FCP-12-ARCHAEOLOGY.

ARCHAEOLOGY.

I want now to refer to some very interesting archaeological discoveries.

Excavating near Ur of the Chaldees, Sir Leonard Wooley of the British Museum, found evidence of a high state of civilization from the earliest of times. A tablet with the names of two Sumerian rulers, period 5,000 years ago, and massive brick buildings with the builders mark stamped on the bricks period 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. He unearthed a large cemetery, finding many golden head-dresses and necklaces and a golden helmet of Mes-kalam-dug of about 3,500 B.C. and, Professor Langdon, Oxford University, working at Kish, about 250 kilometers from Ur, found tablets of ancient writing. The Pennsylvania University expedition found large numbers of inscriptions, including a series relating to the Creation and the Flood, and excavations at Warka reveal remarkable evidence of the advanced state of civilization while, in many places, the strata of civilization has been traced back to the very twilight of history reaching down to virgin soil before any habitation existed.

Eight separate expeditions working for the chief purpose of bringing to light the earliest traces of man has laid bare the culture and writings of men who lived over 5,000 years ago. The results have revolutionized thought concerning early civilization, and it has revealed much that before was blank, and many things which were once thought to be legendary. In their own words their finds have exceeded their highest hopes.

One of the most surprising things, and contrary to general belief, and world-wide accepted theories, is that whenever man appears he is already full grown. In other words, aboriginal man is a product of today, not of the dim ages as was supposed.

All the evidence points to the Mesopotamian plains being the very cradle of man, yet notwithstanding this it has found impossible to push man back beyond a few thousand years.

Writing of the steep pyramid, Sir Flinders Petrie states, ’The accuracy and great capability and training of those who built it, and the precision of the whole mass is such that the conclusion must be that at 2,000 B.C. Egypt was at its heyday’. Dr. Hall, of the British Museum, speaking of the great Pyramid, points out that it still remains the mightiest building in stone the world has seen, covering 5 hectares, 150 meters high, a tremendous volume of masonry.

However it is not merely the massiveness that is so striking, but many skills have been revealed, in some respects greater than those found in Europe 2,000 years later. Four thousand years ago men were highly developed in certain arts and technical trades.

Bronze castings in ornamental designs reveal on analysis that they contain 82% copper, 1.33% nickel,. 88% iron,. 23% antimony,. 95% not determined, and 14.61% oxygen. A silver vase of 4,500 years ago, has the coat of arms of ’Lagash’, (four eagles with open wings), showing remarkable skill, and their lapidary work can scarcely be surpassed today, even with aid of modern equipment. The unavoidable fact that archaeological research has revealed is, that no matter where, or how deep they dig into the past, the art of writing is there, and records are found to illuminate their discoveries. Even in Egypt documents have been found which they place at 3,000 B.C.

Another point of interest has shown some of the very earliest methods of writing were still used in Egypt when it was at the height of its culture showing that the earliest methods were far from crude. In fact, some aspects of this very method are in use again today. As early as 2,750 B.C. envelopes were used for letters and were sealed with the sender’s private seal. The museums of the world today have about one quarter of a million written tablets. Even a previous critic, Friedrich Delitzch, acknowledged, ’Everything now points to a well-organized system of communication by letter and postal arrangements. Private letters show much the same tone of interests as any ordinary letter today’.

Letters of the King of Eilch contain words and matter much the same as those of the last king of Babylon who lived 2,300 years later than he. Schools existed with lessons in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics, and all business transactions were recorded on tables. In 2,000 B.C. rolls made from the papyrus plant were used and written upon with pen and ink. Some of these rolls are 45 meters long, and about 25 cm wide. This is going back almost 4,000 years and is almost incredible, but we are dealing with revealed facts, not theories.

