The Impossible Book

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Christina

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The Impossible BookJanuary 12, 2007Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter EditorImagine, for a second, that a collection of several dozen books about the cultural, religious and historical heritage of an historical people began to be composed around the fifth century AD.That isn't when the collection was completed, but rather, when it started. Since 500 AD, the work had been taken up by forty different individuals along the way, a book here, two books there, etc., with the final book of the collection hitting the news stands in January, 2007.So, we have the time frame of sixteen hundred years to deal with. Our first author would have composed his historical and cultural work as the Roman Empire began to collapse and the Goths and Vandals laid siege to Rome.Mohammed had not yet been born. The world was just entering the Middle Ages. The prevailing science said that the earth was flat. The sun revolved around the earth. England was divided into tiny kingdoms. The Dome of the Rock had not yet been built on Temple Mount.That is our starting point. Now, imagine that a couple of new books were added to the collection about every century or so. Very few of our authors ever meet, most are separated by hundreds of years and hundreds of miles at a time when few could read or write and libraries were about as common as ATM's.A couple of books in 500, a couple more in 600, etc., for about six hundred years. That brings us to the period of the Magna Carta, and our collection of books is about one-third finished. A few more centuries, a few more books, and it is half done around the time of Columbus.A few more books, a few more centuries, and about the time of the American Revolution, our collection is three-quarters complete. And on we go through history: The War of 1812, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the War on Terror. . .and finally, in 2007, the last of the sixty-six books outlining the culture and historical heritage of our imaginary people is complete.Now, to make it more interesting. Although our authors don't know each other, lived centuries apart and never read each other's works before composing their own, the entire collection must read as if it were penned by the same guy.If we know anything at all about literary history, it is that values, principles and styles change over time. Even in his own lifetime, an author goes through fundamental changes in his own system of values and principles.As a writer, I can go back and read what I wrote ten years ago and can track how my views have changed and matured over the decade. It is actually quite interesting to see how much my views have changed.Societies change and mature as well. The Christian Church of AD 500 is not the Christian Church of 2007. But for the sake of this exercise, we must assume that none of those personal, social or religious changes throughout the ages have any effect on our collection of historical books.The book written in AD 500 and the book finished in 2007 must flow together as seamlessly as if they were written by the same guy on the same week.Impossible? Sure. If one compared a book on US history published in 1907 with one published in 2007, one would wonder if the two books were even relating the history of the same country.That's only a period of one hundred years. To fit within our analogy, they would have to read as if they were written by the same hand.The first five books of the Bible were written by Moses. Moses was a Hebrew who was raised and was well-versed in what was a thriving Egyptian culture. He was reared in Pharaoh's court and "was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds" (Acts 7:22).It would be natural to imagine that his writings would be heavily influenced by Egyptian thinking—yet they aren't. Instead they reflect thoughts and principles that remain unchanged after more than 3,000 years.The Books of the Law contain, for example, considerable information about health and sickness. Notes Dr. S.I. McMillen in his 1972 book, "None of These Diseases":"From the record we discover that Moses had so much faith in God's regulations that he did not incorporate a single current [Egyptian] medical misconception into the inspired instructions ... The divine instructions were not only devoid of harmful practices, but had many detailed positive recommendations."Now imagine a book of medicine penned in AD 500 in complete harmony with existing medical knowledge in 2007. How amazing is that?Moses was the author of the first five books of the Bible. All the other authors to come later faithfully reflected exactly the same values, despite the cultural, linquistic and scientific advancements that are part of 1600 years of history.These writers would consist of people from the most diverse backgrounds. Amos was a sheepbreeder and fruit caretaker. David was a shepherd who became a mighty king. Others, such as Daniel and Nehemiah, held high positions in foreign governments.In the New Testament, the writers consist of several former fishermen (Peter and John), a tax collector (Matthew), a physician (Luke) and several others of different professions.Few, if any, ever read what had been written before. Even fewer, if any, of the Bible's authors ever met one another.One of the foremost Bible scholars of the past century, F.F. Bruce, wrote in his book, "The Books and the Parchments: How We Got Our English Bible":"The Bible is not simply an anthology [a collection of books]; there is a unity which binds the whole together ... Any part of the human body can only be properly explained in reference to the whole body. And any part of the Bible can only be properly explained in reference to the whole Bible."The narratives are historical, faithfully reflecting society and culture as history and archaeology would discover them thousands of years later. And while there may be disputes among archaeologists about certain details of the accounts, there is a general consensus of the Bible's accuracy.Dr. Norman Geisler, professor of theology, summarizes the findings of Biblical archaeology:"In every period of Old Testament history, we find that there is good evidence from archaeology that the Scriptures speak the truth. In many instances, the Scriptures even reflect firsthand knowledge of the times and customs it describes. While many have doubted the accuracy of the Bible, time and continued research have consistently demonstrated that the Word of God is better informed than its critics."Not only is the Bible historically accurate, but when it deals with scientific subjects, it is also reliable. This is one of the reasons the Bible can be accepted as a trustworthy document that should be taken literally.Although it was not written as a textbook on history, science, mathematics or medicine, when the writers of Scripture touch on these subjects, they were inspired by God not to make mistakes, but to write what was true—sometimes stating facts that scientific advancement would not reveal or even consider for thousands of years.Isaiah knew the earth was round a thousand years before Columbus set sail for the New World. ("It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth . . . " Isaiah 40:22)Job explains the global hydrological cycle three thousand years before science 'discovered' it.Hebrews 1:10-11 confirmed the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (all things deteriorate with time) nineteen centuries before Einstein:"You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment. . ."How many times has an unbeliever picked up a Bible and sighed to himself, "If I just had proof that God exists, then I would believe."How much evidence does one need?
