In 2023, Israel witnessed a series of amazing archeological discoveries that brought the Bible to life, affirming the presence of Jesus and the unbroken presence of the Jewish people in the Holy Land for over 2,000 years. These findings have significant implications for Christians around the world, as they validate the Bible and reaffirm the historical events that took place in the region.
One of the most significant discoveries in Israel is the excavation of the Pool of Siloam. According to Pastor John Hagee, the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, this site is highly significant to Christians worldwide, as it is where Jesus healed a blind man (John 9) and where Jewish pilgrims cleansed themselves before entering the second temple.
The unearthing of eight steps descending into the Pool of Siloam, which coincided with the time Jesus walked through the Holy Land, further confirms the truth of Scripture. As Pastor Terri Copeland Pearsons of Kenneth Copeland Ministries said, “Archeology, however, testifies to the truth or falsehood of what’s been written. Without fail, the archeological discoveries around Israel, and most especially the City of David, confirm the truth and accuracy of the Bible.”
Roman experts recently finished weeks of precarious archaeological work in one of the most sensitive parts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a church near where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead and one of the world’s oldest standing churches.
Media reports confirm that archaeologists from the Department of Antiquities at the University of Rome excavated the area around the Holy Edicule, or the main tabernacle. Archaeologists reportedly work around the clock for seven days and seven nights—from June 20-27—exploring the area in front of the Edicule, which is built on the site of the cave where Jesus is believed to have been buried.
Another groundbreaking discovery is the unearthing of a rare silver half-shekel coin from the time of the first Jewish revolt against the Romans over 2,000 years ago in the Judean desert. The coin is engraved in ancient Hebrew with the words “Holy Jerusalem” and is dated to A.D. 66/67.
This discovery debunks the falsehood that Jews “colonized” the biblical land with the rebirth of the Jewish state in 1948 and the Zionist movement in the late 1800s. It provides tangible evidence of the Jewish people’s presence in the region before the establishment of Islam.
“One explanation for this find is that the Jerusalem-minted coin fell from the pocket of a rebel who escaped to the desert during the revolt—perhaps on his way to nearby En Gedi,” says the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Ancient Stone With Prayers to Jesus
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem recently made a remarkable discovery in Israel’s Judean desert. Unearthed at a remote site dating back to the early sixth century, this Byzantine Greek inscription carries immense historical and religious significance.
Situated in an area accessible only by donkeys due to its lack of roads, the inscription adorns a building stone from an ancient monastery. Marked with a cross, it comprises a phrase paraphrasing the first two verses of Psalm 86: “Jesus Christ, guard me, for I am poor and needy.” This remarkable find is unique in its grandeur and serves as a testament to the enduring power of faith.
Precious Gems Discovered in Israel
In a remarkable development, a family-owned company in Israel became the first to discover precious gems in the Holy Land. This discovery brings Bible verses to life, as the book of Isaiah states that Israel’s foundations will be laid with sapphires and its borders with precious stones.
Ze’ev Orenstein, director of international affairs for the City of David Foundation in Jerusalem, emphasized the significance of these discoveries, saying, “For much of the world, over the last 2,000 years to present day, Jerusalem has represented a kind of spiritual and historical North Star or compass, guiding both literal and figurative pilgrims and travelers, near and far, on their quest to find meaning, purpose, faith and identity within their personal, communal and national lives; to connect their own lives to a story or mission bigger than themselves, to one which transcends the relatively short time any of us will spend upon the earth.”
These stunning archeological discoveries in Israel have brought the Bible to life, providing tangible evidence of the truth of Scripture and reaffirming the Jewish people’s unbroken presence in the Holy Land for over 2,000 years. These findings will undoubtedly continue to inspire and encourage Christians around the world to deepen their faith and connection to the Bible.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
Charisma Staff