Several finds from biblical archeology support the Bible’s narrative on the people, places, and events it details. The most notable discoveries of the last two centuries are Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Pool of Siloam, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Tel Dan Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, Shishak’s Invasion, and the Moabite Stone.   1. Hezekiah’s Tunnel and Sluice Inside Hezekiah’s Tunnel, photo by Ian Scott. Source: Flickr   The Hezekiah Tunnel, also known as the Siloam Tunnel, situated in Jerusalem, is a remarkable feat of ancient engineering. Constructed during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, the tunnel serves as a vital water channel, redirecting water from the Gihon Spring outside the city walls to the Pool of Siloam within the city.   The biblical narrative describes the measures King Hezekiah took to fortify Jerusalem against the Assyrian threat, including efforts to secure the city’s water supply. 2 Kings 20:20 mentions that the king engaged in projects to bring water to Jerusalem, and claims that the now-lost Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah supplied more information. 2 Chronicles 32:2–4 provides more detail on the context, stating that King Hezekiah stopped the water from the spring from being used by Sennacherib who was to lead the armies of the Assyrians against Jerusalem.   In 1867, explorer Charles Warren discovered the Hezekiah Tunnel. The tunnel’s existence and construction techniques align with the descriptions found in the Bible. The tunnel redirected water from the Gihon Spring into Jerusalem and ensured a reliable water supply for the inhabitants of Jerusalem during times of siege, as described in 2 Chronicles 32:30.   Some scholars claimed that the tunnel predated the time of Hezekiah. However, the discovery of the Siloam Inscription, found near the southern end of the tunnel in 1880, aligns with the description of King Hezekiah constructing a conduit and a pool to supply Jerusalem with water. Archeological findings published in 2023 further demonstrated the engineering features of the water management system that included sluices to regulate the water flow through the tunnel to prevent flooding in the city.   2. The Pool of Siloam Steps of the Pool of Siloam, Jerusalem. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In the Bible, 2 King 20:20 refers to King Hezekiah constructing a pool, not just a tunnel. In John 9:1-11, Jesus heals a blind man by instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam after applying mud to his eyes.   Hezekiah’s Tunnel is also called the Siloam Tunnel, hence the Siloam Inscription. The tunnel exits into the Pool of Siloam, discovered in Jerusalem in 2004. The discovery of the actual pool reinforces the authenticity of the biblical account in the Old and New Testaments. Additionally, it verifies the accuracy of the geographical details and the vital role the Pool of Siloam played in Jerusalem society.   3. The Dead Sea Scrolls Page from the Dead Sea Scroll, Pesher Isaiah, From Qumran Cave 4. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Dead Sea Scrolls is one of the most significant discoveries that support the Bible. This discovery relates more to the authenticity and accuracy of the versions of Biblical manuscripts than it does to any individual, place, or event in the Bible.   The Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran in 1947 contain fragments of every book in the Old Testament except for the Book of Esther. Some of these manuscripts date to the third century BCE. What is significant about this discovery is that it proves how little manuscripts have changed since the time of Christ. The narrative that changes, omissions, and additions over time had a corrupting effect on the Bible manuscripts, was proven incorrect.   4. The Tel Dan Inscription Tel Dan Stele, mentioning the “House of David.” Source: Wikimedia Commons   The lack of reference to King David in the historical record once gave rise to the idea that no such king existed, or that he was merely a local, tribal chieftain of no real significance. The Tel Dan Inscription, discovered in 1993–94 during excavations at Tel Dan in northern Israel, proved the contrary. The inscription consists of several fragments of an Aramaic victory stele erected by an Aramean king, most likely Hazael or his son Bar-Hadad II.   The inscription references the “House of David,” which scholars believe refers to the dynasty of King David from the Bible. This inscription is the first extra-biblical mention of King David. The term “House of David” indicates that he was the first of a line of kings, which confirms the biblical account of the reign of David, his son, grandson, and so forth.   The Tel Dan Inscription dates to the 9th century BCE and aligns with biblical accounts of geopolitical conflicts and Israel’s interactions with neighboring nations during the same period. The inscription also refers to the House of Israel, further supporting the Bible narrative.   