Month: October 2025

Watchdog Alert: The Bible As History

Rick TryonLeave a comment
Photo via Виктор Соломоник at pexels.com

Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on discoveries in biblical archaeology and brings the information to our readers. Here are some key discoveries and why they support the biblical record.

Dam Wall from the Time of King Joash at the Pool of Siloam (~805-795 BCE)

A large dam wall in the City of David, near the Pool of Siloam, has been excavated and dated via carbon-14 to about 805-795 BCE. The walls are substantial: ~21 meters long, ~12 meters high, ~8 meters thick. Bible Archaeology Report

Why it supports biblical history:

  • The Bible describes several construction/repair projects by Judahite kings; a major water-infrastructure project fits in with what one might expect of a centralized Judah in that era.
  • The dam would have helped manage water supply in times of dryness and flooding, which matches other environmental/climate evidence from the region showing arid conditions with occasional flash floods. Bible Archaeology Report
  • It gives physical confirmation of large scale civic/royal activity in Jerusalem in the early 8th century BCE.

Clay Seal (“Bulla”) Inscribed with “Yeda‘yah son of Asayahu” (7th-6th century BCE)

A clay seal impression, or bulla, reading “Belonging to Yed[a‛]yah, son of Asayahu”, from the late 7th / early 6th century BCE. Found via the Temple Mount Sifting Project in soil removed from the Temple Mount area. Bible Archaeology Report

Why it supports biblical history:

  • The names “Asayahu” (and variations) appear in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in connection with King Josiah: 2 Kings 22:12; 2 Chronicles 34:20. Bible Archaeology Report
  • The bulla confirms that these names (and presumably persons with these names or offices) were in use in Judah at the appropriate period.
  • The preservation of writing/sealing activity supports the idea that Judah had administrative bureaucracies with literacy in the late monarchic period.

Olive and Grape Traces Beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre / Mount Calvary (1st Century AD Garden Context)

Under the floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, archaeologists found about 2,000-year-old olive pits (stones), grape pips, pollen evidence, and remains of stone walls or features consistent with cultivation. These lie beneath a basilica, in an area associated with Golgotha / Mount Calvary, part of Jerusalem’s ancient quarter. The Times+1

Why it supports biblical history:

  • The Gospel of John (and other Gospels) mention that Jesus was crucified at a place called Golgotha, “place of a skull,” outside / near a garden and tomb. The presence of a garden (olive and grape cultivation) at that location in the 1st century AD gives archaeological plausibility to that Gospel description. The Times
  • It shows that agricultural use was present in that area just before or around the time of Jesus, rather than all being occupied by other structures.

Identification of Widespread Literacy / Use of Seals in Jerusalem ca. 2,700 Years Ago

An ancient seal discovered in the City of David area (Jerusalem), dating to the First Temple period (approx 700-600 BCE), evidences artistic craftsmanship and inscription. It is taken as evidence that reading, writing, and use of official seals were more widespread than some earlier models of Judahite society assumed. GB News

Why it supports biblical history:

  • The Hebrew Bible presumes certain levels of bureaucratic administration — e.g. prophets, kings, scribes, royal decrees, temple officials, etc. Widespread literacy or at least administrative writing (seals) is a necessary component for those functions.
  • It helps move faceless administrative structures from being purely literary imagination to part of the archaeological record.

Greater Works Than These – Part 1

Steve SannLeave a comment

Editors note: the guest article appearing here does not necessarily reflect the views of Bible Rebel editors or other guest authors and contributors. Bible Rebel seeks to present a wide range of ideas and viewpoints in order to fulfill our mission to provide resources for “Curious Fearless Faith”. This is the first part in a new series on prayer called ‘Greater Works Than These’ by Steve Sann.

The Prayer of the Prophets

“Greater works than these he will do…”

Now, here is a challenging subject to ponder: Today we have tongues as a tool to pray for unforeseeable matters in advance.

