Post by clrichardson on Aug 14, 2007 15:08:55 GMT -5
***This message is broken down into separate posts due to length***
The purpose of this thread is not to debate, but if anyone has any questions about Bible prophecy and its accuracy I would be happy to answer.
For those who believe the Bible is the Word of God, how do you know for sure? Consider Isaiah 41:21-23:
"Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob’s King. "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods."
We can be absolutely sure that the Bible is the Word of God because of its infallible prophetic, historic, and scientific accuracy. But the most amazing of these is prophecy, the foretelling of specific events to take place in the distant future. As of now we are rapidly running out of que-line prophecies. ALL of them have already been fulfilled except for the few that are specifically meant for the last days. Praise God. =)
The Bible's prophecies are rarely vague. More than 300 distinct prophecies were given for the Messiah alone, all of which are fulfilled in Yeshua Jesus Christ. A few other examples of fulfilled Bible prophecy are...
Samaria
Micah 1:6
Date: 750 BC.
“For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country, Planting places for a vineyard. I will pour her stones down into the valley, And will lay bare her foundations.” Micah 1:6, NASB.
Results
Samaria was still a thriving city 750 years later during the time of Christ, and is often mentioned in the New Testament. The city was finally destroyed and became a heap of stones and debris. Gradually over time the hill has been cleared; the foundation stones and other remains have been taken to the edge of the hill the city was built on and rolled down into the valley. It was plowed and is now the site a gardens and vineyards.
Gaza and Ashkelon
Zephaniah 2:4-6 Date: 630 BC.
Amos 1:8, Date: 787 BC.
Jeremiah 47:5, 600 BC.
“For Gaza will be abandoned, And Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon, And Ekron will be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; And I will destroy you, So that there will be no inhabitant. So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.” Zephaniah 2:4-6, NASB.
Results
When these prophecies were made the Philistines were the most powerful race in the country. Palestine means the land of the Philistines, but they have completely vanished.
A city of Gaza still exists today, so for a very long time this prophecy was believed to be wrong, or at very least unfulfilled. Finally, a careful study was made of the location of Gaza as recorded in the Bible and it was found that the current city of Gaza was not in the correct area. A search was made and the old city was found buried in the sand.
Ashkelon was one of the great cities in Palestine when the prophecy was written. Herod the Great embellished Ashkelon and established his summer resort there. But in 1270 AD., Sultan Bibars destroyed it and it has never been rebuilt. The seacoast of this area has become the grazing place for many flocks of sheep.Today it is dotted with shepherd huts and sheepfolds.
The Golden Gate of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 44:1-3
Date: 574 BC.
“Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. And the LORD said to me, "This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. "As for the prince, he shall sit in it as prince to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the same way."” Ezekiel 44:1-3, NASB.
Results
When this prophecy was written the road from the Kidron Valley entered through this gate, called the Golden Gate. This is the gate used during the time of Christ and is thought to be the gate through which He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In 1543 AD., when the walls were rebuilt by Sultan Suleiman, the road to the Golden Gate was no longer in use. The Sultan seeing no use for it, ordered it closed, but instead of building the wall straight across, he rebuilt the arches and ornaments then walled up the gates opening.
(http://www.bearvalleycofc.org/articles/Prophetic.html)
If someone wanted to destroy Christianity once and for all, all they would really have to do is open that gate and prove God a liar. But it can't be done, because God's not a liar. Even if every man in the world tried to open that gate it would not be opened.
To me, the most interesting Bible prophecies are the ones we're seeing fulfilled today. The end times prophecies. Here are a few. Some are already happening, some have happened, and some are going to happen soon. See if they sound familiar...
1. False Bible teachers would be money hungry. They would be smooth talkers, have many followers, and slur the Christian faith (2 Peter 2:1-3).
2. Damascus would be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1, 14; Jeremiah 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5). Damascus, Syria is increasingly in the news and is extremely anti-Semitic. Many terrorist organizations have their bases in Damascus. God declares that they will become a ruinous heap because they have violently taken what was not theirs.
3. Global communications foreseen (Revelation 11:9-10; 17:8).
The Bible predicts that the entire world will "see" certain events unfold.
4. The Christian gospel would be preached as a warning to all nations (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10). Today, portions or all of the Bible have been translated into over 2,300 languages and dialects covering over 90% of the world's population.
