The Incredible odds of fulfilled bible prophecy
This PHD, astrophysicist, says the odds of all the bible prophecy that has been fulfilled occurring by chance is 1 in 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000...
I'll stop there but the 1 should be followed by 2000 zeros from the article "Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the reliability of the Bible: by Dr. Hugh Ross. http://www.reasons.org/resources/apo...prophecy.shtml |
Really? Could you.....
1. Show us the math? 2. Tell us some of these fulfilled prophesies? |
Ahh, the old 'numbers out his ass approach' ... impressive.
Tends to get easier when you can retrospectively determine what the prophecies actually said in order to fit them to events. Even then there's a bunch they just missed, Egypt is still habitable, for example. |
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(1) Some time before 500 B.C. the prophet Daniel proclaimed that Israel's long-awaited Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). He further predicted that the Messiah would be "cut off," killed, and that this event would take place prior to a second destruction of Jerusalem. Abundant documentation shows that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the life (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ. The decree regarding the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia's King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest Ezra in 458 B.C., 483 years later the ministry of Jesus Christ began in Galilee. (Remember that due to calendar changes, the date for the start of Christ's ministry is set by most historians at about 26 A.D. Also note that from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is just one year.) Jesus' crucifixion occurred only a few years later, and about four decades later, in 70 A.D. came the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.)* (2) In approximately 700 B.C. the prophet Micah named the tiny village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel's Messiah (Micah 5:2). The fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Christ is one of the most widely known and widely celebrated facts in history. (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 105.) (3) In the fifth century B.C. a prophet named Zechariah declared that the Messiah would be betrayed for the price of a slave—thirty pieces of silver, according to Jewish law-and also that this money would be used to buy a burial ground for Jerusalem's poor foreigners (Zechariah 11:12-13). Bible writers and secular historians both record thirty pieces of silver as the sum paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus, and they indicate that the money went to purchase a "potter's field," used—just as predicted—for the burial of poor aliens (Matthew 27:3-10). (Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 1011.) http://www.reasons.org/resources/apo...prophecy.shtml |
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Can you name a single prophecy that meets the following criteria: 1) Specific as to person(s) name or date or place AND that detailed a specific event (not just some general fire and brimstone, but specific acts that were to take place) i.e. a crazed preacher will storm harpers ferry, two airplanes will hit large building in the new world commandeered by infidels, etc. (you get the idea) 2) The prophecy was unequivocally made BEFORE the supposed events occurred 3) The events were reliably recorded outside the Bible, for verification purposes? 4) The events were not part of an deliberate effort on the part of those involved to make the prophecy come true? (i.e. the Jews rebuilding the temple) I'm not aware of any, but post your evidence and I'll look. (please note that all supposed prophecies about Jesus fail one or more of these criteria, as do most prophecies in the OT because they are too vague or cannot be reliably dated) ETA: just saw your other post, will evaluate and respond |
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from the "Fulfilled Prophecy" article mentioned earlier: "God is not the only one, however, who uses forecasts of future events to get people's attention. Satan does, too. Through clairvoyants (such as Jeanne Dixon and Edgar Cayce), mediums, spiritists, and others, come remarkable predictions, though rarely with more than about 60 percent accuracy, never with total accuracy. Messages from Satan, furthermore, fail to match the detail of Bible prophecies, nor do they include a call to repentance." http://www.reasons.org/resources/apo...prophecy.shtml |
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This argument basically amounts to saying "if you believe everything written in the Bible, its AMAZING the prophecies that it has!" Well, that's a very mountainous "if". You have to first show that the stories relating to Jesus are historically reliable, which has not and likely never will be done absent an archeological find of epic proportions. This is just typical apologist two-step. |
There's a 1 in Pi chance that those numbers are completely made up.
