Richard F. Ames

Perhaps this book is the most mysterious book in the world. It has been the world’s best-selling book. Parts of the Bible have been translated into more than 3,200 of the world’s languages, and 636 languages have a full translation available. That’s according to the Wycliffe Global Alliance. But how many who can read it can understand its mysteries? What about you? Can YOU understand its awesome prophecies for the future of the world and the universe? The book of Revelation describes the glorious throne of God with a sea of glass and a brilliant rainbow. It also describes a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, that will eventually come down from heaven to a new, purified earth. And what is the meaning of Daniel’s prophecy, the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? The book of Revelation describes a harlot woman riding a beast with ten horns. What is the meaning of these visions?

You need to know the keys for decoding the mysteries of the Bible. To help you understand this amazing book, we’ll be offering you an inspiring free Bible Study Course that will open your eyes to incredible truths. Be ready to write down the contact information to order your free study course.

The Bible also reveals the answers to the greatest questions of life. Why am I alive? What is the purpose and meaning of life? What are the keys to abundant life and successful living? This book has the answers! You need to study your Bible. What are the keys to understanding Bible mysteries?

Stay tuned!

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Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

We all desire world peace, personal and family prosperity. There’s one source that reveals the way to abundant living, the Holy Bible. The Savior of the world, Jesus of Nazareth, stated this in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The secrets to abundant living are revealed in this book, the Holy Bible. It also reveals the future, and why our world is currently experiencing turmoil and conflict. Our daily news seems to report continually on regional wars, political conflicts, record weather calamities, disease epidemics, and famines. Will the world end in nuclear cosmocide? Or climate catastrophe? Or perhaps science will produce utopian conditions and save us all.

How can we understand the future of the world, and why there is so much turmoil and instability in the world? This book reveals the causes for the chaos and confusion afflicting our world. Its secrets have been held from the great thinkers, philosophers, and world leaders. But you can understand. On today’s program, we’ll discuss SEVEN keys for decoding the mysteries of the Bible. And we’ll be offering you an inspiring free Bible Study Course. Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free study course.

Now, let’s consider seven keys to unlock the mysteries of the Bible.

KEY NUMBER ONE: The Bible Is Always Relevant.

Some people believe that since the Bible was completed about 1,900 years ago, it CANNOT be RELEVANT for us today. That belief is wrong. As we’ve demonstrated in dozens of our programs, not only is the Bible relevant for us today, but its prophecies also reveal humanity’s future and our incredible destiny. The good news is that mankind will not completely destroy himself. Jesus Christ will return at the most dangerous point in human history to SAVE us from ourselves. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is ALWAYS relevant. If you have your Bible, turn to Matthew 24:14. Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

Yes, we look forward to the END of this "present evil world," the end of this age and the beginning of a new age, tomorrow’s world! The Bible is always relevant. The Gallup Poll discussed that "Sixty-five percent of Americans agree that the Bible 'answers all or most of the basic questions of life.'" Yes, the Bible is relevant. It does answer the most basic questions of life!

According to the American Bible Society’s report, "State of the Bible, 2017," American households own an average of FOUR Bibles!  But 13 percent do not own even ONE Bible! That’s up from just 8 percent in 1993. Ten percent of those surveyed said that they had purchased a Bible in 2016, and 20 percent lived in households with SIX or more Bibles!

But how many READ the Bible? The 2017 survey found that 16 percent, about one in six, read the Bible daily. What about you? I challenge you to open YOUR Bible, if you have one, and simply read it! I think you’ll be amazed at the plain, solid, principles and precepts for successful living that you’ll find. Just start reading the book of Matthew, and then the other three witnesses (Mark, Luke, and John). Read their eyewitness testimony and evidence with an open mind! And for those households with three Bibles or more, encourage EVERY MEMBER of your family to read the Bible. It can profoundly change your life for good!

KEY NUMBER ONE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE: The Bible Is Always Relevant.

KEY NUMBER TWO: Prove All Things.

