03-The Wonder of Its Unfailing Accuracy
THE WONDER OF ITS UNFAILING ACCURACY
Chapter 3
In the first chapter I brought before you THE WONDER OF THE BIBLE’S FORMATION. We saw the hand of GOD working through more than forty writers, men from all walks of life, writing over a period covering more than 1500 years - yet the finished product is a wonderful, unified whole. There is only one explanation for this, it is that GOD IS ITS AUTHOR.
In chapter two we considered THE WONDER OF THE BIBLE’S INSPIRATION. We saw that the writings of the men that GOD used were literally "GOD-BREATHED". From cover to cover of the Bible we hear the words sounded hundreds of times - "Thus saith the LORD". It is indeed GOD’s message to man.
In this chapter we will carefully examine "THE WONDER OF ITS UNFAILING ACCURACY". Attempts have been made in every age to discredit its statements, to prove the Bible false. Especially is this true in this space age. I want to call to your attention some of the attempts that have been made; and to show you that GOD’s Holy Word is absolutely accurate in what it says, that every effort made by man to discredit the Bible has proved a complete failure. How our faith is strengthened when we realize that this is true! This proof has been piling up throughout the ages; to-day a mountain of testimony is before us. The enemies of the Bible have not been able to produce one single error. Here is a verse I would like to have you commit to memory,
"Thy Word is true from the beginning" (Psalms 119:160).
I hardly know where to begin the consideration of the WONDER OF THE BIBLE’S UNFAILING ACCURACY, there is so much proof that can be produced. To give you what I have gleaned in the preparation of this manuscript would fill a small volume in itself. Therefore I can only give the heart of what I have found.
Remember this - the Devil is behind all the attacks that have been made to discredit the Bible. The Word of GOD is "THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT", therefore the Devil would do all he can to destroy "THE SWORD". What good is a soldier if he does not have a weapon? Just as GOD used men to write the Bible, so the Devil uses men to try to discredit its statements.
Dear reader, do not be misled by the type of men who attack the accuracy of the Bible. It matters not whether they be men working in a shop or factory, or whether teachers in some school or university, or modernists in the garb of a minister standing behind a pulpit. Just because they may be men in some exalted position, holding a place of influence and authority, does not mean that what they teach, preach or write against the accuracy of the Bible is true. DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THESE MEN, do some constructive study and thinking for yourself.
I want to prove to you the WONDER OF THE UNFAILING ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE FROM FIVE DIFFERENT SOURCES, -
1. The testimony of geologists.
2. The spade of the archeologist.
3. The laboratory of the chemist.
4. The telescope of the astronomer.
5. The study of the prophetic student.
FIRST OF ALL, LET US CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY OF THE GEOLOGIST
There is much the geologist can tell us. He studies the rock strata of the earth. If the Bible be true, if its statements are unfailingly accurate, then what it says should be in harmony with the findings of the geologist.
GEOLOGY CONFIRMS THE BIBLE STORY OF THE CREATION OF MAN.
I need not tell you that most of our schools and colleges teach that man is a lineal descendant of the lower animals. I believe this doctrine of Evolution is the greatest menace to Christianity to-day, this doctrine that man was not created by GOD as the Bible says he was, but is a blood relative of the brutes below him.
Dear reader, there is not one single reference either by word, phrase, or syllable, that in the most remote way suggests such a doctrine. GOD’s Holy Word definitely contradicts such teaching. Read the Word for yourself,
"All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds" (1 Corinthians 15:39).
The pick of the geologist has discovered over 100 specimens of vertebrate life in the early rocks, and most of these are alive to-day. Not one instance can be found where there is any material change from the time they were buried in the rocks until to-day. All nature confirms GOD’s law as stated in the Bible; every living thing brings forth AFTER ITS KIND.
