons Why The Roman Catholic Church Is Mystery Babylon
Let Me State That Brother Bob Does Not Hate Catholic People
I Speak Against The False Teachings Of The Catholic Leaders
1) Revelation 17:18 tells us that the great whore is a great city that sits on seven mountains. Historically, Rome Italy has been known as the "City of Seven Hills since antiquity where you will find the great whore Vatican Roman Catholic Church that represents the beast Antichrist called Mystery Babylon.
2) The great whore Catholic church is described as being clothed in purple and scarlet. Purple and scarlet are the official liturgical colors for bishops (purple) and cardinals (scarlet) in the Catholic hierarchy.
3) The great whore Catholic church holds a golden cup and is adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. The golden cup in the great whore's hand matches the ornate golden chalices used during the unholy ritual of the Catholic Transubstantiation Mass. The great whore's array of gold, precious stones, and pearls reflects the traditional vestments and jewelry worn by high ranking Catholic officials.
4) The great whore Catholic church is a great city that has sovereignty and global political influence over the kings of the earth. The Vatican's extensive wealth, its status as a sovereign state, and its diplomatic influence over world leaders are evidence of this sovereignty over the kings of the earth.
5) The great whore Catholic church is drunk with the blood of the saints and has a history of persecuting and killing many christians. This is often interpreted as a reference to the Inquisition and the persecution of religious dissidents throughout European history. Christians like William Tyndale who published and distributed bibles to the common people in Europe were burned at the stake by Catholic leaders who forbid common people and farmers from owning a bible.
6) The great whore Catholic church called "The Mother of Harlots" is a reference to the Catholic church's self identification as the "Mother Church", from which other denominations (harlot daughters like Lutherans and Protestants) have formed. Eventually Lutherans and Protestants will reunite with their Catholic Mother Church during the tribulation where the Catholic beast antichrist will have a one world universal religion. Note that the word Catholic means universal one world religion.
The Roman Catholic Church Is A Continuation Of Mystery Babylon
Alexander Hislop in his book "The Two Babylons" states that the Catholic church is a veiled continuation of ancient Babylonian paganism and is modern day Mystery Babylon. Catholic rituals and symbols (such as the veneration of a mother and child, the rosary, and priestly celibacy) were adopted from the worship of figures like Semiramis and Tammuz and given christian names.
The worship of Semiramis centers on her role as a deified queen of ancient Babylon who founded a mother son mystery religion. Semiramis was the wife of Nimrod, the biblical figure associated with the Tower of Babel. After Nimrod's death, Semiramis allegedly claimed that Nimrod had become the Sun God called Baal. Semiramis later bore a son named Tammuz, claiming that Tammuz was the reincarnated Nimrod, conceived through the rays of the sun by a virgin birth. This established the first divine trinity of father (Baal Nimrod), mother (Semiramis), and son (Tammuz), with Semiramis herself being worshipped as the Queen of Heaven (Ishtar).
Alexander Hislop claimed that the Catholic veneration of Mary as the "Queen of Heaven" is a continuation of the worship of Semiramis, who he identified as the original holder of that title. He argued that Catholic statues of Mary holding the infant Jesus were merely renamed versions of Babylonian images depicting Semiramis with Tammuz. He linked the Catholic practice of burning candles and incense before statues of Mary to ancient Babylonian shrines where worshipers did the same for Semiramis. Hislop claimed that the word Easter was a corruption of Ishtar (another name used for Semiramis) and that eggs and rabbits were Babylonian fertility symbols for Ishtar Semiramis. Before Catholicism formed, early christians celebrated Passover. Easter is a veiled Catholic continuation of an ancient Babylonian pagan ritual.
6) The Synagogue In Nazareth Where Jesus Preached
Pictured above archeologists discovered the Synagogue Church in Nazareth located above the original synagogue where Jesus preached from the book of Isaiah. Jesus attended a synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth where after the people in Nazareth tried to throw Him off a brow (cliff), Jesus escaped and walked through the midst of them. Christian tradition holds that the Synagogue Church was built directly over the ruins of the original 1st century synagogue where Jesus preached.
In 570 AD, an Italian pilgrim of Piacenza known as Antoninus of Piacenza reported seeing the original bible Jesus read from and the bench where Jesus sat at this specific site. The Synagogue Church is identified as the site where Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1 and proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah. His sermon so angered the local congregation that they attempted unsuccessfully to throw him off a nearby cliff.
When Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah at the Nazareth synagogue, it created a dramatic shift from an initial admiration to a violent attempt on his life. Luke 4:16-30 says Jesus stood to read from the Prophets and was handed the scroll of Isaiah. He unrolled it and read Isaiah 61:1 describing the mission of the Messiah. To preach the gospel to the poor, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty them that are bruised.
After reading, Jesus sat down and declared "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." By this, He explicitly identified Himself as the "Anointed One" (Messiah) spoken of by the prophet. The congregation was initially amazed by His gracious words, but skepticism quickly surfaced as they whispered "Is not this Joseph's son"? They struggled to reconcile the messianic claim with the man they had watched grow up as a local carpenter.
Jesus challenged their lack of faith by telling them "No prophet is accepted in his own country". He pointed to two Old Testament stories where God helped Gentiles (foreigners) instead of Israelites because of Israel's unbelief (the widow of Zarephath during a famine and the Syrian Naaman who was healed of leprosy).
The crowd was filled with wrath at the implication that Gentiles were more worthy of God's favor than Israelites. They drove Jesus out of the city to the brow of the hill, intending to throw him off the cliff. The encounter ended with a mysterious escape. Jesus simply passed through the midst of them and went his way. Jesus' commanding presence allowed him to leave unharmed because his time to die on the cross of Calvary had not yet come. No one could kill the Lord Jesus before the cross of Calvary where Jesus who is God willingly offered his life as a sacrifice to save lost sinners.
Luke 4:16 says And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And He said Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way.
Jesus was rejected by the people of his hometown Nazareth and could hardly do any miracles at Nazareth. Mark 6:1 says And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them, And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Like Jesus, Brother Bob has been rejected in his hometown and by his family. Brother Bob could do no mighty work in his hometown because of the people's unbelief. I was only able to minister to one classmate from high school and my blessed brother named Dave. I'm encouraged because this lets me know that I'm becoming more like Jesus and less like the world. When you walk with Jesus, strangers will bless you more than your own family and the people of your hometown.
7) Why Did Jesus Curse Capernaum?
Why did Jesus curse Capernaum pictured above? Jesus said at Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Modern day Capernaum pictured above looks exactly like Jesus' prophecy from the bible. Today Capernaum is uninhabited and desolate because the people of Capernaum rejected Jesus and made no decision about salvation. When Jesus walked on this earth, Capernaum was a beautiful place with lush fertile hills located by the sea of Galilee in northern Israel. During the days of Jesus, Israel had three regions: Galilee in the north, Samaria in the central, and Judaea in the south. After being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum where Jesus performed most of his miracles. Jesus often stayed at the house of Peter in Capernaum. But because many people at Capernaum rejected Jesus and walked no more with Him, Capernaum became an uninhabited wasteland.
Jesus recruited several of his primary apostles near Capernaum, including the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John. He also called Matthew (Levi) from his tax collector's booth in Capernaum. Jesus taught at the Capernaum Synagogue. His most famous teaching there was the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:22-59) where He identified Himself as the living bread that came down from heaven.
Capernaum is the site of more recorded miracles by Jesus than any other single location in the New Testament. At Capernaum, the Lord Jesus healed Peter's mother in law of a fever, healed a paralytic who was lowered through a roof by friends, and healed a Roman centurion's servant from a distance. Jesus cast an unclean spirit out of a man at a synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus brought the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader in Capernaum, back to life. Jesus directed Peter to find a coin in a fish's mouth in the Mediterranean Sea to pay the temple tax near Capernaum.
Jesus cursed Capernaum because their indifference and failure to get saved was considered a greater sin than the active wickedness of ancient pagan cities. Rejecting Jesus and failing to get saved is the worst sin that anyone could commit. Rejecting Jesus is worse than murder, rape, or stealing. I don't approve of murder, rape, or stealing. You can be forgiven of murder, rape, or stealing, get saved, and go to heaven. But if you reject Jesus like most of the people of Capernaum, you will be cast into hell and the lake of fire to be tormented forever with no way of escape.
Making no decision about Jesus is a rejection of Jesus. Jesus said at Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Don't be like most of the people at Capernaum who did not get saved. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.
Jesus said at Luke 12:48 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. Since the people of Capernaum witnessed the most miracles performed by the Lord Jesus, they were held to a higher spiritual standard than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of Capernaum weren't necessarily more evil than other people, but they were spiritually apathetic.
