I inquired with my physicians about the likelihood of a positive outcome, and if they had any previous experience with this. My doctor, who has been practicing for many years, stated that she had never encountered such a case before,” shared Morgan Farr. “My husband and I had been praying for a son, despite our love and adoration for our daughters.

We both, and even our daughters, felt a longing for a son. I took this desire to the church altar and asked for guidance from the Lord. During my prayer, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.

“I went back to my seat, and I told my husband, I’m like, ‘He’s gonna give us a son. I don’t know when but he’s coming.’ So, when we found out we were pregnant, we were just completely overjoyed,” she stated.

Morgan and her husband, Charlie, announced the pregnancy at 15 weeks. A few weeks later, the unthinkable happened. “Very unexpectedly, my water broke at just 19 weeks,” Morgan recalled. “So, we go to the maternity ward. We’re sent to triage and the doctor comes in and does an ultrasound. And she turns the machine off and just says, ‘I’m very sorry, there’s no fluid left. It’s completely gone.’ And she said, ‘I’m very sorry to tell you this, but you’re going to go into labor within hours, days.’” 

Hours went by, then days. But Morgan did not go into labor. She was also still producing water, which gave her hope. But the doctors were concerned and advised her to induce to avoid infection. 

“He would be too little to even intubate. There was nothing that they could do,” said Morgan. “They really stressed to us how dangerous this was. It was even said that I needed to think about our other children at home, because my life was now at risk.”

“We knew what they were telling us,” Charlie stated. “We knew that there was going to be, within the next 24 hours to 48 hours of possibly her getting an infection. And if that happens, it can be terminal, you know, and then I could lose my wife and child. So, this was like the first biggest trial of my life that I’ve ever really solely had to depend on God.”

Morgan recalled, “But something just was in me, and I know it was the Holy Spirit saying, ‘Just-just wait. Just see what I can do. Just see how this plays out.’”

After a few days and no answers, a traveling nurse happened to be assigned to Morgan’s care. She told her that this was called, “preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM)” and she had seen it happen before.

“So, she really started to advocate with us with the other doctors and just begged them to not write us off,” said Morgan. “And that was just everything that we needed in that moment of just such despair. I was in this hospital for about three days. Nothing had happened. And so, they said we’re gonna go ahead and send you home. Which was terrifying. I put myself on strict bed rest. I did nothing. My family did everything for me, for our children. And I laid in that bed, and I prayed, and I drank water like it was my job. Literally hundreds of people around the world praying for us.”

Morgan continued. “People in different states and even in different countries would sign up, and every hour of the day we were covered in prayer for weeks. And that was amazing. Because being on bed rest, you feel helpless. It is very emotional,” she added. “You’re in that room, in that bed, by yourself, that’s when the devil can really wreak havoc and there were just many times it was just me and the baby. And I had to just turn the worship music on. It would just play for hours. And so, I had a follow up with my doctor, and at that point we were just hoping that everything would seal and that there would be amniotic fluid in the next scan,” said Morgan.

But the ultrasound showed there was still no fluid, yet her baby still moved within her. One of Morgan’s doctors supported her decision to continue the pregnancy, but another had a different opinion. “He was very worried about me and highly, highly pressured us to abort,” said Morgan. “Best case scenario, if the baby did somehow survive, it would be a damaged survivor.”

“We knew that we weren’t going to go the route that they really want us to go,” Charlie stated. “And we stood firm on that, that no matter what or how our baby came out, we were gonna love it no matter what. And we weren’t going to terminate a pregnancy just because a doctor asked us to.”

Morgan noted, “I left that appointment completely devastated. I sat in the bed and the baby was the most active that it had ever been since the water had broke. And I knew that was the Lord saying, ‘We’re okay.’”

Morgan went to appointments every week, and every week it was the same hopeless news. But Morgan and Charlie clung to hope in God.
“There was still no infection, which was great. The baby was growing, despite them saying that it wouldn’t be able to,” said Morgan. “And I also just prayed once it became clear that the womb wasn’t going to reseal, we just began to pray for the living water. You know, it was like, “Lord, there might not be fluid in there, but let your living water be there to grow and to develop this baby as it should be. We don’t need the amniotic fluid if it’s not your will to replace it, but give us the living water.”

At 24 weeks, her baby was considered medically viable, and Morgan was allowed to be admitted to the hospital while awaiting to go into labor.
“At 25 weeks the doctors came in…it was just a normal morning, I felt fine. And just moments after that, I get up and realize that I have experienced prolapsed cord,” explained Morgan. “So, they come in, there was doctors everywhere. They knock me out. They end up doing the fastest C-section the hospital has ever done. They got him out in eight minutes. I remember waking up and my husband’s trying to tell me his weight, his height, all of that, and the only thing that I said is, ‘Is he alive?’ And he said, ‘he’s alive.’” 

“We realize, you know, and he’s normal. He has all his fingers, toes, he can move. At that point, there was nothing wrong with him physically,” said Charlie. “That just fueled us.”

“I knew that he was gonna be okay, because the Lord had kept him this far, and he was promised to us,” noted Morgan. “And so surely, because the Lord’s hand was upon him this entire time, he was gonna be with him and he was going to be okay.” 

Kohen’s battle for life continued at the NICU for four months, with God’s miraculous hand still evident at every turn. “Our biggest struggles and goals in the NICU were trying to get him to gain weight, were trying to get his lungs in a healthy place, and to try to protect and take care of his eyes,” said Morgan. “Thankfully, the Lord healed him, and he was able to come home on some oxygen, but he was able to come home.”

“It’s been a journey just by looking at him, you just know that he’s special,” explained Charlie. “We have some struggles that we have to overcome. But we’ve seen how far God has brought him from just 1 pound 12 ounces and 12 inches. And that just grows our faith to say, ‘But look what God did.’ So, looking now at him and you see this beautiful, healthy, thriving little boy that could have never been here. I’m just so thankful for the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit that we didn’t give in to abortion. That we didn’t give in to induction.”

