There are approximately 2500 prophecies in the Bible, and about 2000 of them have already been literally fulfilled. In other words, those 2000 Bible prophecies have happened exactly as the Bible foretold they would. Born again Bible scholars point out that the accurate fulfillment of 2000 prophecies proves the Bible is the inspired Word of God. However, there are many "Christian" Bible scholars who question the authorship, the content, and the stated dates of the writing of its contents. I spent four years in seminary classes, "being taught" by such "wise and learned men." Thank God I had been given a solid foundation of Bible doctrine before my faith was challenged by "professors" (pun intended). Many of them said the Bible was little more than religious myth, and compared it to the Epic of Gilgamesh. One actually said that there was no such thing as a miracle, but that they were "a mystic exaggeration of coincidence."
Many base their objection to the authenticity of God's Word on the belief that prophecies were recorded after the events had occurred. The most common example was the date of the writing of the Book of Daniel, because he named the empires of Medo-Persia and Greece (Dan. 5:28; 10:20), and identified the Roman Empire as conquering Greece and being the one that would kill Israel's Messiah (Dan. 9:24-27), they say it was written after the Crucifixion of Christ. Of course, since Daniel is in the Septuagint, which was written approximately 200 B.C., their argument is ludicrous.
Many Jewish Bible scholars point to the fact that Jesus did not fulfill those prophecies which foretell of the Son of David reestablishing His throne. Like those at the time of Christ's appearing, they are still looking for an earthly king to come defeat their enemies. What they have yet to comprehend is that the Christ, God's Anointed, would come twice. He would come, first as their Savior, their "Passover Lamb" (Jn. 1:29, 35; 1 Cor. 5:7), and He would come again as their Lord, as their "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Rev. 5:5; 19:11-21).
Even His disciples questioned His determination to be sacrificed (Matt. 16:21-23). And again, after His Resurrection, they still believed He would establish His Kingdom during their lifetime (Acts 1:6). Two of His disciples did not believe He had risen, and were headed home to Emmaus. Jesus joined them, "and said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Lk. 24:25-27).
There are approximately 500 prophecies left to be fulfilled. They address the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation of Israel, the Second Coming of Christ, His Millennial Kingdom, etc. And, just as the first 2000 were fulfilled literally, born again believers know that they too will be fulfilled literally! We also know that after that, the doubters, skeptics, and scoffers will be silenced, once and for all! Praise God!
Posts