THE SPADE OF THE ARCHEOLOGIST ALSO BEARS TESTIMONY TO THE UNFAILING ACCURACY OF GOD’S HOLY WORD
Let me throw up the warning sign - atheists, infidels, skeptics and unbelievers, beware! You had better drop your spade and not attempt to dig in Bible ruins, for IN EVERY INSTANCE the spade has brought to light discoveries that substantiate the Bible record to the most minute detail. Let me illustrate this fact, -
College students attending some universities one hundred years and more ago were told by their professors that Moses could not have written the first five books of the Bible because written language was unknown at that time. How they did heap ridicule and scorn upon the Bible! As a result, many of the students became atheists, some died as unbelievers because of this false testimony.
Why do I say "false testimony"? Because several generations ago a peasant woman working in her back yard preparing a garden, found some stone tablets. When the authorities dug up all they could find they found that they had 320 letters which they labeled the "Tel El Amarna" letters. These stone tablets when translated were seen to be the correspondence from Egyptian consuls in Palestine to Pharaoh and his officials in Egypt regarding business and political conditions in Caanan.
They were old, old letters, for the date was definitely fixed that they were written before the conquest of Palestine by Joshua. How do the authorities know this date to be correct? Because the Canaanities were still in possession of the land when these consuls wrote home to Egypt. These consuls give by name the nations destroyed by Joshua, as well as the names of the cities conquered by him.
This proves without a shadow of a doubt that writing was not only known and used during the time of Moses, but it had been in existence hundreds of years before. Do you still question whether Moses wrote the books ascribed to him? Thus these tablets found by that peasant woman give ABSOLUTE PROOF OF THE UNFAILING ACCURACY OF GOD’S HOLY WORD.
THE DISCOVERY OF THIRTY-FIVE MUMMIES
At almost the same time Professor Maspero, who was one of the leading archeologist of that day, learned that tourists coming from the region of the Nile were bringing with them valuable curios, which after examination he discovered they had come from the tombs of royalty. No official report of a royal find had come to him, so he decided to investigate. Some months later he found an Arab who with his brothers had discovered in the region of the tombs of the kings a room that was full of mummies and curios. They uncovered an opening which led into the ground thirty-seven feet. At its end was this room, it was thirteen feet wide and twenty-three feet long and here, closely packed together were thirty-five mummies. They were, of course, well wrapped. They took them to a museum at Cairo where they were unwrapped.
Let me tell you, dear reader, what they found. They had the body of the Pharaoh’ of Joseph’s time, the mummy of Pharaoh’s daughter who found Moses, her father Ramses the Great, who ruled Egypt when the children of Israel left Egypt. The oldest mummy was one who had been dead five thousand years. Among these mummies were those of Jannes and Jambres who were spoken of by the Apostle Paul who said,
"Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth" (2 Timothy 3:8).
Among these mummies were these two men, who, no doubt, by their cunning tried to reproduce and discredit the miracles wrought by Moses. Even the expression on their faces showed the kind of men they were.
What a testimony the archaeologist has given us to the unfailing accuracy of the Bible! Skeptics and agnostics have told us that these kings never existed. Yet GOD has preserved their bodies for over five thousand years, that in His own time they might be brought forth to prove without the shadow of a doubt, that they actually lived. Thus the record of the Bible is substantiated, not only the Old Testament story given us by Moses, but the New Testament record given us by the Apostle Paul, as well.
If space allowed I could tell you more in detail how Professor Naville of Geneva in 1884 while excavating at Tanis, Egypt, found a square of underground buildings having thick walls. They were two story buildings. When he examined the lower tiers of bricks he found they had been made without straw, thus confirming the story given in the fifth chapter of the Book of Exodus, telling how the Israelites were forced to make bricks without straw.
I would tell you also of the Grenfell and Hunt expedition which in 1897 in the valley of the Nile, some 120 miles south of Cairo, discovered literally tons of Greek papyri, hundreds of which were written in the language of the New Testament. These confirm the message of the Word of GOD, revealing to us that GOD’s Holy Word is unfailingly accurate; it is true and absolutely dependable.