Charlie explained, “Always fight for what you feel in your gut and in your heart. And you know that you’ve heard from God and you have faith that God is giving you a word or spoken over your life, then to stand firm on that.”

“Your situation may try to steal a lot of things from you, your peace, your joy. But don’t let it steal your hope. Because I can’t imagine our life without him,” Morgan concluded.

The passion of Jesus Christ stands alone as the most important event creation has ever known. The Bible tells us that long before the world began, God had planned that the crucifixion of Jesus would be the method and payment for sin – the only payment that would reconcile sinners to a holy and loving God.

1 Peter 1:19-20 – “He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him for this purpose long before the world began, but now in these final days, He was sent to the earth for all to see. And He did this for you.”

Down through history, God provided us a roadmap. He foretold various signs and conditions through His prophets. These prophets spoke of things that mankind should watch for so that the Messiah would be recognized and believed. These signs or prophecies were given to us in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the part of the Bible written before Jesus was born. Its writings were completed in 450 B.C. The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection.

Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:

1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157^th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!

It is the magnificent detail of these prophecies that mark the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Only God could foreknow and accomplish all that was written about the Christ. This historical accuracy and reliability sets the Bible apart from any other book or record.

The New Testament was written after the death of Jesus Christ. Archeologists have found thousands of manuscripts of the New Testament. Some of these pieces of manuscript are dated less than 100 years after the original letters were written. In terms of historical reliability, the Bible is superior to any other ancient writings.

This is the miraculous and reliable record of the Word of God. God gave us these prophecies to build our faith and point the way to His Son. As 1 John 1:1-3 states:

“The One who existed from the beginning is the One we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. This One who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and announce to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was shown to us. We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Here, we will take a look at just a few of the prophecies concerning the life and passion of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that your faith will be increased and your witness strengthened as you understand and are able to communicate more clearly that Jesus Christ is indeed the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world. (See Revelation 13:8.) Our hope is that you will know beyond doubt that His death and resurrection are the sacrifice for our sins; and in His death, “He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (1 John 2:2).

A Word About God’s Prophets

The prophets of God were often sent on dangerous missions. The prophets were to warn the people about God’s coming judgment against sin. They were sent to call the people back to God in repentance and to assure them of God’s continuing love and purpose for them.

PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY JESUS

The Messiah Will Be Born In Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.”

About the Prophecy of Micah

Micah was an eighth century B.C. prophet. He lived at the same time as the prophets Amos, Hosea and Isaiah.

The Book of Micah tells how the judgment of God will fall on Samaria and Jerusalem due to sin, and afterwards, God will give restoration.

Micah describes a wonderful future where the city of Bethlehem will give birth to a ruler greater than David. He also prophesies of a time when Jerusalem will become the religious center of the world.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 2:1-6 – “Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen His star as it arose, and we have come to worship Him.’ Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. ‘Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?’ he asked them. ‘In Bethlehem,’ they said, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Luke 2:4-5, 7, 15 – “And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’”

John 7:42 – “For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”

The Messiah Will Be Born Of A Virgin

Isaiah 7:14 – “All right then, the Lord Himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel – ‘God is with us.’”

Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C. The book of Isaiah is one of the four major prophetic books in the Old Testament, along with Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

Chapter 7 of Isaiah was written about 735 B.C. King Ahaz was on the throne and Isaiah was sent with the message that God was sending Judah a sign – this sign would be a child called “God is with us.”

The Fulfillment

Matthew 1:20-23 – “As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ All of this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and He will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).’”

The Messiah Will Be A Prophet Like Moses

Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet.”

About the Prophecy in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1:1a states: “This book records the words that Moses spoke to all the people of Israel while they were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River.” These words were written about 1260 B.C. Throughout the book of Deuteronomy, Moses talks to the people of Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land. He reminds them of their covenant with God and their glorious future, if they obey Him.

The Fulfillment

John 7:40-42 – “When the crowds heard Him say this, some of them declared, ‘This man surely is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others said, ‘But He can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.’”

Acts 3:20-23 – “Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will send Jesus your Messiah to you again. For He must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through His prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything He tells you.’ Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be cut off from God’s people and utterly destroyed.’”

The Messiah Will Be Tempted By Satan

Psalm 91:10-12 – “No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms

The Psalms are a collection of the hymns of ancient Israel. Scholars divide them into five groups:

1. Hymns in praise of God’s glory
2. Community lamentations
3. Royal hymns for special occasions
4. Individual prayers
5. Individual praise and thanksgiving

It is difficult to date the individual psalms. King David is credited with writing many of them, and the collection of these hymns continued after the days of Israel’s exile. It is believed the collection was finalized before the second century B.C.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 4:5-7 – “Then the Devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, “He orders His angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.”’ Jesus responded, ‘The Scriptures also say, “Do not test the Lord your God.”’”

The Messiah Will Enter Jerusalem Triumphantly

Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – even on a donkey’s colt.”

About the Prophecy of Zechariah

Zechariah the prophet came from a priestly family. He was a visionary, who with the prophet Haggai worked on the rebuilding of the Temple. The New Testament Gospels quote Zechariah more than any other prophet.

Part one of the book of Zechariah was written in 520 B.C. Zechariah spoke about the judgment and salvation of God and about the coming Messiah who would be a priest, governor, humble king and afflicted shepherd.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 21:8-11 – “Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around Him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!’ The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as He entered. ‘Who is this?’ they asked. And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’”

Luke 19:35-37 – “So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for Him to ride on. Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.”

John 12:12-15 – “The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him. They shouted, ‘Praise God! Bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel! Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: ‘Don’t be afraid, people of Israel. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’”

The Messiah Will Be Rejected By His Own People

Isaiah 53:1, 3 – “Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal His saving power? He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we did not care.”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

Chapters 40–55 in the book of Isaiah address the people in exile in Babylon – directly before the time of their return – about 538 B.C.

Chapter 53 is known as the great prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

The Fulfillment

John 1:10-11 – “But although the world was made through Him, the world didn’t recognize Him when He came. Even in His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted.”

