When I was dabbling in Eastern religions during my latter teenage years, I finally had to come to the conclusions that there was no proof in the Hindu, Buddhist or the Islamic scriptures to which we can apply the principles of probability as we can for the existence of God. Of all the writings of the major world religions, it is only the Old and New Testament Scriptures that lay down the ultimate challenge, the ultimate test, in the form of predictive prophecy, which can be analysed by probability. Therefore, if the Old and New Testaments scriptures not only lay down the challenge but provide us with evidence to substantiate the claim, then the issue of authority is settled.

God gives you an invitation in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Over the next week or so I will show you how only The God of Israel and Christianity passes the test.

Let me share with you one of the miracles of ancient prophetic history. God claims to know and reveal events before they happen. We will examine some of these and the probability of them happening the way God said they would. I will begin with two improbable events that can be tested, and then I will present some prophecies about cities that carry the caveat “Never to be rebuilt or inhabited.” Many of these prophecies have stood the test of 2500 years of time.

The prophet Jeremiah (650-570 BC approximately) wrote down some amazing things concerning the Nation of Israel and the future of the Babylonian kingdom. Jeremiah was a contemporary of Daniel, who was taken to Babylon in the first captivity (605 BC). According to Jeremiah Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, would take the whole nation of Israel (what was left after the Assyrians had taken the 10 northern tribes in 721BC) into captivity. This captivity would last 70 years. You can read the prophecy in Jeremiah 25:8-11.

The Bible records the exact fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecy in Daniel 1:1. But take a closer look. Jeremiah wrote that Babylon would conquer not only Jerusalem but also surrounding nations. For this to take the throne and have himself named king., Babylon would have to displace the two very powerful nations of Assyria and Egypt, both of which were military superpowers for centuries. Egypt was in the process of reasserting itself after throwing off the Assyrian yolk. Pharaoh Necho defeated Judah (the remnant of Israel) and continued north to fight the Babylonians. The Battle took place in Syria. Pharaoh Necho sought to strengthen his empire by setting up his headquarters at Carchemish on the Euphrates river. However, as we read above, Jeremiah the prophet predicted that defeated the Egyptian army. Babylon would be the victor. History tells us that the Egyptian’s challenge was met by Nebuchanezzar, the general, and later the kinf, of Babylon. At Carchemish, the Babylonians decisively defeated the Egyptian army. The battle took place in 605 BC.

Nebuchadnezzar planned to capitalise on this and destroy Egypt, but he received news of his father’s death (Nabopolassar) and he swiftly took the dessert route home to secure the throne and become King. This prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled in complete detail. But there is more…