Ancient Bethlehem Seal Discovered In Jerusalem

[Kilika]

Not really related perse' to the end times, at least not directly, but it does add to the truth of scripture. Bethlehem was a real place that in fact did exist.

http://news.yahoo.com/ancient-bethlehem-seal-unearthed-jerusalem-092659029.html

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli archaeologists have discovered a 2,700-year-old seal that bears the inscription "Bethlehem," the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday, in what experts believe to be the oldest artifact with the name of Jesus' traditional birthplace.

The tiny clay seal's existence and age provide vivid evidence that Bethlehem was not just the name of a fabled biblical town, but also a bustling place of trade linked to the nearby city of Jerusalem, archaeologists said.

Eli Shukron, the authority's director of excavations, said the find was significant because it is the first time the name "Bethlehem" appears outside of a biblical text from that period.

Shukron said the seal, 1.5 centimeters (0.59 inches) in diameter, dates back to the period of the first biblical Jewish Temple, between the eighth and seventh century B.C., at a time when Jewish kings reigned over the ancient kingdom of Judah and 700 years before Jesus was born... (cont.)

[Mark]

Archaeologists Uncover Proof of Pre-Jesus Bethlehem



The Israel Antiquities Authority revealed Wednesday what it is calling the earliest archaeological evidence of the city of Bethlehem.
Archaeologists have discovered a bulla – or piece of clay used to seal documents and other objects – that is only about half of an inch across and has the word "Bethlehem" written on it in ancient Hebrew.

"This is the first time the name Bethlehem appears outside the Bible, in an inscription from the First Temple period, which proves that Bethlehem was indeed a city in the Kingdom of Judah, and possibly also in earlier periods," said Eli Shukron, director of the excavation, in a statement.

The first appearance of Bethlehem in the Bible is in the Book of Genesis, after Jacob's wife, Rachel, died following childbirth. The book says she was buried "on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." Bethlehem is also the hometown of the biblical King David, the setting for the Book of Ruth, and the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

The bulla predates Jesus' life on the earth by several hundred years.

Shukron says it was likely used to seal shipments of remittances for taxes – which consisted of either silver or agricultural produce – in the Kingdom of Judah during the late eighth and seventh centuries B.C.E.

Dorothy Resig, managing editor for the Biblical Archaeology Review, told The Christian Post on Wednesday that archaeologists know of about 50 "fiscal bullae" today. Like the one discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority, she says, the others were also used to indicate which city or region a shipment of taxes came from.

"It sheds more light on that particular system of taxation which, again, we've known a good bit about, but these are among the first to actually come from an excavation so we can be more confident of their authenticity," said Resig.

Shukron says his find shows that a shipment was sent from Bethlehem to Jerusalem in the seventh year of a king's reign, although he is uncertain if it was Hezekia, Manasseh or Josiah on the throne at the time.

The Ir David Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and developing the City of David, is the underwriter for the sifting part of the archaeological project, which is being conducted in the Emek Tzurim National Park.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/archaeologists-uncover-proof-of-pre-jesus-bethlehem-75430/

This article is from the Christian Post website, makes you really wondder why they are posting an archaeological story that proves the Bible but use the letters, B.C.E. to describe the time period? 

[Psalm 51:17]

^^

Chuck Colston wrote articles for the CP before he passed away recently, which pretty much makes their site pretty questionable(a couple of other or so Christian leaders that write articles for that site are questionable as well).

Other than that, CP has some things you can glean at, but WITH discernment.

[Kilika]

I consider that the same as the Christian Science Monitor. Nothing Christian about it really, just a bunch of science promotors.

[Mark]

  Christian Science, really doesnt have anything to do with actual Science. 

[Psalm 51:17]

Christian Science, really doesnt have anything to do with actual Science. 

4 years ago when I went to Boston with my parents, we attended this "church"(b/c there was nowhere else to go). Its founder, Mary Baker Eddy, is a Boston native.

Initially, we all thought it was another Christian denomination. However, it was through the 3rd reading of Eddy's "Health and Science with Keys to the Scriptures" when the Lord was just really nudging me over what's wrong with it. Sure enough, the Lord lead me to do internet searches on it, and MANY results popped up exposing its heresies(which lead me to studying end times prophecies and discernment ministries). Eddy denied the blood atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross...this is HUGE!

It's no different from other "outward appearing christian sects" like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses - sure, they have a Christian bible, but they do NOT use it as the one and only authority(but instead use the works of men and women as their sole authority). Eddy also claimed that you have to read her book many times to be saved.