Daily Devotional – July 12

Biblical Accuracy

Why do I believe the Bible to be true? One of the reasons is the large number of fulfilled prophecies. No other book can claim that although many have tried. For instance, the Koran has one specific prophecy (that Mohammad would return to Mecca), but it is a selffulfilling prophecy, which the writer was capable of making come true - he did return to Mecca. This is quite different from the prophecy concerning Jesus, who said that HE would return from the grave. Jesus was dead for three days and then came back from the dead. Mohammed’s prophecy was easily fulfilled while Jesus’ prophecy was not humanly possible!

In the same way, other fulfilled prophecies in the Bible prove the Bible true. Consider the prophecies about Sidon and Tyre. The prophecy regarding the city of Sidon was that the people would be decimated, but the city would continue (Ezekiel 28:21-23). The city of Sidon was attacked, and 40,000 were killed, but the city still stands today. What about Tyre? At its height, the prophet declared that the coastal city of Tyre would be destroyed; the walls would be broken down so that, “I will scrape her dust from her and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets…..They shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water…I will make thee like the top of a rock.…never to be rebuilt and never again to be inhabited? (Ezekiel 26:4-5,12,14 emp. added). At its height, the city of Tyre was besieged by the powerful King Nebuchadnezzar. For 13 years, Tyre held off the attack; finally, the walls were breached, and many were killed. Thousands, however, had fled to an island ½ mile out in the Mediterranean Sea to rebuild their city. Two hundred fifty years later, Alexander the Great came to Tyre and commanded the city to surrender. The people, feeling secure on their island fortress, laughed. So Alexander came up with a bold and daring plan. He would build a causeway across one-half mile of sea to Tyre. Alexander used every timber, stone, and piece of rubble from old Tyre and scraped the site of the city clean – right down to the bedrock. Today Tyre is like the top of a rock, good only for the spreading of nets. “For I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD....” (Ezekiel 26:5).

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

~ Matthew 5:18

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – June 12

Biblical Accuracy

The continued existence of the Jewish people is one of the most amazing, fulfilled prophecies of the Bible. About 4,000 years ago, God called a man named Abram out of his country to a promised land. God promised that a great nation of innumerable people would come from him and changed his name to Abraham - even though he was almost 100 years old and childless. Two hundred and fifteen years later, Abraham’s descendants settled in Egypt. While in Egypt, Abraham’s descendants increased greatly - numbering in the millions within 500 years of Abraham’s death. As they were returning to the Promised Land, Moses gave them many warnings about the consequences of being disobedient to God (see Deuteronomy chapters 28-33).

Because of their rebellion, they were again banished from their homeland in 70 A.D. The Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and scattered the Jewish people. For almost 1900 years, the Jews wandered the Earth. This culminated in the Holocaust of World War II. In 1948, the state of Israel was reborn, and many Jews returned to their homeland. Throughout this entire time, the Jewish people never lost their national identity. History has shown that people who leave their homeland will lose their national identity within five generations - being absorbed into the new culture. Have you ever heard a person say, “I’m a Moabite, or I’m a Philistine? Ammonite? Edomite?” These were the nations that lived around Israel. Obviously, they have not survived. Yet for the past 4000 years, people have continued to say, “I’m Jewish” or “I’m an Israelite.” God is faithful to fulfill what He says!

And I will make of thee a great nation;

~ Genesis 12:2a

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – May 22

Biblical Accuracy

What is the smallest seed? The vanilla orchid seed is microscopic in size and to date is acknowledged as the smallest seed. So was Jesus wrong when he stated that the mustard seed was the smallest of all seeds?

Let’s look at the context. Matthew 13:31-32 (NKJ) says, “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds.’ ” The mustard seed was cultivated during this time. So the mustard seed was spoken of in comparison to other seeds that were sown by the farmers. “It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth” (Mark 4:31 NKJ). Of the common seeds that are planted by farmers, the mustard seed is indeed the smallest. The Bible is not full of contradictions and falsehoods. Upon closer inspection all questions about its accuracy have clear answers. God inspired the Bible. Biblical truth always remains!

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed….

~ Matthew 17:20

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – May 11

Biblical Accuracy

Did you know that pterosaurs are mentioned in the Bible? Not by the modern scientific name but as “fiery flying serpents” (Isaiah 14:29, 30:6). Also in Numbers 21, as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they encountered “fiery serpents” (21:6, 8). Some modern commentators suggest these were venomous snakes. The Hebrew words used to describe them, however, include the verb, uph, which means to fly or flutter, that is “flying serpent”. These creatures most likely were pterosaurs with venomous bites and brilliant scales that appeared “fiery”.

Notice in Numbers 21:9 and John 3:14, this creature was put on a pole. At this time, because of their disobedience, the people of Israel were plagued with poisonous flying serpents. God told Moses to have the people raise a symbol of this serpent up on a pole in the midst of the camp in order to protect them. But neither the Old nor New Testaments, in their original language, use the word “snake” to describe what is being put on the pole. The poisonous reptiles that attacked and killed the Israelites flew. Today’s translations assume these creatures were venomous snakes, but why could the people not have escaped from slithering snakes? Also, a snake, from Genesis to Revelation, has been used as a symbol of Satan. Why would people look to a symbol of Satan to be saved? A much better explanation would be the now extinct pterosaur being hoisted up a pole with its wings spread out. This would have formed the shape of a cross! This was a foreshadowing of the final salvation coming to mankind – Jesus Christ dying on a cross.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

~ John 3:14

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – April 26

Biblical Accuracy

One criterion for determining the reliability of any ancient manuscript is the time which elapsed from the original manuscript to its later copies; the more time that has passed between the original and the copy, the more chance for errors to develop.

