The words of Revelation and the entire Bible are considered trustworthy and true based on several key factors:
Divine Inspiration and Spiritual Witness
- The Bible claims to be the Word of God, "breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16), with prophets inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) and Jesus himself affirming Scripture as authoritative (John 10:27). God’s nature as truthful and incapable of lying (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18) undergirds the Bible’s trustworthiness. This divine witness is recognized spiritually when God’s Spirit opens a person’s heart to receive it (John 10:27)
Fulfilled Prophecy and Internal Consistency
- The Bible contains numerous prophecies fulfilled with remarkable precision, such as Messianic predictions about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and his suffering (Isaiah 53). These specific fulfilled prophecies distinguish the Bible from vague or open-ended predictions and support its reliability
Historical and Archaeological Evidence
- Archaeological discoveries have corroborated many biblical accounts, including ancient cities like Jericho and Nineveh, and peoples such as the Hittites, once thought mythical. Artifacts like the Pilate Stone confirm New Testament historical details. These findings demonstrate the Bible’s narratives are grounded in real history, not mythology
Manuscript Reliability and Preservation
- The Bible has an unparalleled number of manuscripts-over 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts and ancient Old Testament texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls-dating close to the original writings. The high volume and early dating of these manuscripts allow for cross-checking, showing 99% agreement with minor variations that do not affect core doctrines. This meticulous transmission ensures the Bible we have today closely reflects the original text
Testimony of Jesus and Early Eyewitnesses
- Jesus’ own trust in the Old Testament Scriptures and his affirmation of their truthfulness (John 17:17; John 10:35) provide a powerful endorsement. The New Testament authors were eyewitnesses or closely connected to eyewitnesses of the events they recorded, lending credibility to their accounts
Cumulative Evidence
- The combination of fulfilled prophecy, archaeological findings, manuscript integrity, and Jesus’ testimony forms a strong cumulative case for the Bible’s trustworthiness. While individual arguments might be challenged, together they build a compelling foundation for confidence in Scripture
In summary, the trustworthiness and truth of Revelation and the entire Bible rest on its divine inspiration, fulfilled prophecy, historical and archaeological corroboration, reliable manuscript transmission, and the authoritative testimony of Jesus Christ and eyewitnesses. This multifaceted evidence supports the Bible as a unique and reliable revelation from God