5. The Cyrus Cylinder Cyrus Cylinder, after 539 BCE. Source: The British Museum   The Cyrus Cylinder is an ancient clay artifact, dated to the 6th century BCE, housed at the British Museum in London. The cylinder features an inscription with a declaration attributed to King Cyrus II of Persia, also known as Cyrus the Great.   The Cylinder does not mention events or individuals from the Bible, but its content and historical context indirectly support the Bible. It aligns with Biblical prophecy and reflects the biblical account of the Persians toward the exiled people, including the Israelites.   The policy of religious tolerance described on the cylinder supports the biblical account that the kings of the Medes and Persians allowed the Israelites to return to their native land to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. The Bible mentions the Cyrus decree that allowed the Jews to return and rebuild their capital and house of worship in Ezra and 2 Chronicles.   6. Shishak’s Invasion Pillars at Karnak, Luxor, Egypt, René Hourdry, 2010. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Bible mentions the Egyptian king Shishak invading Judah and plundering the Temple in 1 Kings 14:25-26 and 2 Chronicles 12:2-9. Some inscriptions and reliefs in Egypt, particularly at Karnak Temple in Thebes (Luxor), provide corroborating evidence of the military campaign by Shishak into Judah and neighboring areas. The place names correlate with Biblical names and places, confirming the narrative.   The list of the spoils of war brought back to Karnak Temple corroborates the biblical account of the seizure of wealth from the Temple by Shishak. This archeological evidence validates the historical accuracy of the biblical description of Shishak’s actions during his campaign against Judah.   7. The Moabite Stone The Moabite Stone, or Mésha stele. Source: The Louvre Museum   The Moabite Stone, also known as the Mesha Stele, is a significant archeological discovery made in Dibon (modern-day Jordan) in 1868. The Mesha Stele is a black basalt stone monument inscribed with an account of victories and accomplishments by King Mesha of Moab. It dates to the 9th century BCE, making it one of the oldest known examples of writing from that region.   The stone mentions King Omri, the father of King Ahab (1 Kings 16:21-28), and the Kingdom of Israel.  The stele reflects the power struggles between the kingdoms of Moab and Israel and aligns with biblical accounts of those conflicts. One such conflict involved King Jehoram (2 Kings 3) of Israel.   The stele mentions Mesha’s capture of several cities mentioned in the Bible, such as Ataroth and Nebo (Numbers 32:3, Deuteronomy 32:49). These conquests are consistent with the biblical depiction of military conflicts between Moab and Israel.   8. Ruins in the City of Jericho The Fall of the Walls of Jericho, from Dalziels’ Bible Gallery, by various artists, 1881. Source: The MET Museum   Archeological discoveries in Jericho support the Bible’s story about the destruction and burning of the city. Excavations at Jericho have revealed evidence of a fortified city with massive walls dating to the Late Bronze Age (around 1550–1200 BCE). These dates correspond to the biblical time frame of the Israelite conquest. Archeologists have identified layers of destruction within the city’s ruins, indicating that Jericho experienced violent destruction around the time traditionally associated with Joshua’s conquest.   Archeological findings suggest that the city’s walls did collapse outward, matching the description in Joshua 6:20: “The wall collapsed, so that every man charged straight in, and they took the city.” This collapse aligns with the biblical account of the Israelites’ marching around the city, sounding trumpets and shouting. In addition, evidence of extensive burning within the city is consistent with the biblical narrative that the Israelites burned Jericho after its conquest (Joshua 6:24).   Following its destruction, Jericho remained uninhabited for several centuries, as evidenced by the absence of significant occupation layers in the archeological record. This matches the biblical account, which describes Jericho as being placed under a curse, with Joshua declaring, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho” (Joshua 6:26).   Conclusion Dead Seas Scroll Jar, 2nd century BCE. Source: MET Museum   Many of the discoveries mentioned above do not provide direct evidence of the details of the Bible narrative but provide circumstantial evidence. They verify that places, people, or events mentioned in the Bible existed or occurred during the period the narrative describes. This verification increases the likelihood that these narratives reflect actual historical events.   Many of these discoveries have silenced skeptics who believed the Bible consists of fables and myths. Because many of these discoveries provide a perspective from outside of the Israelite context, it is that much more believable.

