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“Patterns Of Evidence:” A Filmmaker Shows How Archaeology Supports Biblical Stories

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

Tim Mahoney is the maker of “Patterns of Evidence.” He has explored Israel and the Middle East looking for evidences that support biblical stories.

Patterns of Evidence

Tim claims to have just discovered a “pattern” of physical evidence that supports the biblical narratives, which has bolstered his confidence.

Shown in theaters on May 15 and 17 is Patterns of Evidence: Journey to Mt. Sinai, Part II. It will examine the various hypotheses for the biblical mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Tim previously released his first “Patterns of Evidence” documentary in 2015 and is set to release his next one in May.

Tim is the creator of Thinking Man Films. The name is taken from his desire for the church: for them to reflect deeply and “think” about their faith.

He has produced six Patterns of Evidence movies. The scriptural, geographic, and archaeological evidence supporting the accounts of the biblical Israelites have all been studied. Tim traveled there to produce movies.

Archeology Supports Biblical Stories

“Our kids are being told that none of this is true when they go off to college or wherever,” he told Christian Headlines.

READ ALSO: CHARLES STANLEY’S GRANDSON REVEALED THAT HIS GRANDFATHER’S PHONE CALL SAVED HIS LIFE

Tim, however, asserts that the data backs up the biblical story.

“We found that whole pattern of evidence for the story of the Exodus with the Israelites coming to Egypt, Joseph, the plagues, all that—it just basically made me more bold. And I think that’s what these films do is they give you confidence.”

In his documentaries, Tim speaks with scholars from many backgrounds, including those who doubt the authority of Scripture: “What I found out is they have their stock answer. But if you ask the second and third question, you start to see that those answers aren’t very good.”

Why These Films are Important

“A lot of people can’t go to the Middle East, but I can take you there through these films,” he said. “And I can show you the evidence, and I can give you different options to consider. If you don’t believe [the Bible] at all, just come along and just look at what we’ve seen. … I meet people who grew up in Christian homes and have decided that they don’t believe because of the way the evidence is. And I’ve challenged that and I’ve said, ‘Well, wait a minute, there is a pattern here.’”

“That’s why these films are important for your family,” he added. “That’s why they’re important for you.”

“I went to Saudi Arabia — I got permission for a group, a small group. We went to this location, which was a very, very politically hot to go into,” he said. “… [But] when we got there, we were no longer [welcome] — it wasn’t a good thing. They didn’t want us there,” he concluded.

Make sure to tune in to Journey to Mt. Sinai, Part II.

Header image: Camels in the dessert [Pexels]. Website, 29 February 2016, https://www.pexels.com/photo/desert-caravan-dune-ride-53537/

Reference: Christian Headlines

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Floral Church Mosaic from Roman Era Unearthed in Central Israel

by Ron Cantor
written by Ron Cantor

Israel may be tiny, but it is filled with centuries of treasures waiting to be discovered. Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the uncovering of one such beauty from antiquity on Sunday—a colorful, floral-themed mosaic from a Roman Era church in central  Israel.

The site was first discovered about 40 years ago, but archaeologists and student volunteers have been working on fully unearthing the mosaic only recently.

The ancient church floor is filled with an intricate mosaic with colorful floral designs—much like the anemones that bloom in the area along the Israel National Trail near Shoham.

“It’s quite feasible that the mosaic artisan sat here and was inspired by the anemones flowering all around him,” said IAA archaeologist Yair Amitzur. “When we first came to the site, the mosaic was covered over with earth and weeds. Over the last month, we have been uncovering and cleaning up the site together with the local community. We are working here among a carpet of flowering anemones.”

While the ancient church site is from the Roman period, the area was settled in the Iron Age and spanned to the time when the Ottoman Empire ruled the land, according to Anan Azab, the director of the IAA’s central district.

“It seems that the site was settled from the Iron Age or earlier, possibly as early as the Chalcolithic period, and down to the Islamic period.”

The mayor of the nearby city of Shoham was also excited at the discovery.

“I have no doubt that it will be a center of attraction for the local residents and for visitors,” Mayor Eitan Petrigo said. “I am grateful to the Israel Antiquities Authority for the initiative to uncover this fascinating site, and I thank the local pupils who participated in the project.”

