In this episode of Feasts of Reason, Matt Ward sits down with John Zachery to explore a fascinating and controversial question:

At what point does pattern recognition become proof?

Drawing on astronomy, historical chronology, ancient calendars, and statistical analysis, Zachery argues that the Book of Daniel contains a genuine prophecy predicting the destruction of Herod’s Temple centuries before it occurred — and that this supports the Christian worldview.

The conversation dives deep into:
• Biblical prophecy and the Book of Daniel
• Historical dating using astronomical records
• The destruction of Herod’s Temple in AD 70
• Pattern recognition, numerology, and statistical confidence
• The difference between prediction and interpretation
• Whether complicated models can produce certainty
• The role of belief in shaping scientific inquiry

While Matt accepts much of the underlying historical and astronomical dating, he repeatedly presses on a central question:

Does the text itself clearly predict the event — or are modern interpretations and numerical models being layered onto ambiguous language after the fact?

A civil but deeply probing conversation about faith, evidence, interpretation, and the limits of human reasoning.

Feasts of Reason is a podcast for curious minds exploring philosophy, religion, science, psychology, and the ideas shaping human flourishing.