D12-Discovering the Buried Past

1 The Invitation

Our discovery journeys have travelled with scientists that invalidated the conventional wisdoms in Darwinism (D2, D3) and Genetic determinism (D4). D10 displayed the wonders of God in nature. Scientific evidences are vindicating the truth in the word of God, harmonizing science, and nature with Scripture statements as the foundation of truth. D8 –Discovering Life’s Designer is our exciting venture in putting together a living impression of the one true God, the source of our life, based on the testimonies of many of God’s servants given in a period of over one thousand five hundred years in the past.

The Bible clearly reveals that God is the supreme, invisible supernatural designer of the universe and all the things and creatures in it. There are so much information in the world that tells us what and who to believe in.

This Discovery tour, D12-“Discovering the Buried Past”is anotherpleasant journey, this time with archaeologists who have found artifacts buried in the ground  based on clues given in the Bible that help prove God is real and that following His counsel will ensure our  save and sure destiny.  It will be focused mainly on Biblical archaeology  and visiting ancient sites located in the Middle East, the cradle of the historical and prophetic narratives of the word of God.  This armchair tour is the only means nowadays to see what our past was like as it is not possible to visit  most of these sites where ISIS  are still causing  havoc and destruction.

This tour is only a primer to prompt your interest to dig on.  

CONTENTS

1 The Invitation; 1.1 Discovery D12 Overview;  2 Biblical Archaeology; 2.1 Ur of the Chaldees in Iraq; 2.1.1 The Ebla Tablets; 2.1.1.1 Mari in Mesopotamia (Syria); 2.2 Nineveh, Ancient Capital of Assyria (Mosul, Iraq; 2.2.1 Prophet Jonah Preached in Nineveh; 2.2.2 Nimrud – adjoining  Assyrian Capital City; 2.3 The Site of Ancient Babylon (Iraq); 2.3.1 Hamurabi Vindicates God’s Law- The Ten Commandments (Sinai); 2.3.2 Saddam Hussein’s Babylon; 2.3.3 Ancient City of Sippar; 2.3.3.1 Nebo-Sarsekim Cuneiform Tablet; 2.3.4 Jehoiachin- Shortest Reigning Judea  King; 3 Going Home; 3.1 The Prophesied Home in Revelation; 3.2 Sumerian Conception of Love; 3.3 Salvation is the Revealed Secret from the Buried Past; 3.3.1 Christ is the Light of the World;

1.1 Discovery D12 Overview

1. The sites of ancient ruins visited are in Iraq and Syria. The archaeologists who discovered these sites that were buried for centuries were Bible students who believed in the word of God that directed them to the sites at the appointed time to reveal His message to the world.  It is not possible to visit most of these sites  because the sites are in war torn Syria and Iraq for the past 5 years caused by ISIS.

2. The Ebla Tablet was discovered at Tel Mardikh in Syria . Digging started in 1964. It took them five years as archaeology is a slow science that takes a long time to get to the treasures. They translated the 20,000 clay tablets and we can read some of them in English today. For the first time names of Bible characters were found on these clay tablets. Before this discovery, the only source was the Bible and writing of Josephus. The relics are kept in the museum in Idlib, 50 km away. Because of political reasons the amazing finds were not publicized. 

3. The information from this site led to finding the ruin of Mari city. The relics are now housed in the Louvre, Paris. Zimri-lim ( the city  of the emperor Zimri-lim )and Mari was destroyed by the Babylonians in 1750 B.C..The  next city, Qatna was discovered in 2006 in Syria. More light is shed on the truth art every new find and the Bible is vindicated as an authoritative source of truth .

4.  Nineveh was a huge city with fifteen gates. Jonah came to preach God’s message to the people of Nineveh. The repentance of the whole city postponed the destruction for roughly 150 years. The Bible predicted its desolation thus ended the Assyrian Empire by the Babylonians in 612 B.C.  Many critics dismiss the story of Jonah as a fable because they reject the miraculous element of the great fish that swallowed Jonah. It was only recently rediscovered. Archaeology confirms the truth of Bible prophecy, Reliefs depicting Lions ( Assur Bunipow, confirm what the Bible said that there were lions there. The main source of information on the Sumerian language came from Nineveh. Assyrian King  Ashurmanipal collected all the clay tablets he could and he arranged and developed a library  which modern library still follow the principles

5. Dur Sharrukin , the fortress of Sargon II was found in Khorsabad , one of the four cities of Assyria. This cleared up unbelieve in the Sargon described in the Bible.