5. There would be a move toward a global government (Daniel 2:40-44; 7:23; Revelation 13:7-8). The former Roman Empire - which encompassed present-day Europe - would revive and eventually dominate the world.
6. Literal Babylon (formerly called Babel) would reemerge in the land of Shinar - known today as Iraq (Zechariah 5:11; Genesis 10:10; Genesis 11:1-9; Isaiah 13). Saddam Hussein spent over 20 years and many hundreds of millions of dollars rebuilding the city of Babylon.
7. The possesion of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil (Zechariah 12:3). Almost daily the world news reports on the conflict over Jerusalem.
8. The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic Flood) would be denied (2 Peter 3:5-6). There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by the scientific world because of its uncanny implication.
9. Increased interest in vegetarianism anticipated (1 Timothy 4:3-4). The New Age Movement has swept the globe during the past 40 years popularizing this.
10. Many wars would erupt (Mark 13:7-8). According to Project Ploughshares, there are about 40 armed conflicts in the world today.
11. The earth would be filled with violence (Luke 17:26; Genesis 6:11-13). In the United States alone, violent crime has increased nearly 500% since 1960.
12. Knowledge would increase (Daniel 12:4; Isaiah 11:9). Specifically, this is referring to an understanding of Bible prophecy, but also an increase in scientific knowledge is implied.
13. Despite an increase in scientific knowledge, deadly diseases (which the Bible calls "pestilences") would be prevalent (Matthew 24:7).
Emerging diseases such as AIDS, Ebola, Hanta virus, Dengue, West Nile, SARS, etc., underscore this fact. Ironically, just a few decades ago, some scientists were forecasting that advances in medicine might soon eradicate deadly diseases.
14. There would be technology capable of tracking the world's population and commerce (Revelation 13:16-17).
15. Despite technological advancements, famines would be common (Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:5-8).
16. The ancient city of Petra (Sela - the rock city) in Jordan would exist and become the refuge for the fleeing Jews during the Tribulation (Isaiah 16:1-4; Matthew 24:16; Revelation 12:6, 14).
In 1994, Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty making Petra a potential refuge for fleeing Jews.
17. Russia (Magog) would rise as a military power and lead a surprise attack on Israel just prior to the final seven years of this age (Ezekiel 38). Today, most of the southern states of the former Soviet Union are both military powerhouses and Muslim.
18. Turkey (Meshech) would also turn on Israel in the same surprise attack (Ezekiel 38). In November of 2002, Turkey elected a pro-Islamic party to govern the country.
19. Iran (Persia), Sudan (Cush), and Libya (Put) would also partake in the surprise attack on Israel (Ezekiel 38).
Anti-Semitism in the Arab world is rampant. According to the Koran and Hadith, all Muslims are commanded to kill Jews, Christians, and non-believers in Jihad (holy war) unless they convert to Islam (Surahs 9:5 and 47:4; Volume 1, book 2, numbers 24 and 35).
20. Ironically, Egypt and Jordan would not participate in this surprise attack (Ezekiel 38). Astoundingly, they are the only two Arab nations that have signed a peace treaty with Israel. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 and Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
21. Birds of prey would eat the dead flesh of the enemy armies that fall in battle against Israel (Ezekiel 39:4, 17; Revelation 19:17-21).
It is a little known fact that Israel is the bird migration capital of the world. In fact, 500 million to 1.5 billion birds fly over Israel each spring. During the fall migration an estimated 1 to 4 billion birds traverse Israel. Many of these migratory birds are raptors - carrion (dead flesh) eating birds of prey. In fact, 34 species of raptors migrate over Israel.
22. Great signs from heaven predicted (Luke 21:11). Both natural and supernatural phenomena in the earth and sky appear to be increasing.
www.bible-prophecy.com/fearful.htm
23. The sun would scorch the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 16:8-9). Though this prophecy is clearly a divine judgment on unrepentant mankind, it is interesting that a compromise in the earth's atmosphere due to nuclear war or other ecological disaster could facilitate this judgment.
24. The nation Israel would be born in one day (Isaiah 66:8).
On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation.
