In the Bible there are prophecies that are being fulfilled in our time in detail before our
very eyes. These are empirical evidences that it was not just men who wrote the Bible.
Detailed knowledge of future events is impossible for human beings.
We will look at prophecies in the Bible concerning Israel, Egypt, Babylon, Tyre and
Edom. These prophecies have been fulfilled in history and are fulfilled before our eyes in our
time.
These prophecies were given in a historical context. The prophets that were used to give
these prophecies were Hebrews and lived at least 1900 years ago. As you observe these
predictive prophecies given in detail in a historical context and then observe their detailed
fulfillment in history and in our time, you will understand that this is beyond the natural
abilities of mere men. And you will want to consider the combined impact of all of these
prophecies together, noting their detailed accuracy. The mathematical probability of all of
these being fulfilled in detail in history and until our time is beyond guesswork or chance. The
prophets claimed that they received their prophecies from God who created the heavens and
the earth. They quoted what God revealed to them. The proof of the truthfulness of their
claims can be seen in the detailed fulfillment in our time.
Isaiah 42:8, 9:
Isaiah 46:9, 10:
The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, who was the brother of Jacob. This nation
lived in the land south of the Dead Sea. The prophets foretold their destruction and desolation:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God:
Also Edom shall be a desolation . . .Jeremiah 49:17 (KJV). (Before 540 B.C.)
. . . and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath
spoken it. Obadiah 18 (KJV).
After Jerusalem was taken into Babylonian captivity, Nabataean Arabs took Edom.1
Edomites then lived in southern Judea. In 164 B.C., the Jews defeated them, and in 120 B.C.
the Jews conquered these Idumeans.2 In about A.D. 69, an army of 40,000 greatly
depopulated them.3 And the Edomites disappeared from history just as the prophets had
foretold.
The Romans conquered the Nabataeans in Edom in A.D. 106. They changed the trade
route so that it ran through Palmyra instead of Petra (Sela), the capital of Edom. This cut off
the country's income, and it lost its importance.4 After the Byzantine period, it became a
desolation until this day.
You can visit the land of Edom today. It is desolate from Teman (Maan) in the north on to
the south, just as the Old Testament prophets foretold. Tourists visit the remains of the city
Petra (Sela). For centuries Edom has been a desolation in fulfillment of the judgment of God.
The Edomites have not existed as a people since the time of the New Testament apostles, in
fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets. The Bible is the inspired Word of God.
The Philistines
The Philistines lived in the southwestern part of the land of Canaan, on the plains along the
Mediterranean Sea. Their cities were Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gerar. They
fought much against Israel. This is recorded in the Bible from the book of Judges to
2 Chronicles. The word of God prophesied against the Philistines that God would destroy
them. In about 765 B.C., the prophet Amos recorded:
God used the Babylonians in 604 B.C. to destroy the Philistines. 2 Kings 24:7. The
judgment of God came upon the Philistines. They were destroyed, and taken away to punish.
(Lawrence Stager, "The Fury of Babylon." Biblical Archaeology Review, Jan./Feb.1996, pp.
56-77.) Today, Arabs live in Gaza, and Israelis live in Askelon and Ashdod. Ekron, Gath and
Gerar are ruins. You can visit and see for yourself. The remnant of the Philistines perished,
just as foretold by God in Amos.
Tyre
Tyre was a great Phoenician city on the coast just north of Israel. But the people were idol
worshipers; their prince called himself God, and they rejoiced over Jerusalem's trouble. God
foretold the destruction of Old Tyre:
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Old Tyre for thirteen years before it fell, in about 573 B.C.5
Tyre submitted to the Persians in about 525 B.C.6 Then the prophecies were finally fulfilled in
332 B.C. when Alexander the Great took the island just offshore:
Alexander the Great made Old Tyre like the top of a rock when he cleared it to build his
roadway out to the island. Since that time, Old Tyre has not been rebuilt, just as the prophet of
God had foretold.
Old Tyre has been like the top of the rock since the time of Alexander the Great. The
fishermen dry their nets there. You can visit there and see for yourself the literal fulfillment of
the prophecies of the Bible. For 2,300 years, Old Tyre has not been rebuilt, just as the
judgment of God said. The Bible is the inspired word of God.