Turn in your Bible to I Thessalonians 5:21. We often challenge our viewers to check in the Bible for themselves. Don’t take FOR GRANTED what we say on this program. Read it in your own Bible. I Thessalonians 5:21, "Test all things; hold fast what is good." Or as the King James Version states, "PROVE all things; hold fast that which is good."

Notice the attitude of the Bereans in Acts the 17th chapter.  The author, Luke, commends the Bereans for their positive, investigative attitude in reading the scriptures.  Acts 17:11, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

One way of testing or proving the Bible is to PRACTICE the principles and precepts of the Bible. Jesus emphasized that we must LIVE by the Bible, by “every word of God.” He said in Luke 6:46, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" You can prove and test the Bible by practicing its instructions. THAT is how you can have a good understanding. Just as Psalm 111:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A GOOD UNDERSTANDING have all those who DO His commandments."

Key number 2 for understanding the Bible is, Prove All Things.

Another way to prove the Bible is to utilize our free Bible Study Course. The Bible has precious, priceless promises for you. And it reveals your potential future and the future of the world. The Bible is an up-to-date book. It’s a timely book. In fact, the very first lesson of our Bible Study Course is titled, "The Bible: A Book for Today!" You need this amazing FREE twenty-four lesson course. Lesson Two is "Are We Living In The 'Last Days?'" Lesson Three, "Can You Understand Bible Prophecy?" Lesson Four is titled: "Revealed: The Master Key to Bible Prophecy!" You need this free Bible Study Course. So pick up the telephone right now and request TOMORROW’S WORLD BIBLE STUDY COURSE. There’s no cost or obligation. Just telephone or write, and we’ll send you the first four lessons of our free Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course. Just ask for the Bible Study Course. You can also order this free Bible Study Course on our website at TomorrowsWorld.org---or you can write to us at one of our regional addresses.

The Bible is a mystery to millions of people. But you can understand its mysteries if you apply the keys to unlocking them. In the first part of our program, we discussed the first two of seven keys to understanding the Bible. KEY NUMBER ONE: The Bible Is Always Relevant. KEY NUMBER TWO: Prove All Things.

A third key for effective Bible study is: The Bible Interprets the Bible.

We’ve discussed this principle on previous programs, and it is an extremely important principle. More than 25% of the Bible is prophecy---and symbolic language is often used. The books of Daniel and Revelation contain much symbolic language. How can you understand it?

In previous programs, we’ve discussed examples of symbolism in the book of Revelation. As we saw in Revelation 1:20, stars symbolized the angels of the seven churches. And the seven lampstands symbolized seven churches. In Revelation 17, the Apostle John sees in vision, a beast ridden by a woman, a harlot. Revelation 17:3. John writes, "...And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." She is called in verse 5, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

Verse 6 declares that this woman persecutes true Christians. The following verses give us the meaning of these symbols. Verse 12, for example, reveals the meaning of the ten horns of the beast: "The TEN HORNS which you saw are TEN KINGS who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast." And verse 18 tells us: "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

Our THIRD KEY for effective Bible study is: The Bible Interprets the Bible.

If you don’t understand a symbolic word, look elsewhere in the Bible. This leads us to our FOURTH KEY: Study All the Scriptures on a Topic. Teachers who fail to do this often end up teaching false and misleading doctrines. Take, for example, the controversy often called "Law OR Grace." Does God’s grace mean a Christian can live a life of rampant sin and blatantly DISOBEY his Savior? Of course not! As Jesus said in Matthew 19:17, "...if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Jesus then went on to mention several of the Ten Commandments.

Let’s understand. The Bible does not contradict itself. Jesus said in John 10:35, "The Scripture cannot be broken." God's Grace does NOT give us permission to transgress God's law. Some wrongly take Ephesians 2:15 as doing away with God's Ten Commandments and the moral law. Ephesians 2:15 states, "...having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances…" Actually, this is speaking of ordinances, or in the Greek, "dogma"---in this case, man-made laws that caused division between Jews and Gentiles. Remember, the principle here is to study ALL THE REFERENCES on one topic. If we read Ephesians 2:15 apart from the rest of the Bible, we could come to a wrong conclusion.

