(light upbeat music) - Adventurer and geologist Karl Mauch could hardly believe his
eyes as he and his party exploring in the heart of Southern Africa, stepped out of the bush one day in 1871. Before him was one of the most stunning ancient stone monuments in the world. Scattered across the hill
and valley in front of him was a network of mysterious ruins, buildings, towers, and walls, all expertly worked in stone. They seemed hauntingly out of place, in a landscape whose
only other architecture was the simple timeless mud hut. Mauch had stumbled upon
the Great Zimbabwe, a long abandoned city of stone. It's the largest collection
of ruins in Africa south of the Sahara and testament to a culture of immense wealth and
great architectural skill. All the towers and structures were built out of millions of stones, balanced perfectly on top of one another, without the aid of mortar. Great Zimbabwe is a masterpiece
of stone craftsmanship. But who built this mysterious stone city? When was it built and why? As Mauch wandered through
the abandoned city and examined the stone buildings, he was convinced he had discovered at last the legendary gold mines of King Solomon. Join me on a journey into
the heart of southern Africa as we explore this
amazing kingdom of stone and discover its secrets. And you may be surprised
at just what we discover, because we will uncover an
ancient message in stone that's relevant to us today. It's a message that could bring you peace and change your life forever. The legend of King Solomon's gold mines has long haunted the minds
of Arabs and Europeans alike. According to the bible, King Solomon, the wise son of David, ruled in Jerusalem from 970 to 930 BC. He was Israel's third king and ruled during the nation's golden age. Solomon was renown for
his wisdom and his riches. The crowning achievement of
Solomon's illustrious reign was the erection of a magnificent temple on Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was a monument to God and a permanent home for the
sacred Ark of the Covenant. Solomon spared no
expense on this building. In fact, Solomon's temple was perhaps the most beautiful building this world has ever seen. Everything inside was gold, the dishes, bowls, lamps, lamp stands, and 500 shields were
all made of solid gold. But that wasn't all. Notice what the bible says
in 1st Kings chapter six verses 20 to 30. Solomon built the temple and lined its walls
inside with cedar boards. He overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also covered the floors of both the inner and
outer rooms with gold. A golden temple. Walk inside and all
you would see was gold. All the furniture was solid gold. Then the walls, the ceiling, and even the floors were
all covered with pure gold. No wonder many people
believed that Solomon's temple was the most magnificent
edifice ever built, a golden temple. The idea is breathtaking. King Solomon's temple was a glory of gold. By the end of his reign it's estimated that
Solomon had accumulated over 500 tonnes of gold. Today it would be worth not billions but trillions of dollars. Well, the bible provides a
clue in 1st Kings chapter 10 where it tells of the Queen of Sheba's royal visit to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon. Now not only was Solomon renown
for his wisdom and riches, but he was also a man
of charm and romance. The Queen of Sheba heard reports
of Solomon's great wisdom and went to investigate. He surpassed her every expectation. She gave him a large quantity of gold as well as precious stones and spices. The gift of gold amounted to 120 talents, roughly 20 tonnes. Solomon was also captivated
by the queen's visit and gave her all that she
desired, whatever she asked for, and the two entered into trade agreements between their two countries. As a result, Solomon's navy, his ships, brought gold from the land of Ophir. Notice what the bible says
in 1st Kings chapter 10. The Queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem with very much gold. She gave the king 120 talents of gold, and the king had a navy
and the navy also of Hiram brought gold from Ophir. King Solomon exceeded all
the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. So we are told that all this gold came from the land of Ophir. But that's where the clues
stop and the trail goes cold. Out of this mystery grew the
legend that was to obsess adventurers, explorers, and
treasure hunters for centuries, and drive the search for King
Solomon's fabled gold mines. The Dutch, the Portuguese,
and Arab traders conducted unsuccessful expeditions to find the legendary gold mines of Ophir. Finally in 1871 a young German
adventurer and geologist called Karl Mauch, set off into the interior of Africa in search of the mysterious
gold mines of King Solomon. His search led him here
to the Great Zimbabwe. Scattered across the hill