It makes one wonder how some modern critics must feel when they have made this subject of writing their chief battleground, contesting, almost every statement with the challenge that there was ample evidence to prove that Moses could not have written the Pentateuch, for writing was not known for many years after his death.’ And documents have been found which contain every aspect of life and transactions. Records of clans and nations, sale of land and buildings, loans, commercial transactions, farm produce records, cattle and genealogical lists. Invoice systems were much the same as in use today and letters dated about 1,400 B.C. from Palestine officials to the Egyptian Government are among many written in cuneiform. Tablets have been found at Calneh, Genesis 10:10, relating to Creation and the flood and this leads us into another area. The exciting discoveries of Sir Leonard Wooley in Mesopotamia, and the evidence of extreme flooding were eagerly, but prematurely, embraced by some researchers as proof positive of the Noahic Flood and, when further similar flooded areas were discovered, many Bible students discarded the idea of a world-wide flood and, although acknowledging a flood, declared it to be purely local. In doing this they believed of course that they had wedded Bible facts with scientific discovery. But, had they? Did they not rather ignore the Sacred Record and the evidence presented by the one who penned it?

Walter Beasley, F.R.G.S. in a concise summary of the viewpoint wrote in part. Ancient Times, Volume 1, Number 3, page 5. ’If the flood had been limited to a restricted area only, why should Noah have gone to all the trouble to build an ark of three stories? Why should animals, domestic or otherwise, be sent into the ark of tremendous proportions in pairs of seven and two, if the flood were local? Noah and his family would need to have migrated only to Palestine, or Egypt, or India, or some other adjoining land. This would have only involved a few weeks’ travel overland without the laborious effort of building a huge ship.’

Writing of Noah and his three sons, ’And of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.’ Genesis 10:32. He wrote, Ancient Times, Volume 1 Number 2, page 10. ’Is the evidence tendered by the writer of Genesis factual or fanciful? These names have been located, not only at the sites of long destroyed cities, but also in those nearby areas where early nations had their origin. Clay documents used by the earliest peoples of these plains and their adjoining countries, have now been read, translated, and published for all to read. We find the names given to lands where these nations had their origin, and in just those places where the Scripture writer would lead us to expect us to find them in their beginnings. Genesis 10:22-23.’ His research led him to investigate further the Noahic Flood and his findings, the tabulation of archaeological ’digs’ pertinent to the time of the Flood, and his record of geological discovery, must lead all, who seek the truth, to the place where they clearly see that the Bible account of the Flood is factual, accurate, and Divinely inspired.

Sir Ambrose Fleming, M.A. D.Sc. F.R.S. wrote concerning the Flood. ’There have always been widespread traditions of a Universal Flood. Most geologists did not agree to admitting that it was certified by geological facts. But of late years remarkable evidence has been accumulated, geologists of high repute such as Sir H.H. Howarth, Sir Joseph Prestwich, and others, who have approached the subject with open mind, were compelled to admit finally that the Noahic Deluge of the Bible was an historic fact.’

Archaeology is continually pointing to the Hand of God on His world, and the records found only but verify the way of life, with all its frailty, and all its strength, to be the same as it is so fearlessly revealed in Scripture.

It is very significant that all those tablets referring to the creation and fall of man, bear the recorder’s name except one, the one of Genesis 1:1-2. The facts of that marvelous statement God alone knew. We have ample proof now on account of its numeric structure that it was a direct revelation from God. It must be borne in mind that for the most part the men heading these expeditions were not out to prove the records of Scripture, but to reveal facts. However, even some of the diehards have had to acknowledge their faith in the Written Word.

Take the word of just one, who represents one of the greatest universities. ’I was a higher Critic, and disbelieved in the Bible but I have deciphered thousands of tablets, and the more I learn the more I believe the Bible to be absolutely true.’

It is quite evident that higher critical theories, and other modern diversions of truth, would never have seen the light of day had they not been conceived in an age unenlightened by archaeological discoveries.

Like its twin brother evolution, it cannot stand the light of revealed truth, for both were invented in the armchair. But the archaeologists who have gone out to uncover facts know nothing of uncivilized cave men. The foregoing extracts are very brief, nevertheless they should serve to open the eyes of many along this line, and there is a wealth of information available for those who wish to investigate this interesting subject further.