So what have manuscript studies found when comparing ancient documents? Caesar’s War Commentaries were written about 50 B.C.; we do not have the original. The only copies date from the 9th century - a 900 year gap! Aristotle’s works have a 1450 year gap. Plato’s works have a 1,250 year gap. Tacitus’s writings have a 1,000 year gap from the original manuscript, and Virgil’s works have a 300 year gap.

Now, let’s compare these ancient manuscripts (whose authenticity is not questioned) with the New Testament. Major copies of every book in the New Testament are within 100 years of the original. What a short time span! The closer to the original, the more accurate it will be. If the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would be beyond ANY REASONABLEDOUBT. The New Testament stands in a league of its own, far more trustworthy than any other ancient writing!

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

~ Isaiah 40:8

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – April 12

Biblical Accuracy

What if….you took 40 different people….from all different walks of life, social status, and vocations…living on three different continents…separated by thousands of years….writing in different moods (from sorrow to joy)… writing in three different languages….and writing about diverse topics. Would you expect to have a unified, harmonious story? Or would the result be a disjointed jumble of different ideas?

The Bible was written

• By 40 different authors: shepherds, kings, soldiers, religious leaders, common men, statesmen, doctors, government officials
• In different places: palaces, towns, large cities, deserts
• At different times: times of war and peace, of prosperity and need
• In different moods: joy and sorrow, fear and security
• On three different continents: in Africa (Egypt), Europe (Italy), and Asia (Turkey)
• In three different languages: Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic
• About many topics: the nature of God, moral issues, religious ceremonies, history, science, documentation of facts
• In multiple styles: poetry, songs, historical accounts, sermons, advice, personal letters, prophetic utterances, lineages, royal edicts, allegory
• Over a 1500 year period

Yet, these 66 books share a common storyline - creation, fall, redemption - God’s love for us and His means of salvation to all who repent of their sins and follow Him with all their heart, soul and mind. This golden thread weaves its way throughout the Bible. It is the unified, harmonious story of God’s Word. In all 66 books, there are no historical errors or internal contradictions. The Bible is no ordinary book; it is the inspired Word of God!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…

~ 2 Timothy 3:16a

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – February 26

Biblical Accuracy

The Bible is full of prophecy – which simply is advance knowledge of the future. Since time is part of the physical universe, and God is the one who created the universe, God is “outside of time.” The fact that the Bible is filled with specific prophecies, that have come true, is one of the ways we can know the Bible is inspired by the One who is outside of time – God, the Eternal One.

One such prophecy concerns Edom. Edom was an ancient nation located near the Dead Sea. In Ezekiel 35:3-4, 9, God pronounced a curse on Edom, stating that this large nation would become desolate, all its cities would disappear, it would never be inhabited by humans, and it would be overrun by animals and beasts.

Today, we find nothing but traces of uninhabited towns in this area. Even the capital of Edom, Petra, considered one of the wonders of the ancient world with its buildings hewn out of beautiful rose-red solid rock, now stands in ruins. The only inhabitants are birds, reptiles, and assorted other animals. Imagine if a prophet of today came to New Jersey, which is about the size of Edom, and prophesied that New Jersey would become desolate, never to be reinhabited by humans and would be home only to wild animals and beasts. We would say that is ridiculous. Yet that is what has happened to Edom. The Edomites only existed for 1,700 years; their cities and even their language have utterly disappeared. The desolation of this land is a testimony to fulfilled prophecy.

I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make three most desolate. I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD….I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

~ Ezekiel 35:3-4, 9

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

Daily Devotional – February 17

Biblical Accuracy

Are unicorns real? AnAPreport coming out of an Italian nature preserve announced, “Single-Horned ‘Unicorn’ Deer is Found in Italy.” Sounds like fantasy, doesn’t it? But unicorn merely means “one horn”, and that is what was discovered in Italy.

Interestingly, its twin has two horns, so in this case, the one horn is probably a genetic flaw or birth defect. What is interesting is that the horn is positioned in the center of its head. Unicorns are mentioned in the King James Bible multiple times (Deuteronomy 33:17; Numbers 23:22, 24:8; Psalm 22:21, 29:6, 92:10; Isaiah 34:7). Ancient artwork also has images of unicorns. Remember that a unicorn is just a one-horned animal but depictions do not look like rhinos. They could be a one horned deer, goat, or some other animal. Unicorns were some kind of four-legged mammal with either a genetic mutation for a single horn (like the one found in Italy) or an extinct variation of a species still alive today.

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

~ Numbers 23:22

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

Daily Devotional - January 25

Biblical Accuracy

Is the Bible true? Again and again, archeology confirms that the Scriptures are true.

Here a few discoveries archeologists have made.

• The Bible tells of Israelites being attacked by Moabites. Guess what they dug up in 1869? The Moabite stone which records the Moabites attacking Israel.
• The Bible tells of Jerusalem being attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC (2 Kings 24:10). Guess what was found? In southern Israel, in the 1930s, the Lachish letters showing that Nebuchadnezzar did attack Jerusalem.
• The Bible speaks about Abraham and Isaac, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Guess what they dug up in northern Syria in the 1970’s? The Ebla Tablets mentioned these two people groups and these two cities.
• The Bible mentions the city of Jericho and how the Israelites marched around the city’s mighty walls once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times with the priests blowing their trumpets and the people shouting, and then the walls fell down (Joshua 6). So what have archeologists find in 1997? Evidence that “the wall fell beneath itself.”
• The Bible mentions slings and stones being used as deadly weapons. David used them when he killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17), and 700 Benjamites used slings and stones and never missed (Judges 20:16). So what have we discovered? Archeologists now recognize that the ancient armies’ most important weapon was the sling!

Archeology continues to show that God’s word is true!

Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

~ Judges 20:16

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett