When Was Jesus Actually Born? (Part 2)

The following article was obtained through Christianity.com and written by Candice Lucey.

Part 2

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on December 25th?

The day and month of Jesus’s birth are even more challenging to establish. Theologians typically agree that December 25 is far from likely. In the late Roman Empire, there was a festival called "Sol Invictus" (the Unconquered Sun) that celebrated the sun god on December 25th. Some have suggested that the choice of this date for Christmas was influenced by the desire to Christianize or replace this pagan holiday - conceived as an effort to establish a pagan substitute for a date that already held a degree of importance for Roman Christians. 

Another argument takes a different view. December 25th falls close to the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year. In many pagan traditions, the winter solstice was a significant event associated with the rebirth of the sun and the return of longer days. Some festivals, like the Roman festival of Saturnalia, were celebrated around this time, often involving feasting and gift-giving. Saturnalia, in particular, is often cited as a possible influence on the dating of Christmas. Saturnalia was a Roman festival that celebrated the god Saturn and included various festivities, including gift exchanges and feasting. Some argue that the early Christians chose December 25th to celebrate Jesus' birth to co-opt or replace Saturnalia with a Christian holiday. 

When Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, it was easier for the newly formed church to repurpose the pagan observance of the winter solstice between December 17-25 since citizens were already prepared to celebrate the day. Thus, a celebration and festival filled with family and friends exchanging gifts meant these traditions would continue as Christmas.

Another intriguing theory proposes that December 25 was officially designated as Christmas Day by Sextus Julius Africanus in AD 221. This assertion is rooted in meticulous calculations that Africanus undertook, embarking on a historical journey that began with his estimation of the world's creation in 5499 BC. With an unwavering dedication to precision, Africanus meticulously traced the lineage of biblical figures and significant events, meticulously aligning them with historical and astronomical data. His goal was to pinpoint the most appropriate date for commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, a task that required an intricate web of chronology and celestial observations. Africanus's determination to find this date led him to December 25, marking it as the momentous day when Christians should celebrate the birth of their savior. His extensive calculations and scholarly dedication have left an enduring legacy, contributing to the rich tapestry of theories surrounding the birth date of Jesus Christ.

Evidence in the Bible

As mentioned above regarding the month Jesus was born, realistically, shepherds would not have been tending their flocks in December when the weather was cold; they would have continued shepherding no later than October.

Bible scholars also try to time Jesus’s birth by timing the birth of his cousin John according to the sparse information about Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary outlined in Luke. Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary arrived, and Mary left three months later. According to BibleInfo.com:

“We can approximate the month of Jesus’ birth to be around the time of Tishri (mid to late September). To arrive at this date, start at the conception of John the Baptist, Sivan (June), count forward six months to arrive at Gabriel’s announcement of the conception of Jesus, Kislev (December), then count forward nine more months, the time it takes for human gestation, to reach Tishri (September), when Jesus was born.”

This is assuming each mother’s pregnancy went full-term. Other accounts take details about Zechariah’s temple duties to arrive at a spring birth for Christ. There is no definitive answer. One must seek the opinions of the most trusted scholars in this matter.

Dating Based on King Herod

Dating the birth of Jesus around the death of King Herod is a historical puzzle that involves a combination of biblical and extra-biblical sources, along with some scholarly interpretations. Here's how it's typically done:

1. Biblical Accounts: The primary source for dating Jesus's birth in relation to King Herod comes from the New Testament, specifically the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 2:1, it mentions that Jesus was born during the time of King Herod. It also describes Herod's attempt to have Jesus killed by ordering the massacre of infants in Bethlehem, commonly known as the "Massacre of the Innocents."
2. Herod's Reign: King Herod the Great is a well-documented historical figure. His reign is generally believed to have started around 37 or 36 BC. Historical records also indicate that he died around 4 BC, which is a crucial reference point.
3. Astronomical Data: Some scholars have suggested that the "Star of Bethlehem," which guided the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus, might have been a celestial event. Astronomical calculations and computer simulations have been used to try to identify potential astronomical occurrences around the time of Jesus's birth. Some theories suggest conjunctions of planets or other celestial phenomena around 6-4 BC.
4. Luke's Gospel: While the Gospel of Luke doesn't mention King Herod, it provides additional clues for dating Jesus's birth. Luke 2:2 mentions a census ordered by Caesar Augustus. Historically, such censuses were conducted periodically, and there is evidence of one occurring in 6-4 BC.
5. Scholarly Consensus: Taking into account all the available evidence, many scholars place Jesus's birth between 6 and 4 BC, with the death of King Herod serving as a significant anchor point. This allows for the events described in the biblical narratives to align with the historical context of Herod's reign and the Roman census.

What Does the Bible Tell Us About Jesus' Birth?

Celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas holds profound significance in Christian tradition, even in light of His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus' birth marks the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies, underscoring Jesus's identity as the promised Messiah. This celebration reaffirms the belief that God's plan of salvation foretold in the Scriptures, came to fruition through Jesus. 

Christmas is the beginning of Jesus's earthly life, leading to His sacrificial death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Christians view Jesus's birth as the initial step in God's redemptive plan, offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life through faith. Christmas is a source of joy and hope, signifying that God entered the world to bring light into darkness and offer hope to those in need.

In summary, Christmas, the celebration of Jesus's birth, remains a deeply meaningful and cherished observance in Christianity. It not only acknowledges the historical and theological significance of His birth but also reminds believers of the foundational events that paved the way for His life, death, and resurrection. It is a celebration of God's love for humanity, the hope and salvation brought by Jesus, and a time to share these profound truths with the world.