6. Nimrud is 20 miles south of Mosul. The ziggurat, the temple tower to worship their gods at Nimrud was built by Sargon II who took the ten tribes in exile and brought them to help build it in 722 B.C  The black obelisk of Shalmanezer III  was found here that identified king Jehu as the man bowing down to Shalmanezer III.

7. At the ancient site of Babylon, Saddam Hussein had reconstructed partially the former city of Babylon. He wanted to be the world’s next ruler but the Americans stopped him. This is biblical that Babylon will never rise again. Nebuchadnezzar , King of ancient Babylon, at his northern palace e had a dream which Daniel interpreted by God’s design,  the vision pertaining to the history of the empires of the world from Babylon to the Kingdom of God. We can know what happened by reading the Book of Daniel. Located 1.5 km on the procession way from the Ishtar gate  is Etemenanki. This is ancient foundation of the Tower of Babel.  Other minute details of historic Biblical characters are also confirmed  in the discoveries.

8 There is a Sumerian poem “kish kiri gook mah si kiri”, where the author says there is a paradise planted by the God of the universe. In this magnificent garden there is peace, there is happiness, there is security. This is reminiscent of the paradise that is waiting for us as promised in the Bible. God is using the Sumerians to tell us what the Sumerians have learnt from their time on earth , their heyday in the sun, so that we will not ignore our innate desire to go home.  We are sojourners on the earth on the way to the eternal city of God.

2 Biblical Archaeology  

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXyk36uZ3sA - Archaeological Discoveries in Bible Lands (2/8): Digging Up The Past, Part 2, (duration 50: 59 min) by Francois DuPlessis*, published on Oct 28, 2014

 (*Francois DuPlessis fell in love with archaeology in Lebanon 1966 when he saw an ancient Phoenician sarcophagus, and his passion for Biblical research continues today. Since then he has traveled to the important archaeological sites in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, and Armenia. He also had the privilege of visiting most of the museums in Europe and America to verify his research. His research appeared on several TV stations and he was invited to share his love for Biblical Archaeology to audiences in many countries.)

Follow along with the transcript below as you watch the video. The transcript (with added commentaries and clarification in parenthesis) provides a ready recourse when we need it to remind us.

2.1 Ur of the Chaldees in Iraq

A very interesting discovery was made in Iraq confirming the truth about Abram and Sarah. They were born there as the Bible said. Picture of Ur of the Chaldees showing the largest ziggurat in the world is found here and it is the best preserved. This discovery was made by Taylor, Halla and C.L. Wooley, Bible students.  They discover marvelous things not only in the past , who study not only the past but find pleasant surprises in the study of God’s word today.

While they were digging up at Ur, they found an interesting inscription about a city called Ebla. It was the trade link with the Sumerians in the south of Iraq. Archaeology works by finding a name and then starts looking for that specific place.   

2.1.1 The Ebla Tablets

In 1964, an Italian archaeologist, Paulo Matthiae, began with excavations in Syria at a place called Tel Mardikh and after five years (archaeology is a slow science that takes a long time to get to the treasures) they discovered a headless statue . They were so excited as the truth about Ebla was confirmed at this site. A total of 20,000 clay tablets were found and they started to translate them and we can read some of them in English today.

For the first time names of Bible characters were found on these clay tablets. Before this discovery, the only source was the Bible and writing of Josephus. These 20,000 clay tablets cry out (Luk 19:40; Hab 2:11) that the Bible is true. It is the only reliable literature in the world, and we can read it with confidence.

The treasure are kept in the Idlib museum ,a bout 50km from the discovery sites. Names like Lachish (one of the fortified city in Israel that was discovered), Sodom and Gomorrah (the next D13), Adam, Israel, David and many other names have been found. Because of political reasons they stopped the publication of the discoveries. (It was reported in 'Syria: On the trail of looted antiquities.', 1st May 2015 which  states that the Assad regime looted Idlib Museum)

 (See Idlib photo gallery at http://www.homsonline.com/EN/Citeis/IdlibPhotoGallery.htm ).

