|
|
|
WHY WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE BIBLE'S INSPIRATION (Part 9) By Bob Myhan The reader should keep it in mind that it has not been the aim of this series to prove conclusively—via syllogistic reasoning—that the Bible is inspired, but merely to show that there are reasons to accept the Bible’s claim to inspiration. The following reasons have thus far been given. 1. Man’s Unbridled Religious Nature 2. The Bible’s Remarkable Unity 3. The Bible’s Flawed Portraits 4. The Need for a Moral Standard 5. The Accuracy of the Bible 6. The Bible’s Answers 7. The Bible’s Continued Influence 8. The Bible’s Demands on Mankind Whether these reasons are sufficient is up to the reader. If they are not, please consider the following concluding reason. #9 THE BIBLE’S FULFILLED PROPHECIES The Bible is replete with predictions of future events. Most of them are pictured in the Bible as having already occurred. Some have not. For example, the Old Testament contains more than 300 predictions of the Jewish Messiah. Most of these are claimed by the New Testament writers to have been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. These claims should not be arbitrarily dismissed. Jesus, in Matthew chapter 24 and Mark chapter 13, predicted the destruction of Herod’s temple and the city of Jerusalem, as well as the end of the Jewish system. He indicated that these things would occur during the lifetime of at least some of the apostles. He tells them they are not to be overly concerned, when such things occur, about the destruction of the temple and the city being imminent. He would not—and did not—destroy Jerusalem, the temple and the Jewish system that He had instituted through Moses until all Israel had an opportunity to hear the gospel. “The abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet” must be considered in its immediate context of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. There is a similar passage in Luke 21:20-24. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Thus, “The abomination of desolation" refers to Roman armies, first surrounding Jerusalem then entering both the city and the temple itself. Of course, those who had not become Christians would not know about these signs and would be caught unawares, as were the people of Noah’s day. However, just as the flood “took them all away” except for Noah and his family, some would be taken captive and others left to die in the destruction of the city. He tells them this to prevent them, if possible, from mistaking His longsuffering for negligent delay, then growing impatient and becoming discouraged. The Jewish historian, Josephus, discusses the destruction of Jerusalem at length, describing in detail the horrors of what could legitimately be called "the first holocaust." He also reported that those of the Jews who were not slain were sold into slavery. This is why there are descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in all parts of the world, today. Consider: “Now this vast multitude is indeed collected out of the remote places, but the entire nation was now shut up by fate as in a prison, and the Roman army encompassed the city when it was crowded with inhabitants. Accordingly, the multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all the destructions that either men or God ever brought upon the world; for to speak only of what was publicly known, the Romans slew some of them, some they carried captives, and others they made search for under ground, and when they found where they were, they broke up the ground and slew all they met with.” (The Complete Works of Josephus, page 588). Thus, Jesus predicted the certain end of the Jewish system forty years previous to its occurrence. To this writer, at least, it is doubtful that mere men would or could have produced such a book as the Bible. It stands head and shoulders above every other book and its inspiration by God is the best explanation for its existence. & WHAT IS A FAMILY? Author Unknown A place of warmth when the world is cold...a place of safety when the world is hostile....a place of light when the world is dark, this is a family. A family is the most important unit of all mankind. It is the core around which great nations are built...it is the foundation of any great society. A family is many things. A family is love around a dinner table...worshiping in church together...friendship laughing under the same roof. A family is mother singing in the kitchen...father whistling around the house...children playing in the yard. A family is a light on the front porch on a dark night...a family is happy songs around a piano...a family is even a group sitting and watching a good TV show together...with aunts and uncles and cousins. A family is a cheering section when a victory is won...a family is a place for beginning again when a cause is lost...a family is a very private organization; only bona fide members are allowed in. As Rudyard Kipling once wrote about families: "All of us are we...and everyone else is they..." A family shares things...like dreams and hopes and possessions and memories and smiles and frowns and gladness. A family is a place of respect and understanding...a place where love and faith dwells...a place where all members can enjoy the dignity of their own personalities. It is a shelter from a storm...a friendly port when the waves of life become too wild. A family is a clan held together with the glue of love and cement of mutual respect. No person is ever alone who is the member of a family. A family is the smile of a mother...the hearty laugh of a father...the giggle of daughters...the boisterous shouts of brothers. A family is a group of human beings who care about each other...and feel comfortable with each other...and who will stand up for each other. A family is all of these things but most of all, a family is a group of human beings working together to build something beautiful and lasting. A family is a colony of heaven right here on earth. From Exhortations & Stuff, Whit Sasser. & (Via "The Reminder")
|