I have a series of actual photographs of portions of buildings and many details of their structure and contents, some showing the remarkable cut stonework and perfect arches, piers, some are ornamental, but every detail showing skillful workmanship. The stones are beautifully cut and bonded exactly as is done to-day, in some cases being about 40cm. x 40cm. x 80cm. and perfectly fitted, and with huge beautifully paneled double doors. But the most significant thing is that at every turn the statements of the Bible are marvelously verified.

One archaeologist gives a list of about forty statements of Scripture he has verified. For example, in Deuteronomy 3 we read that the men of Bashan were giants and mentions the king’s bed as being over 9ft. (about 3 meters) long. Now if these men needed beds of the same measurements they would need doors like that also, and, what has the spade revealed?

I have actual photographs by Dr. Porter of doors of those measurements, interior as well as exterior, over a meter wide. Some of these doors are cut from one solid stone. These photographs are taken in the uncovered ruins of Bashan. Others show the ruins of Jericho. The facts revealed there confirm the truth of Scripture over and over again.

I will conclude this subject with a statement from a man who has been on the job and carefully sifted the evidence. ’l have used the material possible in the careful survey of the evidence, and can find nothing contrary to Scripture records.’ W. J. Beasley, F.R.G.S.

Clay tablets excavated in Iraq reveal that Euclid’s classic triangle problems were studied seventeen centuries before Euclid was born. This discovery may completely upset the history of the development of science. These tablets, with the basic geometrical problems presented 4,000 years ago, are so clear that not a line of the drawings is faded in the baked clay and the cuneiform text is perfect. The tablets contain algebraic concepts even later than Euclid and a knowledge of mathematics never believed possible for the time.

I can only deal very briefly with what I consider in some respects to be one of the most remarkable prophecies in the Bible, known as ’Nebuchadnezzar’s Image’. No man has ever been able to accurately foretell the future, even a few years ahead. Yet here we have set forth in a most striking manner the actual set up of the nations from King Nebuchadnezzar 607 B.C., until the actual coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ to this earth in mighty power and glory as King of kings.

Nebuchadnezzar was the first world monarch and in Daniel 2 we read that in the second year of his reign he had a dream which greatly troubled him, and to make matters worse the dream had clean gone from his memory, v. 5. So, greatly troubled, he called in all his wise men, the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers, and demanded of them, under penalty of death, that they tell him the dream, and its meaning and when they said. ’Let the king tell the dream and we will show the interpretation thereof,’ the king still persisted with his demands, to which they replied, ’There is no man living that can tell the king’s matter,’ and with this the king was furious, and ordered they be destroyed.

Behind all this, of course, was God dealing with the king, as the following chapters show.

Now Daniel, hearing of this hasty command, requested of the king that he would give him, (Daniel), time and he would show the king’s matter.

Daniel’s request was granted, whereupon he prayed to God and was given the whole meaning in a night vision, v. 19 and after giving thanks and praise unto God he returned to Nebuchadnezzar and said in the presence of the king, v. 28. ’There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known to the king what shall be in the latter days.

Thy dream and visions of thy head are these, v.29, Thy thoughts came into thy mind, what should come to pass hereafter, and He that revealeth secrets maketh known unto thee what shall come to pass. Thou, O king, sawest and behold a great image, whose brightness was excellent stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, and his feet of part iron and part clay. Thou beheld until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet and break it to pieces. And the stone, (Christ’s kingdom), that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. v. 36. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. ’Thou, O king, art a king of kings.’

’Thou art this head of gold and after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and then another third kingdom of brass, and the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, for as iron it shall break in pieces and bruise. And as thou sawest the feet and toes, part iron and part potter’s clay, the kingdom shall be divided; and as the toes were part iron and part clay, so the kingdoms shall be partly strong and partly brittle. And as thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Thus, the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter; and the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure.’