Two copies of the Gilgamesh epic mention the creation saying ‘The earth was not there. You created it. Day light was absent, you made it.” (in other words, God created it and everything comes from above)  There are the Babylonian epics and the Sumerian epics. Here we have a similar account to Genesis chapter one.

2.1.1.1 Mari in Mesopotamia (Syria)

During the excavation they found 500 references to another city called Mari. The ruins of ancient Mari offers exceptional experiences in walking through these ancient sites among the stones and read  the clay tablets as biblical names were found here for the first time such as Ben Gamin, Davit, and  scholars were amazed at this discovery. According to Merrill Unger, Mari used to be a very important big city on the Fertile Crescent. “Mari was one of the most flourishing and brilliant cities of the Mesopotamian world, and the patriarch and father Terah, must have passed through this metropolis on their way to Haran.” (Archaeology and the O. T, p 124). So this was part of Abram route from Ur to Canaan, the promised land.

The Mari treasures can be  seen at the Louvre, Paris.  It features a statue, Eblish II, a friendly man with blue eyes,  and the clay tablet beside says  he is the director of public works,  saying “how can I assist you?” which is also reflected in his body language. So archaeology can bring out the emotions of people in the past.  There is also the clay tablet of Zimri-lim, the last king of Mari. The tablets at Mari also referred to another city, Qatna.

This city was recently discovered in Syria. Diggings began in 2006 to again confirm Bible truth. Some of these discoveries are shown in the video (13:25min) and publication will follow to tell us what they have discovered.  At every new archaeological find, the Bible becomes a more authoritative source of truth. When the Bible says your sins are forgiven believe it. Zimri-lim ( the city  of the emperor )and Mari were destroyed by the Babylonians in 1750 B.C.. and were covered by sand  to keep its secrets for the archaeologist to find . (Archaeologists have discovered palaces, temples, and extensive archives written on clay tablets that shed light on the early days of civilization in the region. According to reports from locals and satellite imagery, the site, especially the royal palace, is being looted systematically by ISIS. This group claims the destruction of ancient sites is religiously motivated; iIts militants have targeted well-known ancient sites along with more modern graves and shrines belonging to other Muslim sects, citing idol worship to justify their actions. At the same time, ISIS has used looting as a moneymaking venture to finance military operations. (See Update of destruction at https://news.artnet.com/art-world/isis-cultural-heritage-sites-destroyed-950060 ))

2.2 Nineveh, Ancient Capital of Assyria (Mosul, Iraq) (18:50 min-)

The next ancient site is Nineveh. It was a huge city with fifteen gates. The Bible predicted the desolation of the ancient Nineveh. “And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.“-Z ep 2:13. The ruins of Nineveh is the fulfillment of this prophecy.  Shortly after it was destroyed in 612 B.C. the city disappeared under the Mesopotamian sand and only recently has it been discovered (21:05 min) There were lions here in the desert  which is hard to imagine but there were lions here in Bible times as  Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.  Believe it when the Bible says it, “Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?”-  Nah 2:11. So the lions disappeared and archaeology has to prove this statement to be true. Fighting with lion is depicted in reliefs on the walls in Nineveh (21:43)- Assur bunipow, prove this to be true.

The locals in Mosul are not aware that ancient Nineveh was buried in the outskirt of right where they live because they don’t read the Bible and are not interested in searching for the truth. Without reading the Bible no one can make discoveries to vindicate the truth in the Bible.  3500 years ago this was a flourishing metropolis of the world.  The treasures found here provided insights into the past that was recorded in the Bible. The main source of information on the Sumerian language came from Nineveh. Assyrian King Ashurmanipal collected all the clay tablets he could and he arranged and developed a library which modern library still follow the principles.

