Most of us know about Jesus' prophecy in Luke 20:43,44, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the fulfillment of this prophecy about 40 years later in AD 70. There is a lesser known fulfillment of another prediction by Jesus concerning the three cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. From the book "The Best of Josh McDowell, a Ready Defense", compiled by Bill Wilson, we quote:
"We read in the New Testament of ancient cities which were beautifully situated on or near the shores of the Sea of Galilee. These four cities were Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Tiberias. Three of these cities have perished. Only the last named is standing today.
In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus foretold that Chorazin and Bethsaida will incur a greater judgment than Tyre and Sidon, and that Capernaum will suffer a worse fate than the city of Sodom.
Though there is recorded no specific prophecy on how the cities were to be destroyed, the unmistakable mark of God's judgment and displeasure is on the brow of the three cities. History records a distinct story for these cities.
George Davis in his 'Bible Prophecies Fulfilled Today' records that "an earthquake destroyed Capernaum about AD 400 and doubtless Chorazin and Bethsaida perished at the same time." David explains:
Ancient Bethsaida's situation on the shore of the Sea of Galilee had been so beautiful that about AD 700, King Albalid 1 of Damascus decided to build a magnificent winter palace on the site of the ruined city. For 15 years his workmen labored erecting the palace. Then King Albalid died, and the great palace was never completed. As the centuries rolled by, the palace became mere ruins. Today about all that remains of its former grandeur are some foundation stones and some unfinished mosaic flooring. Archaeologists have covered up this mosaic with sand, lest it too should be carried away by vandals, and thus all traces of the palace should be lost.
Davis explains the situation of Capernaum:
For long centuries the synagogue lay buried under the earth like the rest of the destroyed city... A man conceived the idea of restoring the ancient synagogue from its ruins. At length part of the walls of the building were re-erected, and a number of the pillars were put in their places.
Then the unexpected happened. The architect of the partly restored synagogue suddenly died - just as King Albalid had died centuries ago before his palace in Bethsaida was completed.
Unger's Bible Dictionary sums up the plight of the three doomed cities:
The doom pronounced against Capernaum and the other unbelieving cities (Matthew 11:23) has been remarkably fulfilled. Tell Hum, its now generally accepted site, is a mess of ruins adjacent to Bethsaida and Tabgha, and yielded a third century AD synagogue when excavated.
Davis concludes the prophecy with these comments: "Not one word of judgment was pronounced on the city of Tiberias by our Lord. It has been partly destroyed several times but it has always been rebuilt."
Davis adds:
Each time we have visited Tiberias and the area around the Sea of Galilee we have been impressed anew with the truthfulness and the supernatural inspiration of the Word of God. There are the ruins of three cities, destroyed exactly as foretold by our Lord, and one city, Tiberias, upon which no word of judgment was uttered, still standing and flourishing after 19 long centuries."
I, myself have visited Tiberias, the one city among the four mentioned above that Jesus did not condemn, and have found it beautiful and alive. But the three cities He did condemn about 2000 years ago, are still ruins today. Coincidence?
By George Konig
Oct. 31, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
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