Listen to this plain comment about Ephesians 2:15 from the NIV Study Bible, "Since Mt. 5:17 and Ro. 3:31 teach that GOD’S MORAL STANDARD expressed in the OT law IS NOT CHANGED by the coming of CHRIST, what is abolished here is probably the EFFECT of the specific 'commandments and regulations' in separating Jews from Gentiles, whose nonobservance of the Jewish law renders them RITUALLY unclean."

In other words, when you are consistent and honest with the scriptures, as in this commentary, the truth is "GOD'S MORAL STANDARD expressed in the OT law IS NOT CHANGED by the coming of CHRIST." This is consistent with a principle we’ll discuss later in the program, the Bible is a complete book. Study the scriptures in BOTH the Old Testament and New Testament of your Bible!

To have a true understanding of Bible truths, apply our fourth key: Study All the Scriptures on a Topic.

When you honestly do that, you will see that, as in this example, Grace does NOT do away with the moral authority of God's law.

When you start understanding the awesome revelation and truth of the Bible, you'll gain knowledge for living an abundant life. And you'll have faith and confidence in the coming Kingdom of God and the glorious future God promises us. We’ll continue with more keys to understanding the Bible in the next portion of our program, but first, let me give you another opportunity to request an amazing Bible Study course. This 24-lesson course is absolutely free of charge. We’ll send you the first four lessons upon your request. You’ll be greatly inspired by the insights and lessons from Tomorrow's World Bible Study Course. Order your first four lessons. There’s no cost or obligation. Call now!

The Bible contains awesome treasures of truth and pearls of promise for all of us. But we need to search out those treasures and claim the priceless promises God gives us so freely. When was the last time you opened your Bible? If you’re a regular viewer of this program, it might have been just a couple minutes ago. But, according to the American Bible Society, 32 percent of Americans NEVER read the Bible! Another 24 percent read it or listen to it on their own no more than four times a year.  They may not understand the Bible, but YOU can!  So far in the program, we’ve discussed four keys to understanding the Bible. The next key sets the stage for any Biblical subject you want to study. It’s very important!

KEY NUMBER FIVE for effective Bible study: Understand the Context.

When you study all the scriptures on a topic, go a little further. Read all the scriptures AROUND a verse you are studying. For example, some wrongly say that the Jerusalem Conference in Acts 15 abolished the Ten Commandments for the Gentiles. But notice the Apostle James' decision in Acts 15:19, "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood."

When the Apostles specified these four prohibitions, did that free the Gentiles to sin in other ways? To transgress the commandment that says "You shall not kill?" Or "You shall not have other gods before the true God"? Of course not! The Apostles in NO WAY repealed the moral law of God. To understand this, we need to READ THE CONTEXT. What was the main question? Read VERSE ONE of ACTS 15. "And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'"

The issue was circumcision. The conference decided that Gentiles DID NOT have to be circumcised in order to be saved. The Apostle Paul later wrote to the Corinthian Gentiles in 1 Corinthians 7:19, "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters."

Be careful to study all the scriptures around the verse you are studying. Remember the fifth key for effective Bible study: Understand the Context.

Key number six may seem obvious to serious Bible students, but it is rejected by too many professing Christians, and thus they greatly restrict their understanding.

Key NUMBER SIX for understanding Bible mysteries: The Bible Is a Complete Book.

Many cannot truly understand the Bible because they throw out its first 39 books, called the Old Testament. Let's understand. When Jesus quoted scripture, He quoted the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament. In His tremendous spiritual battle with Satan the devil, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when He said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" You’ll find that in Luke 4:4. That profound truth is absolutely foundational to anyone’s happiness, and their eternal life!

The Apostle Paul, writing to the young evangelist Timothy, spoke of the genuine faith that was in Timothy's grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice. They had taught Timothy the scriptures from childhood. And what were those scriptures? The first 39 books of the Bible. The New Testament had not yet been written. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:15, "…from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Timothy was able to understand salvation through the Old Testament Scriptures, and through His acceptance of Jesus Christ as His Savior.

