Evidence

Signs in the Timeline.

I mentioned above how Jesus claimed that the scriptures spoke of him and how this is remarkable evidence of the inspiration of scripture. An example of a sign that Jesus would be born of a virgin is told in the story of Sarah could and would give birth to Isaac even though Sarah and Abraham had passed normal child bearing age (Genesis 17:17 21:1-7) Abraham had been told that through His seed the Messiah would come . The supernatural birth of Isaac was a real-life sign pointing to a future date when the Virgin Mary would give birth to Jesus

A further sign was given (Genesis :22) pointing to a future date when Jesus would die for the sins of the world. Having been told by God that Abraham's "seed" (Jesus) would be a blessing to all the world Abraham was asked to offer Isaac as a human sacrifice! Abraham was required to make a long journey (3days travel) to Mount Moriah to perform the sacrifice – incredibly I discovered when visting Jerusalem is that Mount Moriah this is the region where Jesus was to be crucified many generations later!

The story of God asking for a human sacrifice is quite shocking but is another real-life sign that sin is as repulsive to God as human sacrifice, sin must die. However, God is so loving that Jesus would be begotten from God as "the lamb" to die for our sin. At one level the sign was to test and demonstrate Abraham's obedience of faith in God and at another level a sign pointing to a future date when God would require Jesus to demonstrate his obedience of faith in God.

In the scripture quoted below please note; "your only son"- even though Abraham had another son Ishmael (Isaac's older brother) a normal birth to Abraham and Hagar. When I visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock Jerusalem) I learnt that the Muslims believe it was Ishmael and not Isaac who Abraham was asked to sacrifice but this contradicts the scripture below.

The story of the instruction to sacrifice is a sign pointing forward to when God would have only one "begotten son" (John :3), born through a virgin's womb. The words used evidence inspiration by God. This prophetic sign pointed to the future event of the crucifixion of Jesus who was born of the virgin Mary as indicated in the sign of Isaac's supernatural birth.

He said, "Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love and go into the land of Moriah, offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of

Abraham obeys to the point of binding Isaac on the altar and at the point where Abraham has taken his knife to kill his son;

Bible Genesis 22:11 The Lords angel called to him out of the sky, and said, Abraham, Abraham! He said "Here I am" he said don't lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now, I know you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me

Note at the start of Genesis 22:1 it is God the Father who speaks to Abraham but in verse 11 it is "The Lords angel" I believe the title "Lords angel" speaks of Jesus

Bible Genesis 22:13 Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him for a burnt offering instead of His son Abraham called the name of that place "THE LORD WILL PROVIDE" – a sign pointing to Jesus many generations later Evidence supporting that this is a sign;

Further commentary on the sign of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac

Bible Hebrews 11:17-19

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, to whom it was said, your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac, concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead

Bible John 8:56 Jesus speaking

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad"

James writes about Abraham and faith in God

Bible James 2:19-26 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder. But do you want to know vain man, that faith apart from works is dead. Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected. So, the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness (James is quoting Romans4:3) and he was called the friend of God. You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. In the same way wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead

Abraham's son Isaac provides Abraham with two grandsons called Esau and Jacob After wrestling with God (Genesis32:24-36) Jacob's name was changed to "Israel" which means "one who contends with God" This drama of wrestling with God is foretelling when Jesus would wrestle with God in a garden called Gethsemane before being crucified

Israel has a son called Joseph who is sold into slavery to the then superpower Egypt by his brothers. Miraculously Joseph becomes the most powerful person in the country next to the Pharoh. Joseph is given the opportunity to show grace and forgiveness to his family and resettle them as freemen in Egypt a sign pointing to how God can bless us.

In a few generations the people of Israel are forced into slave labour and genocide of their sons when born. When Moses is born, he is rescued from being killed by being hidden in an ARK- similar idea to Noah's Ark a sign of how Jesus can be our ark

God uses Moses to rescue the entire nation after providing physical signs which speak of future judgements also spoken of in Revelation, note climate issues today. Moses leads "Israel" in a 40 years desert experience which climaxes s follows;

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel. You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my Treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites

So, Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words of the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has said" Exodus 19:3-8

"Everything the Lord has said we will do" Exodus 24:3

The 10 commandments given to Moses are a sign that we cannot keep the promises we intend to keep

(i)God requires sacrifices for Sin – "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23

(ii)To obey 10 commandments given to Moses (Bible Exodus 20)

You shall have no other gods before me

You shall not make for yourself an idol in any form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

You shall not murder

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour

You shall not covet your neighbour's house. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

In addition to the commandments there was also a requirement to make an Altar. Whilst no offerings were to be made to the gods offerings to God were mandatory alongside obedience.

There were clarifications on the commandments and the introduction of community festivals (Bible Exodus 21to 23)

As he was instructed early the following morning Moses built an altar, setting up one pillar for each for the twelve tribes, (of Israel) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship/peace offerings two types of sacrifice. Burnt offerings were completely consumed by fire to atone for sin. Fellowship/peace offerings expressed gratitude, peace, or fellowship with God. Only part of the animal was burnt on the altar, while the rest was eaten by the worshiper and their family or friends. This offering celebrated Gods presence and blessing in their lives using half the blood to sprinkle on the altar and half to place in bowls to enable blood to be sprinkled over the worshippers.

Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. (Bible Exodus 24:4)

After having had the importance of obedience carefully explained the people responded;

"Then he took the book of the covenant and read it to the people They responded We will do everything the Lord has said, we will obey" Exodus 24:7 (Note three times they promised to obey)

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words" (Bible Exodus 24:8)

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu went up and saw the God of Israel Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God and they ate and (Bible: Exodus 24.9-12)

Even after having such a close experience with God as to see Him the ongoing presence of God still required more than good intentions to be obedient. Gods ongoing presence was and is contingent on ongoing obedience. At the first sign of wickedness/disobedience God withdrew his presence.

The problem of evil in the world today and not seeing Gods intervention to stop evil is bluntly summarised in Deuteronomy 30 :17-18

"But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed."

The stories of Israel after Deuteronomy recorded for example in the Bible books Samuel, Kings demonstrate how ignoring the warnings of Deuteronomy 30 led to national disaster. Intentions to serve God fail for lack of power to obey.

More signs are promised;

Bible Micah 5:1,2 The prophet Micah pinpointed the birth of Jesus to Bethlehem, and provides a prophecy about His mock trial.

They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (means fruitful place) being small amongst the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out of me who is to be ruler of Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times

Bible Isaiah 7:14

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

Isaiah wrote the above nearly 600 years before Jesus was born. He was warning about injustice in his culture and is inspired to write that a future sign of Emmanuel (God with us) would be a virgin birth. Isaiah also wrote;

Isaiah 10:17 The light of Israel will be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Note the 53:5 scripture is written in the past tense although it was scribed centuries beforethe crucifixion event. The scriptures below are also written centuries before Jesus hands and feet were pierced on a cross, and the Roman soldiers gambled for the Cloak Jesus had been wearing!

Bible Psalm 22:16, they have pierced my hands and my feet

Bible Psalm 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing

Bible Zechariah 12:10 They will look on me, the one they have pierced

The timeline tells us the definition of Jew is widened. Sons and daughters of Ishmael are not disadvantaged. Gentiles are not disadvantaged. In the widened definition the sign of physical circumcision is changed to "circumcision of the heart." God supernaturally cuts the heart's desire from serving of self to seeking after God

Bible Hosea 2:23 Romans 9:25

Hosea is an incredible story of a prophet (Hosea) being asked to marry a prostitute who is unfaithful a sign of how the people called by God are unfaithful. Gods love is for both Jew and Gentile

"… and I will tell those who were not my people You are my people; and they will say, You are My God

Paul explains this, Bible. Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel. Neither, because they are Abraham's offspring, are they all children. But your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac. That is it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise

Bible Jeremiah 33:7 "I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and will build them as at the first."

Bible Jeremiah 33:9 This city (the new church community of Jew and Gentile followers of Jesus ) will be to me for a name of joy, for praise, and for glory, before all the nations of the earth, which will hear all the good that I do to them, and will fear and tremble for all the good that I do to them , and will fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I provide it"

Bible Jeremiah 33:14 "Behold, the days come" says the Lord, "that I will perform that good word* which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land "

The prophecy I believe speaks of Jesus (the Branch of righteousness) uniting Jew (Judah) and the church (Israel) to provide "Levitical Priests" (Ministers) who live in a future city/church community

Bible Ezekiel (593BC to 571BC) is a prophecy in the timeline, which starts with a glimpse into the spiritual world

Bible Ezekiel 1:4-6 I looked and behold a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal ,out of middle of the fire. Out of its centre came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings The creatures described (later called cherubim) are not unlike the creatures modelled to cover the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle built to represent what is in the heavens. (see below)

Bible Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne , as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain,so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD's glory

Bible Ezekiel 34:25 I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil animals to cease out of the land. They will dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing

Bible Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from amongst the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you ,and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.

Bible Ezekiel 37:7-9 So I prophesised as I was commanded. As I prophesised, there was a noise, and behold there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone. I saw and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them

Bible Ezekiel 37:10 So I prophesised as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, and exceedingly great army

Bible Ezekiel 37:16,17 You, son of man, take one stick and write on it "For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions Then take another stick and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions. Then join them for yourself to one another into one stick that they may become one in your hand

Bible Galatians 3:26,27,28 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise

Jesus explained how the 10 commandments apply in his kingdom in what is called the Beatitudes

Bible Matthew 5 :3-16 (also Luke 6:20-26)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of God

Blessed are those who mourn For they will be comforted

Blessed are the meek For they will inherit the earth

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst For righteousness For they will be filled

Blessed are the merciful For they will be shown mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart For they will see God

Blessed are the peacemakers For they will be called sons of God

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a light and put it under a bowl Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven

Paul's analysis;

1946 Dead Sea Scrolls discovery -Alternative evidence source discovered after formation of Bible

There are some who allege the actual Old and New Testament documents are fraudulent, and prophecies in the Old Testament were inserted after the events predicted.