Do you know your where we come from. Our ancestry started with Adam and came down through Noah, Abraham, Noah, and finally Japheth who settled in Europe. Our ancestry according to the Bible. Learn about where we came from using the Bible as a guide. Discover the intriguing history of the ancestry of America's founding fathers. Where did it start? We all know the Genesis story of the creation. On the sixth day of creation God made Man (Adam) from the earth. The Bible specifically says, "Let Us make man in Our Image. " A compelling statement. We were created by the US, and we look like THEM. Genesis 1:26–27. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work and care for it. God formed man (Adam) from the dust of the ground and breathed life into his nostrils. Genesis 2:7. Adam was told he could eat anything except for the tree of knowledge about good and evil. Genesis 2:15-16. God created a female helpmate (Eve) for Adam. She was created from Adam's rib while he slept. Genesis 2:21-22. Adam and Eve had three sons. Abel was the first son and a sheep herder who was murdered by his younger brother. Cain was the second son and a farmer who murdered his older brother and was banished and exiled. Seth was the third son who remained and lived with Adam and Eve, and through him our genealogy begins. Genesis 4:25-28. The lineage from Adam to Noah? Adam and Eve had a third son named Seth. Our genealogy traces the line from Seth to Noah. The lineage is Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and then Noah. Genesis 5. At the time of Noah, the world had become evil and a disappointment to God. The sons of God intermarried with human women, and the Nephilim were on the earth in those days. God decided to destroy everyone on earth and reset humanity because of the sinful nature of earth's inhabitants. The punishment for the human population for its sinfulness was death by drowning from a massive flood. However, God found favor in Noah, apparently the only true believer on the planet, and spared him and his family. Noah built a giant boat called the Ark, which his family and all the animals specified by God boarded and survived. God also decided to limit the human life span to 120 years. Genesis 6:1-8. Noah's decendents repopulate the earth with humans. Noah and his family survived the flood. The sons of Noah were Japheth, Ham, and Shem. Noah, his three sons, and the four wives were the only human survivers of the flood. All the mammal species were also spared, as Noah brought each species aboard the Ark. Noah had three sons, which spread humanity through three different branches. Shem The descendants of Shem include Elam, Ashur, Aram, Lud, and Arpachshad. Arpachshad was born two years after the flood, and his descendants flow down to Abraham. His line is Arpachashad, Shelah, Eber, Pegleg, Rue, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and then Abram (Abraham). The descendants of Shem, for the most part, follow the Judaic religion. Genesis 11:10–26. Ham He had four sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. These four branches populated most of North Africa, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Syria, Lebonan, Palastine, Mesopotamia, Babylon, and Canaan (Israel). The descendants still inhabit those areas today, with most being Africans with dark skin. Descendants of Ham appeared to have strayed away from the strict Judaic religion and developed their own separate dieties. Hapheth The sons of Japheth are Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer are Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan are Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. Hapheth's family branches spread into territories of Europe and developed their own dialect of language. Gomer's branch spread to the British Isles. Magog's family spread into Russia and Ukraine. Madai's line settled in Iran and Iraq. Javan's descendents settled around Greece and Spain. Tubal's clan seems to have settled prominently around Georgia, near the Caspian and Euxine seas. Meschech's family spread into Turkey and Asia Minor. The Tiras line settled in Serbia and Macedonia. Descendents of Hapheth might be considered mostly Gentile. Ancestry of North America The original inhabitants of North America (American Indians) were the descendants of Magog and Meshchek, who came from Siberia and Asia through Russia and across the Bering Peninsula. Indian settlements have been discovered that date back to 1100 AD (1100 CE). It is believed that several people had visited the Americas after the arrival of the Indians and before the European invasion. There is evidence that the Vikings landed in the North East around the year 1000. The first permanent colony in America was Saint Augustine in Florida, settled by the Spanish in 1565. They found precious metals, which made Spain very wealthy. The rest of Europe wanted in on the riches, and the Americas saw many Europeans attempt to colonize the land. In April 1607, the British settled the second permanent colony at Jamestown in the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Company, authorized by King James I of England, established the second European colony. King James wanted new trade routes and American resources, similar to those sought by the Spanish. Approximately 100 colonists from England came in three ships. Godspeed, Susan Constant, and Discovery. Who founded the United States? The founders of America came from Europe, mostly from the family line of Gomer, grandson of Noah. Our ancestry traces back to Adam, through Gomer and Hapheth's family branch of Noah, and then back to Adam. The population during the time of the Revolutionary War, excluding American Indians, was mostly English (48%), African (20%), Irish (7.5%), Scots (6.5%), German (2.5%), French (1.8%), Spanish (0.6%), and Swedish (0.5%). Since the time of the Revolutionary War, peoples from all over the planet have migrated to America. Ancestry of the Middle East. Mostly, the descendants of Ham settled the Middle East. The people were not yet God's people, and they were followers of many gods and idolators. All the descendants of Noah seem to have lost their faith and stopped following and worshipping God. God found Abram to be worthy and chose him to begin the transformation of bringing people back to worshipping Him. Abram started the Judaic movement of turning to God for guidance and leadership and worship. In return, God promised Abram a son and that his descendants would multiply and become greater than the number of stars. Abram and his wife Sari are impatient. Sari was past the age of childbearing, and the couple thought there was no way they could have a child, even though God had promised that they would, and he would be a great man and create a great nation of followers. Sari convinced Abram to lie with her Egyptian maid, Hagar, and bear a child for him to continue the family line. She had a child, and they named him Ishmael. Abrahma became convinced that the boy was the child promised by God and raised him as such. Ishmael wasn't the promised one. Abram and Sari have a child. Thirteen years later, Sari became pregnant and had a son they called Isaac. Abram was 99 years old, and Sari was 90 years old. God changed the names of Abram and Sari to Abraham and Sarah. Isaac was the promised one made by God and the rightful heir of the family. So now Abraham had two sons. One son was born to an Egyptian slave, and the other was born to his Judean wife. Dissension in the family. Haggar and Sarah were not getting along together. The two boys, 13 years apart in age, were strenuous, with Ishmael teasing Issac. Sarah made Abraham make a decision: her and Isaac or Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar and Ishmael were sent out into the desert with some food and water to never return. God blesses both boys. Abram and Sari were impatient for a boy and enlisted Hagar to bear a child for Abram. This arrangement was not God's plan, but it happened, and He had to deal with it. Because Ishmael was Abrams's son, God still recognized him as an important person with a role to play. God found Hagar and Ishmael in the desert and sent an angel to save them from starvation. They were told that Ishmael would become a remarkable warrior and leader with twelve kings under him and that he would dominate the desert with his strength and abilities. And so it was; the half-Egyptian and half-Judean Ishmael became a remarkable leader in the desert, with his descendants occupying North Africa for generations to this day. These descendants formed into the Arab tribes that still exist today in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and most of the Middle East as we know it. God promised Isaac that he too would become a great leader and his descendants would spread into twelve tribes that would occupy Canaan. These descendants formed into the twelve Israelite tribes, of which remnants still exist today in Israel and around the world where they spread out. From the beginning of the rift between Isaac and Ishmael as teenage boys, there has been dissension and wars between the two families for millennia, continuing to this day. Israelites fighting with Arabs. The Israelites descended from a pure Judean ancestor. The Arabs descended from an ancester that was half Judean and half Egyptian. It started with Abraham, who is the patriarch of Jews, Christians, and Muslims and is one of the descendants of Arphaxad.

There are many intriguing and fascinating Bible people and famous characters. Learn the stories of the biblical personalities. Popular Bible People and Characters Discover fascinating and captivating facts and trivia about Bible persons. Here is trivia, truth, facts, and information about Bible characters. Many Bible figures have intriguing stories to tell. Below is a summary of some of the most popular Bible characters. Jonah A messenger of God used a fish for transport. God had a preaching job for Jonah. Jonah did not want to do the job, so Jonah tried to run away from God in a boat to Tarshish in Spain. God caused a massive storm around the boat, forcing Jonah to jump overboard. God sent a big sea creature after Jonah to grab him from the water. The creature swallowed Jonah and carried him to Nineveh. Upon arrival, the creature spat Jonah up on the beach. The Bible describes the sea creature as a fish. Many scholars believe it was most likely a whale, a mammal, not a fish, as most people believe. Read about the story in the Book of Jonah in chapter one. Take this Bible class on Jonah. Balaam In the Bible, a donkey talked to Balaam. Balaam was the son of Beor and lived along the Euphrates River in Pethor, Mesopotamia. Even though Balaam was not an Israelite, he was a prophet of sorts that God influenced. Balaam was a mixture of good and bad. He was sufficiently immoral that King Balak of Moab wanted to hire him to curse Israel, but Balaam refused. Balaam was riding his donkey through Moab when the donkey suddenly stopped. A spiritual being was in front of the donkey, blocking the way. The donkey wouldn't move, so Balaam beat it. At that moment, the donkey turned its head and asked Balaam, "What have I done to deserve your beating?" Here are the facts about the talking donkey! Numbers 22:21-39 Stephen Synagogue members often falsely testified against a disciple they disapproved of. Jesus chose seven disciples with genuine faith to minister and preach "the Word" to the world. These seven were Stephen , Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. The apostles laid their hands upon these seven to sanctify them into service. Stephen, filled with faith and power, performed numerous miracles and signs among the people. He was very outspoken and adamant about his faith, more so than the other six. Stephen greatly disturbed those who had religious power and those faithful to the synagogue. The elders and scribes approached him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They sentenced Stephen for "speaking blasphemous words" and then stoned him to death in the public area. Stephen became the first Christian martyr. Read the whole story about Stephen. Acts 6:1-15 Judas Iscariot The story of Judas tells that he "sold out" the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. Thirty silver pieces were the usual amount paid for the purchase of a slave. The "church authorities" insulted Jesus by giving Judas this amount based on their hatred of him. Jesus was only worth the cost of a slave in their eyes; what an insult. Judas was one of the twelve disciples and betrayed Jesus by leading the riotous religious leaders to Him. He was the apostles' treasurer, possibly motivated by greed but definitely influenced by Satan. Judas was also from the South and looked upon as an outsider, which he may have resented. At the Last Supper, Jesus identified Judas as a betrayer by dipping bread into a dish and giving it to him. Judas led the hateful and vengeful religious "authorities" and identified Jesus by kissing Him on the cheek. After everything had taken place, Judas regretted his actions and gave the money back to the church leaders. The leaders refused the "blood money" and used it to purchase a potter's field. Judas died afterward in that field by committing suicide. It is believed that he was so upset over his deed that he hanged himself. Matthew 27:3-8 Another belief is that Judas went into a field and exploded, with his guts gushing forth. Perhaps the phrase means he threw up or had a severe case of diarrhea. Acts 1:16-20 Perhaps he hung himself, the rope came loose, he fell to the ground, and God gushed his bowels. Read this analysis of the death of Judas. Elijah He was a prophet whisked away into heaven in a fiery chariot. God called Elijah to a pickup site on the far side of the Jordan River and took him alive to Heaven. This was a previous prophecy that came true. All those present at the time knew of this prophecy except Elisha. Elisha learned about the prophecy at the last moment as he accompanied Elijah to the pickup area. Elijah, Elisha, and fifty other sons of the prophets gathered on the near side of the River Jordan. When it came time to go, Elijah parted the river. Elisha and Elijah crossed over to the far side. The fifty other people stayed on the near side, watching. The chariot arrived, and as Elijah climbed aboard, he dropped his robe. The river parted open again when his robe struck the water. Elisha picked up the robe and crossed back through the parted water to the near side, meeting with the fifty onlookers. Was it a chariot that took Elijah? 2 Kings 2:1-14 Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath from death. There was a drought in the land, and God instructed Elijah to go to Zarephath and locate a certain destitute Gentile widow for food and water. Elijah ended up boarding at her house for a period before moving on. He promised that her jar of flour and jug of oil would not run out until the Lord caused it to rain. Some time later, her son got sick and eventually died. The woman sent word to Elijah, who returned and raised the boy after he died. 1 Kings 17:17-24 Elisha This passage is a little-known piece of Bible trivia about a prophet who caused bears to maul a group of young men (rowdy teenagers). Elijah's apprentice, Elisha, assumed leadership after Elijah's ascension to heaven. As Elisha was walking along, a large group of undisciplined teenagers (brats) teased Elisha about his baldness. Elisha could not hold his anger and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Instantly, two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the boys. Bears attacked children. 2 Kings 2:23-25 Elisha raised the son of a Shunammite woman. He had stayed at this woman's home years earlier and prayed for her to have a son. Her son was born, and several years later, the son died. The woman called upon Elisha, and he came and raised the boy from his deathbed. 2 Kings 4:8-37 Elisha resurrected an Israelite man during his funeral, a fascinating piece of Bible trivia. Gravediggers were burying a man when they became startled by invaders. They were scared and wanted to depart as quickly as possible. Hastily, they threw the man's body into a nearby tomb. This tomb belonged to Elisha. Elisha's dead body was lying in the tomb. The dead man immediately came back to life when his body made contact with Elisha's bones. 2 Kings 13:20-21 Paul A captivating Bible story recounts how a man died during a sermon that Paul was giving. Paul was giving a long-winded sermon late into the night in a room on the second floor. Eutychus was sitting on a windowsill listening when he dozed off and fell out of the window to his death. Paul had to go down and revive the young man and bring him back to life. Acts 20:7 Peter Peter resurrected Dorcas of Joppa. Dorcas was a well-known social worker who helped everyone. Peter was also well-known, and he was nearby. The family called Peter to the room where Dorcas lay. Peter raised her from the dead. Acts 9:23-43 Jacob He believed he wrestled with God. "Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak." This unknown wrestler was unable to win the wrestling match. The wrestler made contact with Jacob's hip, causing it to become dislocated. After the match, the unknown wrestler said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob." When Jacob asked for the stranger's name, the stranger responded, "You have struggled with God and men and won, so your name will be Israel.” Genesis 32:22-31 Samson The feats of Samson are remarkable. He married a Philistine woman and is known for his hatred of the Philistines for what they did to her. Samson killed a lion that came from nowhere when he was traveling to visit his soon-to-be Philistine wife. Judges 14:5–9 To celebrate his marriage, Samson killed 30 Philistines, a rather unconventional way to mark the occasion. Judges 14:19 Because they burned his wife and her father to death, Samson killed many Philistines . Judges 15:7-8 Samson set the tails of foxes on fire, and this action resulted in the burning of t he Philistines' crops. Judges 15:4-6 Samson killed 1,000 Philistines with the jaw of a jackass when they came for revenge for the above. Judges 15:14-17 Samson tore down the gates of the city and their posts when he found out the virtuous citizens were plotting to kill him. Judges 16:1-3 Samson snapped apart 16 bowstrings that Delilah bound him with. Judges 16:6-8 He also snapped apart the strong rope that Delilah bound him with. Judges 10:12 David Was David the one who killed Goliath? 1 Samuel says, yes. 2 Samuel says, "No." Please review those two Bible books to make your own decision. These individuals from the Bible were known for their longevity. Here's the list of those who lived over 100 years. Methuselah, the oldest, 969 years. Jared, father of Enoch, 962 years. Noah built the Ark, 950 years. Adam, the first human, 930 years. Seth, Adam's third son, 912 years. Kenan , grandson of Seth, 910 years. Enos, the son of Seth, 905 years. Lamech, son of Methuselah, 777 years. Shem, son of Noah, lived for 600 years. Arphaxad, Shem's son, 438 years. Shelah, son of Judah, 433 years. Peleg, Tower of Babel, 239 years. Isaac, Abraham's son, 180 years. Abraham, the patriarch, 175 years . Terah, father of Abraham, 148 years. Jacob, renamed Israel, 147 years. Moses led the slaves, 120 years. Joshua led the Israelites to the promised land and lived for 110 years. Yes, the annual cycle of 365 days based on the sun has determined dates since the time of Adam. The following Bible characters were the twelve original apostles of Jesus. Simon: He was prominent in the Bible and served as the leader of the apostles. Simon was Andrew's brother and the son of Jonah. He had an unknown wife, and Jesus healed his mother-in-law. Simon was renamed as Peter or Simon Peter by Jesus, and he was sometimes referred to as Cephas. His brother Andrew was the first that Jesus called, and Peter was second. Peter was the first disciple to profess Jesus as the Son of God. Perhaps this achievement is why he was considered the senior apostle and leader of the group. However, despite his faith, Simon Peter denied knowing Jesus three times during the Passion of Christ. Peter was very enthusiastic but also very impatient and impulsive and was often rash and brash. During the arrest of Jesus, Peter cut off the ear of one of those who came to arrest his master. Peter is considered the "Rock" and the first "pope" by the Catholic Church. It is believed that Saint Peter started the first two churches, one at Antioch and one in Rome. Tradition states that Peter died upside down on a cross in Rome. Andrew: He was Peter's brother and the son of Jonah. Andrew worked as a fisherman alongside Peter. He was first a follower of John the Baptist before being the first called to service by Jesus. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. John: John's parents were Zebedee and Salome. He was also the brother of James. John was sometimes referred to as the beloved disciple. Jesus found John at the seashore. He is thought to have been a fisherman with his brother James. They most likely worked for their father, who was a fisherman. John is believed to be the only apostle to die of natural causes and outlive all the other apostles. James: James' parents were Zebedee and Salome. He was also the brother of John. James was sometimes referred to as James the Elder or James the Great. Jesus referred to John and James as the "sons of thunder." James was believed to be the first apostle killed as a martyr. Herod had James killed by sword around 44 AD. Philip: He was the fifth one called to service by Jesus. Phillip was with Jesus during the feeding of the 5,000. There is some controversy about Philip's life and death. Eusebius, an early church historian, provides background on Philip. Philip's life is revealed in Wikipedia . Bartholomew: He also went by the name Nathaniel. Tradition holds that Bartholomew was flayed before being beheaded. As with other apostles, Bartholomew's death is a mystery with several traditional explanations. Wikipedia tells of Bartholomew. Matthew: He was a tax collector and not well liked by the Hebrews. Matthew rebuked King Hirtacus for lusting over a young girl. The king had Matthew killed. Thomas: He was the one who saw the resurrected Jesus. Thomas doubted that it was Jesus until he saw the scars on the hands. James: He was the son of Alphaeus. James is believed to have spread the gospel to Persia and was martyred there. Simon the Zealot: He is believed to have evangelized in Egypt. Simon partnered with Judas, the brother of Jesus, on the missions. Thaddeus: The son of James. James was also called Judas. Tradition asserts that Thaddeus was crucified in Edessa, the location of his church. Judas Iscariot: This Bible character betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. Judas killed himself in remorse afterward, and his bowels fell out onto the ground. Matthias: This Bible person became the thirteenth apostle after the resurrection of Jesus. Matthias was a disciple of Jesus from the beginning. The disciples chose Phillip to replace Judas by casting lots. Return to the top of this page.

Explore the timeless question, "Is the Bible real, true, and authentic?" Discover compelling insights on this website that show how authentic the Bible is. The Bible is real and can be trusted. Here are thoughts concerning if the Christian Bible is true and authentic. Is the Bible a work of cultural imagination or is it genuine, authentic, reliable, and inspired by God? The biblical manuscripts are trusted, reliable, and accurately translated from the earliest documents found in biblical history. The Bible is genuine, and it has the most surviving copies of any ancient writing. Scholars have continuously and extensively scrutinized the scriptural texts for variations, corruption, and truths. The fact is that the biblical authors lived hundreds and thousands of years apart from each other. Many lived decades or even hundreds of years apart and never knew each other, yet their theme remained the same. It would be impossible for them to collaborate to create a false cultural belief system or the largest scam known to man. These authors have repeated the same content in their writings throughout all of the ancient scriptures. Over half of the prophecies in the Bible have come true, according to estimates by biblical scholars. This evidence supports the notion that the authors of the original manuscripts wrote them with divine inspiration. Prophecies in the Bible continue to come true, with the most recent being the war in Israel. It was prophesied that the capital of Israel would be recognized, with the specific month mentioned, and it was. As a side note, the prophetic predictions of the future do not look positive for humanity . The motives of the Bible's authors can be trusted. There are many biblical stories of how God kills, saves, forgives, and loves, which shows God's honest reactions. Why would anyone want to provide testimony to all these emotional stories unless they thought they were true? There is no evidence suggesting that the stories in the Bible were created for monetary gain, personal ego, or any other ulterior motive other than divine inspiration. For example: If the stories about a talking donkey, a large fish transporting a human inside, and a woman turning into a pillar of salt were not true, why would someone write such ridiculous stories? Where would there be any gain? Why would anyone write such absurd stories unless they believed they happened? The secular world probably mocked the authors of these stories and deemed them crazy for writing them. Why would anyone write such unbelievable stories and subject themselves to ridicule unless they had seen or had faith that these biblical stories happened and are factual? The thing to remember is who wrote these stories and when. A not-so-highly-technical culture wrote the Bible about a highly advanced creator and his angels. The ancients weren't as sophisticated and technologically intelligent as people of today are. They explained things in a way that they could comprehend and understand. Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke in parables, so that the listeners could relate to what he was explaining. Is it just a matter of interpretation and understanding? Perhaps a culture lacking a technological background interprets a submarine as a large fish? Is it possible that Elijah took a ride on an aircraft with a fiery exhaust and not a chariot? We weren't there, so we don't know what happened, but the witnesses explained events as best they could. Think about it! Could non-technical people of ancient times explain or understand what an automobile was if they saw it at a distance? Could scenes displayed on large video panels be explained as a vision ? Is it possible that a woman transformed into a crystallized substance that looked like salt due to a nuclear weapon? The Bible has many stories of the healing of sick people. It stands to reason that the medical knowledge of supreme beings such as God, Jesus, and angels is greater than the medical technology of today. Consider how the early Israelites would have explained the use of modern drugs (pills) for healing if they had existed back then. Moses performed the miracle of parting the sea. Pharaoh's court raised and educated the orphan Moses to become a high-level prince and member of the court. Being a skilled fighter and adept at leadership and combat, he could have easily led thousands of people out of slavery. The area around Egypt would have become very familiar to him as he traveled throughout the country performing duties for the pharaoh. Moses would have known where there were watering holes, hills, valleys, places of heavy or light winds, and the water levels in the nearby seas. Perhaps he knew of the perfect place to cross the Red Sea during a low tide when the wind was strong enough to push the water back. Another way to interpret the stories in the Bible is if you view them scientifically. Examining the Bible stories from a scientific perspective doesn't require faith. Scientists are constantly coming up with archaeological evidence and theories that can substantiate the Bible stories. The 10 plagues that occurred on the Nile in Egypt can be scientifically explained. Science fact-checks the Bible. What did the ancient philosopher Comte state? Comte stated, "It is common that we only believe what we can personally observe . However, it is impossible to live without faith." That's the norm. "I didn't see a man walk on the moon, so I doubt it happened." This is what some people believed soon after it happened and some still believe 50 years later. Even now, conspiracists do not believe we just sent a spaceship around the moon and back. Conspiracy theories provide a compelling narrative and authentic-sounding false evidence, leading some to believe that the moon landings were a Hollywood production. Luckily, this website author doesn't have that problem, as he participated in the moon landings. I believe the moon landings happened. I believe the stories in the Bible are true. Therefore, I can believe the opposite is possible: those who disbelieve that man walked on the moon would also disbelieve the biblical story that a man walked on water If some individuals question the moon landings (which occurred six times), it may be challenging for them to accept that Elijah was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. Perhaps a shuttlecraft picked him up and flew him to the mothership. We were not there and did not see it; the story is told by a non-technical person, but something for sure did happen. O ne must decide what's real for oneself based on faith, observation, historical writings, archaeological finds, or what one's family or best friends bestow upon them. If we don't see it, then it can be difficult for us to believe it. That's human nature. Well, this author experienced it, so I believe it. I am now sharing my experience with you. We humans left the face of the earth, traveled in outer space, and walked on the moon six times. I participated in the events when working at NASA. The Apollo program and walking on the moon six times were not Hollywood productions. I hope you can understand and appreciate my experience and believe me. I easily believe Elijah was taken up into the heavens in a fiery chariot, and you should too, especially if you believe man walked on the moon. The same should be true of the Bible. Stories in the Bible should be believed. Someone experienced the events, believed they happened, and wrote about them the best they could. Why shouldn't we believe them? Are scientists always right, and can they be trusted? The "mainstream" scientific community does not like its theories challenged. The discovery that the Earth is round and that the Sun is the center of the solar system was difficult for early scientists to accept, and these theories challenged the elite scientific authority of the time. Kepler and Copernicus, for their belief in these theories, were expelled from the scientific social club. Alfred Wegener proposed that Earth's continents were moving. Between 1912 and 1929, Wegner published evidence based on fossil and rock samples to support his theory. The scientific community categorically rejected Wegener's drift theory and humiliated him publicly. Not until this author's teenage years (1950s-1960s) did the scientific community back down, and the theory of Wegener finally become part of mainstream science. Why don't individuals believe we landed on the moon? In this case, the scientific community believes it happened. Go figure. The issue is that many people in the general public do not believe the moon landing occurred. Today's generation did not experience the moon landings, so they think it was all a hoax. Fortunately for me, as I stated before, I was part of NASA, and I participated in the experience. Even without this author's excerpts, there should be no doubts of the moon landings, as there is plenty of scientific proof and historical documents to prove it. I am curious as to why it can be challenging for people to accept the truth. One answer is that it contradicts their preconceived ideas and beliefs about what they were taught. If their father asserted during their upbringing that the world was flat, why would they accept the claims of an unhinged individual asserting it was round? In school, it was taught that water can only be a solid, liquid, or gas. Why should anyone believe that water can be in all three states at the same time? Do you believe that? Are you skeptical that water can be anything other than in one state at a time? The axiom states, "Seeing is believing." Believe it or not, water can exist in all three states at once. Google it! I believe that the existence of oxygen does not rely on our ability to see it. It's a wonder that people believe George Washington existed. Maybe some don't. "If God creates perfection, why is the Earth tilted on its axis, and why isn't there one landmass?" To repeat, the problem most humans have, as Comte noted, is that we must see to believe. How do we know that God didn't deliberately create the Earth with a tilted axis? Maybe the tilting of Earth's axis occurred after God's creation due to an astronomical phenomenon. For instance, a massive meteor did smash into the Earth in the Gulf of Mexico. The Earth underwent a major upheaval during Noah's flood. Just maybe! Are you with me? The moon is out there tugging and pulling, and scientists (God bless them) believe it was formed after Earth's creation. Scientists have revealed facts and evidence that demonstrate the Earth's axis was once perfect. One theory suggests that the moon was either created or placed in orbit after Earth's formation, which caused the planet's tilt. Another theory suggests that a large piece of space junk struck Earth in the Gulf, causing the Earth to tilt off its axis. The meteor hit the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding Mexican landmass. The impact from the meteor could have been severe enough to cause a worldwide flood. The collision could have shaken the Earth's mantle with enough force to divide the landmass into two pieces. Photographs of Earth, various globes, and views from space support this theory. When looked at, it is obvious that the continents fit together. Furthermore, the ashes and dust released into the atmosphere may have contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs and many prehistoric mammals on Earth. This theory receives support from non-biblical writers, physical evidence, and recent discoveries. According to the Bible's creation theory, a perfect Earth was created, and current scientific theories support the idea that the Earth was originally perfect before being altered by external forces. Yes, scientists are self-righteous in their attitudes and are often wrong. Therefore, we cannot always trust scientists' claims. Can the Bible be trusted? Yes, it can. Hypocritical scientists who have disbelieved the truth eventually recognized the facts contradicting their beliefs. Like the scientists, unbelievers will eventually recognize truths that support the Bible's creation and stories. Does it take faith to believe in the Bible? As humans, we lack faith in what others tell us if it goes against our ideals; we need to experience it ourselves. We doubt the ancient manuscripts because they were written long ago, and we lack firsthand knowledge of the events they describe. This attitude keeps us from having faith in the stories of the scriptures and makes us believe they were written just for the sake of a compelling story to tell. However, someone witnessed the stories and told about them, and someone wrote about them, so we should consider the stories real. The point is, if things seem unbelievable to you, accept the idea that they might still be plausible. Disbelieving something because it goes against your grain doesn't mean it didn't happen or doesn't exist. We don't see the sun's rays hit our skin, yet we believe they do, and that's what causes our skin to tan or burn. It's just possible that we lack the understanding to comprehend what we don't know or experience. It took quite a while before doctors believed that germs entered open wounds and caused infections. Stuff does happen even if you don't experience it for yourself. There is proof out there if you care to look. Humans were created and did not spawn from a one-cell organism. Darwin has been genuinely debunked for his theory. Noah's flood did occur. Evidence of the flood is found in many places around the world. The Israelites did travel from Egypt to Canaan in a monumental exodus. Nonbiblical sources tell the story. Earth did split apart from one big landmass. Look at any map, globe, or picture of Earth from outer space and see it. The Civil War did happen, as did slavery. There are too many pre-AI-generated photos to prove it. Germans committed genocide against the Jews in the Great Holocaust. It did happen. This author talked to survivors. America landed on the moon. This author participated. Yet, there are people I have talked to that do not believe some of these things happened. They don't believe me. They don't believe the Bible. They don't believe the physical evidence. They have been pre-conditioned, influenced, persuaded, and convinced beforehand, and it's difficult to penetrate that barrier of preconceived ideals and beliefs, especially when there are conspirators that support their beliefs. Are all the stories we believe true? There are a few events that modern people believe occurred differently than the evidence suggests. The Holocaust of the Germans murdering millions of Jews never occurred. Yep, people disbelieve it happened despite all the evidence and personal testimony. Historians frequently debate over the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There are numerous theories available, and I do not possess sufficient fingers to enumerate them all. Yet the truth was exposed, but the theories make better stories. Lee Harvey Oswald did not shoot the president, in case you missed that. The Apollo moon landings never happened, and all seven missions were Hollywood deceptions. There are a few highly convincing videos that support a hoax. Reputable sources have debunked all of them, and videos exist, but what nonbeliever wants to watch the truth? It is more fun to buy into a false conspiracy theory than the dull truth. Many unconventional theories regarding the September 11th attacks do not accept that the planes crashing into the buildings caused the buildings to collapse. The theorists ignore the thousands of feet of film footage, as they do explanations of reputable sources. "The Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre did not occur," say the naysayers, skeptics, and conspirators. They say the incident was an orchestrated fake event just to attract media attention to push the narrative of school violence. Patty Hearst was not kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. According to conspiracists, she was a bonafide member of the organization. The entire drama was all about raising money for their organization. Yep, that's what some people believe. Amelia Earhart was not lost at sea in a plane crash. She was a US spy who was captured, so states one of the most popular theories. Elvis is still alive and faked his death because he was finally tired of all the notoriety. The proof is all the "Elvis sightings" we have had over the years. Yep. The man got around more after he died than when he was alive. Here are a few things that modern people believe but are false. It was Columbus who established the roundness of the world. Nope. Scientists of that era already understood that the Earth is round. At that time, the sailors were aware of the truth and navigated with the knowledge that the earth was round. The witches in Salem were burned at the stake, or so the legend goes. Nope. They were hanged. (19 of them.) Napoleon Bonaparte was short. Nope. He was of average size. The story that the Indians and the Pilgrims shared the Thanksgiving feast is a myth. The pilgrims were firing their guns, celebrating a successful harvest. That's when the Indians arrived to see what the commotion was about. It was not a congenial meeting and marked the start of animosity between Europeans and Native Americans. Nero did not fiddle while Rome burned. Fiddles had not been invented yet, and Nero was not even in Rome at the time. The story of George Washington and the cherry tree is a fabrication. Mason Locke Weems, a minister and bookseller, invented this story in 1806 to boost sales. What's my point? If you don't understand my point, you will never believe the Bible stories or the truth of the Bible. Many people will not believe in the truth unless they experience it for themselves. However, we are willing to accept a beneficial, false story if it is more believable, entertaining, and captivating than the truth. The news media constantly does it. If it's not sensational, make it sensational so that people will listen. According to President Trump, the mainstream media puts out fake news, and I've witnessed it, so I believe him. What about the authors who wrote the Bible? The New Testament was written by believers who fully and wholeheartedly believed in God, the supreme being. They had either lived the experience, knew someone who had, or genuinely believed that the story happened. The disciple Paul believed that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” Before being converted, Paul hunted down, persecuted, arrested, and often murdered the disciples of Jesus. Paul experienced a divine intervention with the spirit of Jesus and converted to believing in him. Saul was Paul's original name until Jesus changed it. Paul became one of the most faithful followers of Christianity. Why did Saul's life undergo such a dramatic change and become Paul? This sudden change was caused by his recognition of Jesus' authenticity and genuineness. Is it reasonable to believe that Saul suddenly joined some "elaborate hoax" and promoted a "big landing on the moon type conspiracy" of lies and deception? Is it really a hoax that, after despising the Christian movement and overseeing the murder of believers, he became a disciple? Hardly! He genuinely converted and believed in Jesus and the Christian movement because of his