1. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Part 3 – Internal Evidences – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy

2. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal Evidences -- Introduction
Evidence from archeology and natural science are merely supportive, not proof
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God must be internal
A human can write a book that is completely accurate; that doesn’t make it inspired
Proof must come in the form of internal evidences which the human mind cannot duplicate
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

3. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal Evidences -- Introduction
An old homesteader’s shack is proof of the one-time existence of the homesteader
The design is proof of the existence of the designer
Proof of the existence of God would be a transcendent design, which human planning could not duplicate
Does the Bible offer such a transcendent design?
Predictions of history, of the Messiah, and of a plan carried out over thousands of years
Yes!
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

4. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
Many historical prophecies in the Old Testament
Let us consider three representative prophecies
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
The Ram and the Goat
The Coming of Cyrus
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

5. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – Daniel 2
Daniel was carried captive into Babylon in 604 BC
After some training in Chaldean schools, he was assigned office with the soothsayers and magicians of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream
He threatened his astrologers, commanding them to make known to him both the dream and its interpretation
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

6. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
As expected, none of Babylon’s magicians could tell the king what his dream was
Daniel heard about this, asked the king for a little time, and prayed to God
The Lord answered his request
Daniel was able to tell the king what his dream was – Daniel 2:31-35
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

7. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
Daniel then told the interpretation to the king
Head of gold – Babylon
Chest and arms of silver – Media-Persia
Belly and thighs of bronze – Greece
Legs of iron – Rome
Feet of iron mixed with clay – Rome in later days
Stone cut out without hands – Divine kingdom
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

8. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
Iron mixed with clay is a good description of Rome in the days of Christ
Think of Jesus’ three trials – Jewish hierarchy, Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate
Jesus confirmed to Pilate that He had a kingdom, but that it was not of this world
Just as prophesied, there were four world kingdoms from Babylon until the foundation of the church
How would the writer of Daniel know that there would be 4 world kingdoms, not 2 or 6?
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

9. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
The Ram and the Goat – Daniel 8:1-8
A ram with two horns (the second horn coming up longer) butting north, west, and south
From the west, a male goat with one big horn between its eyes flying towards the ram
The goat smashed the ram and trampled him
The big horn was abruptly broken off, and four horns came up in its place
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

10. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
Interpretation given in Daniel 8:20-22
The ram represents Media-Persia
The shaggy goat represents Greece
The large horn was the Greek Empire’s first king
The four horns represent the four kingdoms which arose from the first king’s power
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

11. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
Amazing description given in Daniel’s vision
Two horns, with the second coming up longer than the first
Medes and Persians had joint kingdom
Medes were stronger at first, but then Persia began to dominate and became stronger than the Medes had ever been
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

12. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
The Persian Empire was spreading in all directions but east (the ram was butting north, west, and south)
The Goat was pictured as flying
In 333 BC, Greece smashed Persia’s power
In 10 short years, Alexander the Great extended Greek domain, weeping that there were no more worlds to conquer
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

13. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
The large horn was broken off and replaced by four smaller horns
Following Alexander’s death in 322 BC, his kingdom was divided among four generals
Ptolemy – Egypt
Seleucus – Syria and Palestine
Cassander – Macedonia
Lysimachus – Thrace and Asia Minor
Incredible accuracy and detail – God knew what was going to happen ahead of time
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

14. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
The Coming of Cyrus – Isaiah 44:24-45:7
Isaiah prophesied from 740 to 700 BC
In 605 BC the Babylonians conquered Judah; in 585 BC they destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple
50 years later the Medes and Persians, under King Cyrus of Persia and General Darius the Mede, captured Babylon
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

15. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
More than 175 years before the Persian capture of Babylon, God foretold through Isaiah what He was going to do through Cyrus
“It is I [the Lord] who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd! And he will perform all My desire. And he declares of Jerusalem, “She shall be built.” And of the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’ ” (Isaiah 44:28)
Just as the Lord had declared, Cyrus allowed the city of Jerusalem to be rebuilt, and the foundation of the temple to be re-laid
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

16. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Internal – Fulfilled Historical Prophecy
The predictions of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, the Ram and the Goat, and the Coming of Cyrus are all incredibly accurate and descriptive
Those who deny the Bible assert that these prophecies had to have been written after the events prophesied
If the Biblical dates are true, it is clear that they were given by God and that the Old Testament is His word
Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!

17. Proof that the Bible is the Word of God!
Part 4 – Internal Evidences – Fulfilled Messianic Prophecy