2.2.1 Prophet Jonah Preached in Nineveh (23:24 min)

The prophet Jonah was here. Botta and Layard read the Bible and they discovered the site. In the search for Nineveh, Dur Sharrukin  (Fortress of Sargon) was discovered in Khorsabad, 15 km northeast of Mosul. For the first time the name Sargon was discovered outside the Bible. Critics were silenced that queried the biblical name of Sargon in Isa 20:1- “In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;” There are exhibits of relics of Sargon in the London museum. There is a Sargon hall in the Louvre. The four capitals in the Assyrian Empire were Nimrud, Nineveh, Khorsabad and Assur. The Bible is the handbook that tells us about our past and our future, our identity, our destination, and nothing is unimportant in this book. We will discover Christ and salvation in books that  can influence you intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. We should know the contents of the Bible and archaeology gives you an appetite to study this book.

(Add-on May 27, 2020)

This true story, nearly three thousands ago, was written after Jonah returned from his mission, and had time to reflect its significance. It is the only Old Testament book in which the entire prophecy is written in the third person and giving rise to the possibility of another author. He gave a prophecy which was fulfilled by Jeroboam.(2Ki 12:45) Jonah is more than just an interesting story of some long-ago historical event—it’s full of spiritual applications for today. The Jonah saga is the account of a Hebrew prophet working well beyond his comfort zone. Alive during the reign of Jeroboam II, about 750 B.C (2 Kings 14:25), Jonah is the only Old Testament prophet whom we know of who was directly called to be a missionary in another country. The truth that the Creator of all races did not intend to limit salvation to only His chosen people is stated repeatedly in the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah and the Psalms, even though popular Israelite theology at the time of Jonah did not accept that the Gentiles were also in God’s plan to partake in salvation. Even in New Testament times, it was a hard lesson for the Jewish believers to learn. This story clearly tells us that no one can run away from God. God has a plan in His will to save all of His children, but not by force. The outcome of His plan is the best that can be resulting in the outcome of Jonah’s missionary that converted the gentile sailors, and caused 120,000 citizens of Ninevites (habitual sinners who did not know the true God) to repent and stayed the judgment for 150 years to give their future generations to get to know the true God. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right”(Acts 10:34, 35, NIV).

From God’s message is generally threat and promise, judgment and gospel. His stark proclamation was, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (vs. 4, NIV). That was the judgment. Yet, there was also the promise of hope, of deliverance, of salvation (there must have been because the people heeded the message and were saved). Jon 3;1,2

2.2.2 Nimrud – adjoining  Assyrian Capital City (26:40)

Nimrud, Biblical Calah, was discovered by Henry Austin Layard. This ancient site is 20 miles south of Mosul. The ziggurat, the temple tower to worship their gods at Nimrud was built by Sargon II who took the ten tribes in exile and brought them to help build it in 722 B.C.  The black obelisk of Shalmanezer III  was found here.   This is a tremendous discovery as bible names are mentioned on it.  It provided information about the relief depicted in the Oberlisk in the British museum on the man kneeling down to Shalmanezer III . This man is “Jehu” (788-760 B.C), the man who drove the chariot like no other one could do. Jehu was anointed as king of the ten tribes of Israel by Elisha (1 Ki 19:16).  What an amazing book is the Bible. Read it more often and experience a peace that surpasses all understanding ( Phi 4:6-7) In reading the Bible  the Holy Spirit has a chance to speak to us  God’s words. Nirgal Gate is one of the restored gate (29:03 min). (However the latest news by Laura King, dated Oct 25, 2016 says “The human cost of the Mosul offensive – and of Islamic State’s brutal two-year occupation – is not yet known. But the Iraqi city’s cultural treasures have already suffered a grave toll. Satellite imagery, eyewitness testimony from escaping civilians and boastful videos from Islamic State have provided clues as to the extent of damage to ancient sites and artifacts in Mosul. But experts say a full reckoning is probably months away, and remaining historical riches are still in danger from fighting.”) Read the Bible and make the greatest discoveries. God loves the sinners and the Holy Spirit is convincing us of sin and convicting us of sin. We need the instructions from the book to go to heaven. It don’t earn us favour with God but it helps us to get there.