The Bible is a complete book. It begins in the book of Genesis and ends with the book of Revelation. In fact, God warns us in Revelation 22:18: "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Let’s understand. When Jesus taught us the two great commandments, He quoted them from the Old Testament. The first great commandment, to love God with all our heart, soul and strength, is written in Deuteronomy 6:5! And Jesus' second great commandment, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, is from Leviticus 19:18. These Old Testament verses Jesus quoted, are commandments of God.

The point is, my friends, that we cannot understand God’s truth, or His plan, UNLESS we study the WHOLE Bible as the Word of God. To understand the Bible, we must read both the Old Testament AND the New Testament. Key # 6 for effective Bible study: The Bible Is a Complete Book.

The final key to understanding Bible mysteries is vital and fundamental. We’ll discuss KEY NUMBER SEVEN in the conclusion of our program. But first, I’d like to offer you our free inspiring Tomorrow's World Bible Study Course. You’ll be able to study the promises, the prophecies, and the teaching of the Bible in your own home, at your own convenience. Yes, the Bible is relevant. You need to explore its treasures of truth. The Bible answers the most BASIC questions of life! Lesson Six of our Bible Study Course is titled "WHY Were You Born?" The answer will astound you. The first lesson is titled, "The Bible: A Book for Today!" Lesson Two: "Are We Living In The ‘Last Days?'" Lesson Three "Can You Understand Bible Prophecy?" Lesson Four is titled: "Revealed: The Master Key to Bible Prophecy!" You need this amazing, FREE, twenty-four lesson Bible Study Course. There’s no cost or obligation. So pick up the telephone right now and request TOMORROW’S WORLD BIBLE STUDY COURSE and we’ll send you the first four lessons. Just ask for the Bible Study Course. You can also order it on our website at TomorrowsWorld.org---or you can write to us at one of our regional addresses.

And if you’re not already a subscriber to our bi-monthly magazine, Tomorrow's World, we’ll send you a free subscription. Tomorrow’s World magazine keeps you up to date with world trends, Bible prophecy, and the deeper meaning of life itself. Be sure to request Tomorrow's World magazine. There's no cost or obligation. Just ask for your free Bible Study Course. Call now!

The Bible reveals awesome truths that the great and mighty of the world do not understand. But you can understand IF you apply these seven keys to understanding Bible mysteries. The final and vital key for effective Bible study is foundational.

KEY NUMBER SEVEN: Pray for Understanding.

The Bible emphasizes that we need a teachable attitude. Ancient King David was a man after God’s own heart as it tells us in Acts 13:22. Notice David’s teachable attitude in praying for understanding. Psalm 25:4, "Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day."

My friends, pray for understanding as you read and study your Bible. Pray for guidance. God blesses those who respect the scriptures and reverence His holy word. Turn in your Bible to Isaiah 66:2. Almighty God states, "But on THIS ONE will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My WORD."

The seventh key for effective Bible study is: Pray for Understanding.

The Bible is the most important book in the world. My friends, if you’ve neglected reading the Bible, now is the time to change. Read it daily. If your attitude is right, you'll be greatly blessed and your life will be changed. As Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

The Bible is not only a book for TODAY, but it's also a book for the FUTURE. As Jesus said in Luke 21:33, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." Thank God, He's shared with us His awesome spiritual truth, and the very purpose of life.

Again, my friends, be sure to request your Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course. This detailed and informative course will help you in your study of priceless spiritual truth; it will help you in your study of Bible prophecy, and it will help you prepare for your future. And it’s absolutely free of charge.

We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World or watch us online at any time. As our world continues to unravel and decline, you need the encouragement, faith, and truth that come from your Bible. Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I, as well as our guest-presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the inspiring teachings of Jesus Christ, the encouraging good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to join us again next week, right here, at this same time!

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Can We Trust the Bible?

2017 marks the 500thanniversary of Martin Luther’s famous Ninety-Five Theses and the start of the Protestant Reformation. Luther taught that Christians should look to the Bible, not to the traditions of fallible human beings, to find the true teachings of Christianity.  How important is the Bible to you?

