Atheists: Want an incontrovertible Biblical prophecy that has been fulfilled?

Question

Here’s one.
"They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." – Luke 21,24

Jerusalem was trampled underfoot, the time of the Gentiles (that’s us) are over and the Jewish people have returned to their homeland.

The gospel of Luke was written somewhere between 57-60 AD.

David T, that's your opinion. Biblical scholars say otherwise.

Dreamstuff Eddy, Israel became a nation in 1945.

Aquila, all the Old Testament prophecies about the messiah were fulfilled.

The first trampling took place when the Roman general Titus quelled the Jewish rebellion in AD 50-55 or thereabouts. All the Jews were then exiled/dispersed to Gentile nations so that they could not rebel again. That's how we got the saying, "I am a wandering Jew."

Answer 1

I'm a believer!! not really I'm agnostic and stand on the fence until I reason things out, you didn't make yourself too clear about trampling and when the "trampling" took place make it more clear and I'll def put it in good concideration.but I'm about reason and it's been chaos between those two since forever.so it won't be easy...

Agnosticism (from the Greek a, meaning "without", and Gnosticism or gnosis, meaning "knowledge") is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims—particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of God, gods, deities, or even ultimate reality—is unknown or, depending on the form of agnosticism, inherently unknowable due to the nature of subjective experience.

Agnostics claim either that it is not possible to have absolute or certain knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of God or gods; or, alternatively, that while individual certainty may be possible, they personally have no knowledge. Agnosticism in both cases involves some form of skepticism.

Just keepin it safe...

Answer 2

There is a difference between a prophecy and a prediction . Today many people will predict that the stock market or a particular stock will go up in value . Others will predict a downturn . Half will be right or fulfilled .
A true prophecy would have been something to the effect that " About 2000 years from now Muslims will steal 'flying camel trains' and project them into huge multi nation temples of business . This will anger a powerful friend nation of the Jews and war will erupt that turns Muslims against Muslims causing many to further disregard the Islamic belief system ."
The people who compiled the New testament , The Catholic Catechism tried to include correct predictions - after the fact .
I can not find one Prophesy fulfilled , except in fantasy .
Added for Lizzy : But an Agnostic can certainly determine that there is NOT a god who is both all loving /good AND all powerful . Otherwise how can you explain the existence of the Devil and Hell . And the fact that innocent people and animals suffer and die from disease , getting hit by cars , terrorism , and much , much, more .

Answer 3

1. There are several mundane ways in which a prediction of the future can be fulfilled:
1. Retrodiction. The "prophecy" can be written or modified after the events fulfilling it have already occurred.
2. Vagueness. The prophecy can be worded in such a way that people can interpret any outcome as a fulfillment. Nostradomus's prophecies are all of this type. Vagueness works particularly well when people are religiously motivated to believe the prophecies.
3. Inevitability. The prophecy can predict something that is almost sure to happen, such as the collapse of a city. Since nothing lasts forever, the city is sure to fall someday. If it has not, it can be said that according to prophecy, it will.
4. Denial. One can claim that the fulfilling events occurred even if they have not. Or, more commonly, one can forget that the prophecy was ever made.
5. Self-fulfillment. A person can act deliberately to satisfy a known prophecy.

There are no prophecies in the Bible that cannot easily fit into one or more of those categories.

2. In biblical times, prophecies were not simply predictions. They were warnings of what could or would happen if things did not change. They were meant to influence people's behavior. If the people heeded the prophecy, the events would not come to pass; Jonah 3 gives an example. A fulfilled prophecy was a failed prophecy, because it meant people did not heed the warning.

3. The Bible also contains failed prophecies, in the sense that things God said would happen did not (Skeptic's Annotated Bible n.d.). For example:
* Joshua said that God would, without fail, drive out the Jebusites and Canaanites, among others (Josh. 3:9-10). But those tribes were not driven out (Josh. 15:63, 17:12-13).
* Ezekiel said Egypt would be made an uninhabited wasteland for forty years (29:10-14), and Nebuchadrezzar would plunder it (29:19-20). Neither happened.

4. Other religions claim many fulfilled prophecies, too (Prophecy Fulfilled n.d.).

5. Divinity is not shown by miracles. The Bible itself says true prophecies may come elsewhere than from God (Deut. 13:1-3), as may other miracles (Exod. 7:22, Matt. 4:8). Some people say that to focus on proofs is to miss the whole point of faith (John 20:29).

References:

1. Skeptic's Annotated Bible. n.d. False prophecies, broken promises, and misquotes in the Bible. http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/proph/long.html
2. Prophecy Fulfilled. n.d. http://www.bci.org/prophecy-fulfilled/

Further Reading:
Festinger, L., H. W. Riecken and S. Schachter. 1956. When Prophecy Fails. New York: Harper & Row.

Answer 4

Jerusalem fell about 70 CE. The Gospel of Luke was written after that date (since it clearly used the Gospel of Mark as a reference, and this was written soon after 70 CE).

Your cited verse is no more prophecy than was the New York Times articles on Sept 12, 2001 describing the World Trade Centers' collapse.

Answer 5

oh give me a break!!! When there are two groups competing, that live nearby, there will always be wars. It doesn't take a prophet to know that!!!
Here's a question, why are there soooooooooooo many contradictions in the bible? Go check it out: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html.
How can you possibly believe in some book written centuries ago by a bunch of guys chugging down wine, and screwing every woman around? I'd like an answer about the contradictions after you read them.

Answer 6

Um sorry no it was written closer to 75-80 C.E. the only scholars who believe in an early writing for any of the gospels are very devout christians. Next you are going to try to tell me Luke actually wrote the book. Here I will even give you a christian source for the dating of the text.

Edit-Please show me what prophecies were fulfilled, but please use only the original Tanakh not the christianized and heavily altered Septuagint

Answer 7

That's hardly a hard prediction to fulfill. I mean, I could have predicted that the Roman Empire would one day fall, would that have made me some sort of divinely inspired prophet?

Does it not occur to you that people can make educated guesses?

Answer 8

Oh it's really impossible to predict that a major city will be invaded. This can only be a divine revelation. Now what about all the failed prophesies? Give me break.

Answer 9

the times of the Gentiles will not be fulfilled until "jesus" comes back.

With the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, I'd say Gentiles are still trampling Jerusalem under foot.

Answer 10

Do not waste energy on controversy! Pride is a stumbling block! Remember you never know who is who, so when you shut that door in their face, who's face are you shutting the door on!? That door could be shut to you also!