The Maski Gate, one of the fifteen gates, is also restored. It was the gate through which Jonah entered the city to preach God’s message to the people of Nineveh. (Again recent information in May 15, 2016 confirmed the destruction of the Mashki Gate based on photographic evidence obtained from "trusted sources" in Mosul, who also verified their legitimacy. The book of Jonah shines a bright light on the wideness of God’s mercy and the depth of His patience, both for the pagan sinners of Nineveh and the reluctant prophet God chooses for his mission. Many critics dismiss the story of Jonah as a “myth” or “fable” because they reject the miraculous element of the great fish. This simply shows their inability to comprehend the supernatural nature of the God of the Bible. Jesus treated the book as a historical fact, comparing Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish to His own time in the tomb (Mat 12:40). Moreover He affirmed that the repentance of the Ninevites was genuine and contrasted their reaction to the indifference of the scribes and Pharisee (Mat 12:41; Luk 11:32) This is a lesson for us living in the last-days, to repent and return to God. (See the amplified  story of Jonah in F12 Tales of Unbelief, par 3.2.3 – 3.2.3.5.1.3 at http://www.wakeupow.com/159912051))

(Sadly we receive the news that the Mosul's Mosque of the Prophet Yunus dedicated to the biblical figure Jonah, is considered a prophet by many Muslims. But ISIS adheres to an extreme interpretation of Islam that sees veneration of prophets like Jonah as forbidden. On July 24, 2015, ISIS fighters evacuated the mosque and demolished it with explosives. - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150901-isis-destruction-looting-ancient-sites-iraq-syria-archaeology/)

2.3 The Site of Ancient Babylon (Iraq) (14:21 – 18”39 & 30:42- )

Archaeologists then found another tablet on ruin ancient city, this time in Babylon (14:23 min), the gate to the God that gives you salvation ( Babylonian theology). At the entrance to this ancient ruin city (the gate that gives you salvation) is the statue of Hamurabi which means calm down my lord. The original statue, broken in three pieces, was found in ancient Susan (and is now at the Louvre). There in Susan, is the tomb of Daniel by the side of the River Ulai as recorded in the Book of Daniel (Dan 8). This book prophesied about the first advent of Jesus Christ and was filled exactly at the appointed time so that we have evidence to trust in the Bible that contained inspired word of God as a handbook for our salvation.

In driving through the ancient site of Babylon, in Iraq, (30:42) we see this heap of ruin which was where Nebuchadnezzar at his northern palace where he had a dream one night of a great image. This dream was given to a heathen king just as God gives it to his Hebrew prophets for a specific purpose. It was a dream which he could not remember, as orchestrated by God, enabled Daniel to know the dream and to interpret the vision pertaining to the history of the empires of the world from Babylon to the Kingdom of God world. (See F11 Living by Faith, par 4.4.3.3.1. Prophecy of World History at http://www.wakeupow.com/159912049 )

2.3.1 Hamurabi Vindicates God’s Law- The Ten Commandments (Sinai)

It must be recognized that before the statue of Hamurabi was discovered and studied, the biblical account of law was denied. The law was given at Sinai by the Lord to Moses. Many scholars deny the fact that something like this could happen so long ago. But subsequent discoveries of older law codes were made. Interestingly, the older they are, the closer to the Biblical Ten Commandments. When the Hamurabi law code was compared to the book of Exodus, there were some similarities but with a lot of distortions. The further we go back in history, the purer the law.

Sinai is where God announced His law and nowhere in ancient literature can such a law be found. God’s law is the transcript of His character, unchangeable. The whole mount shook and there was a big fire and earth quake. This law is humankind protection from lies and the bondage to sin and eventual death.  (See http://www.wakeupow.com/159912047 - F9 Settling into the Truth, par 2.2 The Spirituality of the Law; par 2.2.1 The Ten Commandments;  par 2.2.1.1 The Spiritual Nature of the Law: par 2.2.1.1.1 The New Covenant Promise )

