In the law of evidence, a credible witness is a person making testimony in a court or other tribunal, or acting otherwise as a witness, whose credibility is unimpeachable. […]
Several factors affect witnesses’ credibility. A credible witness is “competent to give evidence, and is worthy of belief.” Generally, a witness is deemed to be credible if they are recognized (or can be recognized) as a source of reliable information about someone, an event, or a phenomenon. (Wikipedia)
An oft-repeated disparagement of the Bible is that it’s simply a book of stories written by various men throughout history. However, in Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, he confirms that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus himself tells us that “scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). And as Peter writes in his second epistle:
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)
It was seeing the truth of the Bible that led both Sean and me to put our faith in Jesus Christ as it was abundantly clear to us — after spending much time digging into both historical and present-day truths — that the Bible not only clearly prophesied much concerning Jesus’ birth, life and death, but also paints a clear picture of end times events which can be seen unfolding in our world today.
Indeed, there are hundreds of prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in Jesus, something that’s so incredibly against the odds that it’s impossible to dismiss. For example, the Messiah was prophesied to be of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), a Galilean (Isaiah 9:1-2), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), where Joseph fled with his young family to avoid the wrath of Herod and, after some time, was called back by God to the land of Israel.
Other prophecies of the Messiah include: that he would be preceded by John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3), that he would heal the blind (Isaiah 42:7), speak in parables (Psalms 78:2), and be a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). Prophecies concerning the specifics of his death include: Judas’ betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12); that he would not answer his accusers (Isaiah 53:7); that he would be scourged and that by his stripes we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5), his sacrifice for our salvation; that he would be the last sacrifice (Hebrews 10:18), the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7); that he would be crucified (Psalm 22:14-15); that his hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16); that he would be crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12); that none of his bones would be broken (Psalms 24:20) — the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of those on the cross to ensure they died before the sabbath began, however, as Jesus had already died they didn’t break his legs (John 19:33); that the people would walk past wagging their heads as he hung on the cross (Psalms 109:25); that his garments would be parted and lots cast for his vesture (Psalms 22:18); that he would be given vinegar to drink while on the cross (Psalms 69:12); that he would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9). And, of course, that he would rise from the dead on the third day (Psalms 16:10, Matthew 12:39-40), something which was witnessed by many in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 15:4-8).
So many highly specific prophecies fulfilled by one man. These prophecies span the entire Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi (400 years before Jesus), with major clusters of prophecies in the Book of Psalms (1,000 years before Jesus) and Isaiah (700 years before Jesus).
This passage from Psalm 22 (written by David around 979 BC), is a clear depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalms 22:13-18)
And this passage from Isaiah 53 (also known as the forbidden chapter as rabbis are known to avoid reading it in the synagogue because it’s so clear Jesus was the Messiah they rejected) clearly points to the Messiah’s death being that which saves us, as well as other aspects of Jesus’ death.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:3-12)
Bible prophecies also continue beyond those concerning Jesus. There are highly specific end-of-world prophecies, key ones of which can be seen clearly on the horizon, such as, hyperinflation (Revelation 6:5) and food shortages (Revelation 6:8), both of which precede the full formation of a (tyrannical) one-world government (Revelation 13:7), a one-world religion (Revelation 13:8), and a one-world currency (Revelation 13:17). The ruler of this one-world system — prophesied to be the Antichrist, otherwise known as the man of sin and the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3) — will set himself up as God from the yet-to-be-built third temple in Jerusalem. The only thing standing, literally, in the way of the coming third temple is the Dome of the Rock, however, preparations are already far advanced with architectural plans having been finalised and everything from the instruments and vessels to the priestly outfits is prepared and ready to go. Once the temple is built, the nascent Sanhedrin will attempt to reinstate animal sacrifices as they have already held a number of sacrifices outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Further, in Paul’s second epistle to Timothy he prophesies perfectly the general state of mankind today:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
In addition to the fulfilled prophecies of Jesus and the soon-to-be fulfilled end times prophecies, the Bible contains many other fulfilled prophecies, including but not limited to: the prophecies spoken by Moses to Pharaoh regarding the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus, chapters 7-10); the Assyrian captivity of Israel (Amos 7:11) and the Babylonian captivity of Judah (Jeremiah 20:4-6, Jeremiah 25:11-12); the prophecies of the four great empires in king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (circa 600 BC) — the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, and the Roman Empire (Daniel 2:38-42); the desolation of Babylon (Isaiah 13:19-20).
External to the Bible itself, there is also much archaeological evidence to support the truth of the Bible, from Noah’s Ark being found in the mountains in Turkey to the remains of Sodom and Gomorrah by the Dead Sea, from the Exodus to the Red Sea crossing.
Since the Bible is a reliable witness of itself we can, therefore, trust every word that it contains. And given that the Bible tells us that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16), that he is the Word of God (John 1:1; 1:14, Revelation 19:13), and that he is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), we can know, therefore, that we must put all of our faith and trust in him for our salvation, for he is our lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22), our judge (2 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 19:11) and our redeemer (Isaiah 44:6; 44:24).
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (Isaiah 45:22-23)
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
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)
If you’re not sure of your salvation, make sure you read our Salvation page and call out to Jesus Christ today, for “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