Does it Matter When Jesus Was Born?

Even if the global Christian community could clearly decide that Christ was born on a different day, changing the date of Christmas worldwide would pose many problems. Selecting a new date for celebrating Christ’s birth would require massive adjustments at both commercial and institutional levels.

• School calendars and public holidays have been established to coincide with this time.
• The economies of developed nations rely on the financial boost provided during the Christmas season.
• Churches organize special events around this time.
• Families use this date as a reason to get together.

It is beneficial to fix a date for Christmas Day, even if it seems arbitrary. In an age where “our fast-moving lives have wreaked havoc on our relationships,” as Rick Warren said, and we feel disconnected from one another, celebrating Jesus’ birth unifies the church body both locally and at large.

Moreover, Christmas celebrations provide an opportunity to engage community members who might not otherwise attend church events. The day is set apart even in the hearts and minds of non-believers. Associating Christmas with light-hearted festivities might seem disrespectful in light of its true meaning. Still, the joy of singing familiar carols and lighting candles, the sense of belonging and love connected to the holiday, encourages many unbelievers to attend Christmas services where they might hear the gospel.

Sources:

Egypt Today

History.com

Brittanica

When Was Jesus Actually Born? (Part 1)

The following article was obtained through Christianity.com and written by Candice Lucey.

Part 1

Christ’s birth is traditionally celebrated in the West on December 25th, but many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. Neither date is likely correct in light of several clues uncovered by historians and information in the Bible itself.

The birth of Jesus Christ, a pivotal moment in Christian history, has long been a subject of scholarly debate and theological reflection. The birth of Jesus Christ is traditionally celebrated on December 25th, but nobody really knows exactly when Jesus was born. 

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide accounts of Jesus's birth, including facts such as - the location of Bethlehem, the names of Mary and Joseph, that they had fled Egypt to escape King Herod's plan to kill Jesus, and that his birth was announced by angels who appeared to shepherds - they do not offer a specific date for this momentous event. 

As a result, the question of when Jesus was born has given rise to a multitude of theories and hypotheses throughout the centuries. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of dating Jesus's birth and explore the various historical, astronomical, and theological perspectives that have emerged in an attempt to pinpoint the elusive date of the nativity. The biblical account does not give the year Jesus was born (Luke 2). So how was the date of Christmas decided, and when was Jesus really born?

Evidence of When Jesus Was Born

The exact birth date of Jesus is not known with certainty, and there is no specific date mentioned in the Bible. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide accounts of Jesus' birth, but they don't include a precise date. The celebration of Christmas on December 25th is a tradition that dates back to the 4th century, and it was chosen to coincide with the Roman festival of Sol Invictus (the "Unconquered Sun").

Biblical evidence

Matthew's Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25 provides an account of the birth of Jesus and mentions the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. However, this Gospel doesn't specify the exact date of Jesus' birth.

Luke's Gospel: Luke 2 describes the birth of Jesus and the visit of the shepherds, but like Matthew, he doesn't give a specific date for the event.

Historical evidence

Roman Census: The Gospel of Luke mentions that the birth of Jesus occurred during the time of a census conducted by Caesar Augustus. While historical records confirm that censuses did take place, there is no direct evidence linking a census to the specific time of Jesus' birth.

Herod's Reign: The Gospel of Matthew places the birth of Jesus during the reign of King Herod the Great. Historical records indicate that Herod died in 4 BCE, so if this is accurate, Jesus must have been born before that date.

What Year Was Jesus Born?

While many scholars believe Jesus was born sometime between 4 BC and 6 BC, there is no definitive historical evidence that pinpoints the exact year of his birth. The commonly used Christian calendar, which designates Jesus' birth as the starting point, traditionally places it at 1 BC or 1 AD, although these dates are approximate and may not align precisely with historical records.

Confusion in Historical Calendars

Several factors are involved in establishing the year of Christ’s birth. There were two dating systems at the time of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. One was his new Julian calendar, and the other calendar began with the year Rome was established: 753 BC. To complicate matters, Julius Caesar also determined that a year would be calculated beginning with the start of complete authority by the reigning emperor at that time.

About 500 years later, a mathematically-minded monk, Dionysius Exiguus, invented the concept of AD. His purpose was to establish when Easter should be celebrated by working backward using a complicated system of his own. He decided that Christ was born in AD 1, and his system was adopted in Europe around 200 years later.

Date Evidence in the Bible

Bible scholars work from what Scripture tells us regarding the history of Jesus. The events took place within the living memory of the writers or their families, such as the reign of Herod, during which time Matthew tells us Christ was born.

We know there was a celestial event that alerted the Magi, and this can also be dated. John the Baptist’s preaching took place during “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius” (Luke 3:1). Jesus’ approximate age at the start of His ministry (30) is also supplied in the book of Luke, so we can determine that Christ was likely born around 2 or 3 BC.

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness." (Luke 3:1-2)

What Month was Jesus Born?

One hypothesis suggests that Jesus may have been born in the month of December. This idea is largely based on the mention of shepherds in the Gospel of Luke who were tending their flocks at night when the angelic announcement of Jesus's birth occurred. Some argue that this activity would have been more likely in a warmer month, implying that Jesus might have been born in a mild Mediterranean climate during the winter. Additionally, the early Christian church established December 25th as the date to celebrate Jesus's birth, possibly to coincide with existing pagan festivals, such as the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus. This choice could have influenced the association of Jesus's birth with December.

