Bible Authenticity

Should Christians Get Baptized For The Dead?

September 29, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 4 comments

holy spirit person — Should we get baptized in behalf of dead loved ones?

“Otherwise, what will they do who are being baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”—- 1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV

Based on the scripture above, Mormonism, the LDS Church, teaches that its members have an obligation to research their genealogy and get baptized for any of their deceased relatives who were never baptized in the Mormon Church. The problem with this multifold, primarily:

(1) The scripture is not translated accurately above. It should be translated as: “However, people are baptized because the dead will come back to life. What will they do? If the dead can’t come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can come back to life” (1 Corinthians 15:29 GWT). This verse makes the point that getting baptized makes no sense if there is no resurrection. read more

Should Christians Pay Attention to Genealogies?

September 28, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

New Testament Canon — What does the New Testament tell us about genealogies?

The genealogies leading to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, are vitally important as supportive proofs of his being qualified as God’s Messiah (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). So we definitely do need them, and should pay attention to them. Other Biblical genealogies, while being important for historical purposes, so we should be aware of them, but, nevertheless, are not of great importance for Christians. Please see the other two articles on this site about genealogies.
Beyond what is mentioned above, Christians are warned:

“Stop teaching false doctrine and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than focusing on God’s plan, which centers in faith” (1 Timothy 1:3,4 GWT).

“Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9 NIV)

Apparently some first century Christians were indulging in unscriptural “controversial speculations” (NIV) that included “endless genealogies” (NIV), and “arguments and quarrels”. So Christians today can take this as a warning against doing the same things. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t study, discuss, and examine, different interpretations of the scriptures. The warning is actually against “genealogies”, petty quarrels and “speculations,” that “go beyond what is written in Scripture” (1 Corinthians 4:6 GWT). We should engage in fruitful, productive, discussions of the Bible that lead to wisdom (Acts 17:11; Proverbs 17:17).

Differences in Hebrew & Greek Genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11

September 25, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 45 comments

There are some significant differences between the Hebrew and Greek genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11. Do these differences really matter?

“I want you understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return”—Philippians 1:9 NLT

The Bibles that we use today are generally based on a Hebrew Refined Master Text, usually the Biblica Hebraica. A comparison of the genealogies in Genesis 5:1-32 and Genesis 11:10-26 in the Old Testament in our modern Bibles, which are translated from the Hebrew Text, with the Greek Septuagint Version (LXX), reveals that the Greek version has more years between the time of Adam’s creation and Abraham, because: (1) The listed mens’ ages when their son is born are generally higher, often by 100 years; and (2) Cainan is included in the Greek Septuagint text, but not in the Hebrew text. However, the overall length of their lives remains the same, in the both the Hebrew and the Greek texts.

Below are listed the names of the men in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11, where the Hebrew and the Greek texts differ, and the ages at the birth of their son, first in the Hebrew, next in the Greek, and then the differences in these two ages.

Genesis 5:3—Adam, 130 . . . 230 . . . 100

Genesis 5:6—Seth, 105 . . . 205 . . . 100

Genesis 5:9—Enosh, 90 . . . 190 . . . 100

Genesis 5:12—Kenan, 70 . . . 170 . . . 100

Genesis 5:15—Mahalalel, 65 . . . 165 . . . 100

Genesis 5:21—Enoch, 65 . . . 165 . . . 100

Genesis 5:25—Methusaleh, 187 . . . 167 . . . read more

HOW SHOULD WE VIEW BIBLE & OTHER GENEALOGIES?

September 23, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Is the Bible reliable? — How should we view Bible and other genealogies?

Some people today, including some who claim to be Christians, such as the Mormons, place much importance on genealogies. The Hebrew people recorded public genealogical records that document history, establish identity, and/or legitimate office. Family tradition, marriage, links to the past, inheritance and property rights were all important to them, as they are to people today (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; 1 Chronicles 1-9; Ezra 10:18-43). The key to legitimacy and identity is a direct irrefutable familial tie with the past. Bible and other genealogies may go backward in time from the present (1 Chronicles 6:31-33; Ezra 7:1-5; Luke 3:23-38), or forward in time from a certain point in the past (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-32; Ruth 4:18-23; Matthew 1:1-17). These two types of genealogies can be combined, as they are in Matthew 1:1-17. Additionally, genealogical rolls may either contain a simple succession of names or may be supplemented with expansive content pertaining to the activities of certain prominent individuals on the list.

