In meditating upon the scriptures, I quickly come to two conclusions. It is inspired, timeless and deep. Secondly, it is mysterious and requires discernment. I have heard it compared to a fine tapestry which when looked at from the bottom is knots and apparent inconsistency yet when looked at from above reveals a meaningful picture. Certainly the hidden marvel in Genesis and the one mentioned prophecy regarding Israel are enough to warrant a closer look into issues used as ammunition by unbelievers. The Old and the New form a tremendously consistent message to humanity. Its Truth is on such a level that with unbridled honesty its writers are full of surprising admissions such as the disciples not even recognizing Jesus after he had resurrected. While this would hardly be helpful in a narrative aimed at convincing of the Deity of Jesus, the scriptures are impacting every century and culture with the claim to His resurrection! The Bible holds truth on a higher level. Rather than trying to make the heights of Truth palatable to us God has simply given us Jesus. We are left wrestling our minds around concepts such as the Trinity, Free will and Grace, Sovereignty and Suffering etc. God's answer - Jesus.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Prophetic Power of the Bible
I did the numbers within our calendar with my friend Nathanael since he is working on physics degree and does so much math, it was actually a bit embarrassing when I realized how easy the math was. This is the real deal.
I reflected upon the reality that the Bible is not a book of sterile pleasantries in my last post. Now add to the list, the Just God of the Bible is not an egalitarian humanist. He chose a people, the nation Israel from the midst of everyone else, regardless of what we may think of it!
Consider... The formation of modern Israel in 1948 as well as the results of the 1967 war for Jerusalem are prophesied in the Bible which we know to be much older than those of us who remember these events.
Israel left the land according to the prophets and were given specific time frame for their exile. In Jeremiah 25:11 70 years for sin then Ezekiel 4:3-6 adds greater judgment for continued sin together totaling 430 years. This as 360 year increase from the first seventy. After 70 years they repent and Persian King Cyrus grants that the Jews may return to Canaan, a small number take this opportunity and the second temple is built. However most Jews stay in captivity until the remaining 360 years of judgment is completed then nothing happens, no return to the land in accordance with Ezekiel... Leviticus 26:18 gives explanation. The Old Covenant states God will give 7 times the judgment if they do not repent for breaking the covenant. So we must multiply the remaining 360 unrepentant yrs x 7 = 2520 prophetic years. When converted into days in order to be useful with a modern calendar we get 907,200 days of punishment
Working backwards from the day of Israel's Independence; 14 May 1948 A.D. and subtracting 907,200 days we get 0537 BC. The date when only a small percentage of the Jews returned back to Judah under Persian king Cyrus. If we go back a further 70 years of 360 days (the initial time span prophesied by Jeremiah) we get 17 July 0606 B.C. The year 606 B.C. has been historically verified as the year in which Israel lost their Independence.
The time span from the rebirth of Israel as a nation in 1948 to the 6 Day War in 1967 is 19 years. The time from the loss of independence in 606 B.C. to the time of the loss of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. was also 19 year. This reflects God's judgment on city and nation separately Daniel 9:24
The judgment on the city of Jerusalem began with the annihilation of the city of Jerusalem and the Solomon's Temple in 587 B.C. According to Jeremiah it was punishment for not yielding to the "Servitude of the Nation" which began in 606 B.C., with the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar. See Jeremiah 27:6,8,11; 38:17-21. Cf. Jeremiah 29:10, Daniel 9:2
I reflected upon the reality that the Bible is not a book of sterile pleasantries in my last post. Now add to the list, the Just God of the Bible is not an egalitarian humanist. He chose a people, the nation Israel from the midst of everyone else, regardless of what we may think of it!
Consider... The formation of modern Israel in 1948 as well as the results of the 1967 war for Jerusalem are prophesied in the Bible which we know to be much older than those of us who remember these events.
Israel left the land according to the prophets and were given specific time frame for their exile. In Jeremiah 25:11 70 years for sin then Ezekiel 4:3-6 adds greater judgment for continued sin together totaling 430 years. This as 360 year increase from the first seventy. After 70 years they repent and Persian King Cyrus grants that the Jews may return to Canaan, a small number take this opportunity and the second temple is built. However most Jews stay in captivity until the remaining 360 years of judgment is completed then nothing happens, no return to the land in accordance with Ezekiel... Leviticus 26:18 gives explanation. The Old Covenant states God will give 7 times the judgment if they do not repent for breaking the covenant. So we must multiply the remaining 360 unrepentant yrs x 7 = 2520 prophetic years. When converted into days in order to be useful with a modern calendar we get 907,200 days of punishment
Working backwards from the day of Israel's Independence; 14 May 1948 A.D. and subtracting 907,200 days we get 0537 BC. The date when only a small percentage of the Jews returned back to Judah under Persian king Cyrus. If we go back a further 70 years of 360 days (the initial time span prophesied by Jeremiah) we get 17 July 0606 B.C. The year 606 B.C. has been historically verified as the year in which Israel lost their Independence.
The time span from the rebirth of Israel as a nation in 1948 to the 6 Day War in 1967 is 19 years. The time from the loss of independence in 606 B.C. to the time of the loss of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. was also 19 year. This reflects God's judgment on city and nation separately Daniel 9:24
The judgment on the city of Jerusalem began with the annihilation of the city of Jerusalem and the Solomon's Temple in 587 B.C. According to Jeremiah it was punishment for not yielding to the "Servitude of the Nation" which began in 606 B.C., with the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar. See Jeremiah 27:6,8,11; 38:17-21. Cf. Jeremiah 29:10, Daniel 9:2
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