2.3.2 Saddam Hussein’s Babylon (31:20)

Then there was this Big Poster Picture of Saddam Hussein hold an AK 47 ( 31:25) with Cyrus on the right hand side who in 559 B.C. came an captured Babylon.  Here Saddam says if anybody tries it again I have got an AK 47 to shoot you, He wanted to be the world’s next ruler but the Americans stopped him. This is biblical and is fascinating. Saddam used 16 million bricks to restore the ancient city. He had built a huge place to accommodate 1,000 guests reminiscent of Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzzar profaning the use of the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem. He saw the finger  actually writing on the wall “Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin,”. (that only Daniel could interpret for him  the message from God saying , God has pass divine judgment, numbered his kingdom and is now given to the Medes. (Dan  5) ( See. the message at  F9 par 2.5.2.1.1.2.2 Chapter Five – All Nation Drink the Wine of Wrath.) ) Here, Nebuchadnezzar had his hanging gardens and the ancient Ishtar Gate. (The Ishtar Gate, one of the eight gates of the inner city of Babylon, was built during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (604- 562 BC). Only the foundations of the gate were found, going down some 45 feet, with molded, unglazed figures. The gateway has been reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin, from the glazed bricks found, so its original height is different in size. Reconstructed height is 47 feet. - http://www.bible-history.com/babylonia/BabyloniaThe_Ishtar_Gate.htm). In its heyday, it was the most beautiful city on the planet. Saddam also restored 18 metres of the ancient procession way. There is a Hittite lion statue. In 1550 B.C. Nabana came and destroyed Babylon and brought about the Hittite presence there.  There is an interesting site, Etemenanki located 1.5 kilometers on the procession way from the Ishtar gate. (Etemenanki , (means the foundation between heaven and earth )was the Tower of Babel, it was a ziggurat dedicated to the Mesopotamian god Marduk by Nabopolassar, the king of Babylonia circa 610 BCE. The Great Ziggurat of Babylon was 91 metres (300 ft) in height. Alexander the Great ordered it to be demolished circa 331 BCE in preparation for a reconstruction that his death forestalled. Here you see ancient foundation of the Tower of Babel.)

2.3.3 Ancient City of Sippar (35:00)

Listed as the greatest discovery in 100 years is the tablet in the ancient city of Sippar (about a mile from modern Babylon ) in the 1870’s. The museum acquired it in 1920 bit it had remained in storage unpublished until  Austrian Assyriologist, Michael Jursa ( associate professor at the University of Vienna) made the discovery in 2007.

2.3.3.1 Nebo-Sarsekim Cuneiform Tablet

The tablet is dated 595 B.C., the ninth year of Nebuchadnezzar II's reign. The Book of Jeremiah  ( Jer 39:1-3,2)relates that after Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem in 587 B.C., he committed the prophet Jeremiah to Nebo-Sarsekim's care – “And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.”- Jer 39:3. 

"It is so incredibly rare to find people appearing in the Bible, who are not kings, mentioned elsewhere," says Jursa. "Something like this tablet, where we see a person mentioned in the Bible making an everyday payment to the temple in Babylon and quoting the exact date, is quite extraordinary." ( God cares about every one, the unimportant people  to  justify that the Bible is authentic

2.3.4 Jehoiachin- Shortest Reigning Judea  King

Jehoiachin is the biblical king that has the shortest reign in Jerusalem of three months and twenty days. Archaeologists are able to confirm this by tablets found from three different sites.  He was a wicked king. God is teaching us that God knows  every one, and cares about him just as He cares about good people.

3 Going Home

There is a Sumerian poem “kish kiri gook mah si kiri”,  where the author says there is a paradise planted by the God of the universe. In this magnificent garden there is peace, there is happiness, there is security. This is reminiscent of the paradise that is waiting for us as promised in the Bible.

The relief of Sumerian soldiers marching to war in reality don’t want to fight. Sumerian soldiers are seeking peace.  They want to go home.

(God is using the Sumerians to tell us what the Sumerians have learnt from their time on earth , their heyday in the sun, so that we will not ignore ourr innate desire to go home.  We are sojourners on the earth on the way to the eternal city of God  based on these two verses: “By faith he Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”.- Hebrews 11:9, 10.