However, it's essential to note that this evidence is circumstantial and inconclusive. Other scholars argue for alternative months or even different years for Jesus's birth based on historical and astronomical data. The uncertainty surrounding the precise month of Jesus's birth underscores the challenge of dating an event that occurred over two thousand years ago and the various factors that have influenced the development of Christmas traditions over time. Ultimately, while December 25th remains the widely accepted date for celebrating Jesus's birth, the exact month of his birth remains a mystery.

Sources:

Egypt Today

History.com

Brittanica

Click here to read Part 2 of When Was Jesus Actually Born?

Apocalypse Now: The 11 Strangest End Times Predictions

The following article was obtained through the website A & P and written by Pri Kingston.

Throughout history, humanity has been fascinated by the concept of the apocalypse-the cataclysmic end of the world as we know it. Countless predictions, both ancient and modern, have foretold various scenarios for how this ultimate reckoning might occur. In this list, we delve into the realm of the bizarre and explore the ten strangest end […]

The Mayan Calendar:

The Mayan civilization, known for its remarkable mathematical and astronomical knowledge, famously crafted a calendar that seemed to end abruptly on December 21, 2012. Some believed this signified the end of the world, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding, as the Mayans likely intended it as the start of a new cycle. This prediction gained international attention, with some people even stockpiling supplies and preparing for the worst, only for December 21, 2012, to come and go without incident, leaving many both relieved and perplexed.

The Y2K Bug:

As the year 2000 approached, many feared that computer systems worldwide would malfunction because of the Y2K bug. Some doomsdayers predicted that this digital catastrophe would trigger global chaos and the collapse of civilization. Fortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. Years of meticulous preparation by software engineers and IT experts ensured that the transition into the new millennium was relatively smooth, preventing widespread technological meltdowns.

The Rapture:

A recurring prediction within some Christian circles, the Rapture suggests that true believers will be taken up to heaven, leaving the rest of humanity to endure apocalyptic trials on Earth. Predictions of the Rapture have come and gone, causing anxiety and fervent preparations for the chosen few. Despite numerous failed predictions, some believers continue to anticipate this event, while others have shifted their focus away from specific dates.

The Great Pyramid Alignment:

Some theorists claim that the Great Pyramid of Giza holds secret knowledge about the end of the world. They point to supposed astronomical alignments within the pyramid’s construction that allegedly predict future global catastrophes. While these claims are often made, they remain highly speculative, with no concrete evidence to support the notion that the ancient Egyptians encoded apocalyptic predictions in their architectural marvels. Nevertheless, the mystique of the pyramids continues to fuel such theories and intrigue seekers of hidden knowledge.

Nostradamus’ Prophecies:

The 16th-century French astrologer Nostradamus is famous for his cryptic quatrains, some of which have been interpreted as predicting various disasters. His writings have been scoured for clues about impending doom, though interpretations vary widely. Nostradamus’ predictions have been applied to a wide range of events, from world wars to natural disasters, but their accuracy remains a topic of debate among scholars and enthusiasts.

The Blood Moon Prophecy:

A popular theory in recent years suggested that a series of lunar eclipses, known as blood moons, signaled the apocalypse. These events were linked to biblical passages, particularly in the Book of Joel, and stirred considerable anxiety. Despite predictions that the blood moons would usher in catastrophic events, their passing brought no such calamities, leaving followers of the prophecy to question its validity.

The Hollow Earth Catastrophe:

Among the most bizarre predictions is the notion that the Earth is hollow, with a hidden civilization dwelling within. Some proponents claim that this subterranean world will emerge, causing worldwide devastation. This theory has its roots in pseudoscience and imaginative fiction but has gained a small but dedicated following over the years, with some anticipating a grand hollow Earth revelation.

Planet Nibiru (Planet X):

Conspiracy theories have circulated about a hidden planet called Nibiru, supposedly on a collision course with Earth. Despite a lack of scientific evidence, this prediction has persisted, sparking fears of a rogue planet wreaking havoc. Proponents of this theory often cite ancient Sumerian texts and alleged government cover-ups, though mainstream astronomers have debunked the existence of Nibiru.

Zombie Apocalypse:

While more of a pop culture phenomenon, some individuals take the idea of a zombie apocalypse seriously. They stockpile supplies and prepare for a world overrun by the undead, inspired by movies, TV shows, and video games. Although this prediction is firmly rooted in fiction, it showcases how influential entertainment can be in shaping people’s beliefs and behaviors, even when it comes to apocalyptic scenarios.

The Black Hole Catastrophe:

The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator used for high-energy physics experiments. Some theorists have proposed that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments could lead to the creation of microscopic black holes capable of swallowing the Earth. While scientists argue that such events are highly unlikely and that any black holes produced would be too small to pose a threat, conspiracy theories have persisted, causing unfounded fears of an Earth-devouring black hole.

The Prophecy of Malachy:

The Prophecy of Malachy, a 12th-century prediction attributed to Saint Malachy, allegedly foretells the identities of all the future popes. According to this prophecy, the world will end after the reign of the final pope, known as “Peter the Roman.” The prophecy’s accuracy has been debated, and some see it as a product of interpretation rather than genuine foreknowledge. Nevertheless, it has piqued the curiosity of those intrigued by esoteric predictions.

The Many Futuristic Predictions of H.G. Wells That Came True

The following article was obtained through Smithsonian Magazine and written by Brian Handwerk in .

Born 150 years ago, H.G. Wells predicted, and inspired, inventions from the laser to email.

Science fiction pioneer H.G. Wells conjured some futuristic visions that haven't (yet) come true: a machine that travels back in time, a man who turns invisible, and a Martian invasion that destroys southern England.