GOD help you, dear reader, to realize this truth!
THE LABORATORY OF THE CHEMIST LIKEWISE SHOWS US THE WONDER OF THE UNFAILING ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE
I have already told you that the Bible story of the creation of man can be relied upon as absolutely true. Now let chemistry, as well, testify to the unfailing accuracy of the Book!
1. CONSIDER THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING THE HUMAN BODY.
The Book of Genesis, chapter two, verse seven tells us,
"And the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul."
The Word of GOD says that man was formed "of the dust of the ground". Chemistry has demonstrated to us that, as far as we know now, the universe is composed of 118 chemical elements, no more, no less. Now listen to this - there are 16 elements in the dust of the ground. And we are told that man is composed of just 16 elements. The late Dr. Arthur I Brown is authority for the following facts: -
"The protoplasm in man is composed of 72% oxygen, 13.5% carbon, 9.1% hydrogen and 2.5% nitrogen. This leaves about 3% made up of small amounts of phosphorus, chlorine, sulphur, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and silicon, with a touch of fluorine, iodine and manganese. To this is added about 70% water."
Dr. E. F. Lawson gives us the following analysis to a person weighing 140 pounds:
"Water enough to fill a ten gallon keg.
Fat enough for seven bars of soap.
Carbon enough for 9000 lead pencils.
Phosphorus enough to make 2200 matches.
Magnesium enough to make one dose of salts.
Iron enough to make one medium sized nail.
Lime enough to whitewash a chicken-coop.
Sulphur enough to rid your dog of fleas.
The whole worth about 78 cents."
Here again we see the unfailing accuracy of the Word of GOD.
2. CONSIDER THE CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD THROUGH THE BODY.
A normal man of 160 pounds has about four quarts of blood in his body. For centuries it was believed that the arteries were hollow tubes. No one knew that the blood circulates through the body once every 23 seconds, until an English doctor by the name of Harvey made known to the world what is now a well established fact. Yet the Bible in Ecclesiastes 12:6 gives us the proof for the circulation of the blood. This is just another proof of the unfailing accuracy of GOD’s Holy Word. Tell me, dear reader, who gave this information to Solomon?
3. CONSIDER THE LAWS OF BACTERIOLOGY GIVEN TO US IN THE BIBLE.
Have you ever watched a surgeon scrub his hands under a tap just before he begins an operation? Years ago medical science learned that if an operation were to be successful, everything used about the patient must be as sterile as possible. This is why the surgeon will scrub and scrub until every possible germ is removed from his hands. Why does he use running water? Why just fill the bowl and then scrub? Simply because his hands would never be clean if he washed in a bowl. Germs would be in the water, and no matter how long he scrubbed germs would still remain on his hands. The running water carries off the germs as fast as they are scrubbed loose.
We have only known the laws that govern bacteria a short time, but GOD gave these laws to Moses centuries before. Read GOD’s command,
"When he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing; and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh IN RUNNING WATER, and shall be clean" (Leviticus 15:13).
How did Moses know the laws governing bacteriology unless GOD gave them to him? Oh the wonder of the unfailing accuracy of the Bible!
4. CONSIDER THE INVENTION OF PRINTING
Printing was unknown until a man by the name of Gutenberg discovered by accident this wonderful art. The Bible was the first book to be printed. And yet, do you know that Job, centuries before CHRIST was born, wrote of printing a book? Hear the cry of the prophet Job,
"Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book!" (Job 19:23).
Writing was known to man but who revealed to Job the fact that it was possible to print a book? This was known long before the chemist gave us printers ink.
There are many other illustrations I could give you but these will, I do believe, suffice to prove to you the unfailing accuracy of GOD’s Holy Word from the laboratory of the chemist. GOD’s Word is true! GOD’s Word is revealing! Oh, that I could get you to faithfully study its pages!