 

n2thelight

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Great article KrissHere's a similar one you I think you would likeTHAT AMAZING BOOK by Terry Watkins President Ronald Reagan pointed to thatAmazing book and said,"Indeed,it is an indisputable fact that all the complex and horrendous questions confronting us at home and worldwide have their answer in that SINGLE BOOK," Napoleon said about that Amazing Book:"...is no mere book,but A LIVING CREATURE that conquers all that face it". Newsweek magazine,(Dec,27,1982),on its cover wrote;about that Amazing Book "How one book unites us,divides us,and still DEFINES US". That Amazing Book is The Bible! And if you think the Bible is like any other book ever written keep readind.When you finish this you'll know that book is amazing! But the Bible was written thousands of years ago.And we're heading into the 21st century!We've seen man go to the moon. We've seen mankind take great strides in conquering the hidden mysteries of the universe.The Bible was written thousands of years ago by men with such limited knowledge. With their limited knowledge,what could they possibly have known?I'm glad you asked... Luke 17:30: "Even thus shall it be IN THE DAY when the son of man is revealed...(vs31)IN THAT DAY...(vs34)I tell you IN THAT NIGHT...Nobody in Luke's day thought it could be day and night at the same time!They thought the earth was flat!Luke was written around 65 A.D.How did Luke know something that scientist did'nt know until the 16th century? Isaih 40:22: "It is he that sitteth upon the CIRCLE OF THE EARTH."How did Isaiah know in 700 B.C.the earth is round?The scientist of Isaiah's day thought the earth was flat.They did'nt discover the earth is round until the early 1500s when Magellan sailed around the world.How did Isaiah know something over 2000 years ahead of science? Job 26:7:"...and hangeth the earth upon NOTHING."During the time of Job.it was believed a god named Atlas held the earth on his shoulders! Nobody believed the earth"hangeth upon NOTHING!" Job is the oldest book in the Bible!Written over 3500 years ago!How did Job know something that was IMPOSSIBLE to know during his day? Genesis 2:7"And the Lord God formed man of the DUST OF THE GROUND,and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul."Surely,you don't take 2:7 seriously?Do you? November 1982,Reader's Digest had an artical titled How Life on Earth Began.It stated that according to scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center the ingredients needed to form a human being can be found IN CLAY.The artical said,"The Biblical scenario for the creation of life turns out to be NOT FAR OFF THE MARK."(Readers Digest,November,1982 p.116)No it's "not far off the mark"- its right on it! Scientist have laughed at the possibility of Genesis having any scientific credibility whatsover-and yet,the more we learn the more we find it to be SCIENTIFICALLY CORRECT Psalm 8:8"...whatsoever passeth through the PATH OF THE SEAS." After reading Psalm 8:8 Matthew Maury,A U.S. Naval officer set out to locate these curious paths in the seas,"He discovered the oceans have paths which flow through them.He became known as the pathfinder of the seas". How did David know over 2,000 years ago ,there were paths in the seas'? Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea;yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come thither they return again." How did the writer of Ecclesiastes know the water cycle of condensation and evaporation?The sun evaporates water from the ocean,water vapor rises and becomes clouds.This water in the clouds falls back to the earth as rain,collects in rivers and makes its way back to the oceans.This was'nt known until Galileo in 1630!How did the writer of Ecclesiastes know this in 1000 B.C.? 2500 YEARS AHEAD OF SCIENCE Leviticus 15:13 "And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue;then he shall number to himself sevsn days,for his cleansing,and wash his clothes,and bathe his flesh in RUNNING WATER." God said to wash the infected flesh in RUNNING WATER.Science did'nt discover that until two men named Pasteur and Koch in the late 1800s.Doctors were washing their hands in a bowl of water and spreading the germs like wild fire.It was'nt until the invention of the microscope and the science of bacteriology that doctors started washing in RUNNING WATER. Leviticus was written around 1490 B.C. SCIENCE WAS ABOUT 3000 YEARS BEHIND Job 38:19: Where is THE WAY where light dwelleth?How come Job did'nt say where is THE PLACE where light dwelleth?Because light is always moving.How did Jobknow something in 1500 B.C. that science did'nt find out until