Ancient Ruins of The Ancient of Days

They were using it as a trash dump. None of the forces took notice of the old gate on a bare mound of land in northern Syria.

Had ISIS explored the area before being driven out in 2016, they would have found the ancient ruins of an early Christian church, a refuge for Christians from the Roman government.

Praise God they didn’t find it, or they most likely would have destroyed it.

These ancient ruins could date back to Christianity’s early existence under the Roman Empire. The significant discovery of this “hidden church” shows the possibility of a large population of Christians in this Roman province. They would have needed a refuge, a hiding place to escape Roman persecution. They would have needed a secret place to worship.

These tenacious early Christians carved out narrow tunnels which included channeled shelves, allowing light to flood the pathways. Worshipers would enter the gate guarded by a watchman, then pass through the tunnels to the place of worship. The tunnels likewise served as escape routes leading out other passages in case of discovery, with large stones used as hidden doors.

I had to chuckle at the thought of ISIS using the entrance leading to this place of God’s protective provision as a trash dump. God does indeed use the foolish things of this world, yes, even a trash dump.

With cleanup of the gate and tunnels underway, locals lead the excavation team to a second location. Inscribed with Christian symbols and strewn with litter, this second cave contained multiple rooms. Even a stray dog was sleeping inside. Researchers believe early churchgoers dug the cave and carved the symbols after they no longer had to hide, and their Christian faith was more accepted.

Deeper into the system of underground tunnels searchers found a “graveyard” where human remains still lie. Some speculate this graveyard was a place to bury high-ranking church clergy.

In September 2017, the archeological team began the cleanup process on the second site. According to some researchers, it is probable other ruins are likely in the area. However, residential buildings above the site could cause excavation to be difficult.

The early church had an indelible level of commitment. They met to praise and worship knowing it could mean their lives.

In John 2:13-22, we read the account of Jesus clearing the temple near the time of Passover. When he saw the money-changers and merchants, he drove out the cattle and flipped the dealer’s tables, scattering their coins over the floor. The Son of God demanded they stop turning his Father’s house into a marketplace.

As his disciples watched, Jesus’s actions reminded them of a prophecy from Scripture:

“Passion for your house has consumed me…” Psalms 69:9  

Jesus so angered the Jewish leaders, they pressed him to prove his authority and show them a miraculous sign.

Jesus agreed, turning the tables once again by challenging them to destroy the temple and then he would rebuild it in three days.

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  ~John 2:19  

For all their pious indignation, they didn’t understand that the savior of the world was speaking of himself, and the sacrifice he would soon willing make by laying down his own life.

They were blind to the real temple, just as ISIS was blind to the sacred ancient ruins they had covered with trash.

While the ruins uncovered in Syria are not the actual “church”, for we know we as believers are the church, they certainly show us the commitment of a strong, faithful body of believers, who braved their own terrorists to worship and serve the one true god, Jehovah.

“But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.” ~John 2:21,22

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