Genealogies are prominent in both the early and late history of the Hebrews, and others. In the book of Genesis there are ten primary genealogical lists. One important thing is that these document the line leading to the Messiah, although Genesis itself does not tip the reader off to this purpose. For historical purposes, the lineagies of non-Yahweh worshippers, such as Cain (Genesis 4:17-26), Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-18), and Esau (Genesis 36) are also documented.

Genealogies were very important credentials to the Hebrew people. Abraham’s descendants through Isaac and Jacob were promised special blessings from Almighty God, which were guaranteed if they obeyed the conditions of God’s covenant with them (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:3-8; Deuteronomy 11:22-28). However, if they could not prove they had descended from Abraham, they were not considered true Jews and were excluded from full participation in Jewish community life. So, a lost genealogy put one’s status as a Jew at risk. In addition, some privileges were restricted to members of certain tribes. For example, only descendents of Levi (Abraham’s great-grandson) could serve at the Temple. All this is well illustrated in the case of some returnees from the Babylonian exile, who could not prove their descent, “they searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so [the result was that] they were disqualified” (Ezra 2:59-63 NLT).

The most important genealogies in the Bible are the ones that lead to the Messiah, who proved to be Jesus of Nazareth, and would be born in the line of Abraham (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-32; Ruth 4:18-23; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). This fulfilled important Bible prophecy (Genesis 12:1-3; 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Do we today need to be concerned about our genealogy? No! However, if someone wants to check their (or someone else’s) genealogical ancestry, there is nothing wrong with that. But being obsessed with it, making it a matter of faith, or spending excessive time with it, goes against Biblical counsel. Notice:

“Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work — which is by faith”—1 =&0=&

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, =&1=&

When we view matters in the light of Bible principles, making Bible and other genealogies to to be important issues of faith, or consuming inordinate amounts of time runs contrary to Bible principles.

Is God the Father Exclusively the Almighty?

September 5, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 16 comments

Can God the Father of the Bible be the only Almighty?

“The Father is Almighty, the Son is Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God”—The Athanasian Creed

Trinitarians assert, in probably their main creed, above, that ‘God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,’ all rolled into one Almighty God, but three entities at the same time. Of course, this makes no sense, but let’s see what the Bible says:

“We know that, ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one’. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there is one God, the Father . . . and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ”—-1 Corinthians 8:4-6 NIV. read more

Bible, Jehovah’s Witnesses Publications, Prove 1914 Date False

January 16, 2019 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Jehovah’s Witnesses have used dates to establish or legitimize their existence since they began in the 1870’s. All the dates they used back then have been gradually discarded as time has gone by, and evidence proves all those dates to be Biblically and historically untenable. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have, for many years now, proclaimed that the year 1914 began Jesus’ kingship over the world, and also the “last days” started. This, in itself, should be a red flag for any serious Bible-believing Christian. Why?

“Watch out for false prophets” (Matthew 7:15 NIV)

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“When a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh and the thing does not happen and the word is not fulfilled, then it has not been said by Yahweh” (Deuteronomy 18:22 NJB)

There are many sources available to get the details of the history of Jehovah’ Witnesses (JW’s) and their date setting, if one wishes. The date 1914 was put forward originally in the late 1800’s as the date of Armageddon, and the end of the world, etc., after their previous dates of 1874, 1878, and more failed. These facts, in themselves, that is, the setting of dates, are a critical violation of the scriptural principles of:

“About that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36 NIV).

“It is not for you to know the dates and times the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:8 NIV).

The Witnesses revised their assertions about 1914 after all their predictions about that date failed, and since 1943 they have loudly proclaimed 1914 to be the date of Christ’s coming into ‘full Kingdom power’, and the beginning of ‘the last days’. Even though they have revised exactly what all that meant many times, they have held to the 1914 date ever since. How do the JW’s arrive at the 1914 date?
Their own sources reveal a rather complex patchwork cobbling together of various scriptures combining with some historical events to calculate a starting point of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians about 600 years before Christ, which begins a time period of 2,520 years, based on Daniel 4:16,17,23; Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6), culminating in the year 1914. Again, you can easily check the JW sources themselves at jw.org. This entire framework of setting the 1914 date is unscriptural, but the starting point of this 2,520 year time period, is completely unscriptural, and also contradicts historical facts. The JW’s for many years have used a 3 1/2 year period they asserted from scripture, ‘prophesying in sackcloth’ (Revelation 11:2,3), to apply from the fall/1914 to the spring/1918, and claimed the first “anointed ones” were then resurrected to heaven. Since 8 prominent JW leaders were imprisoned in the summer of 1918 until spring/1919, the JW’s claimed the “three and a half days” of being killed and lying dead on the streets of “Sodom and Egypt”, i. e., the world, and then coming back to life spiritually with their release from prison (Revelation 11:7-11). The JW’s still assert a spiritual ‘cleansing’ during this period of time, marked by their being commissioned by God, as they now assert, as his “faithful and discreet slave” class of leaders (Matthew 24:45 NWT). But this entire framework/patchwork of scriptures/time periods has been hinged on the 607 BCE date being accurate.