25. The Jews would begin to regather in Israel (Jeremiah 31:7-10; Ezekiel 37:21-22; 38:8). 5.4 million and counting!
26. The Jews would regain control of biblical Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6; Luke 21:24).
This happened in 1967!
27. The nation of Israel, which had been divided into two kingdoms since the time of Solomon (950 B.C.) - Israel in the north and Judah in the south - would be one united nation in the last days (Ezekiel 37:15-17, Ezekiel 37:22). At present, as predicted, Israel is one nation.
28. The returning Jews would have no king in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5). Amazingly, not only is Israel no longer a theocracy, but today the Jewish state is governed by a democracy comprised of some 30 political parties.
29. During the diaspora (the dispersion of the Jews to the four corners of the globe), Israel would become a wasteland (Deuteronomy 29:23-28; Ezekiel 36:8-11; Ezekiel 36:33-36). During the past 1900 years Israel became a nearly uninhabited, desolate wasteland.
30. Israel, once a desolate desert, would blossom in the last days and export produce to the world (Isaiah 27:6; 35:1-2; Ezekiel 36:34-36). Israel's increased rainfall and world-renowned irrigation technology have caused the land to blossom.
Incredibly, as predicted, they currently export 800 million dollars worth of fresh produce each year.
31. Israel would once again plant vineyards on the mountains of Israel (Joel 3:17-18; Amos 9:13). Today, sweet wine flows from the Golan Heights and many other vineyards on the mountains of Israel.
32. The last days Jews would plant forests of trees. The Bible even specifies the variety of trees - cedar, acacia, myrtle, oil, cypress, pine, and box (Isaiah 41:18-20). This has happened in our day.
33. Though Israel would be the focus of many fulfilled prophecies, most Jews would remain blind to the fact that Jesus is their Messiah until the very end (Luke 19:41-42; Luke 13:34-35; Romans 11:25-26).
34. The Euphrates River would be dried up (Revelation 16:12). Today, the massive Ataturk Dam in Turkey, completed in 1990, can hold back the Euphrates to a trickle.
35. The nations would bud (Luke 21:29-33). In Scripture, the tree is often used figuratively of a nation (Ezekiel 31:3-6; Daniel 4:20-22). During the past century we have seen the end of the colonial era and the rapid growth in the number of newly formed independent nations.
The purpose of this thread is not to debate, but if anyone has any questions about Bible prophecy and its accuracy I would be happy to answer.
For those who believe the Bible is the Word of God, how do you know for sure? Consider Isaiah 41:21-23:
"Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob’s King. "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods."
We can be absolutely sure that the Bible is the Word of God because of its infallible prophetic, historic, and scientific accuracy. But the most amazing of these is prophecy, the foretelling of specific events to take place in the distant future. As of now we are rapidly running out of que-line prophecies. ALL of them have already been fulfilled except for the few that are specifically meant for the last days. Praise God. =)
The Bible's prophecies are rarely vague. More than 300 distinct prophecies were given for the Messiah alone, all of which are fulfilled in Yeshua Jesus Christ. A few other examples of fulfilled Bible prophecy are...
Samaria
Micah 1:6
Date: 750 BC.
“For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country, Planting places for a vineyard. I will pour her stones down into the valley, And will lay bare her foundations.” Micah 1:6, NASB.
Results
Samaria was still a thriving city 750 years later during the time of Christ, and is often mentioned in the New Testament. The city was finally destroyed and became a heap of stones and debris. Gradually over time the hill has been cleared; the foundation stones and other remains have been taken to the edge of the hill the city was built on and rolled down into the valley. It was plowed and is now the site a gardens and vineyards.
Gaza and Ashkelon
Zephaniah 2:4-6 Date: 630 BC.
Amos 1:8, Date: 787 BC.
Jeremiah 47:5, 600 BC.
“For Gaza will be abandoned, And Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon, And Ekron will be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; And I will destroy you, So that there will be no inhabitant. So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.” Zephaniah 2:4-6, NASB.
Results
When these prophecies were made the Philistines were the most powerful race in the country. Palestine means the land of the Philistines, but they have completely vanished.
A city of Gaza still exists today, so for a very long time this prophecy was believed to be wrong, or at very least unfulfilled. Finally, a careful study was made of the location of Gaza as recorded in the Bible and it was found that the current city of Gaza was not in the correct area. A search was made and the old city was found buried in the sand.