But for a man born 150 years ago, many of Wells's other predictions about the modern world have proven amazingly prescient.

Wells, born in 1866, was trained as a scientist, a rarity among his literary contemporaries, and was perhaps the most important figure in the genre that would become science fiction.

Writers in this tradition have a history not just of imagining the future as is might be, but of inspiring others to make it a reality. In 2012, Smithsonian.com published a top ten list of inventions inspired by sci-fi, ranging from Robert H. Goddard's liquid-fuelled rocket to the cell phone.

“Wells's was an imagination in a hurry, he wanted to get to the future sooner than it was going to happen. That's why he's so predictive in his writing,” explains Simon James, head of the English Studies department at Durham University and the editor of the official journal of the H.G. Wells society .

Wells’s ideas have also endured because he was a standout storyteller, James adds. No less a writer than Joseph Conrad agreed. “I am always powerfully impressed by your work. Impressed is the word, O Realist of the Fantastic!” he wrote Wells after reading The Invisible Man.

Here are some of the incredible H.G. Wells predictions that have come true, as well as some that haven't—at least not yet.

Phones, Email, and Television

In Men Like Gods (1923), Wells invites readers to a futuristic utopia that's essentially Earth after thousands of years of progress. In this alternate reality, people communicate exclusively with wireless systems that employ a kind of co-mingling of voicemail and email-like properties.

“For in Utopia, except by previous arrangement, people do not talk together on the telephone,” he writes. “A message is sent to the station of the district in which the recipient is known to be, and there it waits until he chooses to tap his accumulated messages. And any that one wishes to repeat can be repeated. Then he talks back to the senders and dispatches any other messages he wishes. The transmission is wireless.”

Wells also imagined forms of future entertainment. In When the Sleeper Wakes (1899), the protagonist rouses from two centuries of slumber to a dystopian London in which citizens use wondrous forms of technology like the audio book, airplane and television—yet suffer systematic oppression and social injustice. 

Genetic Engineering

Visitors to The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) were confronted with a menagerie of bizarre creatures including Leopard-Man and Fox-Bear Witch, created by the titular madman doctor in human-animal hybrid experiments that may presage the age of genetic engineering.

Though Moreau created his Frankenbeasts through more crude techniques, like surgical transplants and blood transfusions, the theme of humans playing God by tinkering with nature has become a reality. Scientists are working towards the day when animal organs could serve as long-term transplants for human patients, though today human immune systems still ultimately reject such efforts. And controversial experiments known as chimera studies create human-animal hybrids by adding human stem cells to animal embryos.

Notably, the human-animal hybrids Moreau creates eventually do the doctor in, and that ending echoes another common Wells theme. “It's often a warning about the consequences of technology, in particular when you don't think them through properly,” explains James. 

Lasers and Directed Energy Weapons

Martians in The War of the Worlds (1898) unleash what Wells called a Heat-Ray, a super weapon capable of incinerating helpless humans with a noiseless flash of light. It would be more than six decades before Theodore Maiman fired up the first operational laser at California's Hughes Research Laboratory on May 16, 1960, but military thinkers had been hoping to weaponize the conceptual laser even before it was even proven practical.

Wells's description isn't accurate enough to build a working laser, but it resembles both that device and other “directed energy” weapons, such as those using microwaves, electromagnetic radiation, and radio or sound waves, which the United States and other militaries have developed in recent years.

“Many think that in some way [the Martians] are able to generate an intense heat in a chamber of practically absolute non-conductivity. This intense heat they project in a parallel beam against any object they choose, by means of a polished parabolic mirror of unknown composition, much as the parabolic mirror of a lighthouse projects a beam of light,” Wells wrote.

Typically, Wells was more interested in what the effects of his future ideas might be, rather than working out the technical details, James stresses.

“He'll kind of take one element of scientific understanding of the world and tweak it. So in The Time Machine, if you think of time as the fourth dimension, what if you could travel in time as freely as in the other three? Or, in The First Men in the Moon, what if you could make a material [Wells called it Cavorite] as impervious to gravity as other materials are impervious to heat? You just take that one thing, and see what follows from it,” James explains.

(Today's leading science fiction authors still use this technique while at work shaping the future of tomorrow. In fact, some companies commission “design fiction” to see how innovative ideas might work if they become fact in the future. “There is nothing weird about a company doing this—commissioning a story about people using a technology to decide if the technology is worth following through on,” says novelist Cory Doctorow, whose clients have included Disney and Tesco. “It’s like an architect creating a virtual fly-through of a building.” )

Atomic Bombs & Nuclear Proliferation

Wells reveled in the potential benefits of technology but also feared their dark side. “H.G. Wells was probably the writer who saw most clearly in the early 20th century the possibility of total war,” says Eleanor Courtemanche of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (A new physical and online exhibition there shows off an extensive Wells collection.)

Wells recognized the world-changing destructive power that might be harnessed by splitting the atom. The atomic bombs he introduces in The World Set Free (1913) fuel a war so devastating that its survivors are moved to create a unified world government to avoid future conflicts.

Wells's bombs differed from those actually developed by scientists with the Manhattan Project. They exploded continually, for days, weeks or months depending upon their size, as the elements in them furiously radiated energy during their degeneration and in the process created mini-volcanoes of death and destruction.

Wells also clearly saw the dangers of nuclear proliferation, and the doomsday scenarios that might arise both when nations were capable of “mutually assured destruction” and when non-state actors or terrorists got into the fray.

“Destruction was becoming so facile that any little body of malcontents could use it; it was revolutionizing the problems of police and internal rule. Before the last war began it was a matter of common knowledge that a man could carry about in a handbag an amount of latent energy sufficient to wreck half a city,” he wrote. 

