You might not know this, but when people want to rewrite or erase history … they begin tearing down monuments, statues and archaeological evidence of facts. Just read up on Oswald Chambers, Karl Marx, Hitler … and more.

But what I love is when Bible skeptics say there is no archaeological evidence to support the Bible, or they say that the Bible was written in 2nd century A.D. and then archaeologists uncover artifacts from 2300 B.C. or the time of King David and even Jericho and the Bible is validated again.

That is what I am discussing in today’s episode.  For a more in-depth look into the topic, head to the podcast or video links above.

KEY POINTS

– The Ebla Kingdom

In 1968, archaeologists uncovered the Ebla Kingdom tablets (dated 2300-2250 B.C.)  This was a little after the time of the flood.  The tablets list “Five Cities of the Plain” in the exact order given in Genesis 14:2. Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zoboiim and Zoar.

How would Moses have known about these cities (about 1,100 years before he was alive) if not for God’s divine hand in inspiring Scripture?

– The Walls of Jericho Fell Outward

In 1930 – 1936, archaeologist Garstan discovered the fallen walls of Jericho.  What he found was so startling that a statement of what was found was prepared and signed by himself and two other members of the team.  In reference to these finding Garstan says, 

“As to the main fact, then, there remains no doubt: the walls fell outwards so completely that the attackers would be able to clamber up and over their ruins into the city.”

Why so unusual? Because the walls of cities do not fall outwards, they fall inwards.  And yet in Joshua 6:20 we read

The wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Only God can make walls fall outward.  If the Bible was written in the 2nd century A.D., how would the writers have known that if it had not yet been uncovered?

– The Tel Dan Stela Fragment

In 1993, archaeologist Avrahan Biram found an inscription on a 9th century B.C. stone that mentions the “king of the house of David” and “the king of Israel” going to battle.  This verifies three important parts of Scripture.

  1. King David existed as King nonetheless
  2. The Kingdom was divided into Judah (the house of David) and Israel
  3. The two kingdoms went to battle against each other. (It is of the time of King Jehoshaphat of Israel and King Ahab of Judah)

– The Empty Tomb of Christ

While there is much debate as to why the tomb of Christ is empty, there is not much debate that it was indeed the tomb of Christ.  This is just another element that supports that Jesus Christ existed in history, that he died and that his tomb is empty.

I go over the many prophecies that were fulfilled surrounding this historical event.  You can find it in my devotional Amazingly Deep Roots: Knowing Why You Believe What You Believe.