There is much documented historical evidence, which is fairly easy to check, to support the date of 587/586 BCE as the date of Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians, including the glorious temple built by Solomon. The JW’s, however, assert that this destruction occurred in 607 BCE, without any supporting evidence, using only their own conjecture. The JW’s accept the hisorically verifiable date date of 539 BCE as the date of Babylon’s fall, with the takeover by the Medo-Persian Empire. The problem for the Witnesses? The 587/586 date and the 539 date are both supported by much of the same prolific documentary evidence. But here’s the kicker for the JW’s—the 586/587 BCE date that the Witnesses reject, has even stronger evidence than the 539 BCE date, which the JW’s accept, and the 607 BCE date has none! There is not even the slightest shred of evidence to support the 607 BCE date. Thus, the Jehovah’s Witnesses 1914 date rests on a non-existent foundation.

The following two quoted paragraphs give the Witnesses’ line of reasoning to arrive at their 607 BCE date for Jerusalem’s destruction. Notice that they insist on a literal 70 year period from the return from exile, which they assume was in 537 BCE, and they extrapolate back to 607 BCE.
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The Fixed New Testament Text – a Huge Problem for Trinitarianism!

December 17, 2018 BibleAuthenticity Comments 2 comments

The fixed New testament Text has been a huge problem for Trinitarianism.

“Command certain people not to teach false doctrines”—1 Timothy 1:3 NIV

Since the Trinity Doctrine is said to be the main, or primary, teaching, of Christianity, why is it so disputed down to this day?

Accurate history tells us that:

(1) Various Trinities were taught and believed in many pagan religions prior to Jesus, going all the way back to ancient Babylon, 3,000 years before Christ!

(2) The Bible’s Old Testament canon closed about 400 BCE, saying nothing about any Trinity, or Trinitarian ideas..

(3) The Bible’s New Testament canon closed about 100 CE, also lacking any mention of any Trinity, or Trinitarian ideas.

(4) The Greek New Testament Master Refined Text became even more strongly fixed than ever during the latter part of the 20th century, with the publication of the Nestle-Aland (N-A) 26th Edition (now in its 28th Edition) and the United Bible Societies’ (UBS) 3rd Edition (now in its 5th Edition). These two independently done Greek Texts are now identical. They are based upon collation and critical anaylsis of the 5,800 extant New Testament manuscripts, some of which are dated to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries CE.

(5) The integrity of the New Testament (NT) Text we have today is so far greater than anything else from ancient times that there is nothing anywhere close to it in textual integrity. This is what we would expect from “the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

(6) It can truly be said of Christianity that it is a textually based religion. It is “written down,” “with paper and ink” (John 21:25; 2 John 14 NLT). The popular myth that the text of the Bible has been changed through handwritten copying and recopying through the centuries is unsupported by the facts.

(7) It was accurately predicted that “men will come forward perverting the truth” (Acts 20:30 NAB). However, the fixed Biblical text has served as a powerful safeguard against doctrinal changes.

(8) The Trinity doctrine, as we know it today, with the three in one idea, did not even appear on the scene until late in the 4th century CE, and was greatly disputed then, and it still is.

From the Bible we learn that:

(1) Jesus based his teachings upon the scriptures. “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44 NIV), which is the way the entire Old Testament was referred to in those days.

(2) The early Christian Church based its decisions upon the Scriptures—Acts 15:12-18

(3) The early individual Christians based their teachings entirely on the Scriptures— “He reasoned with them from the Scriptures . . . they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:2,3,11 NIV). Also see Acts 28:23.

(4) Teaching “different doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3 ESV), or “false doctrines” (1 Timothy 1:3 NIV), was/were not allowed.

(5) Teaching “a different Jesus”, or “a different gospel” was not allowed—2 Corinthians 11:4 NLT; Galatians 1:6 NIV; NAB

(6) Going “beyond what is written in the scriptures” was not allowed—1 Corinthians 4:6 GWT

(7) “Speculations” were not allowed—1 Timothy 1:4 NIV

(8) The Church was to “test” (1 John 4:1 NIV), and “weigh carefully, what is said” ( 1 Corinthians 14:29 NIV)

(9) The fixed text of the Bible, especially the New Testament, serves as a safeguard against “all kinds of strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:9 NIV)

(10) A false doctrine might take hold for a while, but the Bible’s fixed text tends to bring the true Biblical teachings back into focus. “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers in the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:24,25 NIV). This is the reason for the huge controversy over Trinitarian doctrine today. A false doctrine, such as the Trinity, is developed through a ‘distortion of the scriptures’ (2 Peter 3:15,16).

