DIGGING UP THE TRUTH
 

"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." - 1 Corinthians 1:27

Archaeologists have uncovered a "rich layer of finds" from the First Temple period near the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is the first time that building remains from the First Temple period were exposed so close to the Temple Mount, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Archaeologists have found various objects from the First Temple period, including a seal from a signet ring, pottery, figurines, and other artefacts. Archaeologists hope the discoveries will help to fill in details about life in ancient times.

Israel Antiquities Authority also recently announced the discovery of a rare Tyrian shekel coin from the Second Temple period. Archaeologists digging near the City of David have found the silver coin, which is the type used to pay the half shekel Temple tax mandated in the book of Exodus. Only seven other similar coins have ever been found.

It seems that each week new archaeological discoveries are being made – both big and small – that help to bring the pages of Scripture to life. Matthew 17:24-27 says that when the tax collectors came to Jesus to collect the Temple tax, Jesus told Peter to cast a hook into the sea, catch a fish, and open the mouth of the fish. Miraculously, inside the fish's mouth was a shekel coin (similar to the one uncovered by archaeologists) with which Peter was instructed to pay the tax. What a dramatic demonstration of Christ's deity!

Without Excuse

The archaeological evidence in support of the Biblical record of history is overwhelming. Yet it seems that no matter how much tangible proof is uncovered, there are those who refuse to accept the Bible as fact. Science and the Bible can coexist – they are not mutually exclusive. Yet secular scientists continue to reject the growing body of evidence. With each new discovery it becomes more and more clear that such sceptics are not rejecting the evidence, they are rejecting the Word of God. Why do they "suppress the truth"? Because if the Bible is true, it means that mankind will be held accountable for its actions.

Many hope science will one day give us the answers to life's most troubling questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? Since the time of the ancient Greek philosophers, the answers to these questions have been sought by examining the nature of the universe and its life forms. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul made a remarkable statement regarding the relationship between our understanding of the universe and the existence and attributes of God. According to Paul, not only is the existence of God inexcusably evident, but the invisible attributes of God can also be discerned with an examination of creation:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-20).".

To learn more about this subject listen to our briefing titled Digging Up The Truth, in which Chuck Missler and Bob Cornuke examine a few of the fascinating archaeological discoveries that substantiate the Biblical texts.

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THE FASTEST GROWING CRIME IN AMERICA -
 

In recent months several high profile security breaches have brought the subject of identity theft back into the national spotlight. Most recently, Hannaford Bros., an east coast grocery store chain, said that it was hit by a data breach that exposed more than 4.2 million credit and debit card numbers. So far, more than 1,800 cases of fraud have been reported in connection with the breach.
 

It is the fastest growing crime in the nation and no one is immune. Anyone can become a victim. Identity theft is when someone obtains your personal information - such as your bank or credit card account numbers, information about your income, your Social Security number (SSN), or your name, address, and phone number - and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard earned money - cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. Some victims have lost job opportunities, been refused loans for education, housing or cars, or even been arrested for crimes they didn't commit. According to the Federal Trade Commission, each year almost 10 million people - or about 5 percent of the adult population - discover that they are victims of some form of identity theft, and that number is growing each year.
 

Minimize Your Risk

Although you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely. Following is a list of ways you can protect yourself from identity theft:

• Monitor the balances of your financial accounts. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals.
   
• Order a copy of your credit report and make sure it's accurate. An amendment to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. For more information visit www.annualcreditreport.com
   
• Before disposing of documents and junk mail, shred or destroy bank and credit card statements, bills, pre-approved credit offers, and anything that contains personal information such as your SSN and income or tax information.
   
•  Update your virus protection software regularly. Computer viruses can have damaging effects, including introducing program code that causes your computer to send out files or other stored information.
   
• Don’t download files from strangers or click on hyperlinks from people you don’t know. Opening a file could expose your system to a computer virus or a program that could hijack your modem.
   