Where Wells Was Wrong—At Least So Far

Wells rejected the idea that the future is unknowable, writes esteemed science fiction writer James Gunn, who also helped to pioneer university study of science fiction.

“He believed that it was possible, through the use of what he first called "inductive history" and later "Human Ecology" (defined as the working out of "biological, intellectual, and economic consequences"), to chart the possibilities of the future and to push people into making sensible use of those possibilities. He was the first futurologist, the man who invented tomorrow,” wrote Gunn in The Science of Science-Fiction Writing, published in 2000.

But Wells did have other big ideas that haven't come to fruition, though of course there's always the chance that his vision extended farther into the future than our own time. As of this writing we've not been invaded by Martians. Human invisibility also remains elusive—though science is making progress in that direction. The time machine, an invention introduced in a 1895 novella, hasn't been worked out either.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment to Wells was the failure of his idealized political vision, a world government, which he described in A Modern Utopia (1905)

Wells was a committed socialist who hoped that a global “New Republic” would assure peace in perpetuity. Wells, who died in 1946, lived long enough to learn that this imagined future wasn't likely to ever come true, so he took a very active role in fostering international cooperation wherever he could.

“After World War II broke out, it was another slap in the face to the idea of a world state ever coming off,” James says, “so Wells started a campaign for universal human rights. I believe it was Wells writing letters to The Times that started the process that eventually led to the United Nations declaration of world rights in 1947.” Wells also laid out his vision in The Rights of Man (1940), and his draft declarations on the topic were used to help write the formal UN document. 

Courtemanche adds that Wells's idea of world government, while never reaching his Utopian ideal, actually did come to fruition in at least some small ways.

“Think of all the international agencies that sprang up after WWII in hopes that some kind of international framework would keep world war from happening again,” she notes. “Bretton Woods, the IMF, NATO, the European Union -- none of these were truly global, but they were definitely steps toward the more peaceful and organized world society that Wells envisioned.”

A 'Time Traveler' from 2030 Predicts Shocking Life Events... And Passes a Lie Detector Test

The following article was obtained through the website, Past Chronicles and written by Anna Klein.

In a recent video that went viral, a time traveler from the year 2030 revealed some crazy predictions about our future. Since then, tongue-in-cheek articles have emerged that made many people question the story’s credibility and call it “fake news”, but there are plenty of reasons to believe this man’s story.

Traveler Claims Backed by a Polygraph Test ©Source: Imgur

First, he successfully passed a lie detector test similar to the one that Edward Snowden took back in 2014. It’s important to note that polygraph tests can only tell you if someone is lying or not; they cannot confirm the reason for their answer (you could be telling the truth and feeling nervous).

Many believed that his claims were a hoax, but he managed to baffle everyone when he passed a polygraph test.

Here are some of the wild predictions that this man from the future has made. Some of them have already come true. You decide for yourself what you believe!

A World with Unlimited Power and No health problems ©Source: nzherald.co.nz

As it stands, we have almost reached the point where we can simply delete any technology that causes harm to our planet. But what will this change look like? In 2030, we may have unlimited power and no health problems!

(Source: Anonymous) “In 2030, there would be no one without access to medical care.” We might even be able to upload all of our memories so that nobody can steal them.

Artificial Intelligence Is the Future ©Source: enisa europa.eu

The man claims that he is from a time when AI (or “artificial intelligence,” as he calls it) is already being used in many areas of technology.

For example, he claims that we don’t have to be worried about automation taking our jobs anymore because we already have driverless cars and other machines to do most of the work for us. He also says that medical breakthroughs are “no longer just happening in the lab,” Healthcare can be obtained with a simple brain scan.

Time Traveler Predicts ‘Blockchain’ Will Save the World from Money-Wasting ©Source: jacekdudzic/ Twitter

Most importantly, his prediction about the future of money is so accurate that business insiders are discussing it and taking the time to look into the man’s claims.

“Our global currency is called the dollar,” he says in his blog post. “It is directly linked to the creation of new U.S. government debt, which means that when we run a deficit (through either tax cuts or war spending), dollars are created out of thin air.”

Will the Dollar Lose Its Power in The Future? ©Source: allianzgi.com

The time traveler goes on to say how this system has been going on since 1980 and how it will continue until around 2040-2050, at which point, we will be swapping our current dollar for a much more stable one called “the blockchain”.

But what is this blockchain? According to a recent article, the blockchain is a technology that “enables a peer-to-peer network to agree on a single version of the truth”. Essentially, it’s an open-source database that will allow many individuals to hold a record of their transactions without having to trust anyone else.

New Planet? ©Source: commons.wikimedia..org

The time traveler says that in 2030, a new planet has been discovered in our solar system, which he claims is between Mars and Jupiter. The planet is made of pure diamond and is orbited by two moons. He also claims that many people are using this planet as a new place to live because Earth’s population has skyrocketed and is limited by the size of our planet. 

This isn’t the first time someone has predicted something like this. In 2007, a man said that there was a planet located near Mars in our solar system, which is made of diamonds and had many tiny diamonds orbiting around it. 

Space Predictions ©Source: Pinterest

Space has been a concern for a while now, with advancements being made by NASA and SpaceX. The traveler predicts a Mars travel race.

Technology advancements will occur quickly and fast until earth achieves a one-way expedition to Mars. Could we be touring Mars sooner than we think?

Touring Mars ©Source: space.com

Get your bags ready; we are going to Mars. According to the time traveler, you will be able to tour Mars privately in the next decade.

