As we approach the end of the age we are overwhelmed with the amount of evidence of the reliability and accuracy of the Bible. Last week, more Dead Sea scrolls were discovered and the announcement of more caves to excavate was released. But unless you understand the history of the scrolls you may not realize the significance of what is taking place.
Let me take you back to 1947: a Bedouin named Mohammed ed-dib discovers ancient scrolls in a cave near Qumran. After this initial find, even more scrolls are discovered and in November of 1947, some of the scrolls are sold to Professor Eliezer Sukenik, a professor of archaeology at Hebrew University. The significance of the timing of these events should not be overlooked. Professor Sukenik writes in his journal:
“While I was examining these precious documents in my study, the late news on the radio announced that the United Nations would be voting on the resolution that night—whether or not Israel would be allowed to become a nation… It was past midnight when the decision was announced while I was engrossed in a particularly absorbing passage in one of the scrolls, and my son rushed in with the shout that the vote on the Jewish State had passed. This great event in Jewish history was thus combined in my home in Jerusalem with another event, no less historic, the one political, and the other cultural.”
The very day the first Dead Sea scrolls were purchased and the 2000-year-old parchments containing prophecies of Israel's restoration to the Land were being read, the UN General Assembly was casting votes to decide whether Israel would become a modern nation, and decided in its favor. As God providentially unveiled the documentation of Israel's ancient history through the discovery of the scrolls, the very words of those scriptures were being fulfilled concerning the nation's future rebirth!
The Isaiah scroll, now the earliest known copy of this ancient prophetic book, contains numerous predictions of the regathering of the Jewish people to the Land and the restoration of their nation:
Isaiah 11:11-12 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
This prophetic fulfillment, evident to everyone, is a clear and powerful sign of God's sovereignty over History, and of the reliability of our Scriptures!
Are you in doubt that God is in control? Have no doubt, nor fear of the enemy who is plotting to “rob, kill, and destroy” … for just as the scriptures proclaim the restoration of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland … they proclaim the Kingdom of God is coming that shall never pass away!
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]Writing daily devotions throughout the years I’ve often been asked the question, “How do I find the will of God?” There are probably many good scriptural approaches to answering this question; but I want to offer something very basic as you think about understanding the will of God. That is, simply, that you’ll know His will when you come to know the heart of God.
For the past few days we’ve been delving into the multiple meanings of “Amen”. While “Amen” is most commonly found at the end of prayers, the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) often used it at the beginning of a statement: “Truly, truly, I say unto you …” more accurately translated, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you…”
Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked. Sometimes we get so focused on the “big sins” such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin — but the Lord doesn’t give this sin a free pass — quite the opposite. It’s a hidden killer! This sin unleashed a plague that killed thousands of Israelites! [Numbers 16]
The city of Laodicea was founded nearly three centuries before the birth of Christ. Built on a trade route, Laodicea was quite prosperous. The wealth of the city was legendary, as Jews who lived there sent 9 kilograms (20 lbs) of gold to the Temple in Jerusalem on a yearly basis according to historical records.
Laodicea was an idyllic city except for its lack of a water supply. It depended on water from an external source, the city of Hierapolis was located six miles to the north, the site of mineral hot springs which were used for medicinal purposes. These steaming hot waters were piped to Laodicea, arriving there… lukewarm, hence the metaphor in Yeshua’s warning to the Laodicean church.
The church at Laodicea received a stern warning in chapter 3 of John’s Revelation. We would do well to reflect on it.
The word “Laodicea” is a compound in the Greek; “Laos” which principally means “people”, and “dike”, defined as “principle or decision”. One rendering might read, “rule of the people”, or, in modern terms, “Democracy”. In the western world, we have an affection and even a deep commitment to Democracy. Yet this form of government, “rule of the people” is fatally flawed… because we are fatally flawed by our sin nature…
As we continue to probe the lessons from the salt covenant, we now inquire into our part in the covenant.