The Guinness Book of World Records estimates that five billion Bibles have been printed since the first Gutenberg Bible was printed in 1452. This book has stood the test of time. The Bible consists of 66 books in two major sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament. The original language of the Old Testament was primarily Hebrew. The original New Testament was written in the Greek language. It is a complete book from Genesis to Revelation! The Bible or parts of the Bible have been translated into more than 2,000 languages. 

On today’s program, we’ll be offering an amazing free study guide that will prove the inspiration of the Bible. It’s titled: The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This inspiring free booklet will give facts and information that will strengthen your faith.

In recent years, atheists and agnostics have increased their attack on God and the Bible. Millions of people have accepted these attacks without ever investigating for themselves. Is this book just a compilation of nomadic stories and myths? Or is this book the revelation of a Creator God who loves you and all human beings on earth? Is there a message in this book from outer space that reveals the future of all nations and your ultimate purpose and destiny? Can you TRUST the Bible to guide your life, and the life of your family? Can you prove that the Bible was inspired by God? Yes, you can! 

Stay tuned!

The Bible Was And Is Accurate

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

The Holy Bible has stood the test of time. Billions of professing Christians over the centuries revere the Bible as divinely inspired. They believe the Bible reveals the way to eternal life through Jesus Christ, and instructs us in the way to live peacefully and abundantly. On Tomorrow’s World programs, we’ve shared with you startling Bible prophecies such as Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; the end-time prophecies of Jesus; and the mysteries of Revelation including the woman riding the beast, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and the battle of Armageddon. Dozens if not hundreds of Web sites describe the unity of the Bible as one Book, written by more than 40 authors in three languages, including 66 books or letters, over a period of 1,500 years. 

The Bible itself claims divine inspiration. If God did indeed inspire this book for our benefit as His revelation to all human beings and to all nations on earth, then we need to pay attention to its teachings. On today’s program we’ll answer those questions. And we’ll be offering you an inspiring free booklet that will help you prove the authority of the Bible: The Bible: Fact or Fiction? Be sure to write down the phone number on your screen. You can also order this booklet on our Web site at TomorrowsWorld.org.

What does the Bible mean to people today? In April 2017, the Pew Research Forum reported: “Christians, who make up a majority of U.S. adults (71%), are divided over how to interpret the Bible. While about four-in-ten Christians (39%) say the Bible’s text is the word of God and should be taken literally, 36% say it should not be interpreted literally or express another or no opinion. A separate 18% of Christians view the Bible as a book written by men, not God.” (SOURCE: “5 facts on how Americans view the Bible and other religious texts")

My friends, you probably own one or more Bibles. When was the last time you read from your own Bible? The Bible itself challenges us to test all things, to prove what is true. If you have your Bible, turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:21. If you don’t have your Bible, be sure to find it and read from it. Have it available when you listen to Tomorrow’s World program, and read the scriptures we give you in your own Bible! 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” Or as the authorized, King James Version states it, “Prove all things.”

Has the Bible proven that it is historically accurate? Yes, it has. Let’s briefly discuss three examples:

1. The critics stated that the Bible’s references to an Assyrian Empire were untrue.
2. The critics questioned whether ancient Israel even existed.
3. The critics stated that ancient King David was a legend, invented by scribes around 500 BC, shortly after the Babylonian captivity.

First, let’s see if the critics were right. Were the Bible’s references to Assyria and Ninevah invented by ancient writers? Back in the 18th century, critics even questioned the existence of the Assyrian Empire, and the existence of the ancient city-state of Ninevah mentioned in the Bible. Here is one author’s description. “In the Old and New Testaments Nineveh is mentioned twenty times, and in the Old Testament there are 132 references to Assyria…An increasing number of skeptics, however, their religious faith diluted by the spectacular scientific breakthrough accompanying the first stirring of the Industrial Revolution, sneered at tales about Nineveh and treated it as a legend that belonged to an age of fables. For them, there had never been a Nineveh any more than there had ever been a Troy.” [SOURCE: The Luck of Nineveh, Arnold Brackman, pp. 12-13]

The archaeologist Austen Henry Layard eventually discovered the ancient site of Nineveh, and the artifacts in the British Museum in London, the Louvre in Paris, the Oriental Institute Museum in Chicago, and other locales, give overwhelming evidence to the historical accuracy of this ancient empire described in the Bible.