They enjoyed the benefits of Jesus' healings, teachings, and miracles, without allowing those signs to transform their hearts or lead them to repentance and salvation. They were amazed by Jesus' miracles but refused to change their lives, get saved, and confess that Jesus is Messiah and God. Capernaum's Hebrew name means "Village of Comfort". Jesus rebuked the people of Capernaum's sense of security, warning that physical comfort does not equal spiritual safety. Jesus said at Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Even though the people of Capernaum were proud, comfortable, prosperous, and exalted to heaven, they were cast into hell and the lake of fire for rejecting Jesus. The people of Capernaum were cursed for being unresponsive and doing nothing about their salvation after witnessing the Lord Jesus' greatest miracles firsthand.
Jesus' prophecy about Capernaum was fulfilled and today Capernaum is uninhabited and a wasteland. Capernaum's ruins serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting the Lord Jesus. Capernaum's sense of self sufficiency and religious comfort led to a fatal apathy where rejecting Jesus cast most of people of Capernaum into torment forever in hell and the lake of fire.
Notice that there will be different degrees of punishment in hell and the lake of fire. The people of Capernaum that rejected the Lord Jesus will suffer greater punishment in hell and the lake of fire than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah because the people of Capernaum saw the greatest amount of miracles performed by the Lord Jesus. Jesus claimed that if the same miracles done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, Sodom would have repented and survived its destruction. Therefore Capernaum would face a "less tolerable or heavier" judgment than Sodom.
Don't be like most of the people of Capernaum and fail to make a decision about Jesus. Get saved today with Jesus and be blessed with eternal life in heaven. Like the different degrees of punishment in hell and the lake of fire, there will be different degrees of rewards in heaven for christians that get saved with Jesus.
Christians' good works don't save them but after salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus, christians will be rewarded after the rapture at the bema judgment seat for their good works. Good works represented by gold, silver, and precious stones will be rewarded with crowns. Bad works represented by wood, hay, and stubble will cause christians to suffer loss and lose rewards.
Ephesians 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesuss unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 Corinthians 3:11 says For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
8) Chorazin And Moses' Seat
Next let's travel two miles north of Capernaum and see what Jesus had to say about the city of Chorazin at Matthew 11:21 that says Woe unto thee, Chorazin. woe unto thee, Bethsaida. for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. Because the people of Chorazin rejected Jesus, the bible correctly stated that Chorazin would be desolate and uninhabited.
Now lets look at another archeological discovery about a seat that is mentioned only once in the bible called Moses' seat. Matthew 23:2 says The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. The scribes and Pharisees would sit in Moses' seat (at the synagogue of Chorazin) pictured above while people asked them questions about the law and the scriptures. Archeologists discovered Moses' seat pictured above and confirmed that the bible correctly stated that ancient Jews sat on Moses' seat while interpreting the bible. In fact every ancient synagogue in Israel had Moses' seat.
9) Ekron
Next let's see what the bible has to say about Ekron. Ekron was one of the five famous capital cities of the Philistines. The five capital cities of the Philistines pictured above were Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. Ekron invented a god that troubled mankind for over one thousand years named Baalzebub (called the god of Ekron). The Pharisees accused Jesus of being a false god named Baalzebub. But the Pharisees were wrong. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. 1 John 5:20 proclaims that Jesus is God saying And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Ekron is mentioned in the bible as an actual place that existed at 1 Samuel 5:10 that says Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
Skeptics for many years thought Ekron was a big joke and a fable. But recently in 1996 archeologists discovered the gate of Ekron and proved that the bible was historically accurate and a place called Ekron once existed. Archeology is a blessing because the more the archeologists dig in Israel, the more proof we have that the bible is true and the only thing that makes sense in this entire universe.
10) The Pool Of Bathesda
Next we see that the pool of Bathesda is only mentioned once in the bible at John 5:2 that says Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bathesda, having five porches. And John 5:4 goes on to say For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
When the archeologists excavated Bathesda in 1888, they found traces of a rude fresco (a mural painting executed upon freshly laid or wet lime plaster) on Bathesda's wall of an angel troubling the water in the pool of Bathesda pictured above proving the accuracy of the KJV bible. Note that most of the new dumbed down bible versions have eliminated John 5:4 and deny that an angel troubled the waters in the pool of Bathesda. This is because these new bible versions deny the existence of supernatural miracles. Remember if it's new it's not true and if it's true it's not new. Only read the 1611 authorized KJV bible version that is the true Word of God.