Babylon
Babylon was a great city on the Euphrates River. Under Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians
destroyed Jerusalem and took the people captive to Babylon in 586 B.C. Isaiah and Jeremiah
foretold the desolation of Babylon:
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees excellency, shall be as
when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it
be dwelt in from generation to generation neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there;
neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. Isaiah 13:19-20 (KJV). (Before 680
B.C.)
Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly
desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her
plagues. Jeremiah 50:13 (KJV).
In 539 B.C., Babylon fell to the Medes and the Persians. Its decline was gradual. The
Parthians destroyed much of the city. In about A.D. 75 the merchants moved.
With the departure of the merchants, Babylon was left to its doom. Shortly afterwards the
Latin author Pliny stated that the temple of Marduk was still standing but that in every other
respect the place had become a desert. In A.D. 116 the Roman emperor Trajan wintered in the
city during his campaign against the Parthians. Attracted to it by its widespread fame, he found
nothing but mounds and stones and ruins.9
The Germans excavated Babylon's ruins. Their maps show the desolation.10 Arab villages
are outside of what was Babylon. For 1900 years Babylon has been uninhabited. You can visit
the ruins of Babylon in order to see the literal fulfillment of the Bible prophecies. The Bible is
the inspired word of God.
Egypt
At one time the Egyptian Empire included Canaan, Syria and Lebanon, reaching to the
upper Euphrates. The future of Egypt was foretold in detail:
It shall be the lowliest of the kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations,
for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations any more. Ezekiel
29:15 (NKJV).
. . . and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put fear in the
land of Egypt. Ezekiel 30:13 (KJV).
History shows the fulfillment of these prophecies. Egypt has not ruled over the nations
since the time of the prophet Ezekiel. Egypt has been ruled by the Persians, the Greeks, the
Romans, Constantinople, the Saracen Arabs, the Mamelukes, the Turks, the French, and the
English. In recent years, Egypt has not had princes.11
For 2,500 years Egypt has been a lowly nation, just as the prophet foretold. You can visit
Egypt and see that Egypt is truly one of the lowliest of nations. The Bible is the inspired word
of God.
Israel
The destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans was foretold in Deuteronomy 29:49-68, and
Daniel 9:26-27. These prophecies were fulfilled in A.D. 70. Josephus recorded the detailed
fulfillment of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem including the mother eating her child.12
The scattering of Israel among the nations, if they disobeyed God, was foretold:
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: . . .
Leviticus 26:33 (KJV).
And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even
unto the other: . . . and among these nations shalt thou find no ease, . . . Deuteronomy
28:64-65 (KJV).
Israel ceased to exist as a nation from A.D. 70 until 1948. The Jews have truly been
scattered among all people, from one end of the earth even to the other during 1900 years.
Among the nations they have found no ease, but have been persecuted, just as the scriptures
foretold. The nations of the world have persecuted them and killed them. During World War
II, Hitler had six million Jews killed.
The amazing thing is that the Jews have survived. This was foretold in Jeremiah:
The Babylonians, Philistines and Edomites do not now exist. But the Jews still exist in
spite of dispersion and persecution, just as was foretold.
Babylon, Nineveh, Old Tyre and Petra are desolate. They have not been rebuilt. But
Jerusalem now stands. Here is empirical evidence!
You can see the fulfillment of prophecy with your own eyes. The Old Testament was
written before Christ. It was translated into Greek before Christ. 1900 years of history and
conditions which can be seen today testify to the supernatural inspiration of the writers of the
Bible. They claimed that they wrote the word which the one living God gave to them. That is
demonstrated.
The Return to Israel
Israel became a nation again in 1948. From A.D. 70 on, the Jews were scattered among
the nations, and Israel ceased to be a nation. However, in our time, the Jews have been
returning to Israel, and Israel has again become a nation after 1878 years. The Bible prophets
foretold all this in detail, hundreds of years before it happened.
The prophet Isaiah foretold that God would gather His people, Israel, a second time
during the time of Messiah, the root of Jesse. Let us read this prophecy which was given about
700 B.C., about 2700 years ago.
Isaiah 11:10-12:
You will notice that after the nations have resorted to the root of Jesse, a branch from his
roots, Messiah (Isa.11:1), then the Lord will a second time recover and assemble the people of
Israel and Judah from all over the world. This has happened and is happening right now. (See
also Joel 3:1,2, 7. Amos 9:14, 15. Hosea 3:4, 5. Jeremiah 23:5-8. Zechariah 10:6-10. Ezekiel
39:25-29.)