experience. Most of the New Testament authors were, in some way, cruelly executed. Why were Christians executed? People who did not follow the strict teachings taught in the synagogues became enemies of the priests and Sanhedrin. Jesus was considered a heretic and blasphemous for preaching "the good news." The disciples and apostles of Christ stuck to their belief in Jesus because they knew the truth. Facing persecution, ridicule, and certain death, they stuck to their belief because they knew it to be true. The outcome of their beliefs led to them suffering gruesome deaths. The disciples were executed because they believed what Jesus was saying and would deny him. How were Christians executed? Andrew was tied to an "X" cross instead of being nailed to a "T" in Patras, Greece. Bartholomew's death is somewhat vague because it is unclear whether he was crucified or beheaded in India. James was stoned and beaten to death in Jerusalem. John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod Antipas. Jude (Thaddaeus) was beaten to death with clubs and hacked with an axe in Rome. Matthias was stoned and then beheaded in Persia. Matthew was killed with a sword in Ethiopia. Paul was beheaded in Rome. Philip was crucified by soldiers in Turkey. Stephen was stoned to death by religious authorities approved by Saul (Paul before his conversion). Simon Peter was crucified upside down in Rome by Nero. Thomas was speared to death These believers were murdered for maintaining their faith in Jesus and held to the truth until their death. There is a long list of martyrs who held to the truth and their belief in Jesus. Is it reasonable to assume that dozens of these men conspired and made up such unbelievable stories? I think not! They wouldn't have joined in on a biblical conspiracy only to face persecution and execution. The disciples' support for a 1500-year-old lie is illogical unless it were the truth. Is this the way people behave in real life? Do people give up their lives for a lie? Any experienced interrogator will tell you that people generally won't give up their lives for a lie. Remaining silent is virtually against human nature, and people will not remain quiet when pressured to save their lives or reduce pain. Once they experience sufficient mental pressure or physical pain from interrogation, they begin to speak freely. History has demonstrated that even the most resilient individuals eventually reveal the truth under the stress of interrogation. Guantanamo Bay interrogations have provided evidence of this belief since 1903. So why didn't the disciples buckle under pressure? These early "Christians" stuck to their belief and died for it. They believed in the truth and knew where they were going after death. Other non-biblical, authoritative, and respected philosophers wrote about biblical happenings. Many early writers have conferred or corroborated information in the Bible. Several famous and respected secular writers have referred to events, places, and characters in the Bible. These writers are well-known, respected, and popular historians, such as Aristotle, Plato, Homer, and Socrates. In the mix are secular writers like Pliny, Herodotus, Josephus, Flavius, Caesar, Euripides, and Tacitus. There were Christian writers such as Augustine, Julian, Origen, Isidore, Quodvultdeus, Evagrius, Justin, Cyprian, Paulinus, Tertullian, Clement, and Julianus Pomerius, to name a few more. All these famous, reliable, honest, legitimate, and trustworthy writers have authenticated many of the Bible stories and the existence of Jesus. Why don't some people believe what the historians tell us? Archaeologists continually discover biblical evidence of items, places, and names referenced in the Bible. Describing everything found in the past 100 years would fill a tome. Why don't we believe what the archaeologists tell us? Here are a few discoveries made recently that prove the authenticity of the Bible. Researchers have discovered an elaborate building next to the temple. Researchers estimate that an earthquake shattered the building around 33 AD. The Bible refers to this event. Could the earthquake be a coincidence, or did it actually occur? Maybe it is; maybe it's not. The walls of Jericho have been excavated. Kiriath Yearim has been discovered, which the Bible mentions several times. This site is where the Ark of the Covenant resided. (1 Samuel 7:1–2). The synagogue at Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, has been found. Research archaeologists have discovered over a dozen early Jewish temples. They have discovered a palace that belonged to King Manasseh, the ruler in 2 Kings 21. Archaeologists have discovered King Ahab's royal palace in the Middle East. Researchers have discovered the ancient location of the Jewish Tabernacle, Tel Shiloh, and the Holy Ark. In the Iraqi city of Mosul (aka Nineveh), the tomb of the prophet Jonah has been found. Herod's living quarters and seaside complex have been discovered. Genesis 36:31 states that there were kings in Edom before any Israelite king. Excavations have proven all these claims, proving the Bible's truth. The list goes on; googling the internet reveals thousands of pieces of biblical evidence. Other things found that prove the truth, validity, and authenticity of the Bible. Crucified bodies have been discovered. The discovery gives proof that crucifixion was common in those days, as described in the Bible. Large skeletons have been unearthed. The Bible tells of giants. Remember Goliath? Buried chariots in the Red Sea were discovered, where Moses could have led the Israelites across. Many ancient scrolls exist that repeat many of the Bible stories. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the most famous. Gideon's inscriptions have been discovered on a jug. Yes, that's real. Excavators found a clay seal of a roaring lion that dates to the reign of Jeroboam II, who ruled from 788 to 748 BC. Researchers have discovered royal seals belonging to Adonijah, Natan-Malech, and the governor of Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23:8 mentions them. Pontius Pilate's nameplate has been discovered. The plate is like one that is placed on a door or desk. A monument discovered in a farmer's field has the names of people from the Bible inscribed on it. Archaeologists have uncovered a pillar with an inscription about Jerusalem . Semitic writing on limestone created during the time of Moses has been discovered. According to the evidence, writing with an alphabet existed during the time of Moses. Moses is given credit for writing the first five books. Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic depicting Jesus feeding the multitude with fish and bread. This mosaic was discovered just south of the location where the Bible says the event took place. The DNA extracted from skeletons at the Philistine city of Ashkelon in Israel shows European ancestry. This finding confirms the biblical account of the intermingling of the Jewish and Philistine communities. Here is an excellent website that confirms Bible archaeology finds. biblearchaeologyreport.com This site offers an overview of biblical archaeology. https://probe.org/biblical-archaeology The article highlights ten crucial discoveries in biblical archaeology. crossway.org Six findings prove the Bible. beliefnet.com Is archaeology proving the Bible? newsweek.com Read about Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2021. christianitytoday.com There are many biblical archaeological discoveries; one must Google for themselves. Discover that archaeological finds constantly authenticate the Bible's contents as real. The evidence is available for those who seek it.

Not all scripture is included in the Bible. Learn about ancient manuscripts, lost scriptures, and the lost books of the Bible. Jesus himself references one. What are the Lost Books of the Bible Learn and be educated about the missing and lost books of the Bible. Was scripture lost due to a lack of faith in it, or was it simply forgotten because it was not used? Much biblical scripture, manuscripts, and books have been lost or forgotten. The Bible does not include certain lost biblical scripture. The original scriptures were manuscripts, codices, and letters, not books as we know them. "Officially," the biblical canon of what books to include in the Bible was decided by the Roman Council of Nicaea during their meeting in AD 325. The Council of Nicaea condemned much of the early Bible scriptures for various reasons, including the following: in contrast to the majority of other writings, being written by unknown authors, their writings being unpleasant, not important enough, or contrary to their beliefs. In addition, some scriptures were not well used or copied and were just forgotten. Many of the lost biblical manuscripts are known and referenced in other biblical writings. The modern Protestant Bible mentions several of the lost books. Jesus mentions the Book of Jashar when speaking to Joshua. Joshua 10:13 David, when he is mourning the death of Saul, mentions the Book of Jashar. 2 Samuel 1:18 1 Chronicles 29:29 mentions the books of Nathan and Gad, as well as Samuel. The Bible mentions half a dozen other biblical books. The modern Bible does not include any of these books, even though the Bible itself mentions them. The question one should ask is If these scriptures were beneficial enough to be used by disciples of the past, our forefathers, so to speak, and Jesus himself, why were they not included in the modern Bible? Shouldn't these scriptures be considered sufficient and profitable for us in modern times? Those who decided to leave them out may have been biased in some way. Believers used many of these lost manuscripts before 1611. The Great Bible, used by King James, was so large it had to be chained to the pulpit. In 1611, King James insisted on writing a new Bible, consisting of 66 books, that parishioners could carry. The Ethiopians use a Bible of 88 scrolls of scriptures (books), of which 22 are not in the modern Protestant Bible. The Catholic canon in 367 had 73 "authorized" books. Greek Orthodox had a Bible with 79 books. Early Hebrews used approximately 100 different scrolls considered God-inspired scripture. Throughout the history of the Bible, people wrote and used over 400 different scrolls. However, it is not positively known whether they were God-inspired, personal essays and thoughts of believers, or the truth inspired by divine intervention. The early religious leaders narrowed all this scripture down to 66 books believed to be the most authoritative. Here is a brief overview of some of the most well-known lost books and manuscripts. Fourth Book of Maccabees: The book describes the torture of a woman and her sons for not rejecting Judaism. The Gospel of Infancy: The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Syriac Infancy Gospel). It concerned the childhood of Jesus. Epistle of Barnabas: This letter tells how the Jews misinterpreted their laws. Epistle of Paul: A letter from Paul to the Laodiceans. Adam and Eve: The two books tell of the conflicts between Adam and Eve and Satan. Nicodemus: This writing tells about the trial of Jesus and the actions of Pilate. Thomas: Hidden words that the living Jesus spoke, as written by Didymos Judas Thomas. Jubilees: It's about instructions Moses got from God and the angels on Mount Sinai. Jasher: Joshua 10:13 of the Hebrew Bible mentions this book. The book has vanished entirely. James: The Early Life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is also referred to as the Protevangelion. Enoch: The book of Enoch explains the origins of demons and Nephilim and why some angels fell from heaven. Judas: This book recounts conversations between Judas and Jesus. Peter: Peter tells about the crucifixion of Jesus. Peter blames Herod instead of Pilate. Phillip: Phillip talks about devotion to the Lord and refers to baptism, anointing, and marriage. Mary: The relationship between Mary and Jesus, with specific knowledge given to Mary, is the focus. Many other important documents are missing; they might have influenced biblical beliefs. They were lost at the hands of humans. It has been human nature to destroy what they don't understand or believe in. Leaders always tend to order the destruction of things they hate or that go against their doctrine. Wars destroyed many structures, religious artifacts, and biblical writings. Those who lacked appreciation for conservation or preservation caused the loss of some documents. Let's not forget those who were "anti-religious" and destroyed religious artifacts. Adolf Hitler serves as a prime example. Hitler ordered the burning of all Hebrew Bibles and anything of a religious nature during WWII. Mary I of England, also known as "Bloody Mary," made Protestantism illegal, killed hundreds of Christians, confiscated their properties, and had their possessions burned. Smithsonian: A link to the top ten list of the most important lost religious documents. Wikipedia: A list of lost biblical transcripts. Sacred-Texts.com: A list of lost biblical scripture. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