But, how did Jesus Christ and the prophets before him make intercession for future events that were beyond their sense knowledge to know anything about? The answer is apparent: they had to rely on revelation, as speaking in tongues became available only after Christ’s ascension. Until that time, when God requested prayer for matters beyond a believer’s senses perception, He had to reveal it with word of knowledge and word of wisdom.

Once details were made known to the believer, prayers could be offered via the understanding. So, before Pentecost, prayer for the unknown was limited by the recipients’ ability to first believe to receive the revelation.

Not so today. Praying by the spirit makes prayer as easy as prayer can be, and yet still be called “prayer!” Now we can pray with the same accuracy and precision that Christ and the prophets were able to achieve by revelation, yet accomplish it “passively” in tongues. This is because the “Christ in you” is actively originating the prayer, and is aware of all needs. As accurate as Christ’s revelation is, so is your prayer in tongues. Likewise, unless your revelation receptivity rivals that of the prophets, speaking in tongues might be the choice for you! Let the spirit obtain the guidance—we need only to speak in tongues with faith for perfect intercession to be successfully made!

Why couldn’t Jesus Christ nor the greatest of Old Testament prophets ever speak in tongues? Because it was simply not available. Only after Jesus Christ was seated at God’s right hand—and we with him—did speaking in tongues become available to the church. Foreseeing this, Jesus Christ declared specifically that we today would do even greater works than he himself was able to perform—a claim that would be censured as blasphemous today, if Christ had not said it himself!

Your Life And What Comes After (2): God’s Grand Plan Part 2

Rick TryonLeave a comment

We have a function to perform and a part to play, each one of us individually and all of us together as God’s people, in God’s Grand Plan.

God’s Desire

God’s desire is to dwell together with his children forever in His perfect creation.

Our job in that relationship is to love and glorify our Heavenly Father and to take care of and add value to the creation He has given us.

The original creation and state of mankind was in perfect harmony and fellowship with the Creator and all was well with the universe.

The Rebellion

Then disobedience, rebellion, and sin cut mankind (Adam and Eve) off from their relationship with God.

Adam and Eve hid from God in shame. God’s perfect garden of delight was ruined, brought forth thorns and weeds, and was no longer the joyous place for Adam and Eve to tend and enjoy.

So Along Came Jesus

Then, after the fall and ruin, the whole purpose and plan of God is to restore that original relationship with His people and redeem the creation from the wreck of death and decay brought about by the rebellion.

The way he has done and is doing that is through His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who through his love and obedience has made it possible for us to once again live God’s original purpose.

So What About Us?

What is our part in all of this today? Where do you fit in?

Let’s consider this idea: Our purpose is to help God in bringing about the redemption of His people and the final restoration of His creation.

Let me say that again with a slight variation: YOUR purpose is to help God in bringing about the redemption of His people and the final restoration of His creation.

So, we can either believe we are just tiny specks of dust with no purpose or meaning floating around aimlessly in a cold and dark universe – or we can believe that we are actually workers together with the Creator of the universe to accomplish a Grand Plan with an everlasting purpose.

I choose the latter. The challenge is to understand and believe it to the point of action. How do we do that? We’ll dig deeper in the next post.

Your Life And What Comes After: God’s Grand Plan Part 1

Watchdog Alert: Latest From The LDS Church

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on news and events in the areas of religion and faith from around the world and brings the information to our readers in bite sized chunks.

Here’s the latest from the Mormon Church.

Death of President Russell M. Nelson

Russell M. Nelson, the president of the church and the oldest person to have held that office in its history, died at age 101.

Nelson became president in 2018 and led numerous institutional and doctrinal shifts, such as discouraging use of the nickname “Mormon,” reemphasizing the church’s full name, making some policy changes regarding LGBTQ+ families, and overseeing expansion of global leadership.

The church announced a memorial and tributes, and Dallin H. Oaks (senior apostle) issued a statement mourning his passing and calling his teachings a guide for comfort amid recent tragedies. newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org

Shooting and Arson Attack at Michigan LDS Church

On September 28, 2025, a gunman rammed a pickup truck into a meetinghouse of the LDS Church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, set it on fire, and opened fire. Four people were killed and eight others injured.