John 12:37-38 – “But despite all the miraculous signs He had done, most of the people did not believe in Him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: ‘Lord, who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal His saving power?’”

Matthew 26:3-4 – “At that same time the leading priests and other leaders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, to discuss how to capture Jesus secretly and put Him to death.”

The Messiah Will Be Betrayed By One Of His Followers

Psalm 41:9 – “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (NIV)

Psalm 55:12-13 – “It is not an enemy who taunts me – I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me – I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you – my equal, my companion and close friend.”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms

Psalm 41 is a psalm of David. He speaks of his own isolation and his trust in God. He describes how the sharing of food unites people in loyalty and friendship.

Psalm 55 is a psalm of David as well. In this psalm, he outlines the betrayal of a trusted friend, who was seemingly a follower of God.

Both of these psalms prophesy the betrayal of Jesus by a close and trusted friend.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 26:47, 49-50a – “And even as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. So Judas came straight to Jesus. ‘Greetings, Teacher!’ he exclaimed and gave Him the kiss. Jesus said, ‘My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.’”

Luke 22:21-22, 47b – “ ‘But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray Me. For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God’s plan. But how terrible it will be for My betrayer’! A mob approached, led by Judas, one of His twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted Him with a kiss.”

John 13:18, 21, 26 – “ ‘I am not saying these things to all of you; I know so well each one of you I chose. The Scriptures declare, “The one who shares My food has turned against Me,” and this will soon come true’. Now Jesus was in great anguish of spirit, and He exclaimed, ‘The truth is, one of you will betray Me!’ Jesus said, ‘It is the one to whom I give the bread dipped in the sauce.’ And when He had dipped it, He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.”

The Messiah Will Be Betrayed For 30 Pieces Of Silver

Zechariah 11:12-13 – “And I said unto them, ‘If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” (KJV)

About the Prophecy of Zechariah

In chapter 11 of the book of Zechariah, the prophet refers to 30 shekels of silver as a “goodly price.” This amount also refers to the amount paid for the life of a slave. Zechariah’s prophecy speaks about the amount paid for the Lord and His life.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 26:14-16 – “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.”

Matthew 27:3-4a – “When Judas, who had betrayed Him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. ‘I have sinned,’ he declared, ‘for I have betrayed an innocent man.’”

The Messiah Will Be Tried And Condemned

Isaiah 53:8 – “From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people realized that He was dying for their sins – that He was suffering their punishment?”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

Written in 538 B.C., chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:1-2 – “Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. Then they bound Him and took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”

Luke 23:1, 23 – “The entire council took Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor. But the crowd shouted louder and louder for Jesus’ death, and their voices prevailed.”

Acts 4:26-28 – “‘The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against His Messiah.’ That is what has happened here in this city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, Your holy Servant, whom You anointed. In fact, everything they did occurred according to Your eternal will and plan.”

The Messiah Will Be Silent Before His Accusers

Psalm 35:11 – “Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of things I don’t even know about.”

Isaiah 53:7-8a – “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth. From prison and trial they led Him away to His death.”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms and Isaiah

Psalm 27 is a psalm of David. In this hymn, he reassures those who are right with God that they have nothing to fear. He calls on God to pay back his enemies who have unjustly come against him. The prophecy in this psalm shows the confidence of the Messiah to entrust His life to God, who will answer and judge His accusers.

Again, the 53^rd chapter of Isaiah was written in 538 B.C. It is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:12-14 – “But when the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent. ‘Don’t you hear their many charges against You?’ Pilate demanded. But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor’s great surprise.”

Mark 15:3-5 – “Then the leading priests accused Him of many crimes, and Pilate asked Him, ‘Aren’t You going to say something? What about all these charges against You?’ But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.”

1 Peter 2:22-23 – “He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.”

The Messiah Will Be Smitten And Spat Upon

Micah 5:1 – “Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. With a rod they will strike the leader of Israel in the face.”

Isaiah 50:6 – “I give My back to those who beat Me and My cheeks to those who pull out My beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock Me and spit in My face.”

About the Prophecy of Micah and Isaiah

The book of Micah, by the prophet Micah, was written in the eighth century B.C. He describes how the restoration of God follows His judgment of sin. Micah describes the future of Jerusalem as the center of religious activity for the whole world.

Chapter 50 in the book of Isaiah was written in 538 B.C. In the Servant Song of Isaiah, chapter 50, we see the first glimpse of the Messiah’s suffering and rejection.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 26:67-68 – “Then they spit in Jesus’ face and hit Him with their fists. And some slapped Him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who hit You that time?’”

Matthew 27:30 – “And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and beat Him on the head with it.”

Mark 14:65a – “Then some of them began to spit at Him, and they blindfolded Him and hit His face with their fists.”

Mark 15:19 – “And they beat Him on the head with a stick, spit on Him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.”

John 19:1-3 – “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His head, and they put a royal purple robe on Him. ‘Hail! King of the Jews!’ they mocked, and they hit Him with their fists.”

The Messiah Will Be Mocked And Taunted

Psalm 22:7-8 – “Everyone who sees Me, mocks Me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, ‘Is this the One who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save Him! If the Lord loves Him so much, then let the Lord rescue Him!’”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms

Psalm 22 is a psalm of David, and in it he describes an execution. The early portion of the psalm speaks of the Messiah’s suffering; the later portion describes the universal deliverance the Messiah makes possible.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:39-40 – “And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. ‘So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can You? Well then, if You are the Son of God, save Yourself and come down from the cross!’”

Luke 23:11, 35 – “Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Then they put a royal robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. The crowd watched, and the leaders laughed and scoffed. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘let Him save Himself if He is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.’”

The Messiah To Die By Crucifixion, With Pierced Hands And Feet

Psalm 22:14-16 – “My life is poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within Me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead. My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on Me. They have pierced My hands and feet.”

Zechariah 12:10a – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son.”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms and Zechariah

Again, Psalm 22 is a Psalm of David. In this psalm he is describing an execution. The early portion of this psalm describes the Messiah’s suffering; the later portion describes the universal deliverance the Messiah makes possible.