The traveler didn’t give much information about how this will happen given the ‘one-way expedition’ situation. To explore space and Mars, I say bring it on!

Homeschooling Will Become the New Norm ©Source: businessday.ng

Another prediction was about the future of education. He claims that children will learn more from the internet at home instead of going to school. He also predicts that our children will be able to travel through time using pictures, texts, and information stored on their phones. 

About the future of education, he has a point there. With technology and science getting better and better every day, it’s just a matter of time, right? He also claims that women can choose between marriage or working, which is rather pragmatic for the future.

I Am Not an Angel or Satan ©Source: theconversation.com

But who is this guy giving great insights about our education system? When asked who he was and how he got these predictions, this was his response: 

“I’m not an angel nor Satan. I’m a time traveler from 2030. I can tell you everything you want to know about the future. I also explain why there is an apparent lack of smart people on Earth.”

Utopia in 2030: ‘Flying cities’ With Only a Few Buildings ©Source: Pinterest

The time traveler from 2030 also predicted a utopia in the year 2030. He described a world with flying cities, where the buildings are only a few stories tall. 

He said that these cities will be powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, and will be connected by a network of teleportation portals. He added that these cities will be so advanced that they will be able to produce food, water, and other resources adequate for all the inhabitants. 

Instant Travel Networks ©Source: h3c

Transport in the future is also really advanced. The network of teleportation portals connecting different cities will enable people to travel between cities almost instantly. 

He also said that these cities will be so advanced and efficient that they will not need any kind of police or military forces. This would be a utopia, indeed, where people can live peacefully without fear of violence or oppression.

Electric Vehicles Future ©Source: techonline.com

With different electric cars already in the market, the time traveler also touched on the future of electric-powered vehicles. He claims that in an effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels, more and more electric cars will be invented, with most driverless vehicles.  

The cars in the future will also have longer-lasting batteries than what we have currently. A full EV battery charge will be able to run for about 600 miles. I mean, how cool is that? 

Self-sufficiency on a New Level – All Thanks to Satellites ©Source: hobbyfarms.com

The time traveler 2030 predicted that the world will be self-sufficient by 2030. He said satellites will provide us with the necessary resources to sustain ourselves. He also mentioned that this technology will provide food, energy, and water to all countries in the world. 

This will ensure that people have access to necessary resources without worrying about running out of them. He also said that this technology will help us monitor the environment and ensure it is not being polluted.

The Future is Green ©Source: vision.esa.com

According to the traveler, technology will help us monitor the climate and ensure that it is not getting damaged due to global warming. This would mean that we could take a proactive approach to climate change instead of waiting for it to happen and not being able to do anything about it.  

(Source: Anonymous) “All the cars are part of a global network connected through satellites. They drive themselves, but they also share all their fuel.”

Immortality in The Offing: Improved Life Expectancy in The Future ©Source: openthemagazine.com

The time traveler predicted that we will live to be 300 years old. He believes this because his great-grandfather lived to be 300 years old, and he completely understood how his great-grandfather’s body worked. 

If the current statistics are anything to go by, in 2050 you’ll only live to be 125 years old compared to 250 years ago. In 3060, you can only reach 120, and in 9100, you’ll be lucky to reach 100. So, what makes the time traveler think we will live another 200 years? He claims that scientists have done experiments with genetics, and it’s possible for us to make improvements in how our bodies work.

Will Trump Make America Great Again? ©Source: baysidegroup.com

The traveler couldn’t leave netizens without having a say in politics – he made another exciting prediction that raised many eyebrows. He claimed that Trump will win the presidential election and return to the White House.

The traveler, however, didn’t comment on who Trump’s opponent will be. So, will Trump make a comeback, and will we see him ascend into power? Only time will tell. 

It’s Looking Good for Foodies ©Source: baysidegroup.com

Another interesting prediction was about food. In 2030, there will be no more supermarkets, but rather a single store that sells everything you want. 

In this store, he says that in addition to computers and phones, there will be food-delivery drones as well as robots that can perform tasks to serve customers. On this one, he’s not kidding: there is a drone that can fly and deliver food in Japan.

Is the World Finally Turning Vegan? ©Source: piperleaf.net

It doesn’t stop there! He said that 50 years after everyone stops eating food, people will choose to become vegetarian or vegan. It’ll be normal for people not to eat meat since it’ll be way more expensive than the less potent alternatives.

In the future, it will be easier to grow food using different ways such as hydroponics (growing plants in water). Technology will make eating meat a thing of the past!

Healthy Meals for Healthy Lifestyles ©Source: flawlesslyfitish.com

In the future, “the average person will have a diet of “Kale, kale, kale, kale, and more kale.” He also predicts that our future food will be so healthy that people won’t even need to eat anymore. He describes this ‘Kale Food’ as raw fruit, vegetables, grasses and grains. 

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like the perfect diet for a healthy lifestyle! I guess we can’t fault him for predicting our diet when health is already improving with technology. He has his facts straight!

The Question About Cancer Treatment ©Source: canver.gov

A lot of people are wondering about the future of cancer treatment. He claims that cancer was already cured in 2030 with a pill called ‘Xtend’. The traveler claims that scientists in the future can grow new organs from a person’s DNA. 

There’s no doubt that we have been making a lot of progress with our medicine, so perhaps it won’t be long before we can “grow” ourselves new organs.

Advancement in Biotechnology ©Source: roi-nj.com

While on the topic, the time traveler also says that in 2030, we will be able to see a person’s life in real time as we speak. He further adds that in 2030, most people will become part of a “bio-hacking collective” and get to choose their fate. 