Ashkelon was one of the great cities in Palestine when the prophecy was written. Herod the Great embellished Ashkelon and established his summer resort there. But in 1270 AD., Sultan Bibars destroyed it and it has never been rebuilt. The seacoast of this area has become the grazing place for many flocks of sheep.Today it is dotted with shepherd huts and sheepfolds.
The Golden Gate of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 44:1-3
Date: 574 BC.
“Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. And the LORD said to me, "This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. "As for the prince, he shall sit in it as prince to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the same way."” Ezekiel 44:1-3, NASB.
Results
When this prophecy was written the road from the Kidron Valley entered through this gate, called the Golden Gate. This is the gate used during the time of Christ and is thought to be the gate through which He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In 1543 AD., when the walls were rebuilt by Sultan Suleiman, the road to the Golden Gate was no longer in use. The Sultan seeing no use for it, ordered it closed, but instead of building the wall straight across, he rebuilt the arches and ornaments then walled up the gates opening.
(http://www.bearvalleycofc.org/articles/Prophetic.html)
If someone wanted to destroy Christianity once and for all, all they would really have to do is open that gate and prove God a liar. But it can't be done, because God's not a liar. Even if every man in the world tried to open that gate it would not be opened.
To me, the most interesting Bible prophecies are the ones we're seeing fulfilled today. The end times prophecies. Here are a few. Some are already happening, some have happened, and some are going to happen soon. See if they sound familiar...
1. False Bible teachers would be money hungry. They would be smooth talkers, have many followers, and slur the Christian faith (2 Peter 2:1-3).
2. Damascus would be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1, 14; Jeremiah 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5). Damascus, Syria is increasingly in the news and is extremely anti-Semitic. Many terrorist organizations have their bases in Damascus. God declares that they will become a ruinous heap because they have violently taken what was not theirs.
3. Global communications foreseen (Revelation 11:9-10; 17:8).
The Bible predicts that the entire world will "see" certain events unfold.
4. The Christian gospel would be preached as a warning to all nations (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10). Today, portions or all of the Bible have been translated into over 2,300 languages and dialects covering over 90% of the world's population.
5. There would be a move toward a global government (Daniel 2:40-44; 7:23; Revelation 13:7-8). The former Roman Empire - which encompassed present-day Europe - would revive and eventually dominate the world.
6. Literal Babylon (formerly called Babel) would reemerge in the land of Shinar - known today as Iraq (Zechariah 5:11; Genesis 10:10; Genesis 11:1-9; Isaiah 13). Saddam Hussein spent over 20 years and many hundreds of millions of dollars rebuilding the city of Babylon.
7. The possesion of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil (Zechariah 12:3). Almost daily the world news reports on the conflict over Jerusalem.
8. The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic Flood) would be denied (2 Peter 3:5-6). There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by the scientific world because of its uncanny implication.
9. Increased interest in vegetarianism anticipated (1 Timothy 4:3-4). The New Age Movement has swept the globe during the past 40 years popularizing this.
10. Many wars would erupt (Mark 13:7-8). According to Project Ploughshares, there are about 40 armed conflicts in the world today.
11. The earth would be filled with violence (Luke 17:26; Genesis 6:11-13). In the United States alone, violent crime has increased nearly 500% since 1960.
12. Knowledge would increase (Daniel 12:4; Isaiah 11:9). Specifically, this is referring to an understanding of Bible prophecy, but also an increase in scientific knowledge is implied.
13. Despite an increase in scientific knowledge, deadly diseases (which the Bible calls "pestilences") would be prevalent (Matthew 24:7).
Emerging diseases such as AIDS, Ebola, Hanta virus, Dengue, West Nile, SARS, etc., underscore this fact. Ironically, just a few decades ago, some scientists were forecasting that advances in medicine might soon eradicate deadly diseases.
14. There would be technology capable of tracking the world's population and commerce (Revelation 13:16-17).
15. Despite technological advancements, famines would be common (Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:5-8).
16. The ancient city of Petra (Sela - the rock city) in Jordan would exist and become the refuge for the fleeing Jews during the Tribulation (Isaiah 16:1-4; Matthew 24:16; Revelation 12:6, 14).
In 1994, Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty making Petra a potential refuge for fleeing Jews.