Now surely every sane man and woman must acknowledge that if all the details of this prophecy can be verified in history, then God alone could have inspired it. The prophecy clearly tells us there were going to be four world empires only, and the very nature of these empires is revealed by the metals of the image?

What does history reveal?

Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold, the perfect autocracy, which kingdom survived for 70 years, during which time God revealed His mighty hand on several occasions, the last time being, ’The writing on the wall’. Daniel 5:24-30. And that night during that drunken banquet Darius conquered Babylon and established the great Medo-Persian Empire in 538 B.C.

How significant that this empire should be represented by the silver of the breast and arms, two distinct nationalities under one head, and for over 200 years this mighty empire held sway. How could it ever be conquered? It had the power to keep down all peoples, yet God had decreed a third, and so in 330 B.C. the Grecian Empire, under Alexander the Great, took over world sway, represented by the belly of the image. But yet another was to be and so in 63 B.C. the great Roman Empire with its Eastern and Western divisions took over the sovereignty of the world, and what a marvelous description was given in the prophecy represented by the two legs of iron, for as iron it was to crush and bruise. What a perfect description of the terrific iron empire of Home, which was the strongest and by far the crueler of the four, ruthlessly crushing all who opposed it.

I add here that this is not the only prophecy foretelling these four world empires for, in Daniel 7, we have the same thing, with further details; the empires being described as bears, and so marvelously do these four beasts portray the very nature of these empires that early critics tried to lead people to believe that the record was given after the events.

Let me just quote a few details concerning the last, v. 23. The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom; v. 7. A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly, with great iron teeth, it devoured and break in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet, and all who know anything of the history of this empire must acknowledge that God alone could have inspired that description.

What happened to this mighty empire? The prophecy shows down in the feet the element of clay mixing with the iron and causing disintegration, and this is exactly what happened, sin and corruption ate into the very heart of the empire, and it was split up and divided and remains so until this very day.

Many war lords have since set out to establish a fifth world empire, but God said four hence, no matter how many attempts are made, all will crash, for after the fourth, the kingdoms shall be divided, some strong and some weak.

Let me draw your attention to one more remarkable feature of the prophecy in chapter 2. v. 43.

We are told that the nations shall, ’mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they will not cleave one to another, even as iron will not mix with clay.’

What further proof of Divine inspiration need anyone than this?

However in verse 44 we have this. ’And in the days of these, (divided), kingdoms shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.’ The stone smites the image on the feet, the final stages of the divided kingdoms.

Now after seeing the staggering accuracy of the fulfillment of every detail of this prophecy down to the present day, can anyone be foolish enough to doubt its completion in the last and final act. The return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom.

Let me emphasize again, every detail of this marvelous prophecy has been literally fulfilled over a period of some 2,500 years, and is now history, down to the very day in which we live. an any one make himself believe that the last and final act will not be fulfilled? The return of Christ, in mighty power and glory to set up His Kingdom. And there are numerous other prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes, signs of the near return of Christ.

These are worthy of our careful consideration.

Who can deny that every one of these conditions is here today?

Referring to His Coming again our Lord said.

’As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was in the last days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought. they sold; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.’ Luke 17:26-30. The people had crowded out and ignored God, and Jesus warned there would be the same conditions when He returned again, and in the same way that men had scoffed at the warning of the coming flood, so they will not heed the warnings of the approach of His return, and God’s judgment of the world. The whole stage is set for the final act.

I can only warn you.

Come into the Ark of Christ before God shuts the door.

Then there will be a mighty manifestation of Divine Power such as the world has never seen, for He will shake the heavens also and men will tremble at the might and majesty of Him whom they have rejected as their Savior, and must now face as judge.

I wish now to draw your attention, your serious attention, to certain indisputable marks found both in the Bible and in Creation which stamp them as being the Divine Workmanship of our God as surely as the watermark on currencies, or official documents, stamp them as being genuine.

