ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN by inspiration of God” (II Timothy 3:16); thus the Scriptures bear witness to them-selves that they are divine. No other book in the history of mankind has had such a tremendous effect in the lives of millions as the Holy Bible, nor has any other book been such a target of skeptics. In the dark ages, godless men sought to wipe it off the face of the earth. However, the Author preserved it, and it still lives on — a divine master-piece.

Today, Satan’s tactics against God’s Word are different. Instead of trying to wipe it out, he’s trying to instill into the minds of men that it’s not divinely inspired, in spite of the fact that Peter says, “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21).

Not only do the Scriptures bear witness that God wrote the Bible, but also the exact fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies bear record, too, without a shadow of doubt!

Let us now look at two prophetic proofs that the Bible is of God.

PROPHECIES CONCERNING CITIES

Babylon, with its beautiful hanging gardens, was one of the wonders of the world and the most famous of ancient cities. Its area of 150 square miles was surrounded by a wall 100 feet high and 30 feet thick, with 100 brass gates. Isaiah 13:19–22 pronounced its utter destruction 160 years before its overthrow with these words — “It shall never be inhabited.” You don’t see that wondrous city today, do you?

When Alexander the Great conquered the island of Tyre, little did he know that God gave a detailed account of its overthrow in the twenty sixth chapter of Ezekiel, 240 years before it took place! None but God could foresee these things and write of them!

PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST

Nothing can destroy the fact that Christ’s earthly manifestations were clearly recorded centuries before He came. There are 333 references to Christ in the Old Testament, and a space of 400 years elapsed between the Old and New Testaments. There are about 25 specific prophecies concerning the crucifixion of Christ. They were all fulfilled in 24 hours. The chance of coincidence is 1 in 33,554,432! Here are a few. The chief priests agreed that 30 pieces of silver should be the price of His betrayal exactly as foretold in Zechariah 11:12 (487 B.C.). He was put to death by crucifixion in spite of the fact that the Jewish method was by stoning, so that His hands, feet and side might be pierced, thus fulfilling Psalm 22:16. After He died, a Roman soldier pierced His side, exactly as foretold in Zecha-riah 12:10. They parted His garments and cast lots for His vesture (John 19:23,24) exactly as foretold in Psalm 22:18. After He died, the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves as was the custom, but they did not touch the Saviour’s legs. Do you realize that neither all the Roman soldiers nor the devil himself could have broken a bone, even if they so desired, because God had declared, hundreds of years before, “He keepeth all His bones: not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20)! Thus Roman soldiers, who were totally ignorant of the prophecies committed to Israel fulfilled them to the minutest detail! Only a person ignorant of God’s Word (the Bible) could deny its divine inspiration!

THE REASON FOR IT ALL!

Let us now consider just why the Bible was given to us from God. The apostle Paul said, “The holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation” (II Timothy 3:15). By this Scripture we see that God has given us a divine revelation to reveal how we can be saved. God also reveals that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), and shows in His Word that because of our sin, heaven’s door is shut against us, and that if we die in our sins, everlasting pun-ishment will be our portion in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). These are divine facts, not fables! He also shows that doing good works and trying to keep His commandments will not and cannot save our souls from hell (Ephe-sians 2:8,9; Romans 3:20). But, blessed be His name, He has not left us in darkness as to the way of salvation! His Word states that “Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3); that “He was wounded for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5); that redemption and forgiveness of sins can be ours only through Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 1:7); that He “was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25); and “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Where does the reader stand in the light of these solemn salvation truths of God’s Word? Have you ever taken your place as a guilty sinner and trusted the Saviour for salvation? If not, why not do so today? – Thank God for the Holy Bible! May we ever value its origin and object!

“. . . He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life. . ."
(John 5:24)