 

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Israeli Archaeologists Expose Famed Bimah At Old Vilna Synagogue Destroyed During Holocaust

by The Israel Insider
written by The Israel Insider

An Israeli excavation of the famed Great Synagogue in Vilnius (Vilna), Lithuania, has fully exposed the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah (raised podium) that was destroyed decades ago by the Nazis and the Soviets.

The expedition, directed by the archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Dr.  Jon Seligman, announced Thursday its conclusion after a six-year excavation project, aimed at uncovering the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna and parts of the Shulhoyf, the center of the Jewish community and Torah life of Vilna.

The excavation began in July 2015 with a ground-penetrating radar test that developed into a full excavation and significant discoveries.

“Just this morning, while sifting the soil in front of the Aron Kodesh, we found a silver Yad,” the archaeologists said.

The Yad is a pointer used while reading from a Torah scroll.

The magnificent Great Synagogue of Vilna was the oldest and most significant symbol of Lithuanian Jewry. Like most of the Jewish cultural centers in Lithuania, the Great Synagogue was destroyed during the Holocaust.

Built in the 17th century in Renaissance-Baroque style, the Great Synagogue was surrounded over time by other community buildings, including 12 synagogues, the community council, kosher meat stalls, the famous Strashun library, a complex of ritual baths and other communal institutions that formed a great center of Torah study, the beating heart of Lithuanian Jewry.

After centuries of existence, with the destruction of the entire Jewish community of Vilna, this important shrine was ransacked and burnt by the Germans during World War II. The remains were later demolished by the Soviet authorities, and a modern school was constructed on the site.

Seligman visited Vilnius a few years ago as part of a heritage trip, sparking the idea of revealing and discovering what was left of the compound and the synagogue.

Seligman, Justinas Rakas, of the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, and combined teams of Lithuanians, Israelis and North Americans, worked for six seasons.

“When we arrived to excavate the Aron Kodesh and the Bimah, from which generations of Jews read the Torah scroll for 300 consecutive years, it became clear, unfortunately, that the core of the synagogue had been greatly damaged by Soviet destruction,” Seligman noted.

However, two impressive staircases, clearly visible in the many images of the synagogue before its destruction, were discovered and are evidence of their existence.

In addition, the excavation of Bimah was completed including the entire façade of the Bimah and the complete remains of one of the four huge pillars that supported the roof of the Great Synagogue.”

The remains of the Aron Kodesh, which were recently unearthed, and which appears in all its glory in the many pictures of the synagogue, was renovated after a fire in the 18th century with the contribution of the “Yesod” foundation. The foundation also donated the ornate Bimah, which was a two-story structure with four Corinthian columns and eight Tuscan columns.

The excavation of the Great Synagogue in Lithuania is a joint venture of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, the Good Will Foundation, and the Jewish Community of Lithuania.

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Israeli Archaeologists Expose Famed Bimah At Old Vilna Synagogue Destroyed During Holocaust

by The Israel Insider
written by The Israel Insider

An Israeli excavation of the famed Great Synagogue in Vilnius (Vilna), Lithuania, has fully exposed the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah (raised podium) that was destroyed decades ago by the Nazis and the Soviets.

The expedition, directed by the archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Dr.  Jon Seligman, announced Thursday its conclusion after a six-year excavation project, aimed at uncovering the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna and parts of the Shulhoyf, the center of the Jewish community and Torah life of Vilna.

The excavation began in July 2015 with a ground-penetrating radar test that developed into a full excavation and significant discoveries.

“Just this morning, while sifting the soil in front of the Aron Kodesh, we found a silver Yad,” the archaeologists said.

The Yad is a pointer used while reading from a Torah scroll.

The magnificent Great Synagogue of Vilna was the oldest and most significant symbol of Lithuanian Jewry. Like most of the Jewish cultural centers in Lithuania, the Great Synagogue was destroyed during the Holocaust.

Built in the 17th century in Renaissance-Baroque style, the Great Synagogue was surrounded over time by other community buildings, including 12 synagogues, the community council, kosher meat stalls, the famous Strashun library, a complex of ritual baths and other communal institutions that formed a great center of Torah study, the beating heart of Lithuanian Jewry.

After centuries of existence, with the destruction of the entire Jewish community of Vilna, this important shrine was ransacked and burnt by the Germans during World War II. The remains were later demolished by the Soviet authorities, and a modern school was constructed on the site.

Seligman visited Vilnius a few years ago as part of a heritage trip, sparking the idea of revealing and discovering what was left of the compound and the synagogue.

