Reputable Bible scholars and historians agree about the identity of these empires. After Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire from 625bc to 539bc came the Medo-Persian Empire from 558bc–330bc, the Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great from 333bc–31bc and the Roman Empire from 31bc–476ad. Finally, the ten toes of iron mixed with clay represent a future revival of the Roman Empire. The prophecies of Daniel are genuine, and his predictions of these four empires did come to pass.
Also, there are more than 100 fulfilled prophecies in the Old Testament foretelling the coming of the Messiah. Among them is Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David, the son of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), that He would live in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1–2), that His mission would include the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:1–4) and that He would die with the wicked (Isaiah 53:9). Other prophecies foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13), that He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) and that He would be like a smitten shepherd (Zechariah 13:7). These are just a sampling of the many prophecies that came to pass about the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ.
Proof 6: Answered Prayer.
Skeptics and doubters will not experience this proof, unless they begin to study the Bible and meet its challenges. According to a recent Barna Research report: “Americans believe in the power and impact of prayer. Four out of five (82 percent) believe that ‘prayer can change what happens in a person’s life.'”
Luke 11:1-4 gives us instructions on how to pray. The Bible also gives these guidelines in praying: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8). The “faith chapter” of the Bible reminds us: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6); and we find this principle: “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).
God has answered thousands of my prayers over the past 40 years, just as He has answered the prayers of all true Christians, and He will answer your prayers if you meet His challenge.
Proof 7: A Way of Life that Works!
The history of the world is generally the history of mankind living its own way, apart from the instructions of its Creator. Human beings have experimented, and continue to experiment, with man-made institutions of education, science, government, business and entertainment. And what progress have we made? Have we brought about world peace? As the Apostle Paul wrote: “Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom.3:15–18).
The way of man brings about death, not life: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). But there is a way of life that works. That way is revealed in the Bible. As the Messiah, Jesus Christ, proclaimed: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'” (Luke 4:4). The Bible challenges you to live the way of life, not the way of death! God’s way of life produces abundant living and true peace, not death and destruction. Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn.10:10).
May God help you to take the challenge. Study the Bible. Begin to live by the Creator’s instruction book for His creation. Whether or not you yet realize it, God’s purpose is to create in you His character of love, joy, peace and abundant living.
Perhaps the greatest challenge to all human beings is found in the book of Isaiah: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa.55:6–7). May the great Creator of the universe, and His Son Jesus Christ, help you to prove His existence, and to find the true way of life.