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If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book (Revelation 22:19, ESV).
From the time that I began following Jesus, I’ve listened to people dismiss the Bible as inaccurate and filled with myths. I’ve even heard pastors say the Bible has inspiring stories that aren’t actual history.
When I was in Bible college, I read this quote by Rabbi Dr. Nelson Glueck . . .
It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference.
An amazing statement, given that the Bible was written over a period of about 1,400 years. There are about 350 cities mentioned in the Bible, about 60 nations listed in the Old Testament, and about 60 towns and cities described in the New Testament.
Certainly, if the Bible is a myth, then its history will be a sham. But is the Bible reliable with its geographic mentions?
Not all of these nations and cities in Scripture have been found, and critics have taken this opportunity to dismiss the Bible as historically inaccurate. They say, “Where is Sodom and Gomorrah, Ur of Chaldees, or the Pool of Siloam? If the Bible is accurate, there should be some sort of evidence.”
Then the places are found. Do the critics shut up? No, they complain instead with a statement like, “The New Testament describes synagogues, and not one has been found.”
Now two synagogues have been found in one city — Magdala — home of Mary of Magdalene. And yes, scoffers also questioned the integrity of the Bible because Magdala hadn’t been found.
I visited Magdala myself, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and it does have two synagogues. Do the skeptics admit defeat? No, they keep questioning, but archeologists keep finding.
Now, Magdala has been found to contain two synagogues! Consider the implications of doubting Scripture. I say this politely, “Critics, go jump in the Sea of Galilee!”
Touring Israel, you can visit the home of the Apostle Peter in Capernaum, the actual childhood home of Jesus in Nazareth, see the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a blind man, and in a sort of Biblical-historicity-one-upmanship-to-doubters, stand on the exact paving stones where Jesus stood while being judged by Pilate.
Eric Metaxas, in his book, Is Atheism Dead?, discusses the archaeological finds in Israel, saying. . .
We should be clear that biblical archaeology is a relatively new field that only began in the last half of the nineteenth century. Yet within a few decades, the number of finds confirming the biblical accounts was overwhelming and flew in the face of the biblical skepticism popular at that time. By the early twentieth century, so many finds continued to bear out the biblical account that “The Bible is confirmed by every turn of the spade” became a popular catchphrase.
To Biblical skeptics, the whole thing must seem like an irritating conspiracy.
Again, “Critics go jump in the Sea of Galilee (or whatever lake is closest).” And, of course, I say this with politeness.