They say church planting is like building a plane while you’re flying it. If so, a wise planter will stick to the essentials: Decide if you need a building all week long, or can save money renting space by the hour. Determine which children’s ministries are must-haves, and which are merely nice-to-haves. Budget for administrative help. Choose a target date for beginning to partner in overseas missions. Wait. What? Should missions be optional for a new church, or is it essential? If it’s essential—and I’d suggest it is—how can you build missions into your church when it’s just getting off the ground? Let me suggest six ways. 1. Educate globally. As a church planter, you’re going to teach the Bible. And from cover to cover, you’ll find missions themes. God intends to fill the earth with reflections of his glory in human flesh. Though we’ve failed to fulfill that mission, God cannot fail. In Christ, he consummates his plan to restore and spread his perfect image. Missions is joining in that unfinished work, declaring God’s plan and inviting image-bearers into Christ’s kingdom. You can’t faithfully preach too many books of the Bible without drawing attention to that theme! As you teach about missions, you can show your church what God has already done in the world. Tell the story of global Christianity. Tell them what he’s doing now in places like China, Iran, and India. You can explain terms like UPGs (unreached people group) and UUPGs (unengaged unreached people group) so your church learns where laborers are urgently needed and how to pray for them. 2. Partner narrowly. As you educate your people on global missions, maintain a narrow focus for your church’s labors. You don’t have the resources or time to engage globally. So consider where you have a natural way to engage deeply. Do your members already have relationships with overseas gospel workers? Does your planting church? Are any of your members from a part of the world with UPGs? Are there UUPGs in your community? If so, by learning to evangelize that group you can maximize efficiency and develop skills for international ministry. Your narrow focus should look like a relationship. Subscribe to your overseas partner’s newsletter. Reply with encouragement. Tell your congregation about requests, then pray for them publicly and regularly. Give your congregation pop quizzes during prayer meetings to test how well you’re communicating. Set goals to visit the work in some way that serves their ministry. And while a relationship involves more than writing a check, it shouldn’t be less. 3. Give prematurely. Our planting church hired its first church-planting resident when it couldn’t afford to plant. It couldn’t even afford that resident! I suspect churches that wait to plant until they have enough people and money don’t plant many churches. The same goes for international missions. If you wait to support missions financially until your church has enough people and money, I bet you won’t do much for missions. If you wait to support missions financially until your church has enough people and money, I suspect you won’t do much for missions. So build international missions into your budget from the beginning. If the initial percentage is less than you wish, discipline yourself to increase incrementally from year to year. When you do, don’t add a second partnership immediately. Give more generously to the narrow focus you already have. If that partner doesn’t need the money today, they will eventually. If you have an end-of-year surplus, consider giving away some or all to your overseas partner. 4. Love liberally. While you can’t financially or even relationally support everyone you’d like, love as many overseas workers as you can, as well as you can. Show interest in and enthusiasm for their work, and be honest up-front about your inability to offer financial support. This approach has worked well for our church. In our first few years after planting, we invited several missionaries to share their work with our church even though they were fully funded. One told me that the church where he was baptized had no interest in his work. Missionaries need encouragement just like the rest of us. What seems to you like a simple meal around a table may be to them a heartening gesture. 5. Pray ambitiously. Building prayer for missions into your services and small groups should be a lay-up. Missionaries send you lists of requests. It costs nothing and requires relatively little time to pray. In fact, you can pray for even more than they have the audacity to ask for. But praying ambitiously for missions may eventually bear a steep cost. When you pray for the Lord to send laborers into the harvest, God might answer that request by calling your most faithful members. 6. Send painfully. You knew church planting would be hard. But you believed it’d be worth it. Why? Not because you dreamed of building a personal empire. No, you saw people who needed Jesus in a place that needed a church. You perceived the cost of the work was less than the calamity of Jesus not receiving the worship he deserves. The church you left lost a faithful, gifted worker before they were ready—likely many of them. They felt it. It hurt. When you pray for the Lord to send laborers into the harvest, God might answer that request by calling your most faithful members. Sooner or later, God will answer your prayers and send laborers from your work crew—laborers you weren’t ready to lose. Now you get to hurt a little. Now you need to recruit volunteers and train workers, again. But if pain for you means progress for the mission, can you still rejoice? Do you think you’ll look back a millennium from now and feel like you got the raw end of the deal? Taking Flight Yes, brand-new churches can do international missions. They must. “The ends of the earth” isn’t just one way to do missions. It’s the ultimate objective. No, you can’t go everywhere and do it all. You shouldn’t. But you can put these principles into practice, even while your church is barely airborne. They may even accelerate your climb. God does things that way.

SNL’s head writer Kahm Eddie Isded has a problem most comedy writers dream of: a Vice President so flawless she’s almost impossible to satirize. “We spend hours in the writers’ room watching clips of Harris,” sighed Isded, exasperated. “We wait for a gaffe, a bizarre expression—anything. But all we get are crisp, concise answers and a laugh so endearing it lights up the room.” Governor Tim Walz is no better. Isded recounted a recent attempt to satirize Walz’s pheasant hunting trip. “The guy couldn’t load his own shotgun and was dressed like the Village People’s backup dancer, yet we came up empty! There’s just nothing to exaggerate—it’s all perfectly normal,” Isded lamented, shaking his head. Even SNL’s recent in-office improvement, the installation of a tampon machine in the men’s restroom, has done little to lift morale. “The guys don’t seem as moody anymore,” noted Isded. “But we’re still in a rut. We’re forced to run another sketch about Trump saying ‘covfefe’—it’s like, who’s even excited about that anymore?” As hope dwindles for Harris-related comedy gold, Isded is pinning his dreams on an upcoming live episode where Maya Rudolph’s Harris impersonation will be “spontaneously” interrupted by the real VP. “We’ve triple-checked the teleprompters so there won’t be any surprises,” he assured. “It’s going to be a laugh riot. Or, at least, we really hope so.” The post Frustrated SNL Writers Hoping Harris Does Something To Make Fun Of appeared first on Genesius Times.

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