17. Russia (Magog) would rise as a military power and lead a surprise attack on Israel just prior to the final seven years of this age (Ezekiel 38). Today, most of the southern states of the former Soviet Union are both military powerhouses and Muslim.
18. Turkey (Meshech) would also turn on Israel in the same surprise attack (Ezekiel 38). In November of 2002, Turkey elected a pro-Islamic party to govern the country.
19. Iran (Persia), Sudan (Cush), and Libya (Put) would also partake in the surprise attack on Israel (Ezekiel 38).
Anti-Semitism in the Arab world is rampant. According to the Koran and Hadith, all Muslims are commanded to kill Jews, Christians, and non-believers in Jihad (holy war) unless they convert to Islam (Surahs 9:5 and 47:4; Volume 1, book 2, numbers 24 and 35).
20. Ironically, Egypt and Jordan would not participate in this surprise attack (Ezekiel 38). Astoundingly, they are the only two Arab nations that have signed a peace treaty with Israel. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 and Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
21. Birds of prey would eat the dead flesh of the enemy armies that fall in battle against Israel (Ezekiel 39:4, 17; Revelation 19:17-21).
It is a little known fact that Israel is the bird migration capital of the world. In fact, 500 million to 1.5 billion birds fly over Israel each spring. During the fall migration an estimated 1 to 4 billion birds traverse Israel. Many of these migratory birds are raptors - carrion (dead flesh) eating birds of prey. In fact, 34 species of raptors migrate over Israel.
22. Great signs from heaven predicted (Luke 21:11). Both natural and supernatural phenomena in the earth and sky appear to be increasing.
www.bible-prophecy.com/fearful.htm
23. The sun would scorch the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 16:8-9). Though this prophecy is clearly a divine judgment on unrepentant mankind, it is interesting that a compromise in the earth's atmosphere due to nuclear war or other ecological disaster could facilitate this judgment.
24. The nation Israel would be born in one day (Isaiah 66:8).
On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation.
25. The Jews would begin to regather in Israel (Jeremiah 31:7-10; Ezekiel 37:21-22; 38:8). 5.4 million and counting!
26. The Jews would regain control of biblical Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6; Luke 21:24).
This happened in 1967!
27. The nation of Israel, which had been divided into two kingdoms since the time of Solomon (950 B.C.) - Israel in the north and Judah in the south - would be one united nation in the last days (Ezekiel 37:15-17, Ezekiel 37:22). At present, as predicted, Israel is one nation.
28. The returning Jews would have no king in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5). Amazingly, not only is Israel no longer a theocracy, but today the Jewish state is governed by a democracy comprised of some 30 political parties.
29. During the diaspora (the dispersion of the Jews to the four corners of the globe), Israel would become a wasteland (Deuteronomy 29:23-28; Ezekiel 36:8-11; Ezekiel 36:33-36). During the past 1900 years Israel became a nearly uninhabited, desolate wasteland.
30. Israel, once a desolate desert, would blossom in the last days and export produce to the world (Isaiah 27:6; 35:1-2; Ezekiel 36:34-36). Israel's increased rainfall and world-renowned irrigation technology have caused the land to blossom.
Incredibly, as predicted, they currently export 800 million dollars worth of fresh produce each year.
31. Israel would once again plant vineyards on the mountains of Israel (Joel 3:17-18; Amos 9:13). Today, sweet wine flows from the Golan Heights and many other vineyards on the mountains of Israel.
32. The last days Jews would plant forests of trees. The Bible even specifies the variety of trees - cedar, acacia, myrtle, oil, cypress, pine, and box (Isaiah 41:18-20). This has happened in our day.
33. Though Israel would be the focus of many fulfilled prophecies, most Jews would remain blind to the fact that Jesus is their Messiah until the very end (Luke 19:41-42; Luke 13:34-35; Romans 11:25-26).
34. The Euphrates River would be dried up (Revelation 16:12). Today, the massive Ataturk Dam in Turkey, completed in 1990, can hold back the Euphrates to a trickle.
35. The nations would bud (Luke 21:29-33). In Scripture, the tree is often used figuratively of a nation (Ezekiel 31:3-6; Daniel 4:20-22). During the past century we have seen the end of the colonial era and the rapid growth in the number of newly formed independent nations.