Roland

Perhaps if we put predictions about the future in the form of syllogisms, we can see how truly ridiculous such so-called prophecies are.

Premise #1: Ezekiel predicts the Jews will return to Israel.

Premise #2: The Jews return to Israel.

Conclusion: Therefore, Ezekiel could see into the future.

No first year Logic student would be allowed to get away with such a faulty syllogism.

Here are a few more:

P1: Joe Blow predicted at the beginning of the season that the NY Giants would win the 2008 Super Bowl.

P2: The NY Giants won the 2008 Super Bowl.

C: Therefore, Joe Blow can see into the future.


P1: Joe Blow predicted “No Country for Old Men” would win the Oscar for Best Picture.

P2: “No Country for Old Men” won the Oscar for Best Picture.

C: Therefore, Joe Blow can see into the future.


Now, if Joe Blow made a prediction in 1990 that a movie called “No Country for Old Men” would win the Oscar for BP in 2008, THAT would be a prophecy well worth taking note of! Unfortunately, none of the so-called prophecies in the Bible are anywhere near that impressive.

Johnny Skeptic

Not according to the New Testament. Consider the following Scriptures:

Matthew 4:23-25

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.”

John 2:23

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.”

John 3:2

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

John 10:37-38

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

John 11:43-48

"And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."

John 20:30-31

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Acts 14:3

“Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

1 Corinthians 15:6

“After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”

Are you going to claim that any of that evidence forced anyone to become a follower of Jesus?

It is up to Christians to explain why Jesus criticized Thomas for wanting tangible, firsthand evidence that he rose from the dead, but willingly provided tangible, firsthand evidence to lots of other people, and in one case (John 10:37-38) even told some stubborn people that if they would not believe his words to believe his miracles.