Einstein?How can the men who wrote that amazing book be so far ahead of science? Ecciesiastes 1:6:'The wind goeth toward the south,and turneth abouth unto the north;it whirleth about continually,and the wind returneth again ACCORDING TO HIS CIRCUITS," How did the writer of Ecclesiastes know the wind traveled within circuits?How did he know something that the aerologist and meteorogist are just now discovering? Proverbs 6:6-8:"Go to the ant...gathereth her food in the harvest."Life's Nature Library"The Insects"(p.163)commenting on Proverbs 6 reads,"Oneof the entomological puzzles of the last century concerned this observation by Soloman.There was no evidence that ants actually harvested grain.In 1871 however,a British naturalist showed that Solomon had beem right after all..."How did Solomon clearly detail a scientific fact,that was impossible for him to know in 1000 B.C.? Proverbs 17:22"A merry heart doeth good like a MEDICINE ," An article in the Birmingham News,titled laughterrescription for health,said,the LATEST medical evidence reveals that,"At some point during laughter,your body issues a PRESCRIPTION from the pharmacy in your brain,"How did the writer of Proverbs know that-3000 YEARS AHEAD OF MEDICAL SCIENCE? Leviticus 17:11"For the life of the flesh is in the blood." That's the most accurate scientific statement ever written about blood!It is the blood that carries on all the processes of the body.It is the blood that causes growth,builds new cells,grows bone and flesh,stores fat,makes hair and nails.It is the blood that feeds and supports all the organs in the body For thousands of years doctors treated people by a practice called "bleeding," They thought illnesses could be cured by removing blood.In1799,less than200 years ago George Washington was literally bled to death.They bled poor George four times,the last time that took over a quart of his blood! They did'nt know but they were literally draining away his life by removing his blood.It was'nt until the early 1900s that a man named Dr.Lister discovered that the blood provides the bodies immune system-THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD The Birmingham Post Herald,Febuary 26,1988,told the story of Mike Thomas.Mike was working at a construction site when he fell 70 feet.As he was falling a cable wrapped around his arm and severed his hand a few inches above the wrist.A fellow worker carried his severed hand to the hospital.Because of serious internal injuries,doctors could not at that time reattach his hand.Instead ,they attached his hand to blood vessels on his abdomal wall to keep it alive'Two months later,the doctors removed it from his abdomen and reattached it to his arm.According to the report,UAB was the first in the nation to perform such a task. Exactly what the bible said in 1490 B.C.!Keep feeding that hand blood,and it'll stay alive-the LIFE of the FLESH is in the BLOOD Don't you find that od?What Mosses wrote in 1490 B.C.,the brightest minds man can produce,are just now discovering!How can that amazing book written thousand's of years ago by men with such limited knowledge,be so far ahead the best mankind can produce in 6000 years? To realize how Amazing that Book is;compare what the scientist taught when that Amazing Book was written.They believed lightning bolts were missles from the gods.The Vedas(Hindu sacred book) taught to get rain,tie a frog with his mouth open to a tree and repeat some magic words.The Egyptians believed stars were the souls of dead people who were now gods.The Greeks believed a god named atlas held the earth on his shoulders. But that Amazing Book,contains nothing so foolish!Despite what was taught during the writers day!That Amazing Book says," And Mosses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptains..."(Acts7:22).And yet,the superstitions and mythology of Egypt are not in the books written by Mosses! In fact,after 6,000 years of discoveries and advancements that Amazing Book,can stand beside the most advanced medical,scientific,and historical books available! One subject that seperates that Amazing Book from any other book is prophecy.No other book forcasts the future as this one does.The prophecies are precise.Many times they're hundreds,even thousands of years in advance.And without exception they are fulfilled -to the smallest detail! A prophecy in Ezekiel 26:1-6 reads...the word of the Lord came unto me,saying...Behold,I am against thee,O Tyrus,and will cause many nations to come up against thee...And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus,and break down her towers:I will also scrape her dust from her,and make her like the top of a