Lebanon In End Time Bible Prophecy

I've engaged in the prophecy concerning Tyre before and its disheartening to see the same old tired arguments geared towards refuting the Bible. The prophecy is clearly fulfilled, furthermore, no one takes into consideration that the Phoenician empire ended during this time period. Phoenicians were some of the most affluent peoples of that time period and the port of Tyre was easily considered the most important maritime trading depot of that time period. After the destruction of Tyre the Phoenicians basically undergone their own version of a diaspora. It was so thorough that the only way to tell who comes from Phoenician lineage anymore is to run a DNA test. Furthermore, the current residents of Lebanon mostly come from Arabic lineage, not Phoenecian, just like modern-day Palestinians have little to do with Biblical Phillistines. Edited by nemesis_juggernaut, : No reason given.

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“"All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive." ”G. K. Chesterton

Even the most critical of secular analysis places Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) comfortably between 586 BC and 538 BC. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) is similarly placed with ease in between 760 and 700 BC. Daniel and Jeremiah as well as the minor prophets all are in their respective place within history that prophesy before the prognostications come to pass. This is known empirically with the careful transpositions of the Vulgate, Septuagint, the Massoretic texts, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is no piece of antiquity more attested for than that of the Tanakh.

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“"All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive." ”G. K. Chesterton

The Book of Daniel has been subjected to the harshest critique for one reason only... it's so accurate that no secular person could believe that the prophecies came before the actual event. The book of Mormon isn't even in the same category as any book of the Bible. You're comparing apples to oranges. We might as well be speaking about the Vedas when you attempt to juxtapose the Bible with the BoM. But yes, the BoM has been distorted upwards of 30 known times, but the Bible has not.Maybe you aren't aware of the coeffecients and variables neccesary to produce the Bible in plenary. There has been much debate spanning several generations concerning the validity and reliability of the Bible. Because the Bible is considered a religious tome, many scholars feel that it is biased and cannot be trusted for face value without some corroborating, extra-biblical evidence. In other words, the Bible is guilty until proven innocent. This standard, however, is seldom applied to any other ancient document even though many, if not most, contain some level of religious element to them. I wish we would see the same scrutiny applied to all of antiquity to mirror the contempt shown for the Bible.Some of the varibales that need to be considered is to notice that most of the writers were not contemporaneous-- meaning they did not have some corroboration. They lived at different times, and in different lands. Not all these books were written by one man and at one time, like we see with the Qur'an. All of these books were written by different people and at different times in history. Despite this, we see a congruence that is unmatched by human will and an engineering that is overshadowed by divine authority.But you might ask: “How do we know that the Bible we have today is even close to the original? Haven’t copiers down through the generations inserted or deleted or perhaps embellished the documents so that the original message of the Bible has been obscured?”I would say that these are frequently asked questions and they are completely honest and inquisitive questions. These questions deserve an honest and thorough answer.“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” -2nd Timothy 3:16-17I don't think people fully appreciate how difficult transposing documents from papyrus to papyrus was. Transcribing was considered a professional career in antiquity. No printing presses or photocopy machines existed, and so, it was the scribe who was trained to copy documents. In an age where illiteracy was prevalent the scribe was a very learned individual, which is obviously a rarity at that time. The task, for the scribe, was usually an undertaking, assigned to a devout Jew. It is also important to remember that the Scribes believed they were dealing with the very Word of God and therefore, were extremely careful in transposing documents. They did not hastily write things down. This was an arduous and meticulous task. The earliest complete copy of the Hebrew Tanakh dates from 900 AD. During the early part of the tenth century, there was a group of Jews, known as the Massoretes, whom I mentioned in an earlier post. These Jews were meticulous in their copying, as were the scribes before them. The texts they had were all in capital letters, and there was no punctuation or paragraphs. The Massoretes would copy any given book of the Tanakh, and when they completed it, they would count the total number of letters. Then they would find the middle of the book by extrapolate backwards using the number/letter system. If even one ”jot’ (equivalent to an apostrophe) or ”tittle’ (equivalent to the dotting of an ”i’ or crossing of a ”t’) were missing, they would take the document and throw it away. If the book were not an exact replica, they would start over. Not to mention, that at least two scribes wrote together for added assurance. All the present copies of the Hebrew text are in remarkable agreement. Moreover, comparisons of the Massoretic text to the Greek ”Septuagint’ and the Latin ”Vulgate’ revealed the careful transposing. Very little deviation has ever been found. As if the Massoretic text wasn’t trustworthy enough, the most remarkable discovery came by the most unlikely of discoverers.Then in the late 1940's probably the most outstanding discovery of the 20th century came about in the caves of Qumran by the dead sea. It was the discovery of the Dead sea scrolls. The scrolls have revealed that the monastic commune, known as the Essenes made their home away from home in those hills. It is believed that when the Romans came through they fled into the hills, thinking the Romans would destroy their ancient documents. The Essenes hid the jars in this mostly inhabited area for safekeeping.As I've shared with other people, dissenters of Christianity and Judaism have alleged that the Bible was written by King James in order to keep a tight reign on his kingdom. This is, of course, a preposterous notion. Nonetheless, even though it is unfounded the theory is still being propagated every now and again. The DSS dispelled any notion of such when complete copies of the prophetic books were discovered in the caves, empirically proving the accuracy of the prophecies.Where the DSS ties into the Massoretic text is shown in the comparison. The Essenes and Masorites were extremely close to one another in accuracy. Only 17 letters were found different by contrast. You might think that is a lot, but when I say they were different, it’s like the difference between ”honor’ and ”honour.’ They produced no change to the meaning of the text whatsoever. Out of it all only one word was truly questionable, but even it did not change the effect of the meaning. Therefore, we can easily deduce that the Massorites were extremely loyal in their copying of the text.The Bible is not in disrepute with secular history, in fact, its been the Bible to guide secular history. For instance, the Hittite civilization was thought to be nothing more than a fable because no relics of the empire were ever found. That all changed when their civilization was unearthed of modern-day Turkey, which is incidentally, the exact place that the Bible places them. On and on and on, arcaeology has been the friend of the Bible, so much so that I can't see why people waste their time trying to go against God's unfailing Word.