Jesus was a prophet of God. In Luke, chapter 21, Jesus foretold the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Romans, which happened in A.D. 70. Let us read one important verse of
what Jesus said about the Jews:
Notice: Jesus foretold that the Jews would be led captive into all nations. That happened
and the Jews have continued to be in all nations even until our time. Jesus foretold that
Jerusalem would be trampled under foot of the Gentiles. That was fulfilled in history. How
long did Jesus say that the Gentiles would have Jerusalem? "Until the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled." By this statement, Jesus showed that the Jews would get Jerusalem back. When was
this fulfilled? On June 7, 1967, Israel took back Jerusalem; Jewish soldiers stormed into the
city. The prophecies of Jesus were fulfilled in detail. Here is empirical data, historical proof
that God exists, that God has spoken through His prophets and that Jesus is a prophet of God.
They are proof that God has revealed Himself to man. They are proof that God rules in history
and judges mankind.
For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved
by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 (ASV).
And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay
attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
arises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19.
Germaine Lockwood
"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.
"Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."
. . . "Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have
not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'".
Edom and Edomites
. . . and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of
Judah. . . . Joel 3:19 (KJV).
I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it:
and I will make it desolate from Teman Ezekiel 25:13 (KJV). (Before 570 B.C.)
Amos 1:6-8: Thus says the LORD:
"For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they took captive the whole captivity
To deliver them up to Edom.
But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
Which shall devour its palaces.
I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn My hand against Ekron,
And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,"
Says the Lord GOD. (NKJB)
Also: Zephaniah 2:3-7. Jeremiah 47:4,5. Isaiah 14:28-31.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause
many nations to come up against thee, . . . and I will make thee like the top of a rock:
thou shalt be built no more; for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel
26:3, 14 (KJV).
Alexander announced that he would visit their island and sacrifice to their Heracles.
They replied that it would be more proper to sacrifice in the ancient temple of
Baalmelqart on the mainland at Old Tyre; when he insisted that he must visit the
island, they declared that they would admit neither Persian nor Macedonian into their
city.7 Possessing no fleet, Alexander demolished Old Tyre, and with the debris built a
mole 200 feet in breadth across the straits, and erected tower and war engines at its
further end.8
For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations
whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct
thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. Jeremiah 30:11 (KJV).
Then it will come about in that day
That the nations will resort to the root of Jesse,
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples;
And His resting place will be glorious.
Then it will happen on that day that the Lord
Will again recover the second time with His hand
The remnant of His people, who will remain,
From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath,
And from the islands of the sea.
And He will lift up a standard for the nations,
And will assemble the banished ones of Israel,
And will gather the dispersed of Judah
From the four corners of the earth.
Luke 21:24: and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all
the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of
the Gentiles be fulfilled.
1 H. Ewing, "Edom, Edomites," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. II, 899-900.
2 Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 12.8.1 and 13.9.1.
3 Josephus Wars of the Jews 4.9.7.
4 Nelson Glueck, Deities and Dolphins, (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1965) pp. 70,
543.
5 Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 10.11.1.
6 H. Porter, "Tyre," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, V, 3031.
7 A. T. Olmstead, History of the Persian Empire, (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press,
1948), p. 506. Just. xi. 10.8.11; Plut. Alex. 24. 2; Arr. Anab. ii. 15.6-7; Marmor Prium B.4.
8 "Tyre," Encyclopedia Britannica, 1956, XXII, 653.
9 James G. Macqueen, Babylon (London: Robert Hale Ltd., 1964), p. 233.
10 Robert Koldewey, The Excavations at Babylon, trans. by Agnes S. Johns (London:
MacMillian, 1914), fig. 1.
11 Wilbur M. Smith, Egypt in Biblical Prophecy (Boston: W. A. Wilde Co., 1957), p. 102.
12 Josephus Wars of the Jews 5-7.
Copyright ©1996 by Germaine Charles Lockwood. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Scripture quotations in this work, unless otherwise indicated, are from The New American Standard Bible, Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations from The New King James Bible (NKJB), Copyright ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN. Used by permission.
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