rock.It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea:for I have spoken it,saith the Lord God... Three years later,Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon surrounded Tyrus.But before he came,the people of Tyre escaped to an island,a half mile offshore.After thirteen years of siege,the Babylonians "broke down her walls"and"broke down her towers"destroying the city on the mainland.By that time,the escaped people had re=built the city of Tyre on the island.And because Nebuchadnezzar had no navy,the city on the island remained untouched.Even though Nebuchadnezzar,destroyed the city,he did'nt fulfill Ezekiel's prophecy. But 250 years later,Alexander the Great took the rubble Nebuchadnezzar's destruction left,and they "scrapped her dust",the wood,rock and stubble from the destroyed city,and they built a causeway,into the island and destroyed it.And if you travel to the site of old Trye today-you'll see fishermen "spreading their nets"to dry on what was Trye!Exactly,as Ezekiel prophecised around 586 B.C.! Over 2500 years before it happened! There were over 300 prophecies fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.That Amazing Book has many that were written thousands of years before Jesus was born!Precise,detailed prophecies such as;where he would be born(Micah 5:2)how he would be born(Isaiah 7:14)how he would die(Psalm 34:20),etc.And history has PROVEN,without ANY doubt whatsoever,they were fulfilled EXACTLY as that Amazing Book had prophesied,hundreds of years earlier! In the book,Science Speaks,mathematician and scientist Peter Stoner,applies the rules of probability to these prophecies.The chances of just eight of these three-hundred prophecies being fulfilled are one in 10 to the 17th power,thats 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000! In the book,Professor Stoner,illustrates: Let us try to visualize this chance...Suppose that we take 10 to the 17th power silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas.They will cover all of the state two feet deep.Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly...Blindfold a man and tell him...he must pick up one silver dollar...What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writting these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man.(Science Speaks,pp. 106-107) Professor Stoner,then took 48 of these over 300 fulfilled prophecies.The chances of 48 being fulfilled are 1 in 10 to the 157 power-thats 1 in 10 with 157 zeros! Here's how he illustrates: Let us try to visualize it...The electron is about as small an object as we know of.It is so small that it will take 2.5 x 10 to the 15th power of them laid side by side to make a line,single file,one inch long.If we were going to count the electrons in this line one inch long,and counted 250 each minute,and if we counted day and night,it would take us 19,000,000 years to count just the one inch long line of electrons...With this introduction,let us go back to our chance of 1 in 10 to the157th power...Let us make a solid ball of electrons,extending in all directions from the earth to the distance of six billion light years(the distance that light will travel at 186,000 miles a second in 6,000,000,000 years). Have we used up our 157th power electrons?No,we have made such a small hole in the mass that we cannot see it.Now,one of these electrons was marked and thoroughly stirred into the whole mass;blindfo;d your man and ask him to find the marked electron.(The electron,in fact is so small that it cannot be seen with a powerful microscope,)To the extent,then,that we know this blindfolded man cannot pick out the marked electron,we know that the Bible is inspired.(Science Speaks,pp 109-111) And in case you think that Professor Stoners statistics are exaggerated or without scientific substance the Foreword of the book,Science Speaks includes the acknowledgement by the prestigious American Scientific Affiliation stating: The mathmatical analysis included is based upon principles of probability which are thoroughly sound and Professor Stoner has applied these principles in a proper and convincing way." Professor Stoner concludes, This is not MERELY EVIDENCE. It is PROOF of the Bible's inspiration by God-PROOF DEFINITE that the universe is not large enough to hold the evidence. These are just a few examples(of thousands)that prove beyond and shadow of doubt that a supernatural hand,far greater than you and I can imagine,was guiding the men who wrote that Amazing Book. Friend if the physical things that we can examine prove to be true-what about the spiritual that we can not yet examine? WHAT IF THEY ARE ALSO TRUE? (End of article) MY THOUGHTS: THEY ARE