A creepy Bible story about an ancestor of Jesus can be true, suggests a stunning new proof of Armageddon.
In the book of Revelation, Armageddon is where the Apocalyptic last collision takes place between good and evil before a new world is born.
Nowadays known as tel Megiddo, the site is also where King Josiah, an ancestor of Jesus, was killed by the Egyptian pharaoh, Necho II, according to the Bible.
Now the first archaeological evidence has been found to support the story, after excavations revealed proof of an Egyptian presence on the site during the time of Josiah.
Assaf Kleiman of Ben Gurion University, co-author of a new study about the discoveries, said that the findings were a 'big surprise' for archaeologists.
He said: 'Our recent excavations near the administrative quarter of Megiddo revealed the remains of a large structure from the late seventh century BC.
'Within this building we have imported large amounts of rough and rough and straw-stamped pottery vessels from Egypt, as well as a few East Greek barrels.
“The exposure of these findings was a big surprise for our team, because they have not been dug up in Megiddo so far.”
Archaeologists have discovered the evidence that a creepy story from the Bible about the ancestor of Jesus can be true. New discoveries at Armageddon, today known as Tel Megiddo (photo), point to the reality of a biblical battle
In the book of Revelation, Armageddon is where the Apocalyptic last collision takes place between good and evil before a new world is born. The name 'Armageddon' comes from the Hebrew word 'Har Megiddo' which means 'Hill of Megiddo'
The Greek barrels offer a tempting indication, believe archaeologists.
Dr. Co-author. Kleiman, Israel Finkelstein of the University of Haifa and Tel Aviv University, said: 'The Greek earthenware is usually considered to represent Greek mercenaries.
'From sources such as Herodotus and the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, we know that Greeks from Anatolia served as mercenaries in the Egyptian army.
“This scenario can be linked to the Biblical report on the killing of King Josiah of Judah by Pharaoh Necho in Megiddo in 609 BC.”
Josiah, who is called the last good king of Judah, is described as a religious reformer in the Bible and ends the worship of every God except Yahweh.
He is also mentioned as a paternal ancestor of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
The Old Testament gives varied reports of his death.
Dr. Finkelstein said: 'The Bible tells about the death of Josiah on Megiddo in two places.
The city of Tel Megiddo (photo) is where King Josiah, an ancestor of Jesus, was killed by the Egyptian pharaoh, Necho II, according to the Bible.
Archaeologists have now found Greek pottery that may have been used by Greek mercenaries in the army of Necho
'He is killed by Necho during a meeting in Megiddo in the Book of Kings, and killed in a battle with the Egyptians in the Book of Chronicles.
'Kings gives evidence close to' real-time ', while Chronicles represents centuries-slater-veryer thoughts.
'In this background, the new evidence for an Egyptian garrison, possibly with Greek mercenaries, can offer the background of the event in Megiddo in the late seventh century BC.
“Moreover, the Bible in two places in prophetic works, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, that West -Anatolians – Lydians – were involved in killing Josiah.”
The Hebrew name of the site, Har Megiddo – what does Mount Megiddo mean – was made harmful in Greek, which led to the modern name, Armageddon.
Why Josiah was killed is debated.
Some say that he and his army blocked the path of Necho II, who was to Syria with his troops to Syria.
Others say he was called up as a vassal and executed after he has not brought enough tribute to Egypt.
The discovery of pottery fragments in the area suggests that the armed forces of Necho may have been in the field of Tel Megiddo or Armageddon in the time the Bible was described
Most of the city of Megiddo (photo) has already been excavated, but this new discovery suggests
It has even been suggested that Josiah's death is the reason for his apocalyptic reputation.
Although this new proof does not tell us much about the details of the death of Josiah, it points to the military presence of Necho in Armageddon around that time.
'It would be useful to the [final] Fight out of it because of the history of Israel of that location, “Hope Bolinger argues on Christianity.com.
Dr. Kleiman, Dr. Finkelstein and their colleagues Matthew Adams and Alexander Fantalkin published their studies in the Scandinavian magazine of the Old Testament.