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60 Fulfilled Prophecies
Here is a site that lists 60 of the prophecies that have been fulfilled:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.c...61bccbd43f70aa |
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No point in reading this is its similar to what you've already posted. I can write a prophecy today, and write something next week to say its fulfilled. Without corroboration from another source, why would anyone think that counts as a fulfilled prophecy? You have to first have good evidence that the prophecy was fulfilled, and the NT stories just don't cut it as historically reliable. |
I see:
Bible makes prediction Bible says prediction was fullfilled No outside source exists verifying the fullfillment of prediction. This happens a bunch of times in the bible. So Jesus is the son of god? There's a lot of predictions made in the Lord of the Rings that came true in the Lord of the Rings, Does that make the Lord of the Rings real? |
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Jean Dixon couldn't do better than 60%?!? Oh God! What next?!? :eek: |
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And if the stories were made up you'd think that the four gospel writers would correlate their stories exactly. But the fact that their are some minor inconsistencies in their stories shows that they were written independent of each other. Also if someone is dishonest enough to make stuff up could they really come up with the incredible wisdom and ethics of Christ that even Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin basically said was the finest that ever existed and as Franklin said will probably ever exist. |
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Zechariah 11 (NRSV)It doesn't even sound like a prophecy. But I think that this verse is nontheless where the NT "thirty pieces of silver" tidbit comes from. It is only that apologists have it backwards. ;) Probability of fulfilled prophecy: 0 |
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Dr. Hugh Ross' "biblical predictions" as they apply to science are shredded by PZ Myers here.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2...scientific.php |
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Like it was mentioned in another thread. You would agree that George washington was a great man, who did many great things... But does that mean the story of the cherry tree is true? |
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Can I show evidence that no records exist anywhere? Do you even understand the logic error there, DOC?
Well, I could appeal to authority, as you are wont to do, but that would be pointless. You'd just refuse to believe them. Instead, show me a roman record of a census requiring all residents to return to their place of birth. You can't because it doesn't exist. Instead, show me a historical record verifying this census. You can't because it doesn't exist. You claim it does exist. Support your claim. |
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So, Caesar Augustus, according to the bible, decreed that everyone should be entered into the census not where they lived, not where they were born, but at the birthplace of their greatest ancestral hero. I bet there was much confusion throughout the empire that year. Anyone who doesn't question this story must be a complete git. |
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But I really doubt it was done the way the bible mentions. Why would the Romans even care a tiny bit where David, Joseph's ancestor, was born? |
Originally Posted by DOC
Actually Luke (the physician), who many say was a first rate historian... Quote:
I'm not sure if the famous Oxford historian, Thomas Arnold, who wrote the 3 volume "History of Rome" said that about Luke, but in case anyone didn't read this in the forum he did say this: Quote by Thomas Arnold: "Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through [the evidence for the resurrection] piece by piece, as carefully as every judge summing up on a most important cause. I have myself done it many times over, not to persuade others but to satisfy myself. I have been used for many years to study the histories of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead." Source: Thomas Arnold, as cited in Wilbur Smith's "Therefore Stand" (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1945), 425-26 |
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Please provide a concise list of the evidence Arnold found so compelling. Just his statement alone is worth nothing.
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Luke 2:4 - So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. What speculation are you talking about? |
The Flying Spagetti Monster's Journal, chapter 23, verse 4-5:
And the Noodly Appendages Touched Me and the Flying Spagetti Monster told me "Ye of little faith but much rational thinking instead, go forth and make a song about the Troll that just won't stop lying." And the Flying Spagetti Monster promised me a nice pizza for the trouble, and after negotating a gelano dessert, I accepted the humble task. Lies For Jesus (Mel: Moonlight Shadow) Every time that ever we saw him Carried away, by the Lies For Jesus Every time, he'd show up as a warning Carried away, by the Lies For Jesus Losing the arguments every night Far away on the other side He would hope that the heathens would see the light But he couldn't find how to push through As the fundie whispers in the evening Carried away, by the Lies For Jesus He will cause annoyance and grieving Carried away, by the Lies For Jesus All he saw was a silhouette of a cross Far away on the other side And he failed to imagine that his "arguments" lost But he couldn't find how to push through But he'll stay And he'll pray That we'll all believe him, some day He stays We "pray" That he may turn honest one day As he posts until it's early morning Carried away, by the Lies For Jesus With his lies, repetitive and boring Carried away, by the Lies For Jesus And we asked him to prove himself every night Far away on the other side But his evidence was never even slightest in sight And he couldn't find how to push through But he'll stay And he'll pray That we'll all believe him, some day He stays We "pray" That he may turn honest one day [two guitar solos, fade out] |
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Its kind of like when Einstein said "without Isaac Newton's work my work would have been impossible" I'm not sure Einstein ever actually gave a concise list of what Newton's work he was talking about. |
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I mean, if your country ever held such a census, what city would you go to? An empire wide census was a breath taking thing to do under any circumstance. If this was how Caesar Augustus held his census, I'm sure all the local pundits all over the empire would write about it. |
Surely it must have occurred to an honest person that what they are doing is shooting a bunch of arrows at a blank wall, and then drawing a bullseye where they hit.
