Bible’s Unity in 70 Books: Timeline, Symbols & Messiah Watermark

The Bible proves itself (1)

15-07-2025 - Posted by Geert-Jan
Originally posted on July 11, 2025 – by Andre Piet

The Bible is not an ordinary collection of books. It is a library of writings that emerged over the centuries, written by very different people in widely varying circumstances. Yet this library forms a miraculous unity. It is precisely this unity—expressed in structure, message, and prophetic coherence—that proves its divine origin.

Just as a lion proves itself by its strength, so the Bible proves itself when it is opened. No external defense is needed: its power lies in its content and coherence.

The Bible comprises seventy books

It is often stated that the Bible consists of 66 books. But the book of Psalms itself comprises five separate books (Psalms 1–41, 42–72, 73–89, 90–106, and 107–150), as the Bible itself indicates. When these are counted correctly, the total comes to 70 books.

The number seventy holds significance in Scripture. Seven speaks of divine completeness, and seventy is the multiple of that. This stands in sharp contrast to 66 or 666, numbers that denote human incompleteness (Revelation 13:18).

Even in the number of books it contains, the Bible bears a divine stamp.

Many authors, one whole

The books of the Bible originated over a period of about 4,000 years. Genesis alone spans more than 2,000 years of history, compiled from the chronicles (toledoth) of patriarchs such as Adam, Noah, Terah, Isaac, and Jacob. The other Hebrew books arose from the time of Moses to Malachi (about 1,000 years), and the Greek writings in the first century of our era.

The authors came from completely different backgrounds: kings and shepherds, fishermen and physicians, tax officials and prophets. The books were written in deserts, palaces, prisons, in Asia, Africa, and Europe. They reflect diverse moods: joy, sorrow, hope, and despair.

Despite this human diversity, the content of the Bible is one. This indicates a divine origin.

Scripture explains itself

The Bible speaks of itself as “the Scripture” (singular), even though it consists of many “Scriptures” (plural). Jesus says, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). This underscores that the whole must be understood as a unity. Peter also writes, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). Prophecies explain each other. Thus the Bible interprets itself: one passage explains another.

Scripture is like a puzzle whose pieces fall into place when connected. The result is one whole, not a loose collection.

The coherent timeline

One example of this unity is found in the chronology of the Bible. The individual books supply puzzle pieces for an accurate timeline:

From Adam to Abraham: 2,000 years.
From Abraham to the Exodus: 500 years—equivalent to ten jubilee cycles.
From the Exodus to Solomon’s completion of the temple: another 500 years.
From the temple to the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the exile: another 500 years.
From the rebuilding to the coming of the Messiah: again 500 years.

Such coherence across thousands of years, from different books, points to one Architect who oversees the whole.

Elim: twelve wells and seventy palm trees

In Exodus 15:27 we read that Israel came to Elim, where there were twelve water springs and seventy palm trees. These numbers are undoubtedly literal, but their meaning is profoundly symbolic:

The twelve springs refer to the twelve tribes of Israel, to whom the words of God were entrusted (Romans 3:2).
The seventy palm trees refer to the seventy nations, as listed in Genesis 10.

Israel receives the water (the Word), and through Israel the nations are blessed. This is later shown in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible—the Septuagint (“seventy”)—by which the Word became accessible to the Gentiles.

The watermark of the Messiah

Beneath the surface of all histories, laws, and prophecies lies a hidden “watermark”: foreshadowing the Messiah. Whenever Scripture is held “to the light,” His image appears. Consider, for example, the recurring motif of “the third day.” On the third day…

… the land emerges from the waters and life appears (Genesis 1:9–13).
… Abraham receives his son back from the dead (Genesis 22:4).
… Israel crosses the Jordan (Joshua 3:2).
… Dagon lies fallen and dismembered before the ark (1 Samuel 5:4).
… the terminally ill Hezekiah is restored and goes to the temple (2 Kings 20:5).
… Queen Esther receives the golden scepter (Esther 5:1).
… Jonah is delivered from the waters of death (Jonah 2:1).
… Jesus Christ arises from the dead as the firstfruit (1 Corinthians 15:4).
… and so on.

The red thread

But not only as a watermark beneath the surface; His coming as Redeemer runs through the whole Word as a red thread. Not just metaphorically; it is literally found in biblical history. The red thread, or scarlet cord, points to redemption:

At the birth of Zerah and Perez, a scarlet cord was tied to the wrist of the firstborn (Genesis 38:28).
Rahab ties a scarlet cord in her window as a sign of salvation at the fall of Jericho (Joshua 2:18).

This red thread runs as a symbol of redemption throughout the whole Scripture: pointing to the blood of the Lamb that brings salvation to the world. It is this thread that thematically connects the entire Bible.

Only a few examples…

These examples are just a selection from a wealth of data that the Bible provides. Chronological coherence, typological structures, prophetic connections, and thematic lines can be multiplied with countless other examples. Every biblical study brings new connections to light that testify to one divine Author. What has been mentioned here are just hints pointing in that direction.

One reason is often enough

In an old booklet, 57 reasons why we believe the Bible is the Word of God (by John Meldau), a striking comparison is made in the foreword. A judge asks why a man did not appear on the day he was summoned. The man’s son stands up and says, “I have sixteen reasons for that.” He begins: “The first reason is that my father died three months ago.” The judge responds: “You need not continue; that reason is sufficient for me.”

So it is with the proof that the Bible is the Word of God. The examples are plentiful, but often one reason is convincing enough to recognize: this is not the word of men, but the Word of God Himself.

Conclusion

The Bible is unique in its unity. Despite enormous differences in times, cultures, writers, and circumstances, its seventy books form one coherent whole. The chronological structure, prophetic patterns, symbolism, and message all point to one Origin: the living God.

Scripture proves itself and explains itself. Whoever reads it with an opened heart discovers that it speaks of Him who was to come: the Messiah, the Savior of the world.