Don't read a dumbed down translated version of the bible that removes scriptures and words from the bible. Only read the KJV bible that is the true Word of God. God doesn't want anyone to add or remove any word or scripture from the bible. Revelation 22:18 says For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away form the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
11) Ur Of The Chaldees
Pictured above we see that after digging for 80 years from 1854 to 1934, archeologists discovered Ur of the Chaldees. The most famous resident of Ur of the Chaldees was Abraham. Ur of the Chaldees is 140 miles south of Babylon and is only 150 acres. Ur is not that big. It's a small place. And pictured above when archeologists excavated Ur, they discovered a ziggurat that is a rectangular stepped tower covered or surmounted by a temple. For years skeptics thought that Ur of the Chaldees was a big joke before its discovery. Now no one denies the existence of Ur of the Chaldees that is the birthplace of father Abraham.
12) Calvary And The Tomb Of Jesus
Two men named Horatio Spafford and the British General Charles Gordon were influential in discovering Calvary and the tomb of Jesus. Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) who wrote the hymn It Is Well With My Soul decided to move from Chicago, Illinois to Israel and built a home. Mr. Spafford started an American colony in Israel holding weekly church services.
One day General Gordon visited Horatio Spafford's home. While sitting on Mr. Spafford's porch, General Gordon noticed a hill to the north of Jerusalem that looked like a skull. He told Horatio Spafford "That hill looks like a skull protruding out of the rubble." The next day General Gordon wrote a letter to his family saying "I think we've found Calvary." Then General Gordon and many men began removing the dirt around Calvary and discovered Golgatha.
Golgatha is called the place of the skull where Jesus was crucified. The bible tells us that after David slayed the giant Goliath of Gath, David took Goliath's skull to Jerusalem where Jesus would be crucified. 1 Samuel 17:54 says And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent. This is why Calvary is called Golgatha (Gol-Goliath Gatha-of Gath). Jesus was crucified above the skull of the devil Goliath and the foot of Jesus bruised the head of the devil while the devil bruised the heel of Jesus. Look closely at the picture above of Calvary discovered by General Gordon and you will see the skull of Goliath laughing at David before he died. Goliath was a big giant and David took his big head to Jerusalem so Jesus could trample on the head of the devil proclaiming that Jesus' death on the cross has destroyed the devil forever.
Now after General Gordon discovered Calvary, he said that there has got to be an empty tomb where Jesus was buried near Calvary covered by rubble and dust carved in stone that is empty. After General Gordon cleared the rubble around Calvary, he found a 10 foot by 14 foot tomb carved into solid rock filled with dust and debris.
Being convinced that this was the very spot where the body of our Lord Jesus did lie, General Gordon had his men clear the dirt with great care. They gathered all the debris and shipped it to the Great Britain Scientific Association. Every part of the debris was microscopically analyzed. But there was no trace detected of human remains whatsoever.
NO BONE FRAGMENTS, NO PIECES OF HAIR
NOTHING BUT DIRT
REJOICE AND SAY
WHAT THE ANGEL PROCLAIMED
HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID
Now take a look at the picture above of the tomb of Jesus and notice the crack in the rock six feet above Jesus ' tomb. This crack was caused by the earthquake that rolled away the stone in front of Jesus' tomb. When Jesus was crucified two earthquakes occurred in three days. The first earthquake occurred when Jesus died on the cross and the veil was rent in two from top to bottom. The second earthquake occurred at the tomb of Jesus that rolled away the stone allowing Jesus to rise from the dead and live forevermore.
Now take a second look at the picture above of the tomb of Jesus and notice the gully or trough in front of the tomb of Jesus. The trough or gully was dug in the front of Jesus' tomb by Roman soldiers so a stone could be rolled in front of Jesus' tomb to block the entrance. But the stone was rolled away by an earthquake and the angels proclaimed that Jesus is risen from the dead.
Today you can travel to Calvary and Jesus' empty tomb in Jerusalem. You can walk inside the empty tomb of Jesus and see a sign posted that says He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Thousands of people have visited Jesus' empty tomb. DL Moody and Charles Spurgeon have preached at the empty tomb of Jesus. And every day there is always someone preaching about Jesus to multitudes of lost sinners trying to win souls at the empty tomb of Jesus.
I just had to add this blessed story about the tomb of Jesus. When Jesus was buried in Joseph's tomb, the Father went through the tomb and told Jesus Son you did everything I told you to do. Fold up the napkin and neatly place it in a separate place and get rid of the graveclothes. Here's some new clothes. Now let's get out of here. And Jesus and the Father left the tomb descending to paradise to free the old testament saints and ascending up to paradise heaven (note that paradise is now up because Paul got caught up to the third paradise heaven at 2 Corinthians 12:4). Note that the angels didn't roll the stone away for the people to see Jesus but to tell the people that He is not here: for He is risen, as He said (Matthew 28:6).
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes of people everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob Malkin anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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