In Chapter 12 of the book of Zechariah, the prophet speaks of God’s own representative who is killed at the hands of His people. At a future point, the people of God will realize whom they have pierced and will mourn for “the son” who died.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:31 – “When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.”

Mark 15:20 – “When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.”

John 19:15-16 – “‘Away with Him,’ they yelled. ‘Away with Him – crucify Him!’ ‘What? Crucify your king?’ Pilate asked. ‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the leading priests shouted back. Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.”

The Messiah Will Suffer With Sinners

Isaiah 53:12a – “I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners.”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C. The book of Isaiah is one of the four major prophetic books in the Bible, along with Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Chapter 53 is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:38 – “Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His.”

Mark 15:27 – “Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His.”

Luke 23:32-33 – “Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with Him. Finally, they came to a place called The Skull. All three were crucified there – Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.”

The Messiah’s Garments Will Be Divided By Casting Lots

Psalm 22:18 – “They divide My clothes among themselves and throw dice for My garments.”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms

Again, Psalm 22 is a psalm of King David. In this hymn he describes an execution. The early portion of the psalm speaks of the Messiah’s suffering and the later portion describes the universal deliverance He made possible.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:35 – “After they had nailed Him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.”

Mark 15:24 – “Then they nailed Him to the cross. They gambled for His clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them.”

John 19:23-24a – “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His clothes among the four of them. They also took His robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said, ‘Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it.’ This fulfilled the Scripture that says, ‘They divided My clothes among themselves and threw dice for My robe.’”

The Messiah’s Bones Will Not Be Broken

Numbers 9:12 – “They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover.”

About the Prophecy of Numbers

Numbers is the fourth of the five books written by Moses. It is the travel history of Israel’s journey in the desert.

It begins two years after leaving Egypt and ends just before entry into Canaan. It is a 38-year record of the murmurings of the nation of Israel and the constant companionship of God. It is a record of God’s ongoing work to produce repentance in His people.

Chapter 9 discusses the proper observance and preparation of Passover and prophetically describes Jesus, the Passover Lamb.

The Fulfillment

John 19:31-37 – “The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that He was dead already, so they didn’t break His legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced His side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, ‘Not one of His bones will be broken,’ and ‘They will look on Him whom they pierced.’”

1 Corinthians 5:7b – “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.”

The Messiah Will Die As A Sin Offering

Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 12 – “But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the guilt and sins of us all. From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people realized that He was dying for their sins – that He was suffering their punishment? I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

Isaiah the prophet lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C. Chapter 53 of Isaiah is known as the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

The Fulfillment

John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Acts 10:43 – “He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.”

Acts 13:38-39 – “Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in Him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God – something the Jewish law could never do.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.”

Ephesians 1:7 – “He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.”

1 Peter 2:24 – “He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by His wounds.”

Revelation 1:5b – “All praise to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us.”

The Messiah Will See His Seed

Isaiah 53:10-11 – “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and fill Him with grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s plan will prosper in His hands. When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish, He will be satisfied. And because of what He has experienced, My Righteous Servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins.”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant reveals the incredible purpose of God in sending the Messiah to suffer for our sins. Isaiah wrote this chapter in the eighth century B.C. He foretold that the Messiah would see His heirs, those who would find salvation through His sacrifice.

The Fulfillment

Ephesians 1:4-5, 21-23 – “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and He gave Him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with His presence.”

Hebrews 12:2 – “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward. Now He is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.”

The Messiah Will Be Buried In A Rich Man’s Tomb

Isaiah 53:9 – “He had done no wrong, and He never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man’s grave.”

About the Prophecy of Isaiah

Once again, the Great Prophecy of the Suffering Servant reveals the incredible purpose of God in sending the Messiah to suffer for our sins. Isaiah wrote this chapter in the eighth century B.C. He foretold that the Messiah would die and be buried in a rich man’s grave.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 27:57-60 – “As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus’ followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left.”

The Messiah Will Be Raised From The Dead

Psalm 16:10 – “For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your Godly One to rot in the grave.”

Psalm 30:3 – “You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms

The Psalms are a collection of the hymns of ancient Israel. The collection of Psalms was finalized before the second century B.C.

Psalm 16 is a psalm of David. In this hymn he reminds us that as we set our hearts on God and trust our lives to His care, we will find joy and security. David prophesies that the Messiah will not be abandoned in the grave, and His body will not decay.

Psalm 30 is a psalm written by David, for the dedication of the Temple. In it he prophesies that the Messiah will be raised from the grave.

The Fulfillment

Matthew 28:5-7 – “Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples He has been raised from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember, I have told you.’”

Mark 16:6-7 – “The angel said, ‘Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died.’”

Acts 2:27-31 – “‘For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and You will give me wonderful joy in Your presence.’ Dear brothers, think about this! David wasn’t referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on David’s throne as the Messiah. David was looking into the future and predicting the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that the Messiah would not be left among the dead and that His body would not rot in the grave.’”

1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 – “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins. But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.’”

The Messiah Will Sit At God’s Right Hand

Psalm 110:1 – “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit in honor at My right hand until I humble Your enemies, making them a footstool under Your feet.’”

About the Prophecy of The Psalms

Psalm 110 is a psalm of David. It is a prophetic psalm that seems to speak of a coming coronation. This royal psalm clearly speaks of the coming Messiah.

The Fulfillment

Mark 16:19 – “When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

Acts 2:32-36 – “This prophecy was speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and we all are witnesses of this. Now He sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in honor at My right hand until I humble Your enemies, making them a footstool under Your feet.”’ So let it be clearly known by everyone in Israel that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Hebrews 10:12-13 – “But our High Priest offered Himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down at the place of highest honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled as a footstool under His feet.”

JESUS AND YOU

As you have just read, it was God’s plan from before the world began that Jesus would come to earth and be crucified as a holy and final offering for sin. Because of God’s deep love for each one of us, He provided the way of salvation – the only way that we are able to enter a relationship with Him.