Humans in the future will be able to engineer foods and animals genetically so they are better suited for survival on the future planet. I must say, the future is looking bright!

Is The Future of Medicine and Anatomy Worthless? ©Source: nature.com

No, the future of medicine and the body is not worthless. The time traveler from 2030 made some very inspiring predictions about medicine. He predicted that by 2030, the technology will be so advanced that it will be able to cure the most challenging diseases and even reverse the effects of aging. 

So, the future of medicine and the body should never be dismissed. It seems that the time traveler from 2030 has some interesting predictions.

Creating Artificial Organs Using Technology ©Source: theconversation.com

He also predicted that the technology will be so advanced that it will be able to repair damaged organs and tissues and even create artificial organs from scratch. This would mean that people can live longer and healthier lives without worrying about costly surgeries or treatments. 

The technology being used in the future will be able to detect and treat diseases before they become life-threatening, which would be a breakthrough in the field of medicine.

The World Will Witness a Major War ©Source: Imgur

The time traveler was also a carrier of bad news. The world has witnessed different wars, including Ukraine and Russia’s most recent war.  

But who will be involved in this war? This guy predicted the US, China, and the Korean peninsula. He also made it clear that this war would not lead to World War III. 

But Who Is This Time Traveler? ©Source: dailydot.com

It is unclear who the time traveler from 2030 is. He claims to be a time traveler from the year 2030, but there is no way to verify this claim. It is possible that he is simply a clever hoaxer with a knack for predicting trends and future technologies, or actually, he could be from the future. 

In any case, the time traveler from 2030 has fascinating insights about the world that are worth looking further into.   

Is He Really From the future? ©Source: GreatScott/ twitter

One can never truly know if the time traveler from 2030 came from the future or not. He has some interesting predictions, but there is no way to verify them until the year 2030 arrives. 

All we can do is wait and see if his predictions come true. In the meantime, keep your eyes wide open and with an open mind…it doesn’t hurt to listen to others with different perspectives on the future.

Let’s Keep Our Finger Crossed ©Source: Youtube

They say time heals; all you have to do is wait and see. After all, the future is something that we cannot predict, so it is vital to remain open and flexible to the possibilities. 

The predictions could be true or false; there’s no way to tell. Only time can tell if the time traveler came from the future. Until then, we can only speculate and look forward to 2030.

Wrapping It Up ©Source: Youtube

To answer the question about whether or not this man has pure intentions and is definitely from the time he is claiming he is from, there are plenty of reasons to believe that he is. The fact that he passed a polygraph test and his predictions were so accurate should also make us question his claims further. 

It’s also possible that we may one day in the future live in an AI and blockchain technology world, but I hope not. More information about this story is required, and it’s good to know that people are taking the time to look deeper into it.

10 Ancient Cities Once Thought To Be Mythical That Have Actually Been Discovered

The following article was © Provided by TheTravel and written by Aaron Spray. Google Images provided by Who's ? Right blog.

• Mycenae, once thought to be mythical, is now one of Greece's greatest archaeological sites. (Bronze Age Greece, Modern Country: Greece)
• The ancient city of Babylon, mentioned in the Bible, was discovered near Baghdad in Iraq. (Babylonian Civilization, Modern Country: Iraq)
• Troy, the counterpart to Mycenae in Homer's Iliad, has been identified in Turkey south of Istanbul. (Trojan Civilization, Modern Country: Turkey)

Ancient history is shrouded in myth and legend, and picking the real from the fictional is tricky at best. Sometimes, legendary cities turn out to have actually existed (at least in some form), while other legendary places like the biblical Sodom and the ancient Greek mythical city of Atlantis remain debated.

It was once thought that great Bronze Age cities like Mycenae were mythical, but they have been found to have been real (Mycenae was one of the greatest Greek cities of its time). Here are ten legendary cities that turned out to be real.

Related: These Are 10 Of The World's Now Not-So-Lost Cities

Babylon

Ruins of Babylon, Mesopotamia, Iraq

Babylon was one of the greatest cities in Mesopotamia and was at the heart of two powerful empires, the Babylonian Empire (famous for its king Hammurabi) and the Neo-Babylonian Empire (famous for its king Nebuchadnezzar).

Babylon is extensively referenced in the Bible but had been thought to be mythical until it was discovered near Bagdad in Iraq.

Civilization: Babylonian

Modern Country: Iraq

Mycenae

Ancient Site of Mycenae

Mycenae was one of the greatest Bronze Age Greek cities and was at the center of Homer's epic poem, the Iliad (about the Siege of Troy).

Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae and led the campaign against Troy in the story. It was thought to have been a myth, but now it is one of the greatest archeological attractions in Greece.

Civilization: Bronze Age Greece

Modern Country: Greece

Troy

Archaeological Site of Troy

The Iliad counterpart to Mycenae is Troy. It had been thought not to exist, but now researchers are somewhat confident that it has been identified in Turkey south of Istanbul.

The archeological site of Troy is open to the public and has many layers of successive cities.

Civilization: Trojan

Modern Country: Turkey

Related: Where The Ancient City Of Troy Is Located Today, And What Visitors Can Do There

Vinland

Archaeological Site of Vinland 

Vinland is the mythical land to the east found by Viking explorers and settlers from Greenland.

For a long time, this story was thought to have been mythical until the abandoned Viking settlement was found at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada, in 1960. It turns out the Vikings beat Christopher Columbus to discover and settle the New World exactly 1,000 years ago.

