Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!ihuxi!rcj1 From: rcj1@ihuxi.UUCP (Ray) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Can a thinking man accept the Bible? ( final) Message-ID: <897@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Thu, 31-May-84 14:40:55 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxi.897 Posted: Thu May 31 14:40:55 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Jun-84 08:35:00 EDT Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 98 ******* Until late in the 19th century there was no proof outside the Bible, that an ancient Hittite civilization ever existed. Naturally, some of the so called "experts" said it was just another Biblical fable. But in 1906, Hugo Winckler discovered and excavated the ancient Hittite capitol and recovered several thousand Hittite scrolls! Amazing thing about it, at least to them, is that the discoveries bore out the accuracy of the Bible. They learned that according to Hittite law and business practice, every sale of property was to list the trees included in the sale. Genesis 23:17 tells us that when Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah, the sale included "all the trees which were on the field". Chapters 37 through 50 of Genesis are now considered some of the most valuable historical material in existence. Archeological discoveries in recent years have shown that these chapters reveal an intimate knowledge of Egypt. They include Egyptian loan words, names, titles and customs. The more we search and dig, the more we discover the Bible to be true. A recent report carried in the Los Angeles Examiner was captioned "Paydirt Hit in Noah's Ark Hunt". It said that in 1915 a Russian pilot spotted an ark frozen in the ice on the exact mountain specified in the Scriptures. After World War I, a team of Russian soldiers struggled through Arctic weather conditions to examine it. They found it to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, corresponding with the Bible description. Photographs were made. However, much of this information was lost during the Communist takeover of Russia. The Scripture says that Jesus entered Jericho and there encounterred Zacchaeus in a Sycamore tree. The "experts" said this was impossible. Wellhausen, Bultmann, Gilmour, and others said there were no trees in Jerico. Luke was wrong. But since then, we have discovered the ruins of Jericho. We have found that it had streets and public places were shade trees could flourish. In fact, a piece of ancient wood found in the excavation has been identified. You guessed it-Sycamore! You just can't win! The Bible stands true again! The coming of Jesus Christ to earth was no unannounced happenstance. Throughout the Old Testament His coming had been foretold. Micah said He would be born in Bethlehem. Isaiah said he would be born of a virgin, rejected by the Jews and crucified. Zechariah forsaw His triumphal entry. The Psalmist David revealed He would be betrayed by a friend, given gall and vinegar, pierced in His hands and feet and that men would gamble for His garments. The Bible foretold that He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver. Within thirty-three years He had come and gone. But no man ever left such a mark upon the world. Libraries of books have been written about Him. It would be impossible to estimate the millions of songs which have been sung, prayers which have been prayed, and lives which have been changed...in Jesus' Name! The earth has recieved the blood of thousands of martyrs who gave their last full measure of devotion. The New Testament is filled with prophecies of our own day. Jesus said that in the last days there would be wars and rumors of wars. He prophecied earthquakes and tidal waves. He prophecied a state of political turbulance and emotional upheaval. He said mens hearts would be failing them for fear. The Bible says that evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Israel was to become a nation again and recapture Old Jerusalem. How true all these have proven! Can the thinking man accept the Bible? Oh I think he can. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". When you stand and gaze in awe of a skyscraper, you know there was an architect; you know there were those who constructed it. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork." He spake the galaxies into existence. He kindled the atomic fires of a billion stars. He jarred the mountains upward and carved out the valleys. He designed the symmetrical snowflake and cemented the atom. He covered the fields with flowers and trees of a thousand varieties. He created animal living ranging from invisible insects to thundering herds. He placed the zenith of His creation upon the earth and called him man. He placed His never dying soul in a body equipped with camera, microphone, amplifiers, computers, thermostats, and chemical factories. God gave man a will of his own and a mind of his own. God offers to shape man's destiny as He shaped him physically, but He leaves the choice to each of us. "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God." "The heavens declare the glory of God." "Come now, let us reason together saith the Lord." What will an intelligent man do about the Bible? Will he accept it? Will he obey it? Will he be born again in the way it explains? As man begins to walk in the light of the Gospels, only then will he receive it's benefit. Then and only then will he realize altogether why this is the only intelligent thing for man to do! THE END Ray Jender ihnp4!ihuxi!rcj1 PS: Comments, questions, or critisisms welcome.