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God. You can also send us your prayer requests.

Learning Scripture is like learning any subject in school. Practice makes perfect. But before you practice, you have to learn, and everything you learn begins with a question.

What happens when there is no answer?

As a Christian, asking questions should not only be allowed but encouraged.

Does the Bible have an answer to every question a believer could possibly think of? Spend enough time with even the most hardcore Christian, and you will soon discover that even they don’t have an answer to everything. Not having an answer is actually okay.

Faith is not predicated on having an answer, so says the Scripture:

For we walk by faith, not by sight.– 2 Corinthians 5:7

Walking by sight means relying solely on answers to lead the way. Faith, therefore, allows for questioning.

The Christian faith does not rely on answers to every question. Belief in God means acceptance of not knowing everything, but still believing He is everything.

After all, the Bible describes God as mysterious (Job 11:7).

His Word offers insight into a lot of questions, just not all. The most important part of the Bible—the story of Jesus—highlights love for God and others as the most important commandments from the Bible.

Nonetheless, asking questions about other subjects can be insightful, too.

Solving a good mystery feels like a worthwhile task, but some mysteries will forever remain unsolved. No matter how you choose to interpret scripture, the following questions have no direct answers.

But not having answers is okay. Christians walk by faith, not by sight.

1. Where Was Eden?

Life for Adam and Eve began so lovely. They had a relationship with God, a home with God, and they ruined their blessing. Their actions introduced the world to sin.

Where was the glorious home they were cast away from?

A river went out from Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became the source of four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon, which flows through the entire land of Havilah,  where there is gold. Gold from that land is pure; bdelliumand onyx are also there. The name of the second river is Gihon, which flows through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which runs east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. – Genesis 2:10-14

No one knows firsthand what they experienced in Eden. Not only that, but no one precisely knows where the garden was located.

The four rivers mentioned are the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. The last two rivers are still around today, but not the Pishon and Gihon.

The Garden of Eden must have been in the Middle East based on the Tigris and Euphrates, but where is unclear.

2. Did Dinosaurs Exist?

Modern science has proven dinosaurs to have once existed, but the Bible does not talk about dinosaurs in the way education teaches.

There are two creatures mentioned in the Bible that seem not only monstrous in size but have almost supernatural characteristics when compared to animals today.

Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He eats grass like cattle.Look at the strength of his back and the power in the muscles of his belly.He stiffens his tail like a cedar tree; the tendons of his thighs are woven firmly together. His bones are bronze tubes; his limbs are like iron rods. He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him. – Job 40:15-19

The passage describes the creature in grand detail. This beast is to be respected and feared, especially considering only God’s sword can harm the creature. Is this creature a dinosaur, an elephant, or something else?

If this were a dinosaur, why is there only one? Where are the other dinosaurs?

Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces; Thou gavest him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. – Psalm 74:13-14

This reference of another beast is not as menacing as the Behemoth. Still, this creature is described as being multi-headed. Was David describing actual sea monsters, or something that modern science has since named?

Today, science explains that new animal species are discovered, while others become extinct. These creatures in the Bible seem to have otherworldly origins…but, then again, Earth has had some pretty strange animals like the Tasmanian tiger, the Okapi, and the Portuguese man o’ war.

3. What Happened to the Giants?

Giants were indeed mentioned in the Bible, though not in great detail.

The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown. – Genesis 6:4

Why do people not grow to be giants now? Was this a specific race of people?

Other interpretations about the Nephilim describe them as the offspring of fallen angels. They appear in Scripture a very few times. 

4. Where Is Evolution?

The Bible does not directly talk about the idea of evolution. While God created all life from man to animal alike, there is no direct description of the evolutionary process.

Evolution is by no means the main concept of scripture—a story of redemption—and thus, it remains a biblical mystery.

5. What about Those Atoms?

Similarly to evolution, there is no direct mention of atoms in the Bible. Science says that atoms are the basic building blocks of matter.

The Bible offers no definition and has left the discovery of atoms up to modern science.

6. Is There Life in Space?

“I want to believe,” was often said by Agent Mulder on the popular show The X-Files. He was obsessed with alien life, unlike his fellow Christian agent, Dana Scully, who held substantial doubt.

There are a number of what appear to be UFOs in Renaissance paintings. These images often depicted holy people or settings, including Mary and Jesus.

The Bible doesn’t offer answers about alien life on other planets. Though if life exists elsewhere, God has created them also. 

7. Dating in Biblical Times?

Young Christians who are dating today look to the Bible for guidance. There are plenty of helpful tips for people to discern, such as loving others, expressing forgiveness, and fleeing sexual temptation.

Yet, the Bible does not focus on dating as modern society does. People in the Bible did not date for years before getting married. The culture of the ancient Israel seemed to consist of at least some prearranged marriages.

People in the Bible also married young. Men often had multiple wives. Virginity was valued.

The Bible does not offer any clear Scripture on whether or not arranged marriages are right or wrong, but there is plenty of Scripture to guide couples through the dating process even if those in the Bible themselves did not date.

8. Why Did People Live So Long in the Bible?

Modern technology has allowed many people to live upwards of 80-90 years, and few live to see 100 or more. This doesn’t account for the people in the Bible like Adam who lived even longer.

And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth. – Genesis 5:3

Of course, people tracked time differently before the modern era. Years in that time likely did not equate to what society now considers a year.

What Does All the Mystery Mean?

Having a question with no answer means that God has chosen to keep some knowledge a mystery. Remember that Adam and Eve ate from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They learned information they were never meant to know.

Maybe knowing all the intricacies of the universe would be too much for our human minds. We struggle with sin already.

Maybe God wants us to spend more time loving Him, others, and ourselves, as opposed to trying to solve all of life’s mysteries.

Questions do not mean you should give up your faith. If we could simply find answers for everything we asked, there would be no need for God.

Ignorance, or not knowing, leads us to rely on Him and His will. Where we don’t know, let us each lean on to Him for guidance and understanding.

