Darwin's Finch

If there's anything clear about this prophecy, it's clear that the events "foretold" in chapters 38-39 have more to do with the revenge fantasies of a temporarily vanquished and humiliated people than with fanciful interpretations some two-and-a-half millenia later.

Ezekiel makes these prophecies during his exile under Babylon. Is it really such an incredible leap of imagination for modern believers to think that the man referred to his circumstances, his (or his people's) return from exile, his hopes that the restored Israel will be protected by their god and vanquish their enemies?

Apologists like to point to passages like this as good examples of prophecies that must refer to our time because the prophecy, as stated, clearly failed. In fact, the people of Israel did return to their land from many nations, and a hell of a lot earlier than the twentieth century. Unfortunately for them, the bit about defeating their enemies didn't quite work out the way Ezekiel thought it would, as their subsequent sad history amply demonstrates.

This example is really not so different from Jesus's prediction that those of his generation would see the Son of Man return in his glory, etc., etc. It was (in J.'s case fully, and in Ezekiel's partly) a false prophecy, but because believers don't wish to accept this fairly obvious conclusion, they resort to all manner of devices to explain the failure away.

Tell me, davidH, when -- after what I hope will be a long and happy life -- you are on your deathbed and world events have passed you by, as they have so many others who have indulged in end-time speculation, will there come a moment when you come clean with yourself, or will there always be an escape hatch from the plain meaning of the texts you call holy?

You will have to come up with something more specific and unambiguous before I can answer your original question. But so far, it doesn't look good.

Paul Case

Get a life David.

sentinel00

Maybe I can put a spin on this. According to YEC's, each "day" of creation was a thousand years. Perhaps Jesus was using that notation when he referred to a generation. IOW, roughly 25 years where each "day" in that year is really a thousand years.

Who has a calculator? 352 days in a year, that makes 8800 days in a generation (25 years). If a day equals a thousand years, that makes 8,800,000 years.

Wow... I don't think any of us needs to worry.

Eudaimonist

Another question remains. If this does not come to pass, will you be prepared to give up your belief? Fair is fair.

critical thinking made ez

That interpretation nor the "race" interpretation can be valid if the all the Apostles thought that the end times were happening right then, in Acts 2. Unless they were lied to by Jesus or they never really understood what Jesus or Joel said, in which case why should we believe any of the new testament, it they got that one wrong they could get other parts wrong?

hezekiah jones

Apparently even short-term prophecies are somewhat problematic. (Reminds me of a certain itinerant preacher - but at least davidH did return.)

sentinel00

Silly critical thinking made ez, that post was intended as parody and sarcasm.

critical thinking made ez

sentinel00,
It sounded as valid as most Christian arguments. What does that tell you. OucccccHHHHHHH <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

Daggah

Or better yet, davidH, why don't you stop by the E/C forum and respond to your many criticisms? You sorta tucked your tail between your legs and ran on that one, didn't ya? Well, I'm grabbing your tail now, mister.

davidH

No I didn't run. I put back a post there even before I read this one.
It was over the Christmas holidays and I didn't get time to get back to it - I just searched and found it now.

About that prophecy. It will come true.
That prophecy wasn't for Ezekiel's time - God was telling what would happen "in future years" and in "many days to come".
No, I think that it is you rather that would try to explain away prophecy - why don't you just accept it and wait and see if it will happen.
When this prophecy is fulfilled you will have no doubt as to this prophecy having been fulfilled
- note the natural judgement God uses fire and brimstone, torrents of rain and a great earthquake.
Man can't control the weather can he? No,when all these come to pass there can be no denying the obvious.

Maybe you are trying to explain it away because you now see it as feasible - everything is nearly in place according to the prophecy and we need only wait and watch.