Do you know your Bible? Learn of the enchanting Bible facts on this website. This page provides some quick and basic facts everyone should know about the Bible. Quick Facts about the Bible Learn some facts and trivia about the Bible. Discover intriguing insights about the Bible. Basic Bible Facts No original transcriptions of the Bible have been discovered. There are many true copies of the ancient scriptures, including many that are believed to be first copies. Specifically, there are approximately 5,800 Greek manuscripts and 10,000 Latin manuscripts. But no originals exist. The standard Christian Protestant Bible has 66 books. The Bible is not one book. It is a collection of 66 books bound together into one publication. Some Christian Bibles have 73 books or 80 books, depending on the Christian denomination. These "EXTRA" books are called the Apocrypha, and their number varies among the denominations. The most popular Bibles of 66 books are divided into two sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was written before Christ was born and was mostly written in Old Hebrew. The New Testament was written after Christ was born and mostly written in Old Koine Greek. The Pentateuch is a collection of the first five books of the Old Testament. Moses is credited with the Pentateuch, which outlines the laws and guidance given to man to follow. Therefore, they are known as the Mosaic Laws. The five books of the Pentateuch are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They are written in the ancient Hebrew language. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament. These are the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospels reveal the ministry of Jesus and His message of "good news." "Gospel" is translated from Greek as meaning "good tidings" or "good news." Three major religions recognize the Old Testament as valid scripture. Christianity: Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. Islam: Muslims, Jihadists, Sunnis, and Shiites. Judaism: the Jewish faith. We must remember that Father Abraham was the first person who began God's church. Scholars trace the roots of the three major religions back to Abraham. Christianity: Jesus arrived as the Messiah for all of humanity and initiated the Christian revolution. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus preached the "Gospel News," which was the message where He brought salvation. He served as the new and final sacrificial lamb for all of mankind's sins and offered the promise of life after death for those who believed in Him. The New Testament was specifically written for the Gentiles. Only the Gentiles believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that he has arrived. The Hebrews considered Jesus a false prophet and executed Him. They are still waiting for the Messiah to arrive. Muslims view Jesus as a significant prophet, but they do not consider him to be the Messiah. They are also still waiting for the Messiah to arrive. Islam: Gabriel's visitation with Mohammad initiated the Islamic faith. His visitation with Mohammed led to the separation of Islam from Judaism. Muslims hold the belief that God revealed the Old Testament, but man has corrupted it. They respect the New Testament because it contains teachings of Jesus but do not consider it the unaltered word of God or divinely authoritative like the Quran. Islamists believe that the angel Gabriel dictated the Islamic Quran to Muhammad, which they consider the uncorrupted revelation of God. Therefore, the Quran is considered their ultimate truth and the foundation of their faith, surpassing the Bible. The Islamic faith, like the Jews, anticipates the coming of the Messiah. Judaism: The religion started when God confronted Abraham (aka Abram) and told him he would be the father of many nations. God's visitation with Moses fully consecrated the original Jewish faith. The books known as the "Laws of Moses" were written for the followers of the Old Testament. These books constitute the Torah, which is the core of the Jewish faith. The Jewish faith anticipates the coming of the Messiah. The original manuscripts were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Ancient Hebrew is the language of the Old Testament and was written before Jesus was born. Koine Greek is the language of the New Testament and was written after the death of Jesus. Aramaic was the spoken language during the time of Jesus. This phase of time between the Old and New Testaments is called " the silent period." Several significant manuscripts and Bibles have shaped the faith of the followers. Ketef Hinnom Inscription: The Ketef Hinnon inscription is the oldest known biblical writing and was created during the 7th century BC. It is a silver scroll rolled up as an amulet with writing so tiny that it is impossible to read with the human eye. It was very "high tech" for the times and is something to ponder. Dead Sea Scrolls: The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient Jewish religious manuscripts written mostly in Hebrew and some in Arabic. In the late 1940s, shepherds discovered the scrolls in caves near Qumran by the Dead Sea. They contain almost the entire Old Testament. Vetus Latina: The Vetus Latina was the first Latin translation ever made from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. The collection has 80 transcripts or codices of the New Testament and some small portions of the Old Testament. It is a translation into Latin and was used by the early Catholic Church. Vetus Latina is translated as "Old Latin." Greek Septuagint: The Septuagint is the first translation into early Koine Greek of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It was translated into Koine Greek by seventy-two Hebrew translators (six from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel) at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who reigned from 285 to 247 BC. He insisted on the translation because most people did not speak, read, or write the Hebrew language. Latin Vulgate: The Latin Vulgate was a translation from Greek to Latin and used by the church during the Roman Empire. It was written in 382 AD and was supervised by the Catholic priest Saint Jerome on the order of Pope Damascus. Along with the Vetus Latina, the Vulgate was used until it was officially recognized by the church in 1546 AD. The Vulgate is recognized as the most accurate translation ever and has been the standard for over 1,000 years. Wycliffe Bible: The Wycliffe Bible was the first English translation. John Wycliffe was a Catholic priest who translated the Latin Vulgate into Middle English in 1395 AD. For translating the Bible, the church burned Wycliffe's body for being a heretic going against the church's sovereignty. Gutenberg Bible: The Gutenberg Bible was the first Bible printed on a printing press. Johannes Gutenberg printed this Bible in Mainz, Germany, in 1450 AD, on a movable metal type printing press. This Bible is a copy of the Latin Vulgate. The Great Bible: The Great Bible was the first officially authorized church Bible in English . It was written in 1539 by the official Royal Decree of King Henry VIII. The Bible was prepared by Myles Coverdale under Thomas Cromwell, the secretary of King Henry. It is called the Great Bible because it is the largest mass-produced bible in history. Geneva Bible: The Geneva Bible was the primary Bible of the 16th century of English Protestantism. William Whittingham supervised several prestigious individuals in writing the Bible and printed it in 1576 AD. The Geneva Bible was the first English version to be translated directly from the original manuscripts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The bolder language, smaller size, and added notes and annotations made the Geneva Bible popular. King James Bible (KJV): The King James Bible has been the most dominant English version for centuries and of all time. It was proposed by King James VI, who commissioned it in 1604 and had it published in 1611. The Bible contains 80 books, which include 39 books of the Old Testament, 14 books of the Apocrypha, and 27 books of the New Testament. It was the third English translation approved by the Church of England. Codex Gigas: The world's largest ancient biblical manuscript is known as the Codex Gigas. It is also known as the "Devil's Bible" because it features a depiction of the devil on page 577. The Codex Gigas contains scripture from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as additional works by Flavius Josephus. This Bible manuscript includes a medical book, a calendar, and several other items of interest. The book has 310 leaves and weighs 165 pounds. The world's largest modern Bible is the Louis Waynai Bible. There is only one Waynai Bible, and it is a copy of the King James Version. Louis Waynai, a Hungarian immigrant, created this Bible in Los Angeles between 1928 and 1930. The Bible weighs over 1,000 pounds. Interesting verses found in the Bible. "Amen" is the last word in the New Testament. Revelation 22:21 The phrase "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" is the opening sentence of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 Jesus will return to Earth and take all believers, both the dead and the living, to meet Him. No one, not even Jesus, knows when this event will happen; only God knows. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 All believers will be judged as to whether their work glorifies God. Spreading the "good news" is work that glorifies God. Creating a successful business and doing "good deeds" is not work that glorifies God. 1 Corinthians 3:13 The epic Battle of Armageddon will happen. This contest pits righteousness against evil, with Jesus confronting Satan. Jesus will triumph by casting Satan into a "bottomless pit" for a millennium. During this time, Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years of peace. Revelation 16:12-16 Swearing on the Bible in a court of law is against the teachings of Jesus. Swearing is taking an oath and is specifically forbidden. We are to affirm, not make an oath. Matthew 5:33-37. The Catholic and English churches enforced strict discipline during their early years. Death was a common punishment. The "government" supported the church's desire for complete control over its subjects. The church officially opposed the death penalty; the government enforced these sentences at the urging of the church. Common punishments included lashings, excommunication, and the seizing of property. The church used the excuses of heresy, blasphemy, and treason to punish those they disagreed with. Anyone who did not fully obey church rules or who dared to speak against it was executed. Only the church owned and was allowed to have Bibles. The church possessed all the Bibles, which were written in Latin, and only priests could understand and read them. Public printing or possession of English-printed Bibles was illegal at that time. The church had a greater interest in its sovereignty than its interest in preaching.

The five most important Bible people are Adam the first man, Abraham the patriarch, Noah who saved humanity from drowning, Moses for the laws, and Jesus the savior. The top five most important Bible characters. Refresh your memory concerning the most important men of the Bible. Learn about Jesus, Moses, Noah, Abraham, and Adam, the five most important people of the Bible. Why are these Bible characters important? Adam was the first man on the planet. Abraham is the founder and father of the Judaic people. Noah and his family were the only survivors of the flood, and all humanity is descended from him. Moses led the Israelite slaves out of Egypt to the promised land and gave us God's commandments and laws. Jesus, the Messiah who arrived on earth to pay for all humanity's sins. Salvation is through Jesus. Jesus will save you from burning in Hell's eternal fire and allow you to enter the safety of Heaven. The general theme of the Bible supports this prediction over and over again. This message from Jesus is known as the "Good News." The Bible provides us with the truth about how to enter Heaven and avoid Hell. 1. Admit that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23; 10:9-10 2. Realize that sinners are separated from God and go to Hell. Revelation 21:8 3. Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from sin and life in Hell. Romans 5:8 ; John 3:16 4 . Recognize your sin in prayer before God and ask for forgiveness. Acts 3:19 5. Turn from your old life to a newer life of following God's instructions and commands. 2 Corinthians 5:17 6. Upon doing the above, receive the free and graceful gift of God's salvation through your faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8 Where or what is Hell? There is some confusion about the nature and location of Hell. Many believe hell is on Earth, underground. Some believe it to be Hades, a valley in the Middle East. It is now dormant but will be revived. One thing everyone seems to believe is that Hell is a physical place of fire and brimstone that never stops. Others believe it is a metaphysical place in an unknown physical reality. Sinful people will spend eternity there with their souls, in continuous pain from the heat. Good and bad nonbelievers will spend eternity there with their souls in continuous pain from the heat. Non-believers will be sent there, and their souls will literally be burned up and cease to exist. Hell is an unknown physical place where people spend eternity away from the presence of God. Some believe that the soul "lies at rest in Hell's grave for eternity." Others believe Hell is a temporary place of punishment where purification takes place. Adam, the first man. Adam was the first human on earth. He is the only one God created from the dust of the earth and into whom He breathed life. Eve was created from the DNA (rib) of Adam, and the rest of humanity was born through conception, including Jesus. Three responsibilities were given to Adam. Name all of the animals. Take care of the garden. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. The Bible states that they had many children, but it is not known how many actual offspring the couple had. However, three were specifically mentioned, Cain, Abel, and Seth. Cain was a farmer, Abel was a shepherd, and Seth's occupation is not mentioned. God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden to live in. The Garden of Eden was a perfect paradise, providing everything they needed and offering the protection and guidance of God. Unfortunately for humanity, the devil caused havoc and convinced Eve to sin by disobeying a command of God. God specifically commanded the first couple not to eat the fruit of the tree that gave knowledge of good and evil. Eve was persuaded by the devil, known as the serpent, to eat from this tree, and she then persuaded Adam to eat from it as well, resulting in the first sin of disobeying God. As a result, they were ousted from the Garden of Eden and forced to fend for themselves. God placed guards at the entrance in the form of flaming swords and cherubims so that they could not return to the garden and seek the tree. Abram, the main patriarch of biblical history. Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldees. This was near modern-day Baghdad, along the Euphrates River in an area known as Mesopotamia, which is now modern-day Iraq. He came from a family that worshipped pagan gods. Abram's father was Terah; his brothers were Nahor and Haran. At the age of 75, God called Abram to service. God changed Abram's name to Abraham. He was commanded by God to leave his homeland and journey to a land that would become the promised land of Canaan. The Judaic religion started here with Abraham and became the common foundation of the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. God makes three promises called the Abrahamic Covenant: The promise of a land of his own. The promise to make him into a great nation. The promise of blessing. Noah, the boat builder. Noah is the biblical person who built the Ark and survived the Great Flood. He is the son of Lamech and the tenth generation from Adam. His three sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God saw that humanity was increasingly becoming corrupt and sinful and was displeased. He decided to cleanse the world clean and drown everyone in a great flood. However, he found favor with Noah, who was a righteous believer. Check out these biblical facts about the Bible character Moses. Moses was a Hebrew prophet, teacher, and leader. He is among the most important prophets in Christianity. Moses is called the lawgiver because God physically gave the Ten Commandments to him. He was born in the Land of Goshen and died on Mount Nebo in Jordan. Jochebed was his mother, and Amram was his father. He had an older brother, Aaron, and an older sister, Miriam. Zipporah, a Midianite, was his first wife. The Bible also mentions that he was later married to an unnamed Cushite. His children were Gershom and Eliezer. Moses was saved from certain death. During the time that Moses was born, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. The pharaoh worried that the growing Hebrew population would revolt and seize control. To control the population, Pharaoh ordered the killing of all newborn Hebrew boys. Moses was born several months premature. Jochebed hid her son Moses for several months until it became noticeable that her child was born. She decided to put him in a floating basket and allow him to float down the river in hopes that the royal family would find him and take care of him. The plan worked, as Pharaoh's daughter was bathing in the Nile River when the basket floated by. Moses was three months old when Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses and raised him as royalty. He was highly educated, a warrior, and a leader among the Egyptians. Moses committed murder. One day, Moses took a walk to where his people (the Hebrews) were working to observe what was going on. He saw a taskmaster beat a slave and became extremely upset. Moses had a quick temper, which was considered one of his flaws. In a fit of anger, Moses killed the Egyptian taskmaster and buried him in the sand. Unfortunately, witnesses saw what he had done. Fearing for his life, Moses quickly departed from Egypt on the lam and ended up in Midian. Upon arriving in Midian, he met a group of young girls tending sheep. The short story is that he ended up marrying Zipporah, one of the girls, and working for her father, Reuel. Exodus 2:11-22 Moses communicated with a burning bush. He had a new life as a sheepherder for Reuel, the father of his wife. Moses was peacefully tending his father-in-law's flock when God arrived. There was a job that God wanted Moses to perform. God appeared as a burning bush at the base of Mount Horeb (the mountain of God) and laid out His plan for Moses. Of course, Moses, being who he was, argued with God. Moses was not interested in God's plan and didn't feel qualified to do what God requested. He argued with God! Can you imagine? Moses didn't want to do what God wanted. Moses made up many excuses, including the fact that he had a speech impediment. God said that Aaron, his brother, would be Moses' spokesperson. After the conversation with God, Moses finally agreed to be His spokesperson. God probably already knew the type of man He was dealing with in Moses. The plan was for Moses to lead the Israelite slaves out of Egypt to the promised land of milk and honey in Canaan. This period was known as the Great Exodus. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and to the borders of the promised land of Canaan. He confronted Pharaoh, who refused to "let thy people go!" Through Moses, God dealt out 10 plagues upon Egypt. The last one was the death of all firstborn males regardless of age. Finally, the Egyptian people revolted against the Pharaoh, and they said, "Let those people go!" The mass of slaves led by Moses reached the Red Sea and encamped there. Pharaoh changed his mind and sent all of his chariots after the slaves to bring them back. Moses spread his arms, causing the Red Sea to part, allowing the slaves to escape through it. The slaves crossed; the Egyptian chariots followed and were in the parted sea, which collapsed and killed them. Some bad things happened during the trek to the promised land of milk and honey in Canaan. The people constantly complained, which ultimately upset God, and God made the Israelites walk around in the desert for 40 years until all the people who complained died off. Korah rebelled against Moses, and God caused the earth to open up and swallow Korah and his followers. Moses' sister, Miriam, challenged Moses for leadership, and God gave her leprosy. She was healed after learning her lesson. Moses frequently became frustrated due to the misbehavior of the Israelites he was leading. He received the two tablets of the Ten Commandments that God gave him. Moses brought them down from the mountain after speaking with God. When he arrived at the encampment, he saw everyone worshiping a golden calf idol. Moses was infuriated and threw the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments to the ground, shattering them. This act was deeply disappointing to God. Moses had to return to the mountain to receive a second set of tablets. I can't imagine that conversation. On another occasion, the Israelites complained about being thirsty. God instructed Moses to go to Hajar Musa, where there would be water. Moses was instructed to speak to the rock there, and it would then release water. Again, Moses' anger got the better of him. When Moses arrived at the rock, he yelled, "Here's your dang water, you miserable unbelievers," and smacked the rock hard with his walking stick. Water gushed forth. Moses was commanded to communicate with the rock, not to strike it in anger. As a result of his anger management issues, God forbade Moses from entering the Promised Land. God allowed Moses to see Canaan from the top of Mount Nebo, but he was not allowed to enter it. Shortly after, Moses died there and was buried somewhere in an unknown spot in the Nebo Valley. Return to the top of this page. “Repent and be baptized... in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38.

Explore the rich history and significance of biblical Christmas traditions. Discover how Christians view and cherish these timeless traditions. Modern Christian Christmas Traditions Christmas traditions held by Christians. Christmas traditions vary in America based on the ethnic backgrounds of families. Here is how this Christian author and family view the Christmas traditions. Christian Christmas Traditions The Christmas tree is perhaps the main Christmas tradition. The most popular modern Christian Christmas tradition is the practice of having a Christmas tree. Strangely, the idea of a tree for celebration in the winter started as a pagan tradition. Evergreen trees were associated with everlasting life, representing the eternal life that Christ offers. It was common to celebrate the winter solstice, which occurs around the week of December 25th. Before Christianity became popular, people long used plant life that flourished in the winter as decorations, giving it special meaning. Many ancient people believed that evergreens had special powers to ward off witches, evil spirits, ghosts, demons, and poltergeists. The Germans were the first culture to embrace and start the tradition of using evergreen Christmas trees. They brought the tradition to America in the early 1800s. The Pilgrims outlawed the tradition of Christmas tree planting in early America. This practice was viewed as pagan, and the Puritans considered it unholy. The governor actually made it a penal offense to celebrate December 25th. It was also illegal to hang any decorations during the celebration. Many Christian traditions have origins in pagan practices. The Christmas tree is a reminder of Jesus' crucifixion. To this Christian author, the tree has come to symbolize life, redemption, and salvation. A Christmas tree is often considered a representation of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. It highlights the sacrifice Jesus made for humanity's sins. Furthermore, it represents spiritual growth and eternal life, reminding believers of their faith and the promise of forgiveness of sin. Paul claims that Jesus' execution took place on a tree. Trees were popular for executions, but in the case of Jesus, Such an event is unlikely. Most likely, the cross was an accurately milled 12" x 12" piece made from hand-hewn lumber. Carpentry was a prolific profession during the time of Jesus. Jesus himself was a carpenter. Tradition says the cross is made of dogwood. The Bible does not specify the type of wood, but the common woods of the time were dogwood, gopher, shittim wood, acacia, and cedar, as mentioned in the Bible. Tradition has it that the main support of the crucifixion cross was made of dogwood. Another traditional theory states that his body was held by cypress wood, his feet were held by cedar wood, and his hands were nailed to a crosspiece made from the wood of a palm tree. The inscribed plaque was made of wood from an olive tree. Pine trees with a complete set of needles are the most common Christmas trees. Using pine trees at Christmas is a natural choice and has been a tradition for many years. The Star of Bethlehem. A star is placed at the top of the tree. The star is a Christian Christmas tradition that is a reminder of the birth of Jesus, the Savior. The Magi were guided to young Jesus by the bright star of Bethlehem. The most common stars have five points to represent the Star of Bethlehem. Some stars have three points to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Other stars have six points, representing the symbol of the ancient Hebrew (Jewish) faith. People often place a star at the top of the Christmas tree to symbolize one of these traditions. Matthew 2:1-12 Angels on the Tree An angel at the top of the Christmas tree is a tradition that reminds us that an angel announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus. Angels are often placed on the tree branches to remind us they joined in celebrating Jesus's birth after the first angel approached the shepherds. Luke 2:8-13 Lights on the tree. Lights on the tree represent a Christian Christmas tradition that is reminiscent of two historical practices. Lights symbolize the Tabernacle, where God communicated with his people. One or more sacred candelsticks, called menorahs, lit the tabernacles. The original menorahs had extensions that appeared like tree branches. Candles were placed on Christmas trees in early traditions. Light bulbs became more popular than candles thanks to Thomas Edison. This author can remember bubbly lights on Christmas trees that resembled candles during his youth. Some cultures still use lit candles for tradition. Electric candles were common, but now a string of LED lights is standard. Lights on Christmas trees symbolize that Jesus is the "Light." Jesus is the light, and without him, we would stay lost in the darkness of sin. Being the Light, He helps sinful people discover their way to salvation and everlasting life. Secular Christmas Traditions Who is Santa Claus? The character of Santa Claus is based on a real person. He is not exclusively associated with Christian traditions. "Santa" lived during the 4th century in Patara, Turkey, an area in Greece. He was Bishop Nicholas of Myra, a very religious and generous person who helped the underprivileged. Nicholas was later referred to as Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Sinterklaas, or Saint Nick. The public generally did not see "Saint Nick" when he performed his humanitarian deeds or gave gifts to the underprivileged. Many believe he carried out much of his work in the shadows of darkness to avoid recognition. The giving of Christmas gifts. There are several stories of how modern gift-giving started. The strongest belief is that gift-giving at Christmas started to honor Bishop Nicholas , as proposed by Martin Luther. A more common belief is that it comes from the gift-giving of the Magi to the newborn Christ. The Bible instructs us to contribute to the less fortunate, and what better time than Christmas? A Christian should give gifts with love, showing compassion for others and following the Bible's instructions. Throwing Dear Santa letters into the fireplace. My mother brought this tradition from England when she immigrated to America. This custom is to magically send the letter instantly to the North Pole. The postal system is bypassed to ensure that Santa receives deliveries on time. The tradition of hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel at Christmas has gained popularity. Hanging stockings by the fireplace mantel became popular because of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." The tradition's roots are in the legend of Saint Nicholas, who dropped gold into a poor man's stockings. The stockings were drying by the fireplace, a common place for drying clothes. The practice quickly became a custom of leaving gifts in a central place. A hanging stocking reminds us to lend to those less fortunate than ourselves and to express thanks to God for what we have. Return to the main site Home Page.