Sometimes He will reveal. Sometimes He won’t.

Either way, our faith will grow and not be shaken.

Newly minted Twitter owner and chief executive Elon Musk used a Bible passage to defend his decision to keep conspiracy theorist Alex Jones off the social media platform.

Jones and the account linked to his website, InfoWars, were banned from Twitter in 2018.

Musk, who officially became the owner and CEO of Twitter in late October, responded Sunday to a tweet from famed atheist Sam Harris, who asked the entrepreneur if he planned to reinstate Jones’ account — a question that arose after Musk restored the accounts of the Christian satire website The Babylon Bee, Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, and, most notably, former President Donald Trump.

In response, Musk quoted Matthew 19:14.

For all intents and purposes, it does not appear Musk is a believer. He is prone to sharing sacrilegious comments and is often described as agnostic or even atheistic in his beliefs.

Another Twitter user criticized Musk for choosing to allow Trump and even current President Joe Biden to remain on the platform while refusing to reinstate Jones’ account.

“If serial liars like Biden and Trump are allowed on Twitter, then Alex Jones should be allowed, too,” tweeted the critic. “Please reconsider in the interest of real free speech.”

Musk, for his part, noted his very personal reason for keeping the InfoWars founder off Twitter. He referred to the death of the son he shared with his first wife, Justine. In 2002, they lost their son, who died of sudden infant death syndrome at just 10 weeks old.

End Times author Jeff Kinley revealed what he believes will happen “30 seconds after the rapture,” selecting five words to express how he thinks non-believers might react to the mass exodus of Christians: “shock, confusion, panic, terror, and chaos.”

Kinley said the rapture — the belief that Jesus will take Christians into the skies before the terrors of the end times kick into high gear — will likely spark total pandemonium.

“You’re in a mall. You’re at a football stadium. You’re on an airplane. You’re driving in a car. You’re walking down the street … school, wherever,” he said on his “Prophecy Pros Podcast.” “And all of a sudden, scores of people just vanish from sight.”

He continued, “Let’s just say there are 100 million [Christians on Earth]. And those people instantly disappear from planet earth. How is that going to impact the world?”

Kinley and “Prophecy Pros” co-host Todd Hampson maintained their belief the rapture is embedded in Scripture, despite claims from some Christians the eschatological event is not biblically sound.

“The Lord’s return has two parts, and one of the ones that we wait for, Titus tells us, is ‘our blessed hope.’ It’s the rapture,” Hampson said. “It’s something we’re supposed to be encouraged by.”

Listen to Kinley and Hampson discuss what they believe will unfold 30 seconds after the rapture:

As Faithwire previously reported, the rapture recently received negative press in a CNN analysis.

The outlet published a September article titled, “For some Christians, ‘rapture anxiety’ can take a lifetime to heal,” a piece covering a supposed end-times inspired “type of religious trauma” being experienced among people who have left — or are questioning — their faith.

Kinley rejected CNN’s coverage of so-called “rapture anxiety,” arguing he’s never encountered the term before and believes there are some deep misconceptions about the eschatological belief system.

“The first thing I thought was, ‘Really? You’re making up this whole idea of the fact that people all over the place are just so filled with anxiety about the rapture, which I’ve rarely encountered.’ That’s one thing,” Kinley told CBN’s Faithwire. “The flip side of it was the irony. The rapture is really designed to bring comfort, not anxiety. It’s a complete opposite.”

A small fragment of a stone inscription was recently found in the Siloam Tunnel. Carved in ancient times, the tunnel is now located in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan, in eastern Jerusalem. Its popular name, “Hezekiah’s Tunnel,” is due to the most common hypothesis that it dates from the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, between the late 8th and early 7th century BC.

It has been commonly believed that this tunnel corresponds to a “conduit” that is mentioned in 2 Kings 20:20:

“The rest of the deeds of Hezeki’ah, and all his might, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?”

Now, archaeologists have found a little piece of evidence (a small limestone fragment) that connects King Hezekiah to this tunnel.

Biblical narratives explain how King Hezekiah prepared Jerusalem for an impending siege by the Assyrians. 2 Chronicles 32:30 explains how he blocked “the source of the waters of the upper Gihon” and led them “straight down on the west to the City of David,” to prevent the enemy forces under Sennacherib from having access to water.

The limestone fragment dates to the 8th century BC. As reported by NewsBreak, the researchers believe it is only a tiny particle of a much bigger monument.

The fragment shows six letters in paleo-Hebrew script distributed in two lines, each with three letters. The first line includes the letters qyh. Researchers suggest that the whole word would have been Hizqyhw –that is, Hizquiyahu, Hezekiah.

The second line shows two letters, a dot, and a third letter. Scholars believe this meant that the first two letters ended a word, and the third letter began another word. They have theorized that the first word, which ends in kh, might have read brkh –berecha, pool, following the biblical narrative that explains that the water flowing through Hezekiah’s Tunnel got all to the way to the Pool (berecha) of Siloam.

King Hezekiah’s religious reforms

This is not the first time archaeological findings seem to confirm biblical narratives concerning King Hezekiah. In January 2017, archaeologists working on an excavation at Tel Lachish National Park, 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, found the remains of an ancient altar believed to be nearly 3,000 years old. Tel Lachish National Park marks the site of the ancient city of Lachish, a prosperous and fortified city mentioned at least two dozen times in the Bible, destroyed by the Assyrians around 700 BC.

Researchers had already uncovered, although partially, some of the remains of one of the ancient gates at Lachish several decades ago. These gates, dated as belonging to the First Temple Period (from 1000 to 600 BC), were particularly important, as some official acts took place there. In fact, some of these gates, such as this one, would have included an altar.

According to the article published by Christian News, archaeologists found the altar’s horns had been “intentionally cut by someone,” thus providing some archaeological evidence backing up the events told in 2 Kings 18 related to Hezekiah’s religious reforms: “He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles” (2 Kings 18, 4).