Ellen White (1828-1915), a messenger of God ,has this to say:  The heritage that God has promised to His people is not in this world. Abraham had no possession in the earth, "no, not so much as to set his foot on." Acts 7:5. He possessed great substance, and he used it to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men; but he did not look upon this world as his home. The Lord had called him to leave his idolatrous countrymen, with the promise of the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; yet neither he nor his son nor his son's son received it. When Abraham desired a burial place for his dead, he had to buy it of the Canaanites. His sole possession in the Land of Promise was that rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah.  {PP 169.3} 

“But the word of God had not failed; neither did it meet its final accomplishment in the occupation of Canaan by the Jewish people. "To Abraham and his seed were the promises made." Galatians 3:16. Abraham himself was to share the inheritance. The fulfillment of God's promise may seem to be long delayed--for "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8); it may appear to tarry; but at the appointed time "it will surely come, it will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:3. The gift to Abraham and his seed included not merely the land of Canaan, but the whole earth. So says the apostle, "The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Romans 4:13. And the Bible plainly teaches that the promises made to Abraham are to be fulfilled through Christ. All that are Christ's are "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise"--heirs to "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away"--the earth freed from the curse of sin. Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 1:4. For "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;" and "the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Daniel 7:27; Psalm 37:11.  {PP 169.4}

“God gave to Abraham a view of this immortal inheritance, and with this hope he was content. "By faith he sojourned in the Land of Promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Hebrews 11:9, 10. “ {PP 170.1} 

 Of the posterity of Abraham it is written, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Verse 13. We must dwell as pilgrims and strangers here if we would gain "a better country, that is, an heavenly." Verse 16. Those who are children of Abraham will be seeking the city which he looked for, "whose builder and maker is God."  {PP 170.2})

3.1 The Prophesied Home in Revelation

Rev 21:4 - “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Every human being is a crying person. But this is going to stop. Some people lives with pain all their lives. God says, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. The tears are caused by different traumas that happened to us and He is going to wipe it away. There will be no more death, death of lovely friendship, death of physical loved ones.  As the Sumerian poem says “kish kiri gook mah si kiri”, there is a a place of eternal happiness.  The Bible tells us how to get there.  Such happiness is possible as the Bible says so and we must believe it by faith.

3.1.1 The New Eternal Home

Quoting from Ellen White on our new home on earth made new: “Jesus ascended to the Father as a representative of the human race, and God will bring those who reflect His image to behold and share with Him His glory. There are homes for the pilgrims of earth. There are robes for the righteous, with crowns of glory and palms of victory. All that perplexed us in the providences of God will then be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find an explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken purposes, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying and hard to bear. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.  {UL 46.2} 

Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven. In the home of the redeemed there will be no tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourning. "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity" (Isaiah 33:24). One rich tide of happiness will flow and deepen as eternity rolls on. Think of this; tell it to the children of suffering and sorrow, and bid them rejoice in hope.  {UL 46.3}

The nearer we come to Jesus, the more clearly we behold the purity and greatness of His character, the less we shall feel like exalting self. The contrast between our characters and His will lead to humiliation of soul and deep heart searching. The more we love Jesus, the more entirely will self be humbled and forgotten. . . .  {UL 46.4} 

He who is meek in spirit, he who is purest and most childlike, will be made strong for the battle. He will be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. He who feels his weakness, and wrestles with God as did Jacob, and like this servant of old cries, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me," will go forth with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. The atmosphere of heaven will surround him. He will go about doing good. His influence will be a positive force in favor of the religion of Christ. . . .  {UL 46.5} 

Our God is a very present help in time of need. He is acquainted with the most secret thoughts of our hearts, with all the intents and purposes of our souls. When we are in perplexity, even before we open to Him our distresses, He is making arrangements for our deliverance.--Letter 73, Feb. 1, 1905, to Drs. D. H. and Lauretta Kress.  {UL 46.6} 

3.2 Sumerian Conception of Love

The Petra glyphs from Uruk ,not far from  some part  of Iraq has the greatest concept  of “Love”coined with the words “earth” and “distance”.    In the Greek, this word gives four versions  of meaning. Actually love cannot be fully defined  resulting  in mankind vague notion about the concept of love in our modern secular society who does not read the Bible. However  the Sumerian had developed the clearer concept of love.  The Sumerian words, “ Ki “= love, and “Aga” = distance.  To the Sumerian thinking, the earth is so big and its distance immeasurable .  So “ki aga”= I love you. “ Ki aga aga” = I love you limitless. In the Bible the verse that convey this principle involving , earth, distance and love is found in Psalm 103:11,12 – “For as the heaven is high (aga) above the earth (ki), so great is his mercy (love  = ki aga aga) toward them that fear him.”“ As far (aga) as the east is from the west, so far (aga) hath he removed our transgressions from us.” 

