The oldest book in the world!
The Etruscan Gold Book – estimated to be 2,673 years old!
Thought to be the oldest multi-page book in the world, dating to about 660 BC, the Etruscan Gold Book was discovered 70 years ago whilst digging a canal off the Strouma River in Bulgaria. The book is made from 6 sheets of 24 carat gold, bound together with rings.
As we gather on Sunday we are going to take some more time to focus on The Table of The Lord. What has that got to do with the oldest book in the world you ask? During our time together I will be sharing briefly about a book the bible tells us was written before the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8 speaks of a book ‘from the foundation of the world ‘and it’s called; ‘The book of life of the Lamb who was slain’. This is mind boggling! So, how come we have a book published about the events of Calvary, the cruel and punishing death of Christ, that happened just over 2000 years ago, before even the world was made?
The foundational nature of the death of Jesus is largely underestimated. Scripture places the cross, which is the slaying of the Lamb of God, as the eternal cornerstone of all things. In fact the bible tells us that He was crucified before the foundation of the world. Not only that it is clear that the song we will sing for all eternity is ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and glory and blessing (Rev 5:12)’. It seems to me that there is just one song sung in heaven and we shall one day join with the myriads of angels and sing with them the same song – ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain’ So significant is this Lamb that it must be recorded in the pages of the first book ever to be written!
May God help us as we gather on Sunday to more fully comprehend the weight that God Himself places on the cross of Christ. Worthy is the Lamb!