Sa’ar Ganor, the director of the excavation, explained in a statement that “it is most interesting that the horns on the altar were intentionally truncated. That is probably evidence of the religious reform attributed to King Hezekiah, whereby religious worship was centralized in Jerusalem and the cultic high places that were built outside the capital were destroyed.”

“Before our very eyes these new finds become the biblical verses themselves and speak in their voice,” added Ze’ev Elkin, the Minister of Jerusalem and Heritage and Environmental Protection.

The archaeologists also uncovered a stone toilet purposely placed in one of the gate’s chambers. Most likely it was placed there to desecrate the former altar, in the same way Jehu desecrated a house of Baal by converting it to a latrine, according to the biblical account found in 2 Kings 10, 27: “They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.”

As explained by Christian News, “this is the first time that an archaeological find confirms this phenomenon,” the Israel Antiquities Authority noted.

Nothing good ever happens after midnight.

Horror movies and paranormal TV shows frequently talk about the “devil’s hour.” Depending on the source this can be referring to the time between from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. or the hours between midnight and 3 a.m. In either case, many claim that the devil is most powerful during this time period.

This idea seems to have sprung from the awareness that Satan loves to mock God.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus died during the “the ninth hour.” In modern calculation this would be 3 p.m. According to this idea, Satan then flips the symbolism on its head by taking for himself 3 a.m., in direct mockery of God.

Another reason that this time is considered a source of unusually high demonic activity is the fact that it is in the middle of the night; the sun has long been set and will not rise for a few more hours.

Scripture repeatedly refers to night and darkness as a time of sin. This concept is perfectly summed up in the Gospel of John, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (3:19-20).

Also, Jesus was betrayed by Judas during the night (sometimes thought to be at midnight) and Peter denied Jesus before the “cock crowed” (about 6 a.m.). This would mean Jesus’ “trial” before the Sanhedrin occurred during the “devil’s hour.”

There is a little biology operating here, too, as 3 a.m. marks the point of deepest nighttime sleepiness in the normal adult sleep-wake cycle. To awaken or be awakened at the hour can unsettle our circadian rhythms and make us feel low or anxious.

Many have a personal practice of saying a few prayers if they wake up at 3 a.m. But remember, no matter what the time of day, God is always more powerful than Satan, and remains the “light of the world” that will shatter any darkness.

Spooky season is already upon us, as Halloween is just around the corner. With the upcoming holiday, many of us think about things related to Halloween, such as pumpkins, costumes, and ghosts. Ghosts are one of the most fascinating phenomena for many individuals across the globe.

Entire books, television shows, and movies have been dedicated to ghosts. With this large emphasis and interest across the world surrounding ghosts, the question arises as to whether we, as Christians, can believe in ghosts.

Are Ghosts Real?

Ghosts are believed within mainstream society to be dead loved ones or dead individuals who “haunt” or remain in key places. Growing up, I became highly fascinated with ghosts, even though they terrified me.

I’m not sure where this fascination came from, but it could have been the interest I had in folklore and ghost stories. Before I accepted Jesus as my Savior and became a Christian, I fully believed in ghosts.

I believed it was completely possible for a person to “haunt” someone or something until they decided it was time to move on to the “next life.” It was not until after I became a believer that I started looking more into this topic and questioning it.

The Bible tells us that each of us is destined to die once and then to face judgment (Hebrew 9:27). Since we are all destined to die once and then to face judgment, there is no way any of us could return to be a ghost.

Nobody can return as a ghost because it is not biblical, nor is it reasonable. Many individuals may still believe in the possibility of ghosts because they have personally experienced different phenomena of encounters with ghosts.

While I am not arguing against a person’s own personal experience, I am saying what they saw were not “ghosts.” Ghosts are not biblical because a deceased individual cannot come back from the dead to visit or haunt a living individual. This phenomenon, known as ghost encounters, is most likely demonic.

Demons are known for trying to deceive us and trick us. The Apostle Paul tells us, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Since the devil and his demons enjoy tricking us, what would be a better way to deceive us than to masquerade as our dead loved ones?

In the same way, if demons know they can get individuals to become interested in the occult by masquerading as ghosts, they would do it in order to lead individuals astray. 

Demons are focused on causing our downfall, and demons pretending to be dead loved ones or dead individuals are perfect ways to cause us to fall.

With this in mind, Christians cannot believe in ghosts because ghosts are not real, but demons are. Many individuals try to take the stance that demons are not real, but the Bible speaks of the reality of demons throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament.

In the Book of Job, Eliphaz makes the statement, “A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice” (Job 4:15-16).

From Eliphaz’s words, it sounds similar to what we would describe as a “ghost,” but yet, this is actually a demon.

Jesus encountered demons many times throughout His earthly ministry (Matthew 12:22; Mark 3:11). The demons were scared of Him because they knew who He was, the Son of God. They knew Jesus could drive them out and send them to the Abyss (Luke 8:31).

As we can see, demons are real spiritual beings that want to cause our downfall. We should not dismiss demons as being not real, nor should we downplay what they can do.

Is it All Supernatural?

Demons are most likely what we understand to be “ghosts.” While this can be frightening for many of us, we can rest in the knowledge that God is with us, and He gives us everything we need to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Likewise, James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.” This Bible passage once argues for the reality of demons. It is not wise to believe demons don’t exist because they are real.

If we choose to pretend that they don’t exist, it will not make their attacks any less severe. Instead of denying the existence of demons, we need to be actively taking our stand against the devil and his demons.

Ignorance is not bliss because it can cause us to fall prey to the devil. God wants us to know the truth of the Bible and be able to be confident in His Word.

Therefore, there is no such thing as ghosts, but there are demons. Since this is true, we must avoid becoming interested and involved with ghosts. Ghosts are not friendly spirits, nor are they our loved ones.

Our deceased loved ones are in one of two places depending on whether or not they accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

If a person places faith in Christ, they go to heaven, but if a person doesn’t place faith in Christ, then they go to hell. There is no “in-between” nor can a person’s spirit remain on the earth.