THE TELESCOPE OF THE ASTRONOMER LIKEWISE BEARS TESTIMONY TO THE UNFAILING ACCURACY OF THE SCRIPTURES
I have already mentioned the ideas that the ancients had regarding the earth, stating that they believed it was held up on the heads of elephants. It was generally believed that the earth was flat; even in the days of Columbus believed the earth to be round, even though his sailors believed the earth to be flat and that if they sailed far enough they would come to the "jumping off place". But centuries before, the prophet Isaiah preached that the earth was round. Speaking of GOD Isaiah said,
"He sitteth upon the circle of the earth" (Isaiah 40:22).
Who told the prophet Isaiah that the earth was round? The common belief was that the earth was flat. Job, who gave to us what is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible, bears this testimony regarding the earth,
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).
Astronomers tell us that in all the universe there is only one place where there are no stars, and that is in the north. Who gave the prophet Job this information? Who revealed to him the laws that govern the universe?
It was Galileo who discovered that the earth revolved on its axis, but Job knew this centuries before. It was Torricelli who discovered that the air has weight, but this was already known by Job.
"He... seeth under the whole Heaven; to make the weight for the winds" (Job 28:24-25).
THE SINGING STARS
Turn now to the 38th chapter of the Book of Job, and read one scientific fact after another which is known and accepted. Take the seventh verse,
"The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of GOD shouted for joy."
Here is another Bible reference to this same fact,
"Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice" (Psalms 65:8).
Let me tell you what this means. Modern astronomy makes clear to us the fact that "light is vocal". When the ether waves vibrate rapidly, this is what constitutes light, this vibration creates a singing sound. We cannot hear it for our ears are not sensitive enough to hear the music, but it is there nevertheless.
How marvelous is this testimony to the unfailing accuracy of GOD’s Holy Word! Each succeeding generation reveals to man new discoveries, which are stated in GOD’s Word. Editions of man’s books are absolutely out of date in a few years; encyclopedias of a few years ago can be bought at half price because of man’s changing ideas. But the Bible never changes, it is always up to date, it is scientifically correct!
THE NUMBER OF THE STARS
Take, for instance, the number of the stars. It was believed at one time that the total number of the stars was 3,146. But as men invented more powerful telescopes they realized the truth of GOD’s Holy Word that,
"The host of Heaven cannot be numbered" (Jeremiah 33:22).
"He telleth the number of the stars, He calleth them all by their names" (Psalms 147:4).
Only GOD, who created the stars, knows their number. He knoweth them everyone. We invent larger, more powerful telescopes. We then discover that the Universe is so vast it is ABSOLUTELY AND COMPLETELY BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION.
"The host of Heaven cannot be numbered". GOD knows this. He knows how many there are. He has given us this information in His Holy Word. Praised GOD for the testimony given through the telescope of the astronomer to the unfailing accuracy of GOD’s Holy Word!
FINALLY, THE UNFAILING ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE IS PROVED BY THE FULFILLED PROPHECIES, THE RECORD OF WHICH IS BEFORE US
Do you realize that hundreds of prophecies are stated in the Bible, most of which have been literally fulfilled?
All the prophecies relating to the first coming of CHRIST were fulfilled to the very letter. The prophecies regarding Israel, prophecies regarding the church, prophecies relating to the Gentile nations, prophecies pertaining to the Jews, all have been fulfilled or are being fulfilled.
Let the enemies show just one instance where prophecy failed in fulfillment, let them produce just one instance! They cannot do so, they would if they could. GOD’s Holy Word is true, and these fulfilled prophecies show us the unfailing accuracy of GOD’s Holy Word!
As I close this chapter let me ask you these questions, "What are you doing with this precious Bible? Do you realize that you cannot find one single truth anywhere but its substance can be found somewhere in the Bible?"
If you would know the truth of the Word, then let Him who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" come into your heart. The HOLY SPIRIT is there where you are even now as you are reading. If you will admit Him He will enter, He will cleanse you of all your sin, then He will unite with your spirit and you will be spiritually born. Then you will begin to live. Will you open the door of your heart and let Him in?