and valley in front of him was a network of stone ruins. These edifices were expertly
constructed in stone and seemed so out of place in a land where mud huts were the norm. He realised that he had
stumbled upon something amazing. The mystery of the place
was almost palpable and eerie silence brooded over
the stone wonder before him. Beneath that pall of silence, and here at the heart of the ruins, Mauch found a huge enclosure
with granite walls, 11 metres high and seven
metres thick in places. This stone enclosure was
known to the local natives as Mumbahuru or the house of the great woman. And it didn't take Mauch long to succumb to his own wishful thinking and jump to the conclusion
that the great woman must be the legendary Queen of Sheba. Then of course Great Zimbabwe, by the same stretch of the imagination, must have been the capital
of the kingdom of Ophir and the site of the fabled gold mines of Israel's King Solomon. But Mauch was wrong, as were a host of other later
explorers and historians who believed that black Africans could never have constructed
something as elaborate as the Great Zimbabwe. However, the truth is that Great Zimbabwe had once been the trading
and religious capital of a great black African empire. In fact, parts of it were built as early as the 2nd or 3rd century AD by the ancestors of the very natives, who first led Karl Mauch to the site. Over a period of more than 1000 years Great Zimbabwe grew and developed into the magnificent capital
of an African kingdom. It consisted of ceremonial shrines, royal palaces, passageways,
granaries, and forts. During the Mediaeval period the simple ruins and surrounding valley would've supported a
population of upwards to 20,000 and was one of the most
significant civilizations in the world, with trading
links stretching as far away as India, Persia, and China. Nowhere in this great stone complex was there a straight
wall or a right angle. And no where was any mortar used to bind the granite rocks together. All the towers and structures were built out of millions of stones balanced perfectly on top of one another without the aid of mortar. Great Zimbabwe is a masterpiece
of stone craftsmanship. The ruins of the complex are divided into three main sections: the great enclosure, the valley ruins, and the hill fortress. The great enclosure, a massive oval shaped structure, is the heart of the complex. This was apparently the
palace of the great chief who ruled this kingdom of stone. The great enclosure is the largest single
ancient structure in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. The outer wall is about 250 metres long and in places it's 11 metres
high and seven metres wide. 15,000 tonnes of granite was used to construct the great enclosure. And again, no mortar was used to hold any of the
granite blocks together. They were laid in brick like courses and fitted together with precision and sometimes capped with decorative chevron shaped border designs. The valley ruins consist
of scattered stone edifices as well as a large number of mounds that are the remains of
earthen and brick structures that may once have rivalled the
stone buildings in grandeur. The valley complex is
where the citizens lived, and was possibly the busiest
part of the stone city. Beyond the valley ruins the hill fortress is located
on top of a steep sided 100 metre high hill. It's the oldest section of the complex and in early times was a place of refuge and used as a fortress. In times of danger and when under threat the citizens would've found
safety in the hill fortress. Later it developed into
more of a ceremonial and religious centre. The hilltop fortress is reached by climbing a narrow twisting stairway that squeezes between
outcrops of natural rock and allows only one
person at a time to pass. This would've made the fort
easier for the inhabitants to defend when attacked. Near the summit there's a
wall with four solid towers that gives the appearance of
a traditional fortification. From here the inhabitants could look down into the valley below and keep an eye on approaching danger. On the summit of the hill there are stone walls and towers that creep from rock to rock and create a labyrinth of enclosures. The defenders incorporated
natural granite boulders and rectangular blocks to form walls up to six metres thick and 11 metres high. Within the walls there are
remains of earthen structures which may have been houses
for soldiers or priests. Because of the security
provided by the hill fortress it was considered a royal city and was the residence
of successive chiefs. The kings kept many of
their treasures here, including eight carved sandstone birds which were discovered nearby. The hilltop fort's narrow
partly covered passageways and high walls provided safety in times of danger and a secure place to
store the royal treasures. But this hilltop fortress couldn't save this kingdom of stone, its king, and its citizens. This civilization disappeared and left no record of a