Some of these watermarks, or seals, we have examined before, in our investigation of the numeric patterns which are in flowers and corn, and these can be verified by anyone, to some degree, even without a lens. The Seal of Seven stands out in both the Bible and Creation, but before we examine the Seal In His Word let us turn to one or two other branches of Creation which show the pattern clearly because God’s dealings with mankind, and all life, are marked by specific design in which Seven is prominent. This is even discernible in the light which comes from our Sun. This pure, clear light is made up of seven distinct colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Can this be accident? Did you know that the development of the human embryo is calculated in periods of seven’s? At the 28th week it is generally assumed a child is capable of living if born, and the date of normal birth is so calculated, at 40 seven day weeks, that the doctor gives this approximate date as the ’expected’ date of birth. Children born prior to this time are generally known as ’premature’, and born beyond this time as ’overdue’. The wonderful family of birds is another part of nature in which we can find the definite Seal of the Creator, unchanging and unalterable by man.

Let me say first that the incubation period of many birds is very difficult to check, hence a difference of opinion exists regarding some birds, and the term ’about’ is used extensively.

There are, quite possibly, other numeric design among them besides seven, somewhat similar to that seen in the flowers, however, as I am only dealing with facts, I will not venture on speculation and the fact is that as soon as we begin to list the birds that have been definitely checked this remarkable Seal of Seven stands out again.

Take first some of the domestic birds which anyone can check for oneself. It is well known that when eggs are set under the domestic hen, or even if they are placed in an incubator, one looks for chicks on the 21st. day. Check up on your canary, 14 days.

Hundreds of finches of all varieties, and numerous other families of small birds like robins, thrushes, and the cockatoo have been checked out at 14 days also, and there are many bird families with incubation periods in multiples of seven.

Investigation brings clear evidence that these periods are by definite appointment, namely, that in a given family, the periods extend exactly by seven.

Now, although I have only touched the fringe of this subject, it should be sufficient, when considered together with numerous facts from the Bible, that the Creator has set His Seal upon all His Handiwork, and this Seal has a far greater significance than any of us have ever comprehended. ’For we are His Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.’ Ephesians 2:10.

There is a rich store of blessing here for those who, by the grace of God, are willing to be shown.

I remind you also that it is the purpose of Satan to blind us to these facts, so let us pray that God will help us to be honest with ourselves, for I sincerely believe that God has set these and other immovable signs before us, especially so that those of us who may be somewhat weak in faith, may have some tangible evidence of His Plan and Purpose through Jesus Christ.

Remember I said that God’s dealings with man was in sevens and if you study dispensation in the Bible you will find there are seven distinct periods of God’s dealings with man on the earth.

We are now in the closing days of the sixth, called Grace, and as the others have been definitely closed by the intervention of God, so also will this one. When the stone strikes the image, Daniel 2:35, then will begin the seventh, which will continue for a thousand years. Revelation 20.

However, the fact is that God’s dealings with man are in seven distinct periods. When God instituted the seven-day week He was foreshadowing this seven-fold period. Hebrews 4:3-11. Can you not see how God has woven this number seven into the life of man?

Let me again draw your serious attention to the Bible.

We have already examined some of its marvelous prophecies, proving its inspiration by God, and it should be apparent that it is vital to everyone who has access to its message, whether by ear or eye, for by the Word of God we shall be judged. Not by what you think, or what this professor or that cleric says, but by God’s Word.

Let me say right here. The Bible from Genesis to Revelation points man to one thing. Redemption through Christ. Your Eternal State depends upon your acceptance, or rejection, of Christ as your Savior. The world is full of religions and sects, cults and creeds. The devil has catered well for the tastes of all, but what we need is not a religion, but life, and this Life is found in Christ alone, the Son of God and the only Savior of mankind. You accept Him, or you reject Him. ’Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12.

Now, as God has set His seal upon all His works of creation, is it not reasonable, sensible, and logical, to conclude the Bible, written by those inspired by God Himself, would bear His Seal also?

Therefore, when we come to the Topic, Numerics, it is vitally important to remember, that, God has decreed, we either stand or fall by the message the Bible brings to us!

It too has a seal, but I repeat. It is a SEAL! Not a proof!