Atheists: When you see this Biblical prophecy being fulfilled will you still not believe?

Question

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves." - Jesus (Luke 21,25)

Some say it is already taking place.

Several asked what "sign" or "signs" in the skies will we see? That's anybody's guess. My guess: calvary or the Eucharist.

Answer 1

I'm not an Atheists, I'm a Christian. AND I LIVE GOD!!! He's so awesome. He'll really do that, you know. But we don't know when. In Bible class today, we read about how Jesus will punish whoever tries to use black sorcery to tell of His coming. He says that "No man on earth knows the exact day and time I will come to the Earth again." You know those false Jesuses on the side of the road? Well, DON'T BELIEVE THEM!!!! You want an Atheist? Go downtown!
PS. Are you an Atheist?? Just wanted to know.

Answer 2

And how exactly will that be fulfilled? I can't look directly at the sun or I'll go blind, the moon is already covered with craters, and the only way I can see any detail in a star is through a high-powered telescope. Nations are always fighting, and waves never stop. At what point do I know it's fulfilled? Maybe it was fulfilled a thousand years ago, but no one knew because they didn't have a telescope to read the signs.

I have an idea: let me know what Biblical prophecy, or any prophecy with detail, has been fulfilled. You'll have a much greater chance of winning the hearts and minds of atheists. Or, better yet, why not leave atheists alone? Didn't Jesus say, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?" Maybe you should spend more time worrying about being a more accepting (enter religious denomination here) than judging those that believe differently than you. In my experience, atheists are FAR more tolerant of other people's religious beliefs than any religious person I've known.

Sorry if that offends anyone.

Answer 3

Yeah....as if tribal men couldn't make vague "predictions" like that.

We aren't impressed because science can do 1000 times better.
Ready:
In the year 2061, Haley's Comet will pass by in the night sky, and you will be able to see it with your bare eye.

Or how about this?
On Feb 21 of 2008, starting at exactly 03:48:27 AM Zulu time, the shadow of the Earth will pass over the moon, turning it red in color. The redness will last for exactly 1 hour, 43 minutes, and 4 seconds, during which the moon will be in the center of the shadow.

That's what a prophecy looks like. Not "there will be signs and nations will be distressed." When in history has that NOT been true? Or do you really think the nations were not distressed during the TWO WORLD WARS we've had?

You fail. Go study some more.

Answer 4

Could it be any less vague?

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 5

Ummm, still not convinced....thanks. Earth's nations been in dismay for thousands of years. Sea and waves have been unstable for thousands of years.......yup, everything still the same. Prophecies either take a real long time (ex: thousands of years) or it is a crutch used by people to help them not fear death.

Answer 6

If the evidence is satisfactory for what I need to make such an important decision, yes, I will believe.

You wouldn't get brain surgery because your doctor simply called you up and said you had a tumor would you? No you would go get an Xray, talk to other doctors. You would confirm that you indeed had a tumor.

I also need to know that god exists, and is the christian god. I am not going to make such an important decision based on a few moldy quotes from a selected, translated, and vague book.

Isn't that reasonable?

Answer 7

There have always been signs in the sun, moon and stars. My ppl call it "astrology". The sea has always gone through turbulent cycles. These are not new phenomenon nor are they indicators that your book of violence is some cosmic truth for all.

Answer 8

what does signs mean?i guarantee you couldn't tell me.nations are always in a degree of dismay and perplexion. though i would say it is not as bad now since we are not in a world war which is what most televangelists predicted.so if they misinterpret the bible repeatidly. i'm guessing thats a good reason to not believe if nobody understands what the "prophecies" mean

Answer 9

That may be happening but that is a very vague prophecy and people have always been perplexed by the sea.

Answer 10

the purpose of a prophecy is to give a warning... the purpose of a prophet is to find a way to solve the cause before the prophecy comes... why is it that christians who claim to understand do completely the opposite? Because the evil ones convinced them that he is god.... the bible also says that "Satan shall call himself god of the earth... and that he shall be the only one calling himself god" yet christians still worship and protect this evil... at the same time ignore and would destroy any prophet that would have him or herself known... John Lennon was such a prophet.. and a christian murdered him.....