The critics were proved wrong. The Bible was and is accurate in its references to Ninevah and Assyria. The second criticism we mentioned was that ancient Israel did not even exist! Archaeology has confirmed its ancient history. The Israel Stele, a stone slab discovered in 1896 at Thebes in Egypt, is the oldest evidence of ancient Israel outside of the Bible. The stone monument, which I’ve seen in the Cairo Museum, records the military triumph of Pharaoh Merenptah of the 13th century B.C. It states, “Israel is devastated, having no seed, Syria is widowed because of Egypt.” [Treasures From Bible Times, by Alan Millard, 1985, p. 100]

Again the critics have been proved wrong. A third allegation by critics was that ancient King David was a legend invented around 500 BC by Hebrew scribes. U.S. News & World Report Magazine  featured a cover article entitled, “Is the Bible True? – Extraordinary insights from archaeology and history.” A team of archaeologists were digging in the ancient ruins of the city of Dan in upper Galilee. Avraham Biran led the team. They discovered a basalt stone monument from the 9th century B.C. The stele, or monument, commemorated “a military victory of the king of Damascus over two ancient enemies. One foe the fragment identified as the ‘king of Israel.’ The other was ‘the House of David.’” [October 25, 1999, pp. 12-13]

Now why should this be so significant? Note the next sentence. “The reference to David was a historical bombshell.” For those who have already proved to themselves the accuracy and veracity of the Bible, this was not a “bombshell,” but just additional evidence to what they had already proved!

Can we really trust that the whole Bible has been transmitted to us accurately? We’ll discuss that in the next part of our program. But firstI’d like to offer you this inspiring free booklet titled: The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This booklet presents impressive evidence that the Bible is indeed fact, and NOT fiction. The author, Dr. Douglas Winnail, comments on archaeological discoveries supporting the Bible’s historical accuracy. He writes on page 24, “There have been dozens of other remarkable discoveries. The Merneptah Stela describes an Egyptian pharaoh conquering Israel (ca. 1200bc). The Black Obelisk from Nimrud pictures Israelite king Jehu bowing before Assyrian king Shalmaneser III. An inscription near Jerusalem refers to ‘Joseph, son of Caiaphas’ (Caiaphas was the high priest in Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s crucifixion; see Matthew 26:57). An inscribed stone from first century Caesarea reads, ‘Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of Judea’ (Pilate was the Roman governor at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion; see Matthew 27:2). Such evidence, carved in stone, supports the conclusion that the Bible writers were recording facts and not fiction.” This inspiring booklet covers much more information than we have time for on this program. It will help YOU to help your family, friends, and skeptics to prove the Bible’s integrity, inspiration, and accuracy. So, pick up the telephone right now, and request your free copy. Just ask for the booklet on the Bible. You can also order this free booklet on our Web site at TomorrowsWorld.org. Call now! 

Proof of the Bible

In the first part of our program, we saw that archaeology has demonstrated the historical accuracy of the Bible. The Bible itself promises that its words, the words of God and the revelation of God, will be faithfully preserved. If you have you Bible, turn to LUKE 21:33. Jesus stated in LUKE 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” 

The Bible’s claim is verified by the historical record. Listen to these comments by famous archaeologists as quoted in the booklet, The Bible: Fact or Fiction?: “The manner in which archaeology has verified the historical accuracy of the Bible has been nothing short of remarkable!As noted archaeologist Nelson Glueck has written, ‘it may be clearly stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a single biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible’ (Rivers in the Desert, Glueck, p. 136). Glueck’s comments echo the words of another prominent archaeologist, William F. Albright, who stated, ‘There can be no doubt that archaeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of Old Testament tradition… The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible by important historical schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries… has been progressively discredited’” That’s from the booklet, The Bible: Fact or Fiction? pages 24-25.