Seligman, Justinas Rakas, of the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, and combined teams of Lithuanians, Israelis and North Americans, worked for six seasons.

“When we arrived to excavate the Aron Kodesh and the Bimah, from which generations of Jews read the Torah scroll for 300 consecutive years, it became clear, unfortunately, that the core of the synagogue had been greatly damaged by Soviet destruction,” Seligman noted.

However, two impressive staircases, clearly visible in the many images of the synagogue before its destruction, were discovered and are evidence of their existence.

In addition, the excavation of Bimah was completed including the entire façade of the Bimah and the complete remains of one of the four huge pillars that supported the roof of the Great Synagogue.”

The remains of the Aron Kodesh, which were recently unearthed, and which appears in all its glory in the many pictures of the synagogue, was renovated after a fire in the 18th century with the contribution of the “Yesod” foundation. The foundation also donated the ornate Bimah, which was a two-story structure with four Corinthian columns and eight Tuscan columns.

The excavation of the Great Synagogue in Lithuania is a joint venture of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, the Good Will Foundation, and the Jewish Community of Lithuania.

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WATCH: Archaeological Evidence of Earthquake that Occurred during Kingdom of Judah, Mentioned in the Bible – Uncovered in Jerusalem

by The Israel Insider
written by The Israel Insider

Archaeological excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the City of David National Park revealed a layer of destruction, including a row of shattered vessels that were smashed as the building’s walls collapsed, apparent evidence of an earthquake that occurred during the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and that is mentioned in the Bible.

According to the researchers, since no signs of fire were found, this was not a deliberate event caused by man, and the reason for the collapse of the building is the earthquake that occurred in Israel during the eighth century BCE, during the period of the Kingdom of Judah.

Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf, excavation directors on behalf of the IAA, recalled that when they excavated the structure and uncovered an 8th century BCE layer of destruction, “we were very surprised because we know that Jerusalem continued to exist in succession until the Babylonian destruction, which occurred about 200 years later.”

“We asked ourselves what could have caused that dramatic layer of destruction we uncovered. Examining the excavation findings, we tried to check if there is a reference to it in the biblical text. Interestingly, the earthquake that appears in the Bible in the books of Amos and Zechariah, occurred at the time when the building we excavated in the City of David collapsed. The combination of the finds in the field together with the biblical description led us to the conclusion that the earthquake that struck the Land of Israel during the reign of Uzziah king of Judah, also hit the capital of the kingdom – Jerusalem,” they said.

The Prophet Zaechariah declares: “And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach Azal. And you shall flee as you fled because of the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah the King of Judah. And the Lord, my God, shall come; all holy ones with you.”

The researchers believe that the earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 8th century BCE was probably one of the strongest and most damaging earthquakes in ancient times, and evidence of its occurrence has been discovered in the past in excavations conducted at a variety of sites throughout Israel, such as Hazor, Gezer, Tel Agol, and Tell Gath.

The latest excavations conducted in the City of David indicate that the earthquake probably hit Jerusalem as well.

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IsraelNews

Maccabean History: The Battle Of Beit Zechariah

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

The Battle of Beit Zechariah, which took place 2,000 years ago during the Maccabean Revolt, is one of sacrifice and bravery.

On a clear autumn afternoon last week in Gush Etzion, TPS took a trip back in time, standing among the vineyards and rolling hills of Gush Etzion in Judea, in a spot almost exactly where the battle took place.

The Maccabean Revolt took place between 167 BCE and 160 BCE after the ancient Greek King Antiochus the Wicked (IV) issued decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice.

Standing next to a famous 600-year-old oak tree, which sits opposite the settlement of Alon Shvut, Aryeh Routtenberg, a renowned Jewish historian at the Kfar Etzion Field School, told the story of the Maccabean battle to save Jerusalem and the Jewish people.

A battle, he says, which echoes the battle for Gush Etzion that took place in 1948 just prior to and during the War of Independence.

“More than two thousand years ago, in 164 BCE, Elazar the Maccabee sacrificed himself for the Jewish people,” explained Routtenberg. “The Greeks came from the south of where we stand now – they had surrounded Beit Tzur. The battle took place between Beit Zechariah and Beit Tzur.

“Beit Zechariah is just north of this tree,” he said pointing at the old oak.

According to the book of the Maccabees, Judah the Maccabee had laid siege to [Greek Fortress] Akra in Jerusalem [which overlooked the Temple Mount], but he lifted his siege and “marched to the narrow passageway to our left,” which was the direct road to Jerusalem and directly in the path of the Syrian-Greek army who were marching to Jerusalem.

He explained that the Greek Army used elephants and infantry for battle, and that “Elazar charged towards one of the elephants” and he thrust a spear into the elephant’s belly and pierced, killing it, but the dead elephant fell upon Elazar, and he too was killed.

Routtenberg highlighted that the Maccabees were victorious against the Greeks during the Battle of Beit Zechariah and this eventually led to their victory in recapturing Jerusalem and rededication of the Temple.

“After winning the battle [in Jerusalem], Judah was asked by Syrian commander Lysias, ‘what can we do to bring peace?’ He told them that what he would like is the return of Jewish autonomy, and allow the practice of Judaism as was done before,” he said. “Lysius answered Judah, ‘I realize you have been upset by the decrees of Antiochus V, we will abolish these decrees and we will return Jewish autonomy in the Land of Israel.’”

The TPS team also visited Beit Zechariah itself, which today forms part of a small Arab village called Hirbeit Zakariya. The tomb of the Prophet Zechariah stands in a small building and in the building is the entrance to a mosque because he was seen as a prophet in Islam as well.

Articles and photo by Ilanit Chernick/TPS

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Dutch ‘Noah’s Ark’ To Set Sail For Israel

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

A Dutch Christian businessman who built a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark has announced he hopes to sail the 95 feet wide, 410 feet long and 75 feet tall vessel to Israel.

The Ark of Noah replica was built by Johan Huibers from 2008 – 2013 together with other few amateur carpenters.

View the Ark here!

Ark of Noah VR Tour

Since then, the Ark is floating along Holland’s Maas River in the Dutch Bible Belt, a strip of land in the southern  Netherlands with a high concentration of conservative orthodox Calvanist Protestants.

Dubbed “Johan’s Ark,” it’s been open since then to the public in the Netherlands.  It has five decks, is entirely constructed of Swedish pine wood and cost $5 million to construct. The Ark is longer than a football field and can hold more than 5,000 people at one time.

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In an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency earlier this month, Huibers, who made a fortune building storage spaces, said he wants to take the ark to “God’s land,” as soon as he raises the approximately $1.3 million necessaries for getting there.

“This is a copy of God’s ship. It only makes sense to take it to God’s land,” he told JTA.

Sailing to Israel

Huibers planned to sail it to Israel straight after its completion, but the plan was postponed “due to the massive wildfires Israel was dealing with at the time,“ according to the Ark of Noah Foundation website.

According to the site, the ark was created for Christian educational purposes, focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and social outreach to the underprivileged.

Huibers, 60 years old, was always fascinated with navigation. At the age of 24, he straightened his religious feeling, but the decision to build such a vessel came when he was 33 after he dreamt that a fierce storm-tide flooded the entire province of Noord-Holland where he grew up.

Huibers has also planned to sail the ark to Brazil, and to several other port cities in South, Middle and North America like  Montevideo and Buenos Aires, Havana, Panama, Columbia San Diego, Long Beach, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Written by Mara Vigevani/TPS  |  Photo by Ark of Noah Foundation (courtesy)

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Rare 1,500 Year Old Painting Of ‘Short-Haired’ Christ Found In Negev

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

A rare painting depicting Jesus’s face and dating some 1,500 years came to light a year-and-a-half ago at the baptistery in the ancient Byzantine village of Shivta in the Negev Desert, southwest of Beer Sheva, according to a statement released by the University of Haifa statement on Wednesday.

The excavations, led by by Dr. Emma Maayan-Fanar, Dr. Ravit Linn, Dr. Yotam Tepper and Dr. Guy Bar-Oz as part of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology of the University of Haifa has been taking place in Shivta for several years and led to quite a few new revelations about the reasons for the collapse of Byzantine society in the Negev in the seventh century CE. But the finding of Jesus’ face painting is unusual and significant for the current project.

The discovery was first reported in August in the prestigious ‘Antiquity’ journal.

Negev

“Although the church itself has been excavated and researched for many years, the location of the painting and the fact that it was badly preserved  resulted in the researchers not noticing it,” Dr. Fanar told TPS.

