And how have they been "debunked" because this is the first I've heard of it? I'm sure this information would be of special interest to biblical scholars from all religions.
How were the prophecies of Judah's return to Jerusalem debunked? Or Isaiah's prophecy about Christ? Why did the Hebrews institute animal sacrifice, if not to presage the sacrifice of Christ? This practice, which found its way into the four corners of the earth, was even polluted to the point of human sacrifice, but how did sacrifice begin? Did God simply enjoy the shedding of the blood of animals? But the earliest documents we have show that animal sacrifice was a teaching device. A lamb without blemish is how Christ was described, and just as water baptism represented the burial and resurrection of Christ, animal sacrifice pointed the way to his sacrifice. It was supposed to teach the Jews; however, as Isaiah wrote, they went "beyond the mark" and by the time Jesus appeared, they had lost all of the meaning.
I'd love to hear how biblical prophecies have all been debunked, and the reasoning behind that bold statement. The news is full of references to Israel, which the Lord, through Zechariah, said that in our day he would " make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. " Are you old enough to remember the 1968 war, or the war that happened when Israel was first established? I recall only the former, because in 1968 all the political pundits were writing that Israel was doomed. The nations round about gathered together to destroy Israel with overwhelming military superiority. What was accomplished in 1948 by an enormous military vicory over its neighbors -- dumb luck many thought -- would certainly not repeat itself. But in a surprise victory, Israel destroyed their enemies. Coming from the sea, Israel's warplanes caught the Egyptians completely off guard. Their air force was bombed before they could get off the ground and Egyptian soldiers left their sandals in the sand and fled for their lives, while the Israeli army moved south, painted Stars of David on the almost brand new tanks of the Egyptians, turned them around and used them against Egypt. They gained land to the north, south, east and west. The U.S. did not come to its aid, and after the war, negotiations began again; not for the existence of Israel but for the land it gained through a fantastic victory.
But prophecy was with the Jews. No one can destroy them, nor can they wrest Jerusalem away because the prophets said the Lord would set his face against Israel's enemies and leave them in ruin. So I suppose you can debunk that. These prophecies, along with the others, are far more specific than Nostradamus could even dream about.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come again st Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12)
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. (Ezekiel 38)
These prophecies were written well before Christ, yet it speaks of him being "pierced" and Ezekiel even mentions the names of the nations that would, in the latter years, be arrayed against Israel. Every single nation that Ezekiel mentions is now an enemy of Israel, but they weren't in the days of the Greeks and Romans. How did Ezekiel know these nations would be Israel's enemies in our day? And how did Zechariah and Ezekiel know that Israel would be attacked and saved by miraculous events?
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