The attacker was shot by police and died at the scene. Investigators are probing motive; preliminary reports suggest anti-Mormon sentiment may have played a role.

In response, members of the church raised funds not only for the victims, but also for the shooter’s surviving family, citing principles of forgiveness. Over $200,000 was reportedly raised.
Church leaders expressed sorrow and rallied support; local LDS officials said the congregation would support survivors and mourn the senseless violence. FOX 17 West Michigan News

Fundraising by LDS Members for Shooter’s Family

In the wake of the Michigan church attack, LDS members initiated a crowdfunding campaign (via GiveSendGo) to support the widow and child of the shooter, Thomas Jacob Sanford. The campaign quickly surpassed its goal, reaching more than $200,000 (and in some reports over $300,000) in donations. The Washington Post

The donors framed the effort as an expression of Christian values: caring even for the families of perpetrators, showing compassion, and embodying forgiveness.

This fundraising garnered broad attention as an example of how some religious communities respond to tragedy by extending grace even in difficult circumstances.

Dismissal of Lawsuit over Use of Tithing Donations

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing the Mormon Church of misusing tithing donations. The plaintiffs alleged the church improperly invested donations through its affiliate, Ensign Peak Advisors, rather than using them directly for charitable works.

The dismissal largely rested on statute-of-limitations grounds: the fraud claims were deemed untimely under Utah law. The judge also found the plaintiffs failed to adequately prove intent to commit fraud.

The case renews scrutiny of the church’s financial practices and transparency, especially given past controversies (e.g. the church’s fine by the SEC over disclosure practices). AP News

They Said It: Intelligent Design

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Here are four quotes about intelligent design. ‘Intelligent design’ being a scientifically correct way of giving credit where credit is due – to our Creator, who is God Almighty.

Michael Behe (biochemist, author of Darwin’s Black Box)
“To a person who does not feel obliged to restrict his search to unintelligent causes, the straightforward conclusion is that many biochemical systems were purposely designed by an intelligent agent.”

    William Dembski (mathematician, philosopher, intelligent design theorist)
    “Intelligent design is just the logos theology of John’s Gospel restated in the idiom of information theory.”

      Stephen C. Meyer (philosopher of science, author of Signature in the Cell)
      “Whenever we find information—whether inscribed in hieroglyphics or written in a book or encoded in a radio signal—it always arises from an intelligent source. Information is the hallmark of mind. And the DNA molecule has precisely this characteristic.”

        Albert Einstein (often quoted in ID contexts, though not himself an ID advocate)
        “The more I study science, the more I believe in God.”
        (While Einstein did not promote intelligent design in the modern sense, his statement is often invoked by ID supporters as evidence that the universe points to design rather than randomness.)

          Question Everything – Especially Churchianity

          Rick TryonLeave a comment

          Churchianity and the theological status quo should be scrutinized by all people of faith regularly. That is exactly how we got the Reformation.

          Is there a New Reformation brewing? It seems so. There is a difference between truth and tradition.

          Man-made Christian creeds and doctrines are no longer being blindly accepted as biblical truth just because the Protestant clergy or the Catholic Papacy say so.

          The nature of God, heaven, hell, sin, the apocalypse, predestination or free-will, the Rapture, the origins of the universe – all of these ideas and more need solid reexamination to see if the commonly accepted doctrines of men used to explain them measure up to the message of scripture.

          The Bible Rebel blog is a resource for those seeking original and curated content, including news and commentary, covering faith, biblical studies and interpretation, and the intersection of politics, culture, and the Bible.

          Our Mission

          1. To monitor current news and events related to faith and culture.
          2. To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
          3. To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.
          4. To present the Biblical truths which reveal God’s nature and purposes and proclaim the lifechanging, world-altering, radical message of Yeshua the Messiah – Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.

          At Bible Rebel, this is our one and only creed:
          Our living God is a loving God and the Bible is His revealed word and will.
          Our hope and eternal salvation relies entirely on the work of God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

          So, expect some controversial viewpoints and uncomfortable ideas in some of the coming content from Bible Rebel.

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