Pop culture presents ghosts as something that is “cool,” “interesting,” or even “cute” at times, such as Casper, but ghosts are most likely demons from what we know from Scripture. It is best for Christians to abstain from becoming fascinated with ghosts because of this reason.

What Does This Mean?

As believers, we need to help others know the truth that ghosts are probably demons masquerading and that nobody should become involved with them. If somebody becomes involved with a fascination with ghosts, they could more easily be drawn into the occult.

Once a person becomes involved with the occult, it can lead them to a myriad of things associated with the demonic. We need to do our best to educate others on staying away from being influenced by the paranormal.

By helping others to know the truth about ghosts, we can help them become more aware of spiritual warfare and the different ways that demons try to trick us.

Once more individuals become more aware of demons, the less likely individuals will want to actively seek out and pursue ghosts.

Shows, such as Ghost Hunters, have caused many individuals to become fascinated with the idea of seeing ghosts or catching them on camera.

Most likely, what this show is capturing is demons. As believers, we need to steer clear of anything associated with the demonic, including books, movies, or television shows that promote the demonic.

Satan and his demons want to lead us astray and cause us to become more focused on ghosts rather than God. The idea of ghosts goes directly against the Bible, as deceased individuals cannot return from the dead to be a ghost.

Anything that we would consider to be a “ghost” could be a demon. Thus, Christians shouldn’t believe in ghosts because we should call them what they really are — demons.

The Church invites us to celebrate these particularly special saints — St. Raphael, St. Michael, and St. Gabriel — today. 

On September 29th, the Church celebrates the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These are the “super angels” — the swiftest of them all. Like all angels, they are sent by God to the people: “Praise the Lord, you his angels, who mightily execute his word and obey his command.”

The archangels are the first of the spiritual creatures who proclaim how incredible God is. They are often sent on the most challenging missions. These extra special agents are always before God and serve Him day and night. When they come out of anonymity, they use a personal name, and with this name comes a specific purpose.

The warrior, the diplomat, and the merciful

First is the leader, Michael, fighter of the Dragon, whose name means “Who is like God?” He is the greatest of the archangels. He is the fighter par excellence against the forces of evil. When God needs a strong, fast angel, he sends Michael.

Then comes Gabriel, the diplomat, whose name means “man of God.” The book of Daniel presents Gabriel as an angel who interprets. He is known mostly for appearing to Zachary and, of course, to the Virgin Mary. When God wants to make an important announcement, he sends Gabriel.

And lastly, we have merciful Raphael, whose name means “God heals.” In the Book of Tobit, this angel accompanies young Tobias and helps him on his journey. He watches over pilgrims and travelers and also expels evil spirits. He introduces himself as one of the seven angels that stand before God, and freely offers our pleas to Him. When God wants to make someone advance on the road of life, he sends Raphael.

When the archangels send us discreet signs

These archangels of light directly tell us how beautiful God is, while the other anonymous angels send us more subtle signs, without ‘banging any doors down’: an intuition to do the right thing, an action to avoid a bad fall, a little help in being true to ourselves, a voice in the back of our head, a gesture just at the right moment, an unexpected happy feeling …

By celebrating the archangels, the Church is telling us that we are not alone here on Earth. They fight alongside us against the dark forces. They invite us above all to praise God and to take time with them to adore Him. It is then when we might hear them pass by, with or without wings, in the loving silence of prayer.

John the Baptist is one of the most distinctive characters in the New Testament. He had an unusual flair for fashion, wearing wild-looking clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He lived in the desert wilderness, ate locusts and wild honey, and preached a strange message. Unlike so many people, John the Baptist knew his mission in life. He clearly understood that he had been set apart by God for a purpose.

Through God’s direction, John the Baptist challenged the people to prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah by turning away from sin and being baptized as a symbol of repentance. Although John held no power or influence in the Jewish political system, he delivered his message with the force of authority. People could not resist the overpowering truth of his words, as they flocked by the hundreds to hear him and be baptized. And even as he attracted the attention of the crowds, he never lost sight of his mission—to point people to Christ.

Accomplishments of John the Baptist

John’s mother, Elizabeth, was a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The two women were pregnant at the same time. The Bible says in Luke 1:41 when the two expectant mothers met, the baby leaped within Elizabeth’s womb as she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The angel Gabriel had already foretold the miraculous birth and prophetic ministry of John the Baptist to his father Zechariah. The news was a joyous answer to prayer for the previously barren Elizabeth. John was to become the God-ordained messenger proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The remarkable ministry of John the Baptist included the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. John did not lack boldness as he challenged even Herod to repent of his sins. In approximately 29 AD, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist arrested and put in prison. Later John was beheaded through a plot devised by Herodias, the illegal wife of Herod and ex-wife of his brother, Philip.

In Luke 7:28, Jesus declared John the Baptist to be the greatest man to have ever lived: “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John …”

Strengths

John’s greatest strength was his focused and faithful commitment to the call of God on his life. Taking the Nazirite vow for life, he personified the term “set apart for God.” John knew he had been given a specific job to do and he set out with singular obedience to fulfill that mission. He didn’t just talk about repentance from sin. He lived with a boldness of purpose throughout his uncompromising mission, willing to die a martyr for his stand against sin.

Life Lessons

John the Baptist did not set out with the goal of being different from everyone else. Although he was remarkably strange, he wasn’t merely aiming at uniqueness. Rather, he targeted all of his efforts toward obedience. Obviously, John hit the mark, as Jesus called him the greatest of men.

Thought for Reflection

When we come to realize that God has given us a specific purpose for our lives, we can move forward with confidence, fully trusting the One who called us. Like John the Baptist, we live without fear, focusing on our God-given mission. Can there be any greater joy or fulfillment in this life than knowing God’s pleasure and reward await us in heaven?

Key Bible Verses

Mark 1:4
This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. (NLT)

John 1:20-23
He [John the Baptist] did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” (NIV)

Matthew 11:11
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (NIV)