• Use a firewall, especially if you have a high-speed or “always on” connection to the Internet.
   
• Read Web site privacy policies. They should answer questions about the access to and accuracy, security, and control of personal information the site collects, as well as how sensitive information will be used, and whether it will be provided to third parties.
• Use intricate passwords when online, change your passwords on a regular basis, and don't use the same password for every website.

For more information on what to do if you believe your personal information has been compromised or your identity has been stolen contact the Federal Trade Commission (there is a lot of valuable information on the FTC website). We are all at risk. It is worth your time and effort to get informed about identity theft and to take precautions to protect yourself and your family from fraud.
 

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PROPHETS TO THE GENTILES
 

Did you realize that there are at least three prophets in the Old Testament that were called specifically to prophesy regarding the Gentiles? Obviously, most of the Bible deals with history - both past and future - through the "lens" of Israel. But these three short books focus on Gentile history and each has a specific application to you and me today.

The Biggest Miracle

Perhaps one of the biggest miracles in the Old Testament is found in the book of Jonah. I know what you're thinking, but the miracle I am talking about doesn't involve a whale.

God called Jonah to minister to Nineveh, which had served as the capital of the world for several centuries. Nineveh was the bitter enemy of Israel, so instead of obeying God, Jonah boarded a ship bound for Tarshish. However God had other plans and after a series of extraordinary events Jonah finally reached the great city.

When Jonah arrived in Nineveh he didn't present a polished, "seeker friendly" sermon. God had declared that they were 40 days from being destroyed. Jonah went through town proclaiming, "40 days and you get yours!" He was hoping they would get wiped out. In fact, his biggest fear was that God might spare them (in fact he went up on a hill and pouted when God did spare them).

It is interesting that Jonah didn't preach repentance. He simply announced their impending doom. It is astonishing to realize that within those 40 days, the king speculated that, just maybe, if they repented God might change His mind. They did, and God did. From the king on down, they put on sackcloth, the traditional ritual for repentance, and cried out to God (they even put sackcloth on the cattle). The repentance of Nineveh is astonishing when you think about it, perhaps one of the greatest miracles in the Old Testament.

When Nations Die

The book of Nahum comes some one hundred years after the prophecy of Jonah. This book tells the conclusion of the saga of Nineveh, which God spared from destruction for an entire century.

Nations and empires actually do have "life cycles." This has been studied by many historians throughout the years and they all have come to about the same conclusion: a lifetime of about two centuries. And they all seem to go through the same life cycle: "from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependence back again into bondage (Alexander Tyler, 1750)."

Where are we in this cycle? We, too, have gone from bondage to spiritual faith; from faith to great courage which established our precious liberty, which, in turn, has given us unprecedented abundance that has made us the envy of the world. That abundance, however, has led to complacency and apathy. (If you ask the average person, What is the biggest problem in America? Is it ignorance or is it apathy? They will probably respond, "I don't know; and I don't care!")

This apathy will ultimately lead to dependency and then return us to the very bondage that this nation was founded to deliver us from. Robert Bork was right when he said that, "The only hope for America is a grass roots revival." Is America ripe for judgment? Billy Graham quipped many years ago, "If God doesn't judge America He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!" Thomas Jefferson summed it up well: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; and that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Israel's Enemies

The enemies of Israel are in the front pages of every newspaper and newscast. It may surprise you to learn that they are also summarized - and prophesied over - in the shortest book of the Old Testament: the book of Obadiah.

Although specifically directed against Edom, the scope of this little book may surprise you. In fact, our review of this book covers far more than simply some ancient tribal animosities:

 

• What is the prophetic role of Ammon, Moab, and Edom (now known as Jordan)?
• Why do they escape the rule of the Antichrist?! 
• What is the purpose of the Great Tribulation? 
• Where does Jesus return? On the Mount of Olives? Or in Bozrah?
   

Related Link:
 • Jonah, Nahum & Obadiah - CD-ROM Commentary - K- House Africa