Fanar related how on particularly bright day, she and Linn looked closely into a niche and were able to identify traces of the painted scene: first a pair of eyes on the apse of the baptistery adjoining the northern church, then curly hair, a nose, and a long face.

“I was in the right place at the right moment” Fanar said.

The researchers then also identified another, larger, figure larger with an aura in the painting, whom they believe is probably John the Baptist.

“The painting describes the scene of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist,” Fanar said.  “The location of the painting, above a baptismal basin in the form of a cross, in addition to other features, such as the location of the remains of the figures enabled us to recognize that this is the scene of Jesus’ baptism. We have no doubt that, like other scenes of baptism, this painting also had additional details that disappeared over the years.”

The painting portrays Jesus as a short-haired youth which precedes religious iconography used in the Orthodox Christian Church.

“Christ’s face in this painting is an important discovery in itself. It belongs to the iconographic scheme of a short-haired Christ, which was especially widespread in Egypt and Syria-Palestine but gone from later Byzantine art. Early sixth-century texts include polemics concerning the authenticity of Christ’s visual appearance, including his hairstyle. Based on iconography, we estimate that this scene was also painted in the sixth century AD, ” the Haifa team wrote in ‘Antiquity.’

“The discovery of this painting is extremely important. It is the only on-site  scene of Jesus’ baptism of the pre-iconoclastic period.” Fanar concluded.

Written by Mara Vigevani/TPS  |  Photo by University of Haifa (courtesy)

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Lod
News

Archeologists Discover 1,700 Year Old Mosaic in Lod

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Archeologists unearthed a rare, multi-colored Roman mosaic dating back about 1,700 years, during excavations this month in Lod, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Sunday.

The impressive mosaic was uncovered during excavations ahead of construction of a Visitors Center to house the famous Lod mosaic, thought to have come from a reception room of a luxurious Roman villa in Lod which was accidentally discovered in 1996 and has since toured the most important museums throughout the world.

Like the 1996 mosaic, the new find portrays a range of wild animals including birds, fish, a giraffe, elephant, tigers, and lions. It does not contain human figures.

“The figures, many similar to the figures in the earlier mosaics, comprise fish and winged creatures. A fairly similar mosaic was found in the past in Jerusalem, on the Mount Zion slopes. The Lod mosaics, however, do not depict any human figures that are present in the Mount Zion mosaic,” Israel Antiquities Authority director Dr. Amir Gorzalczany said in an IAA press release. “It is very likely that the same artist produced both the mosaic or that two artists worked from a similar design,”  continued Gorzalczany.

The newly uncovered mosaic appears to be an additional reception room of the villa discovered in 1996.

“The excavations at the site exposed a villa that included a large luxurious mosaic-paved reception room triclinium, and an internal columned courtyard, also with mosaics, and a water system. We found evidence for Mediterranean luxury that characterized the Roman empire, including attributes such as fresco wall paintings,” said Gorzalczany.

If so, Gorzalczany said the villa should be much larger than what has been thought until now.

“The discovery raises new questions: How large was the building? Did the villa comprise several reception halls? Where were the private living rooms? Was there a second story? These issues may be resolved in future excavations,” he said.

Speaking by phone with TPS Gorzalczany said the IAA is aware of the existence of other mosaics of this kind in the area, but they are under buildings that are currently inhabited. That makes further excavations impossible.

“Lod was an upper-class neighborhood town during the Roman and the Byzantine period, in particular, the neighborhood where the mosaic was found. There are probably other villas to be discovered The importance of Lod as an urban center decreased following the Islamic period in the 8th century when Ramle became the new government center. We are lucky that the houses (in later centuries) don’t have deep foundations, so the ruins of the ancient luxury villas have been particularly well preserved.”

The Visitor Center, a joint initiative of the Shelby White and Leon Levy Foundation, the help of Lod Municipality, the Lod Economic Development Corporation, and the Israel Antiquities Authority, is set to open in 2020. It will display the Lod Mosaic in a place that respects the idea of the ancient villa in which they were initially set.

Written by Mara Vigevani/TPS  |  Photo by courtesy of IAA

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Video of the Day: Excavations in The City of David in Jerusalem

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Archeologist Eli Shukron speaks about the excavations in the City of David in Jerusalem and about the archaeological discoveries from various eras in history, which were found in the underground diggings. Jerusalem, July 18, 2018.

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Video by Esty Dziubov / TPS

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