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“"All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive." ”G. K. Chesterton

This is my problem: The rules concerning the validity of any given document is under special scrutiny when it pertains to the Bible. Why? Why aren't any other manuscripts from antiquity subjected to your scrutiny? Its miraculous that any ancient documents from this long ago have survived. The only reason we have older, intact documents is because they are cuneiform. But why not apply the same scrutiny to anything else? We have to remember that the men who transposed the documents believed wholeheartedly that they were dealing with the very Word of God. And Moses gave explicit instructions not to ever alter anything that comes from God. You can call them superstitious or whatever, but this superstition is the very thing that kept the documents free from corruption. What in the world are you talking about? First of all, how is Ezekiel dark and embittered? Secondly, who's Melvin? Thirdly, your aversion towards Ezekiel but your wanting of Melvin's "happy little world" of prophecy speaks more about your motivation for scrapping Ezekiel than anything else. History is what it is. And when it comes to God, He lives in the past, present, and future simultaneously. So, if the outcome for us who travel in a linear motion along a timeline is negative, then it is humanity that is at odds with God, not God at odds with humanity. That's usually what happens when people don't know enough about them to make an informed decision. If I turned to an arbitrary place in a novel, read three pages, and gave my thesis on the book, how accurate would I be about the entire content? Its the same thing with the Bible. You can't just read blurbs here and there expect to understand the entire plot. And everybody claims to have read the Bible. Its only until I quiz them that there retentive ability prove to be abysmal. Go figure.

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“"All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive." ”G. K. Chesterton

Name me one that isn't affiliated with the Bible in any way where people question whether or not its a legitimate document with some historical significance. That's because no one subjects it to special scrutiny. So why the Bible? The fact that people ardently seek imperfections in the Word must bespeak of the fact that on some level there is some inherent fear that it just might be true. Nobody attacks strawmen because they don't pose an actual threat. Is there something about the Bible that poses a threat to secular thought? If not, why such a campaign to stop it and not Greek mythology? So, you are basically telling me that the only reason you think it was written after the fact is because prophets or prophecy couldn't possibly exist because it is not within your understanding to explain them? As for not being impressed by his prophetic ability, perhaps you'll change your mind when this comes to pass:“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him . Persia, Cush, and Phut are with them, all with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all his troops-many people are with you . Sheba and Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish and all their young lions will say to you, ”Have you come to take plunder?’ -Ezekiel 38Indeed the alliances are already being drawn in the sand. The Mishna, like, 2,000 years of oral translation. As far as Ezekiel or the other prophets, probably anywhere from an instantly to a few years. As for how I do know, I don't know for sure. I believe it. But my belief isn't some flippant decision, nor is impinged upon some blind faith, but rather an informed faith. We should be careful about the things we know and the things we think we know. 95% of our knowledge derives from faith. Not a one of us should lose sight of that. I seriously have no idea who Melvin the prophet is. Failure doesn't seem to stop Nostradamus' predictions from being the most recognized in all the world. Aside from the Tyre prophecy, what other biblical prophecies do you feel that have failed to come to pass? Which verses are you referring to?

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“"All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive." ”G. K. Chesterton