(Psalm 103 is written by King David (1000-960 B.C. – a man after God’s own heart-) on God’s love in 22 verses. He praises God for the many benefits bestowed on him, citing  the  forgiveness all his iniquities; healing all his diseases; redeeming his life from destruction; and bestowing him with lovingkindness and tender mercies (vv 3-4) The Lord satisfies His children with  physical and spiritual food  and all the blessing of His covenant. He does not tolerate injustice and will right what is wrong. In vv.11-14  David expresses the love of God. His love is not indiscriminate as He loves those “who fear ( revere out of love) Him,” for we are given the free will to decide. He will forgive them for their mistakes that are confessed for He has compassion for them and treats them as His children. Though He expects godliness, He is also understanding of their frailty. All of them are but dust. Vv. 19-22 calls on the community to recognize God’s kingdom. His throne is in heaven but His kingdom extends to all creation. The heavenly hosts are always loyal to Him and He expects the same from his creatures on earth.)

3.3 Salvation is the Revealed Secret from the Buried Past

The patched up broken pottery recovered from the ancient relics is worthless to a shop.  But from the archaeologist point of view, it was recovered at a cost  because it used to have a history to serve a great purpose.  This pottery in the picture is one of the pottery containing the dead sea scrolls. The theme of salvation is “Do not estimate its value according to its brokenness but by its recovery. God doesn’t mind how sin has broken and messed us up. He values us when we allow Him to heal us and to make us whole again.

3.3.1 Christ is the Light of the World

In closing here is the story of the oil lamp by Pastor and archaeologist, Francois DuPlessis . An archaeologist by the name of Jesus is seeking for seemingly hopeless, flameless, broken people. He finds them under the rubble of guilt and worthless ness and glues them together with heaven’s superglue of love, forgiveness and acceptance.  Please allow Him to do for you on a permanent basis the things that you cannot go for yourselves.  Don’t feel bad about it, because salvation comes from outside of us.

Ellen White is pleading to each one of us: “Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! Truth came forth from the lips of Jesus, uncorrupted with human philosophy. His words were from heaven, such as mortal lips had never spoken nor mortal ears ever heard. His heart was an altar on which burned the flames of infinite love. Goodness, mercy, and love were enthroned in the breast of the Son of God. He set up his tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment, pitched his tent by the side of the tents of men, that he might dwell among them and make them familiar with his divine character and love. No one could love Christ and pay homage to him without serving and honoring the infinite God. Those who had an appreciation of the character and mission of Christ, were filled with reverence and awe, as they looked upon him and felt that they were looking upon the temple of the living God. Officers were sent to take the Son of God, that the temple in which God was enshrined might be destroyed. But as they drew near and heard the words of divine wisdom that fell from his lips, they were charmed, and the power and excellence of his instruction so filled their hearts and minds that they forgot the purpose for which they had been sent. Christ revealed himself to their souls. Divinity flashed through humanity, and they returned so filled with this one thought, so charmed with the ideas he had presented, that when the leaders of Israel inquired, "Why have ye not brought him?" they replied, "Never man spake like this man." They had seen that which priests and rulers would not see,--humanity flooded with the light and glory of divinity. Those who would behold this glory would be drawn to love Jesus and to love the Father whom he represented. Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,--to set men right through the revelation of God. In Christ was arrayed before men the paternal grace and the matchless perfections of the Father. In his prayer just before his crucifixion, he declared, "I have manifested thy name." "I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." When the object of his mission was attained,--the revelation of God to the world,--the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the character of the Father was made manifest to men. “  {ST, January 20, 1890 par. 9} ( This is the needed personal experience of every one of us will receive as we engage daily in our relationship with Christ by surrendering our will to him and let him work” n us both to will  and to do of His good pleasure “(Phi 2:13)

- End of D12, 12 pages, dated Sep 14, 2017- by Tsc  (email: singtsc@yahoo.com)

Latest comments