Civilization: Viking

Modern Country: Canada

Ninevah

Archaeological Site of Ninevah

The scholarly skepticism of the existence of Babylon extended to the Assyrian Empire and the city of Ninevah. Ninevah was the ancient capital city of Assyria and is located in modern-day Mosul in Iraq.

For a period, it was the largest city in the world. It was mostly abandoned by the 13th century AD and was only rediscovered in the mid-19th century.

Civilization: Assyria

Modern Country: Iraq

Hattusa

Archaeological Site of Hattusa

Hattusa was the impressive capital of the ancient Hittite Empire in central Turkey (also believed to have been a myth).

It became an early UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and is among the oldest archeological attractions to have on the bucket list in Turkey.

Civilization: Hittite

Modern Country: Turkey

Heracleion (Or Thonis)

Archaeological Site of Heracleion

Heracleion was an ancient Egyptian port city near the mouth of the Nile, around 20 miles from Alexandria. Its existence is known from ancient accounts, but scholars were skeptical.

That is, until it was found that, like Atlantis, it had slipped below the waves in the Mediterranean. It is now over 7 kilometers or 4 miles off the coast and under 19 feet or 6 meters of water.

Civilization: Ancient Egypt

Modern Country: Egypt

Related: The Atlantis of Egypt: Meet The Lost City of Heracleion

Assur

Archaeological Site of Assur

Assur, or Ashur, was another of the great cities of ancient Assyria. It was the capital of the Old Assyrian Empire and, for a period, the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

Its limited remains are found on the western bank of the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia in Iraq. It is around 60 miles south of ancient Nineveh.

Civilization: Assyria

Modern Country: Iraq

Great Zimbabwe

Archaeological Site of Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is one of the most important and largest archeological sites in Southern Africa, and it could have been home to up to 18,000 people.

It was reported by early 16th-century Portuguese traders who heard stories of the ancient site, but the tales of a great non-European fortress were dismissed by Europeans until it was discovered in the 19th century and documented.

Civilization: Ancestors of the Shona

Modern Country: Zimbabwe

Related: Touring Great Zimbabwe: The Lost City of Africa

White City / La Ciudad Blanca

Archaeological Site of White City

When the Spanish arrived in Central America, there were tales of a city hiding a great amount of wealth in the jungles of Honduras. The early Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes sought it but did not find it. In 1936, it was claimed the legendary city was found in the Mosquitia region of Honduras.

These days, a number of sites have been found, and the suggestion is the legendary White City could have been any one of them.

Civilization: Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica

Modern Country: Honduras

6 Facts From the Bible That Have Actually Been Proven

The following article was obtained through the website, Equipping Godly Women, and written by Jessica Clark. Artwork by Microsoft Bing Images.

The Bible is a religious and historical text that contains a mix of spiritual teachings, moral lessons, and historical accounts.

While some events and details from the Bible have been corroborated by archaeological and historical evidence, it’s important to note that the Bible is also a matter of faith for many people, and not all of its stories and events can be definitively proven.

Fall of Jericho

Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient city of Jericho did experience a destruction event around the time indicated in the Bible.

"And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,1 and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."  Joshua 6:5.

According to The New York Times, the site was discovered to have a three-foot layer of ash that contained numerous pottery shards and mud bricks from a wall. The burned fragments were dated to 1410 B.C., plus or minus 40 years.

Dinosaurs

“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly! Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.” Job 40:15-17.

Some commentators claim it was a hippopotamus. The hippo, though, does not fit in all accounts. This enormous creature that God created had a tail resembling that of a very tall cedar tree. And it is obvious that the hippo does not fit that description.

King David

“So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people.” 1 Chronicles 18:14

One of the more well-known figures in the Old Testament, King David, is famous for defeating Goliath, ruling the Kingdom of Israel, and having Solomon as a son.

According to the Biblical Archaeology Society, Archaeologists in northern Israel discovered the broken stone slab known as the Tel Dan Stele in 1993. The carved stone monument honors a Damascus king’s victory over two rival enemies.

The phrase was translated as “House of David,” according to archaeologists. Most historians accept this inscription as evidence of the existence of a royal house in the Ancient Near East that bore the biblical character’s name.

Jesus’s Home in Nazareth

“When Mary and Joseph had completed everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown, Nazareth in Galilee.” Luke 2:39

According to Artnet News, Archaeologist Ken Dark claims that Jesus’ childhood home may have been discovered beneath the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Nazareth, Israel. A first-century “courtyard house” was found during the excavation.

The remains match the description in the seventh-century pilgrim account De Locus Sanctis, indicating that the courtyard house located beneath the convent may have served as Jesus’ home in Nazareth.

Solomon’s Temple

“He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him.” 1 Chronicles 28:6.

According to the Bible, Solomon’s Temple was built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where an angel of God had appeared to David.

In 2010, according to Discover Magazine, a group of archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the direction of Eilat Mazar claimed to have found a monumentally large wall segment while excavating in Jerusalem’s Old City.

According to some radiocarbon dates, the site was occupied during Solomon’s reign. “This is the first time that a structure from that time has been found that may correlate with written descriptions of Solomon’s building in Jerusalem,” Mazar stated.

Noah’s Ark

The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” Genesis 7:1.

As reported by Israel Hayom, Archaeologists working on the Noah’s Ark Scans project have discovered a massive shape in the Turkish mountains whose dimensions correspond to those of Noah’s Ark, according to their advanced 3D scans.

It’s important to approach these historical and archaeological connections with an understanding that they provide context but may not always provide definitive proof for every aspect of the biblical narrative.

The Bible serves multiple purposes beyond historical documentation, including spiritual guidance and moral teachings, and its interpretation can vary based on individual faith perspectives.