Yes, my friends, the skeptics and the critics have been “progressively discredited.” Thank God, that you CAN prove the Bible, you can prove its inspiration and accuracy. If you have your Bible, turn to 2 Timothy 3. The Apostle Paul was writing to the evangelist Timothy. Notice, at the time, the New Testament had not been completed. Paul was telling him that the scriptures, the Old Testament that Timothy had studied, were able to reveal God’s truth and salvation. 2 Timothy 3:14, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

The Hebrew Scriptures were called “holy.” Combined with the new revelation of the Messiah, they assured the way to salvation. But notice the next verse and the inspiring claim of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Yes, God inspired all Scripture. The Greek word translated “inspiration of God” is theopneustos, which means “God-breathed.” In fact, the New International Version translates the verse this way: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

My friends, you can trust your Bible. In the next part of our program, we’ll see two more examples demonstrating the Bible’s accurate preservation. But first I’d like to offer you inspiring free booklet, The Bible: Fact or Fiction? It will give you the historic, archaeological, and spiritual proof you need. And it will give you more exciting examples of fulfilled prophecy. The author, Dr. Douglas Winnail, writes: “The Bible contains more than 1,500 prophecies that foretell in remarkable detail the future of prominent cities, kings and kingdoms. Fulfilled prophecies about the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre stand as a sobering testimony to the power and accuracy of Bible prophecy.”This informative free booklet will help you in your study of the Bible and give you evidence to prove the Bible, its inspiration and accuracy. My friends, you and your family need this inspiring free booklet, The Bible: Fact or Fiction? So, pick up the telephone right now and request your free copy. Just ask for the booklet on the Bible. You can also order this free booklet on our Web site at Tomorrowsworld.org.

Evidence the Bible Has Been Preserved

Let’s look at more evidence that the Bible has been preserved faithfully. In 1947, as a part of the Dead Sea scrolls, two copies of the book of Isaiah were discovered in Qumran Cave #1. These were dated to a thousand years earlier than any existing manuscripts of Isaiah. Had the words of Isaiah been preserved faithfully? Here is what one textbook reports, “…they proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more than 95 percent of the text. The 5 percent of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations in spelling… [these variations] do not affect the message of revelation in the slightest.” [A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, by Gleason L. Archer, 1974, p. 25] Of course, the Qumran sect that preserved the Dead Sea scrolls was not even recognized by the Jewish community to officially approve such texts—which makes the coherence of such textual accuracy even more remarkable.

According to the Apostle Paul, God gave the JEWISH community the responsibility of preserving the Old Testament scriptures. Speaking of the Jews, Paul writes in Romans 3:2, “to them were committed the oracles of God.” Or as the NIV translates it, “they have been entrusted with the very words of God.” Indeed, history shows that scribes called Masoretes have faithfully handwritten the scriptures. The official Hebrew text is called the Masoretic text. These scribes were so meticulous, they counted all of the letters and all of the words in a given book to make sure there were no variations, even in the letters of the text. 

The text of the New Testament, written in the Greek language, was preserved in the Greek speaking world. The King James Version of 1611 was primarily translated from the Hebrew Masoretic text and the Greek Received Text known as the Textus Receptus. Thousands of manuscripts testify to the accuracy of the New Testament. Again, as in the case of the Isaiah scroll, variations in the Greek manuscripts are minor and they do not affect the message of revelation or the fundamental teaching. Do errors creep into the translations? Yes, some errors, such as the late addition of I John 5:7, are easily identified in the Latin or English translations. But with so many manuscripts to cross check possible problems, we can have absolute confidence in the claims of the Bible.