Uncover the enchanting Bible facts on our website. Delve into biblical insights and truths with our engaging content. True Bible Facts and Biblical Stories Discover the truth about Jesus and learn facts about the Bible and Bible trivia. Discover intriguing stories, truth, and biblical insights that are revealed in the Bible. Facts in the Bible are intriguing and have much truth, insight, and inspiration. Here are intriguing insights and truths concerning the Bible. The Old Testament has five sections: The five sections of the Old Testament are Law, History, Poetry, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. The New Testament has five sections: They are the Gospels, Acts, Letters of Paul, General Epistles, and Revelation. The Pentateuch is the first division of the Bible. The Pentateuch is a collection of the first five books of the Bible. Moses wrote the Pentateuch. Therefore, they are known as the Mosaic Laws. The five books of the Pentateuch are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Gospels are the first division of the New Testament. They consist of the first four books of the New Testament. These are the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospels reveal the truth about Jesus' ministry. Three major religions recognize the Old Testament as valid scripture. Christianity—Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. Judaism—The Jewish nation. Islam—Muslims, Jihadists, Sunnis, and Shiites. Yes, that's right; Muslims recognize the Old Testament. Muhammad gave the Muslims the Quran. But they also recognize the Old Testament as valid scripture. Muslims follow the Old Testament in a way. Muslims believe the Christian Bible is a revelation from God but that man has corrupted it. They believe the angel Gabriel dictated the Islamic Quran to Muhammad, and it is the uncorrupted revelation of God. Therefore, the Quran is their truth, and it supersedes the Bible. They believe Jesus was a prophet and a powerful speaker, but not the Messiah. Like the Jewish community, Muslims believe the Messiah is yet to come. We must remember that Father Abraham, the first Jew, began God's church. Scholars trace the roots of the three major religions back to Abraham. Judaism: The original Jewish faith became fully consecrated with God's visitation with Moses on Mount Sinai. The "Laws of Moses" were created for the followers of the Old Testament (Torah). This testament is the foundation of the Jewish faith. Islam: This faith started with Gabriel's visitation with Muhammad. The Quran came into being. The visitation from Mohammed caused a split from Judaism. Later, Islam split into the two factions of Sunni and Shia due to politics in the ranks between Muhammad's successor and his son. Christianity: Jesus arrived as the Messiah for the entire world. The New Testament came about for the Gentiles. Only the Gentiles believe Jesus was the Messiah. The Hebrews considered Jesus a false prophet and had him executed. Why are God's people referred to as Hebrew, Israelite, and Jew? First, the Bible refers to God's people as Hebrews and states that Abraham was a Hebrew. The use of Hebrew is traceable to Noah. Hebrew is a derivative of Eber, a descendant of Noah. The use of Israel is traceable to Abraham's grandson, Jacob, when God changed his name to Israel. The twelve sons of Jacob created the twelve tribes of Israel. The use of the word "Jew" originates with Jacob's son, Judah, who strayed from the pack, and his tribe became the Judahites. Eventually, all the tribes converted to Judaism following Judah's line. The word "Judah," or "followers of Judah," was translated as "Jewish." Unfortunately, the Assyrians attacked and took ten of the twelve tribes to the north into captivity. These became known as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Through marriage, assimilation, wars, the scattering of the tribes, and other social events, the tribes essentially disappeared. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin survived in the south, keeping Judaism alive. Jesus is from the tribe of Judah and the house of David. The Great Bible of 1539 was the first recognized official church Bible printed in English. The last word in the New Testament is "Amen." Revelation 22:21 The last word in the Old Testament is the word "curse." Malachi 4:6 No original transcriptions of the Bible have been discovered. There are many true copies of the ancient scriptures. No originals exist. Four important codices contain the Bible, including the Apocrypha. Codex Sinaiticus, 325 AD, contains the majority of the Old Testament, the complete New Testament, and parts of the Apocrypha. Codex Alexandrinus, 4th century (?), 630 pages of the Old Testament and 143 pages of the New Testament. Codex Vaticanus, 5th century (?), 21 parchment leaves of the New Testament. Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, 5th century (?), 145 pages of the New Testament and 64 of the Old Testament. Discover the facts and insights into the events of the Bible story of the End of Times, as revealed in Revelation. Only God knows when the events of the end times will occur. Even Jesus does not know. Scripture reveals that knowledge will significantly increase in the future. This growth in knowledge began during World War II and has continued at an increasing pace since then. Without a country, the Jewish people dispersed throughout the world. It wasn't until after WWII that the State of Israel was established as a sovereign nation. Israel declared Jerusalem its capital in 1950. America and the world finally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017. An intriguing fact from the Bible has come true regarding the prevalence of open homosexuality. This openness started in the 1970s. Today, open homosexuality is considered common and acceptable behavior. Same-sex marriage is legal. The media and movies endorse it. Homosexuality has emerged from the confines of closets, rooms, and houses and is now visible in public spaces. The Bible reveals that false prophets will appear, and some will say they are Jesus or God. Here are the most famous self-proclaimed prophets and people claiming to be Jesus. The self-proclaimed messiah, Arnold Potter, is the author's favorite example of a false prophet. Potter was a Mormon leader (Latter-Day Saint, 1804–1872). He claimed that the spirit of Jesus Christ had entered his body. Potter claimed to be the son of the living God. He died while attempting to "ascend into heaven" by jumping off a cliff. The last false prophet was Gabbie Hanna, who made this claim in 2022. At least four dozen other self-proclaimed prophets claimed to be Jesus during those years. The most famous self-proclaimed figure claiming to be Jesus was Charles Manson. There will be a falling away in the "church." A few megachurches will survive, but many small ones will close. This author can attest to that. Three churches that he has attended in the past years have closed their doors. The good news will be preached to the whole world. The Joshua Project has officially taken the gospel to every country in the world. Approximately 7,000 small groups of Earth's inhabitants remain unreached by the gospel. Approximately one-third of the earth's population has yet to hear the work of God. It is a belief that such an event will happen before the end of times. Jesus will come and take all the believers up in the air to meet with Him. No one, not even Jesus, knows when such an event will happen. Jesus is now building the New Jerusalem to house his people. After it is built and God is ready, the rapture and end of times will be fully implemented. Here's a Bible fact: all believers will be judged for their works. Believers are judged as to whether their work glorifies God. Spreading the "good news" is work that glorifies God. Building an empire and making cars is not good work that glorifies God. The Antichrist and false prophet will control the remaining nonbelievers for seven years at the end of times. The 7 years will see the sealing of 144,000 Jews to Christ, who will serve Him faithfully. All the non-believers and those who lived after those 7 years will experience the "white judgment. " The events of the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, and 2 witnesses will occur. The Battle of Armageddon will happen next. Satan will be thrown into a "bottomless pit" for 1,000 years, and Jesus will reign for 1,000 years of peace. Later, Satan will be let loose. He will fight heaven, lose, and be thrown into the Lake of Fire. The book of Revelation reveals that Jesus will come with a new earth for His righteous believers to live in. Below are some intriguing stories, trivia, and biblical insights. When was the term "Christian" first used? The consensus is that the original use of the coined word "Christian" is unknown. However, the term is first visible in the Book of Acts in the Bible. Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch preaching. Herod Agrippa II asked Paul the Apostle if he was a Christian. Before this event, most people referred to the Apostles as Nazarenes, followers of the Jesus movement, or followers of "the Way." During this time, most of the "followers" were Jewish. Herod stated that Paul's acceptance of the term "Christian" led to its widespread use and spread. The earliest written use of the term "Christian" outside of the Bible was by Josephus and Pliny the Younger. During this time, the "Christian faith" had swelled in numbers among the Gentiles. Both of these writers referred to the followers of Jesus as Christians. Soon after, the term "Christian" became widely known. The followers of the "Faith" split into a Jewish following and a Gentile following. The Jewish sect follows the time-tested Old Testament. They follow and obey the Mosaic Laws. The Messiah has yet to arrive; they are waiting for the Savior's arrival. They do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah (Savior). After all, the Jewish leaders crucified Jesus because he claimed to be the Messiah. . The non-Jewish Gentile sect follows the New Testament. Gentiles recognize that the Savior has already arrived and that it is Jesus. They follow the teachings of Jesus. China prints the most Bibles. The Bible is estimated to have been printed in 724 different languages. Every year, the world sells over 100 million copies of the Bible. The Bible is t he most stolen book in history. However, it is also the most purchased book in history. Swearing on the Bible in a court of law is against the teachings of Jesus. Swearing is taking an oath. It is not cursing. Cussing is saying negative things. Therefore, one should "affirm" and not "swear." "I affirm allegiance," not "I swear allegiance." "I affirm to tell the truth" is an appropriate statement. It is not, "I swear to tell the truth; so help me, God." Matthew 5:33-37. Cannibalism is a little-known Bible truth. The first instance occurred when God punished the followers by causing them to experience hunger. It would come about because the followers would eat the flesh of their children. Deuteronomy 28:53-57 O n the second occasion, the king hears the story of two women making a pact to eat each other's child. 2 Kings 6:26-29 The oldest known biblical writing is the Ketef Hinnom Inscription. The inscription is believed to have been created during the 7th century BC. It is a silver scroll rolled up as an amulet. The writing is so tiny that it is impossible to read with the human eye. The words in the inscription are the same as what's in Numbers 6:24. What is the biblical truth about which day of the week is the Sabbath? Many believe that the specific day of the week is not relevant. Pick a day and observe it. Christians believe that it is Sunday. Jews say that it is Saturday. Muslims have it on Friday. The Book of Genesis states it's on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. It is a matter of interpretation. Some interpret the New Testament as saying that the Sabbath no longer exists. Many believe it was changed from Saturday to Sunday to somehow coincide with the resurrection of Jesus. Others interpret the Old Testament as stating that the Sabbath still exists and is observed on the seventh day, Saturday. Below is a link to a lengthy paragraph. Take note of the last few sentences. Review this explanation of the Sabbath. The original languages of the manuscripts are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Ancient Hebrew is the language of the Old Testament and was written before the birth of Jesus. The New Testament is in Koine Greek and was written after Jesus' birth. Aramaic was the spoken language during the time of Jesus. This phase was the time between the Old and New Testaments. "The silent period." The mother language of Jesus was Aramaic. Aramaic was the common language of Judea in the first century AD. As a native of Galilee, Jesus would have spoken Aramaic with a Galilean accent. Jesus inevitably spoke multiple languages. He would have spoken Hebrew. Hebrew was the language used in the synagogues and temples at that time. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus is recorded using Aramaic terms and phrases. Jesus was recorded as reading from the Hebrew Bible at a synagogue. Luke 4:16. Greek and Latin were the common languages used in trade and economics during the time of Jesus. Before preaching, Jesus worked as a carpenter and must have known several languages for buying and selling. Jesus must have been familiar with several languages. The ancient Hebrew language does not have small or capital letters. Hebrew is the language of the Old Testament. Early Israelites spoke and wrote in Hebrew. The language had only 22 letters, all in one size, in uppercase. Ancient Hebrew has no vowels, only consonants. The language was written from right to left. All Middle Eastern languages are still written this way today, including modern Hebrew. Ancient Hebrew was called the "Language of Judah." The Book of Kings identifies it as Judahite. Ancient Hebrew was phased out of general spoken use around 200 AD. Hebrew resurfaced as a common language in the 1900s. A derivative has survived (aka "modern Hebrew") and is the "official language" of Israel. There are four main sections in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh): The Jews also refer to the Bible as the Mikra. Protestants refer to it as the Pentateuch (Five), also known as the "Five Books of Moses." The word "Tanakh" is derived from the first letters of the three main sections of the original Masoretic Hebrew texts. Torah (the Laws). Neviʾim (the Prophets). Ketuvim (the Writings). There are a total of 24 books. Below are some intriguing stories, trivia, and biblical insights. Revelation reveals the future story of several beasts. At the end of time, Satan puts on his best show and pretends to be God. The false prophet is the Holy Spirit (the Beast of the Earth). The first beast will symbolically come out of the sea (masses of humanity). Satan will provide this beast with power. This beast will rule for 42 months. Some people believe this period reestablished the Roman Empire. This first beast will have seven heads, 10 horns, and 10 crowns. (Several political powers.) The beast is symbolically a combination of a leopard, a bear, a lion, and 10 horns. The second beast will come out of the earth and have powers given by Satan. The second beast will preside over the world's economic and religious agendas. He is known as the "false prophet" due to his dominance over the world's religions. This beast is symbolically described with two horns like a lamb and speaks like a dragon. Despite his outward gentle demeanor, he will be a true "devil." He causes all people to symbolically receive the mark of the beast "in their right hand or their forehead." Revelation does not describe how the third beast originates. The third beast has seven heads and ten horns, according to the description. He is described as being colored scarlet with a harlot who reigns over the kings of the earth, riding them. It is believed that seven world powers will have the purpose to unite the world's nations. Some believe it to be the League of Nations, now known as the United Nations. A godless man will preside over this coalition of nations and rule the world during the Tribulation. The story in the book of Revelation named this godless man the Antichrist. He presides over a political agenda with an evil government in power at the end of times. At first, he will broker peace between Israel and the rest of the world. The mantra to convince the world to buy into his leadership is "peace and harmony." He will say he is God, demand worship of him, and persecute those who believe in the true God. Some believe that the present is when 144,000 Jewish believers will preach the Gospel. Jesus returns at the end of the beast's reign. Jesus returns to earth after the tribulation. There will be a massive war between Jesus and Satan at Armageddon. Satan will be tossed into the lake of fire, along with the false prophet and the antichrist. Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years of peace. The monumental white judgment will occur. All the unbelievers will be resurrected and stand before Jesus for their final judgment. They are judged for their works, and many will be cast into the lake of fire. Jesus will bring the New Jerusalem down to earth. Revelation reveals the story of the 144,000. They will be the leaders on Earth during the Millennial Reign of Christ. They are Hebrew males. All of them are virgins. They come from the 12 tribes of Israel. There will be twelve thousand believers from each tribe. God will protect these believers during the Tribulation and end of times. The 144,000 believers will remain unmarked by the beast. They will evangelize during the Tribulation. Here are some more stories and trivia I've discovered by searching the internet. Animal Sacrifices The question is, when did the Israelites last perform animal sacrifices? According to the New Testament and church history, it was around 70 CE (AD). This date is when Rome went into Jerusalem and destroyed the temple for the second time. Only the temple in Jerusalem was the authorized place for sacrifices. Burnt offering practices vanished along with the temple. The world's largest ancient biblical manuscript is the Codex Gigas. It's also known as the "Devil's Bible" due to its rendition of the devil on page 577. Codex Gigas contains scripture from the Old Testament and New Testament, works by Joseph Flavius, a medical book, a calendar, and several other items of interest. The Codex Gigas book weighs 165 pounds. The composition consists of 310 leaves. The claim is that it is made of vellum from the skins of 160 donkeys, or perhaps calfskin. The Codex covers 142.6 m² (1,535 sq ft). The manuscript has red, blue, yellow, green, and gold coloring. The world's largest modern Bible is the Louis Waynai Bible. The Bible is a copy of the King James version. Louis Waynai, a Hungarian immigrant, created this Bible in Los Angeles between 1928 and 1930. The Waynai Bible weighs over 1,000 pounds. Mr. Waynai gave the Bible to a church in Fort Worth. The church later passed it on to Abilene Christian University in Texas. The Catholic and English churches were very strict in discipline in the early years. Death was a common punishment. The church wanted full control of its subjects, and the "government" backed it. Since the church was technically against the death penalty, the government carried out the sentences. Lashings, excommunication, and seizing of property were also common. The church used the excuse of heresy, blasphemy, and treason against individuals they did not approve of. Anyone who did not fully obey the rules of the " church" or who dared speak against the church ended up being executed. Only the church owned and was allowed to have Bibles. The Bible was generally in Latin; only the church had it, and only priests could understand and read it. It was illegal for the public to print or even possess Bibles that were printed in English. The church had a greater interest in its sovereignty than in preaching the truth about Jesus. Here are more tidbits of Bible trivia, information, insights, and understanding. The Gideons are a well-known religious organization that spreads the truth. Gideon was a judge and warrior whom God called upon. He freed the Israelites from the Midianites. Modern-day Gideons place Bibles in hotels, motels, and other places for free. What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? Generally, this event occurs when someone is "saved," "converted," or "called to service" by God. In the Bible, it is revealed that the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God) comes upon a believer when he believes in the truth of Jesus. The spirit provides the believer with certain gifts and takes control of one's abilities. The believer becomes overcome by the Holy Spirit, and they receive a genuine understanding of the truth in their soul. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is required to understand and interpret the Scriptures. Many villains in the Bible have a certain hair color. Red hair. Perhaps this is why Irish girls with red hair are said to be "hot-tempered." Cain killed Abel. He is believed to have red hair. The Bible describes Esau as having red hair, like a fur coat, as he sets out to kill his brother Jacob. Genesis 25:25 David had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband, Uriah. 2 Samuel 11:1-17 Salome, the dancer, requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter from King Herod. She was a redhead. The Gutenberg Bible was the first complete Bible printed on a printing press. Johannes Gutenberg printed this Bible in Mainz, Germany. It was printed around 1450 AD on a movable metal type printing press. This Bible is a copy of the Vulgate. The Gutenberg Bible was printed in Latin. About fifty copies have been discovered. Harvard has a copy.

This is a free, easy, online children's Bible quiz that tests a child's Bible and biblical knowledge with a fun and straightforward quiz. Children's Bible Quiz of easy Questions Learn about places in the Bible with this easy Bible Quiz Easy children's quiz about places in the Bible. Places in the Bible concerning Jesus Where was the birthplace of Jesus? a. Bethlehem. b. Jerusalem. c. Nazareth. d. Galilee Answer A: Bethlehem Jesus was born in an animal shelter (stable) just outside Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-7 In which village was Jesus raised as a teenager? a. Galilee b. Nazareth. c. Jerusalem. d. Bethlehem. Answer B: Nazareth. Jesus was raised in Nazareth, the hometown of his mother. Matthew 2:19-23 What city was Jesus crucified in? a. Galilee b. Nazareth. c. Jerusalem. d. Bethlehem. Answer C: Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem on a hill called Golgotha. Matthew 27:30-35 Where did John the Baptist baptize Jesus? a. Red Sea. b. The Nile River. c. In the River Jordan. Answer C: River Jordan. Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by his cousin John the Baptist. Matthew 3:13-17 Which area of Israel did Jesus do much of his teaching in? a. Northern Judea. b. Jerusalem. c. Galilee. Answer C: Galilee. Jesus preached mostly in Galilee, generally along the northern shore near Capernaum. This was the base of operations for much of Jesus’s ministry. Jesus did many miracles and teachings in this area. Where did Jesus recruit his first disciples (apostles)? a. Along the coast of the Sea of Galilee. b. In Jerusalem, in the temple. c. Nazareth. Answer A: Sea of Galilee. When Jesus was walking along the shoreline, he met two fishermen who were brothers, Andrew and Peter, whom he recruited first. Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus was upset and overturned the tables of the money changers here. a. He flipped the tables over in the flea market in Nazareth. b. In the Jerusalem bank, Jesus knocked over the money tables. c. He upset the tables of the money changers who were outside the temple. Answer C: The temple. Jesus became frustrated and upset the tables of the money changers outside the temple. Matthew 21:12-13 Where did Jesus perform his first miracle according to many scholars? a. The first miracle happened at the pool of Siloam , where Jesus cured a man of blindness. b. Jesus changed water into wine at a wedding in Cana. c. He cured a withered hand in the synagogue. Answer B: At a wedding. The first recognized miracle of Jesus was changing water to wine at a wedding in Cana, Galilee, at the request of his mother. John 2:1-10 . Where was Jesus at age twelve when his parents lost him for three days? a. Jesus was at the temple listening to the priests and teachers. b. He was lost and wandering the streets of Jerusalem. c. He was at his friend Lazarus' house. Answer A: The temple. Jesus was at the temple asking questions of and listening to the priests and teachers. Luke 2:41-52 Where was Jesus betrayed by Judas? a. Jesus was betrayed and pointed out by Judas as He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. b. The betrayal took place at the synagogue in Jerusalem. c. Jesus was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Answer C: Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, which was located on the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem. Luke 22:39-48 Other significant locations in the Bible are worth exploring. Name a city that God destroyed with fire and brimstone. a. Babel. b. Sodom. c. Bethany. Answer B: Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God using fire and brimstone because the people there were really evil sinners disobeying God's commands. Genesis 19:22-25 What city did the walls crumble when the Israelites marched around it? a. Damascus. b. Jericho. c. Sodom. Answer B: Jericho. The walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelites marched around it for seven days blowing trumpets. Joshua 6:1–27 Where did God send Jonah to preach? a. Jericho. b. Nineveh. c. Tarshish. Answer B: Nineveh. Jonah was sent to Ninevah by God to preach to the people there. He was trying to escape God by taking a boat to Tarshish, but God intervened and sent a fish to retrieve Jonah. Jonah 3 Where did Jesus speak to Saul before his conversion as an apostle? a. On the road to Damascus. b. The temple in Jerusalem. c. On the Mount of Olives. Answer A: Road to Damascus. Saul was traveling on the road to Damascus because the priests wanted him to arrest some Christians in Damascus. Jesus stopped him and blinded him so that he couldn't make the trip. Acts 9:1-9 Which body of water did Moses divide with his staff? a. Red Sea. b. Dead Sea. c. Sea of Galilee. Answer A: Red Sea. Moses used his staff with outstretched hands to divide the Red Sea during the exodus from Egypt. Exodus 14 Where did Moses receive the Ten Commandments? a. The Garden of Gethsemane. b. Mount Sinai in the desert. c. Egypt before the Exodus. Answer B: Mount Sinai. Moses received the Ten Commandments while visiting with God on Mount Sinai. Exodus 31:18 Where did Moses die? a. In Canaan, the promised land. b. The valley of Moab. c. Mount Nebo. Answer C: Mount Nebo. God did not allow Moses to enter the land promised to Abraham of milk and honey. This was the punishment Moses got for having anger issues and disobeying God. God allowed Moses to see the land from atop Mount Nebo but did not allow him to enter it. Moses died on Mount Nebo and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Valley of Moab. Deuteronomy 34:1-8 Where was the land of milk and honey that God let the Israelites settle in? a. Canaan. b. Babylon. c. Persia. Answer A: Canaan. Moses led the Israelites to the land of milk and honey in Canaan. However, God punished Moses and did not allow Moses to enter the promised land. Exodus 13:11 Where did Noah's Ark come to rest after the Great Flood? a. Mount Ararat. b. Mount Sinai. c. Mount Nebo. Answer A: Mount Ararat. Noah's Ark was brought to rest on Mount Ararat after the flood. Genesis 8:1-4 Where was the first home of Adam and Eve? a. Garden of Gethsemane. b. Garden of Eden. c. Mount Sinai. Answer B: Garden of Eden. God planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. Genesis 2:8 Main Children's Menu "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

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