written language behind, which makes Great Zimbabwe,
the kingdom of stone, one of the truly lost
civilizations of the world. But it did leave a message
behind, an important one. Yes, this hilltop fortress carved out of stone, carries an important message for us today. It's a reminder that down through history cities and civilizations
needed a place of safety, a place were citizens could
find refuge and safety in time of danger. But it's not only ancient cities that need a fortress, a place of refuge. We do too. Yes, we need a fortress, a place of refuge where we can find true peace and safety in times of stress and danger. We too need a fortress that's
strong, reliable, and enduring because let's face it, we
all have our challenges. It may be panic or stress
over work deadlines, or bills we're struggling to pay. It may be relationship
conflicts or ill health. It may be the betrayal of a
friend or the loss of a job. It may be physical or spiritual battles. When things like this happen, we need a refuge, a place of safety, and so we all have our own
fortresses that we run to when we face overwhelming circumstances. These fortresses can
take the shape of people or relationships. They can also be material
things in our lives that we think will bring us happiness and take our minds off our
problems and difficulties. But sadly all too often
these fortresses let us down and fail us, particularly
when we need them most. If you've had an experience like that, or are looking for a fortress
that you can depend on, a fortress that will always protect you and never let you down, regardless of who or
what is attacking you, then I'd like to recommend
the one true fortress that will always protect you, the fortress that will never let you down. Notice what the bible says in
Psalm 91 verses one and two. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust." Yes, the bible talks about a fortress too. It says that God is like a fortress. He's strong and reliable. That's how God is. And because he's so strong,
he can keep us safe. Things can attack but the walls will hold. God protects us and gives
us a safe place to hide when we're afraid,
attacked, or threatened. When we trust in God, he
becomes our safe place. So next time you're in
trouble, run to Fort God. He will save you and protect you. That's what Martin Luther did. He was a priest who lived
in Germany 500 years ago, back in the 16th century. He began to read and study the bible and he realised that the mediaeval church had departed from the bible
and the teachings of Jesus. The church had fallen away
from truths of the bible. This really concerned Luther and so he publicly disagreed
with the corruption and false teaching that
had infiltrated the church. Martin Luther then took a
bold and dangerous step. He nailed a paper to the
door of the cathedral where he lived in Wittenberg, Germany. On the paper he had written 95 complaints against the corruption and
false teachings of the church. It's known as the 95 Theses. It went down in history as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The protest that were written
that day for the public to see began the most dramatic
reform within Christianity. And it didn't take long after the appearance of the 95 Theses, these complaints for discontent
to grow into conflict. Some Christians wanted to
change and follow the bible and some didn't. Some even said that Martin
Luther should be burned alive. Because he wanted to follow
the teachings of the bible he was declared a heretic and an outlaw to be captured and killed on sight. He was in real danger. He faced years of trials and persecution. Fearing for Martin Luther's safety a sympathetic friend led him into the protection of his fort, his castle, and it was in this fortress that Martin Luther reaffirmed
the strength and comfort of a mighty God. While hiding away he continued reading
and studying his bible and the words of Psalm 46 came
alive and vibrant for him. Here is what it says in
Psalm 46 verses one and two. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Those words inspired him to write one of the most famous hymns of all time, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. It was a bold affirmation of
our powerful and loving God. Listen to the words of the first verse. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing, our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal. The four verses form a
single continuous whole that progressively tells
of the Christian journey through this world. It covers the full sweep
of the Christian's life. The song declares our
absolute reliance on God and his absolute power over
the forces of darkness. A Mighty Fortress became a
rallying cry for the reformation and a source of great strength