Now let’s examine another specific prophecy in the Bible. As we’ve pointed out in previous programs, the prophecies of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 harmonize with Revelation 13 and 17. Bible prophecy refers to the final world-ruling empire, before the return of Jesus Christ, as a symbolic beast with ten horns. The Apostle John sees in vision a woman dressed like a harlot riding the beast. She is called MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. God reveals the meaning of this vision in Revelation 17:11, “And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

History and the book of Revelation reveal that there remains another revival of the last empire in Daniel’s prophecy. The Roman Empire has experienced six revivals, which we’ve documented in previous programs and in our publications. The final revival will unify ten kings or kingdoms that will ultimately fight against the returning King of kings, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Bible prophecy and history revealed that the territory once occupied by the Roman Empire would once again fall under her control. More than 50 years ago, when it looked as if the Iron Curtain would solidify the Soviet Union’s control for ages to come, one of God’s ministers, Herbert W. Armstrong, wrote that Russia “will be forced to relinquish her control over Hungary, Czechoslovakia and parts of Austria” (Good News, April 1952, p. 16). In 1956, after Russia’s invasion of Hungary, Mr. Armstrong wrote: “The way is being prepared for a colossal third force in world politics—a European Federation of Nations more powerful than either Russia or the United States!… We have shown years in advance what would happen to Russia’s ill-fated Empire in Eastern Europe” (Plain Truth, December 1956, p. 3).

Yes, God’s minister was able to show from Bible prophecy more than 30 years in advance, what would ultimately happen in Eastern Europe. My friends, about 25% of your Bible is prophecy. God has all power in the universe, and He WILL bring to pass the end-time prophecies revealed in your Bible. ISAIAH 46:9, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”

My friends, you can trust your Bible. There are many more proofs for the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Our inspiring free booklet, The Bible: Fact or Fiction? will give the historic, archaeological, and spiritual proof you need. And it will give you more exciting examples of fulfilled prophecy. Listen to these chapter headings: “Prophecy: The Bible’s Unique Dimension,” “Has the Bible Been Preserved Accurately?” and “Real Answers to Life’s Big Questions.” A chart titled “The Symmetry of Scripture” presents the original inspired order of the books of the Bible. This informative free booklet will help you in your study of the Bible and give you evidence to prove the Bible, its inspiration and accuracy. My friends, you and your family need this inspiring free booklet, The Bible: Fact or Fiction? So, pick up the telephone right now and request your free copy. Just ask for the booklet on the Bible. You can also order this free booklet on our Web site at Tomorrowsworld.org. 

God's Word Is Truth

On today’s program, we’ve seen several proofs that the Bible is true. But there is another way you can test the Bible, and that is by practicing its principles and precepts. If you have your Bible, turn to Matthew 4. Jesus said in MATTHEW 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Jesus quoted this statement from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy the 8th chapter. God was allowing the ancient Israelites on their Exodus from Egypt to learn a deeper spiritual lesson. Moses spoke to the Israelites in DEUTERONOMY 8:3, “So He [God] humbled you, allowed you to hunger…that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”

Once you begin to practice the principles of the Bible, you’ll begin to have understanding you never had before. As it tells us in PSALM 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” 

My friends, genuine Christianity is not just a one-day-a-week religion. It is a WAY of LIFE. The early Christians were referred to it the book of Acts as “the Way.” As you read through the book of Acts you will find several references to “the Way,” Acts 24:14, for example.

My friends, that Way of life includes daily prayer. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven. In His prayer for His disciples, He emphasized the source of truth. JOHN 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Yes, my friends, God’s word, the Bible, is truth. You need to read and study it daily! The Bible reveals the way to life beyond death. The Bible reveals the real meaning and purpose of life. The Bible teaches us how to improve relationships and to get along with people in a godly way. The Bible teaches principles for true success, fulfillment, and happiness. And the Bible reveals the future and how we can prepare for it! 

My friends, can you trust the Bible? Yes, you can! And it can change your life! The Bible is God’s instruction book to all humanity. And it gives us hope for the future. Be sure to request our inspiring free booklet The Bible: Fact or Fiction? It will give the evidence you need to prove the Bible and its inspiration. And may God bless you as you seek its instruction, revelation, and truth.

We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow’s World, or watch us on-line at any time. As our world continues to unravel and decline, you need the encouragement, faith, and truth that come from your Bible. Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I, as well as our guest-presenter Rod McNair, will continue to share with you the inspiring teachings of Jesus Christ, the encouraging good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So, be sure to join us again next week, right here, at this same time!