LOL! Typically, as soon as realize that a post is directed towards me, I reply instantly and read it as I reply. A bit of a bad habit for me and you're right, it would probably save me some time. The issue isn't whether or not Gryphons or Cyclopes existed, the issue is why no one seems to really go into a lengthy treatise on whether or not the Illiad was written by Homer. But yes, almost all stories, mythology included, have a portion of truth to them. Almost all stories do. So, with that knowledge in mind, how much credit are your ready to lend the Bible? Perhaps equally disturbing the way you reinvent yourself to feign total disbelief. Ah, and therein lies the dichotomy. No critic believes in Greek mythology because its absurd to them, hence, it poses no threat to them. The Bible on the other hand clearly poses quite a threat to the secular world. Why not just let us believe as we wish? Why make it a point to come on EvC day after day to posit that there is no God? See, the believer can always fall back on that it is his moral duty as apart of the Great Commission presented to us by Jesus Christ to speak about the gospel wherever we can. But what is the atheists excuse to engage in a mindless warfare of semantics? So, can I rightfully assume that somewhere in yourself is a shred of belief? Its a clandestine little war that has been going on since Yeshua forst came on the scene. Every beliver is aware of the immediate flaming he recieves the moment he comes to Christ. There's no complex about it. Its absolutely real. And your constant badgering of two believers on Ezekiel is evidence of such. Am I imagining that this dialogue has turned somewhat hostile against my beliefs? If I told you that I was Hindu and tried to get you to believe in Ganesha would you argue with me or would you sort of chuckle and dismiss me? That's a bit of a stretch wouldn't you say? If I'm on the ledge of a building and decide to make a leap of faith, one of two things will happen-- either I will be spared for my faith or I will go splat because of His physical laws. Far be it from me to belabor the obvious, but Ockahm's razor really doesn't factor into your argument when we look at all of the prophecies. You can't just say that everytime a prophecy ended up being right that it must have actually been due to a later insertion. That's hardly objective and it flies in the face of anthropology and archeaology. Really what it comes down to is, you can't explain it in your terms, so we must therefore default to your logic. That's circular reasoning. These prophecies were spoken thousands of years ago. To you, the man who has been living on a timeline anywhere from, (I'm guessing here) 18-75 years. Are you so arrogant to assume that because in your lifetime that the Middle East has been a firebrand that it must serve to invalidate the Scriptures? That's absurd. Oh, I see, so you 'know' with the same veracity as whether or not your shoelaces are tied, that humans have visited the moon. Is that accurate? You know that a man named Plato existed with same empiricism as you know whether or not you ate cereal this morning for breakfast? Maybe you think that the word faith is a dirty little epithet, but I'm realistic about its definition. You seem to think that blind faith and an informed faith are homologous, but they aren't. As for your description of the Chinese, that is a prime example of what I'm referring to. That is faith on your part. It isn't a blind faith, but it is informed. Is it on the merits of evidence? Yes. But how would you know either way if those figures are accurate? You don't really 'know.' And this is why I said we should all be careful about espousing the things that we know or the things we think we know. By the way, I'm not contending that China has a large population or that humans have been on the moon, I'm just using them as examples. I was asking for something specific about the prophecy. I believe I asked you for some verses. But no worries, I'll just read 29-30 and see where you feel a discrepancy lies. I doubt that most people don't even know who John the Revelator is, let alone are familiar with the prophecies. I would say a great many more know of Nostradamus. Kinda hard to get around it when half the time you're standing in the checkout line at the groocery store, there is some sensationalistic tabloid feature about good 'ol Nostradamus.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EGYPTIAN PROPHECIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now, to explain: Prior to the prophecies recorded in this chapter, since Pharaoh-Necho had invaded Palestine, besieged and conquered Jerusalem and set up a puppet king named Eliakim, who's name Pharoah synthesized to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim is very important in messianic prophecy, especially in Jeremiah. *(Also note that Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin are not the same people)*.The rise of Nebuchadnezzar and the enlargement of the Chaldean empire was obviously recognized as a menace to the Egyptian empire. They would vie for supremacy. Now, in the first part of the chapter, in the 10th month of the 10th year of Jehoiachin's captivity we read:"In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. Speak to him and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you great monster lying among your streams. You say, "The Nile is mine; I made it for myself." But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales. I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and not be gathered or picked up. I will give you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the LORD.

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'You have been a staff of reed for the house of Israel. When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched." -Ezekiel 29:1-7Just like how Tyre symbolically represents a world of great commerce, so also does Egypt represent a place of bondage out of which God delivers. And here, Pharoah typifies Satan as the defiant prince of this world. (No, I'm not suggesting that Pharoah is Satan). In the sight of God, Pharoah had become like a crocodile lying in his rivers. In his pride and conceit he defied all who dared to disregard him. Now, Egypt had entered into a false alliance with Israel but had proven to be unfaithful in that pact. They would be overrun by the Babylonians. Judgement was upon them."Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will bring a sword against you and kill your men and their animals. Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD. "Because you said, 'The Nile is mine; I made it,' therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush. No foot of man or animal will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years. I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries." -Ezekiel 8-12Pharoah had endeavored to illicit the help of the Israelites against Nebuchadnezzar. An estimated 17 years after the propecy was spoken did this come to pass, so that for 40 years much of Egypt was left desolate."Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, [c] the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD."[/i] -Ezekiel 29:13-16And after this time had passed the Lord brought them back into Egypt, but never again would Egypt be a major kingdom of power. This prophecy is still fulfilled because Egypt has never been the vast empire that it once was.Where exactly is your objection in the prophecies? There are several prophecies in Ezekiel concerning Egypt. What precisely is troubling you?

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“"All science, even the divine science, is a sublime detective story. Only it is not set to detect why a man is dead; but the darker secret of why he is alive." ”G. K. Chesterton