for the common people. It was sung in the streets. It was sung by poor protestant immigrants on their way into exile, and by martyrs at their death. It's been translated into
nearly every language, and 500 years later it's
still a source of comfort for many people today. A mighty fortress is our God, gives us hope amidst
the struggles of life. The words still ring true today. When the storms of life blow in around us, we can find refuge in the
mighty fortress of our God. The words of Martin Luther's hymn also remind us that we're in the midst
of a great controversy the universal war between good and evil. We're reminded that our
ancient foe, the devil, constantly strives to bring us down. And haven't we all experienced the harshness of Satan's attacks? He often strikes at our weakest point, telling us lies and tempting us to give into despair and sin. He's a formidable enemy. But here's the good news. He's also a defeated enemy. He's doomed. And in the words of A Mighty Fortress we find assurance that
Satan won't triumph. Let's remember we're on the right side in this great conflict. We will win the battle, but not because of our own strength. As the hymn so eloquently says, our striving would be losing. No, the victory is ours. Only when we take refuge in our mighty fortress, Jesus Christ. So the next time you're surrounded
by life's stormy weather, when you feel under attack, when you feel fear or
pain or disappointment, when your circumstances
seem about to overwhelm you, remember there is a safe place, a shelter from harm. God is your fortress, a safe place above the dangers of life, high above your enemies. God knows all about the
challenges that you are facing. He has a safe place for you and his protection is limitless. Notice what the bible says in Nahum chapter one and verse seven. The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble. And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Yes, God knows all about you and wants to protect you. So if you feel like you're
fighting every battle alone and need a place of refuge, remember, God is your
protection and strength in your time of need. And remember the words of our hymn, instead of trying to win the battle with your own feeble efforts, turn instead to the mighty fortress. When you put your struggles
in the hands of God, you can be confident that
you'll survive the battle. Why not decide to call on
Him, the mighty fortress, today as we pray? Our dear heavenly Father, you are our saviour and our deliverer, you are our refuge and
our place of safety. We are so grateful that
you are a powerful God, a mighty fortress, and that in our times of trouble and during the storms of life, we can find safety and refuge in you. You are bigger than anything
that comes against us, or anything that rages within us. We commit our lives to you and pray for your continued
blessing and guidance in our lives and we ask this in Jesus' name, amen. The Great Zimbabwe is one of the most stunning
ancient monuments in the world. It's the largest collection
of ruins in Africa, south of the Sahara. All the towers and structures were built out of millions of stones, balanced perfectly on top of one another, without the aid of mortar. The Great Zimbabwe uncovers
an ancient message in stone that's relevant to us today. If you're battling the challenges of life and are looking for a fortress
that you can depend on, a fortress that will always protect you and never let you down, then I'd like to recommend
the free gift we have for all our viewers today. It's the book Utopia. This book is our gift to you and is absolutely free. There are no cost or
obligations whatsoever. Thousands have been blessed
and inspired by this book Utopia. So please, don't miss
this wonderful opportunity to receive the gift we have for you today. Here's the information you need. Phone or text us at 0436 333 555 or visit our website www.tij.tv to request today's free offer
and we'll send it to you totally free of charge
and with no obligation. So don't delay. Call or text 0436 333 555 in Australia or 020 422 2042 New Zealand or visit our website www.tij.tv to request today's offer. Write to us at PO Box 5101 Dora Creek New South Wales 2264 Australia. Or PO Box 76673 Manukau, Auckland 2241 New Zealand. Don't delay. Call or text us now. If you've enjoyed today's
journey to the Great Zimbabwe and our reflections on
the mighty fortress, be sure to join us again next week when we will share another
of life's journeys together and experience another new and
thought-provoking perspective on the peace, insight,
understanding and hope that only the bible can give us. The Incredible Journey truly is television that changes lives. Until next week remember the ultimate destination
of life's journey. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth and God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying, there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (light upbeat music)