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*All biblical citations are from the New International Version at www.biblegateway.com **Sources will be linked to at the end of this post Quote:
1. Ceasar Augustus declared that ALL of the roman world should be counted 2. This is the first Census while Quirinius was governor of Syria 3. Everyone was required to go to "his town" to register. Joseph is of the House of David and therefore required to go to Bethlehem as it is the home of David. This indicates the census was conducted based on Jewish tribal affiliation. 4. Joseph is from Galilee Now let’s look at the actual facts: ------------------------ 1. At no time did Ceasar Augustus declare that the entire Roman empire should be counted. Augustus came into power on January 16, 27 BC and reigned for forty years dying on August 19, AD 14. Three Census' were performed at his command during his reign and counted Roman citizens only. * In 28 BC the citizen population was 4,063,000 (including both men and women) * In 8 BC - 4,233,000 * In AD 14 - 4,937,000 The population at around 4,000,000 seems very small but estimates put the world population that time at somewhere over 200,000,000 putting Romans at about 2-3% of the world population. ----------------------------- 2. Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was appointed governer of Syria in 6 AD and performed a census of the new Roman provinces of Syria and Iudaea for the purpose of taxation in 6/7 AD. Iudaea province was formed in 6 AD by combining Judea with Samaria and Idumea. It did not include the surrounding separate provinces of Galilee, Gaulanitis (the Golan), Peraea or the Decapolis. The capital was at Caesarea. So now we see some more problems. Though the bible is correct in naming Quirinius as governor of Syria. He did perform a census it was not covering the entire Roman Empire as the bible claims. It covered only the provinces of Syria and Iudaea. It did NOT include the province of Galilee where Joseph and Mary came from and so not only were they exempt from taking part in the census they would not have been permitted to take part even if they wanted to (that would be like me as a Canadian trying to take part in a New York city Census). 2a. This claim comes with a bonus debunking as well! We know that Quirinius became governor in 6 AD. Well remember Herod the Great? He is the one who killed all the babies after Jesus was born (which was during the census) Quote:
-------------------------------- 3. It states that “And everyone went to his own town to register”. And that Joseph had to go to Bethlehem as he was from the House of David (notice it does NOT say it was his home town or his father’s home town). As stated above this indicates the census was conducted based on Jewish tribal affiliation. Roman Census’ were not conducted based on local custom but the entire local taxable population. The census was actually conducted for the purpose of properly levying and enforcing taxes. Also there are 12 tribes of Israel. That means if everyone had to return to the town his tribe originated from then the ENTIRE population of Israel would abandon most of the towns and return en masse to a total of 12 locations. This would not only be ruinous to the abandoned towns but also to the ones where everyone went. No census could possibly be conducted in such a fashion. -------------------------------- 4. Was Joseph from Galilee? There is no extrabiblical evidence for it but ALL of the gospels agree that is where he was from. As already stated above Galilee was not included in the census. Joseph would not have taken part. --------------------------------- So not only is no prophecy fulfilled, your book is shown to be very inaccurate historically and impossible from a social/economic stand point. I look forward to your rebuttal and hope that you provide some compelling information rather than made up numbers and a made up book. Everyone please feel free to comment, let me know if I have missed anything or left anything else out. Source Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iudaea_Province http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quirinius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_of_Quirinius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_Ceasar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population http://www.unrv.com/empire/roman-population.php http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...4;&version=31; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...6;&version=31; |
Oops; since DOC's link says the following, you've just destroyed the credibility of the whole bible:
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Here is the analytical proof for Newton's laws of force: http://www.iit.edu/~smile/guests/Newton98B3.pdf Could you now please provide the evidence that Thomas Arnold supposedly had. |
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www.biblegateway.com mmmmmmmmmmmmm that's good scripture! |
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