(11) “The faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones” (Jude 3 NAB) was in written form with the completion of the New Testament by the end of the 1st century. This, and other scriptures, implies that there is nothing “add to” it (Proverbs 30:5,6 NIV). In fact God has preserved his word, like nothing else has ever been preserved. “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:24,25 NIV). This fixed New Testament text serves as a safeguard against any doctrinal changes. It is true that unscriptural doctrinal changes, such as the Trinity, have been made, but “because of the truth,” “those who love the truth,” (2 John 1,2) reject them, and stick with what the Bible itself teaches.

This fixed text of the Bible, especially the New Testament, is why the Trinity is so disputed, and is, in fact, contradicted, by the Bible itself.

Not one aspect of the Trinity doctrine is found within the Biblical text itself.

Some c=&0=& translations=&1=& rendered in=&2=& (KJV),=&3=& in a way that seems to support the Trinity doctrine. This is because they were based on texts composed from manuscripts that had spurious changes.

For example, the words “testify in heaven: the =&4=&were added to 1 John 5:7,8. These words have been used to “prove” the Trinity doctrine. However, textual criticism revealed that these words are not in any Greek manuscript prior to the 14th century, so they are obviously spurious.

The KJV translation of 1 Timothy 3:16, “God was manifested in the flesh,” was based on a corrupted text, which would seem to support the Trinity doctrine. Discoveries of older, more accurate Greek manucsripts, combined with modern textual analysis revealed that the most ancient copies read: “Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is =&5=&

John 1:1 is a favorite go-to “proof text” of Trinitarians. The usual translation in English is: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” However, Koine’ Greek language doesn’t have the indefinite articles “a” and “an.” The Greek of John 1:1 reads, “the Word was with the God, and the Word was divine” (AAT). This is a big difference! Jesus was with THE God, that is, Almighty God, in heaven, prior to his coming to earth. The footnote to John 1:1 in the New American Bible (NAB) is quite informative: “Was God: lack of a definite article in Greek signifies predication rather identification.” Predication describes something about the subject. Jesus is godlike, but he’s not Almighty God. Once again, the Greek text, rather than Trinitarian spin, helps us to get the correct understanding. John 1:18, correctly translated, is a big help to understanding John 1:1: “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father; He has explained Him” (NASB). Since lots of people saw Jesus, he could not be God, because, “no one has ever seen God” (1 John 4:12 NIV). Jesus is called “God”, but he is begotten, meaning he was created. He did not exist prior to his creation. His “origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2 NIV). Trinitarians don’t like this, so many translations render John 1:18 differently. But the Greek text trumps biased translations.

John 8:58 is usually rendered as, “before Abraham was born, I am” (NIV). Trinitarians claim this connects Jesus to being the “I am” of Exodus 3:14. However, the Greek is more accurately rendered as “I existed before Abraham was born” (AAT), or the slightly less accurate, “before Abraham was even born, I have always been alive” (NLT margin).

Acts 20:28 is often translated in a way that indicates that God died for our sins: “The church of God, which He purchased with His own blood” (NASB). However, since “No one has ever seen God” (1 John 4:12), and he is “eternal” (1 Timothy 1:17 NIV), and “the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NAB), the Greek text of Acts 20:28 is better translated as: “The church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son” (NRSV).

The fixed New Testament text helps with Romans 9:5: “Theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever” (NAB). This is often translated with Trinitarian bias, such as, “the Messiah, who is God over all” (NIV). The NAB footnote clarifies the Greek, by explaining, “However, Paul’s point is that ‘God who is over all’ aimed to use Israel, which had been entrusted with every =&6=&The usual translation of, “the Messiah, who is God over all,” contradicts the Trinity doctrine anyway, because, “in this Trinity . . . none is greater, or less, than another. But the whole three Persons are . . . coequal” (Athanasian Creed). If Jesus was God over all, that would include being “over” the Father and the holy Spirit.

Another Trintarian favorite is Philippians 2:5,6: “Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal to God” (NKJV). The Greek text, however, reads: “Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not =&7=&

Titus 2:13 is usually rendered as “of our great God and savior =&8=&which makes it appear that Jesus Christ is Almighty God. However, since Paul offered greetings “from God the Father and Jesus Christ our savior” (NAB), it is obvious that Paul did not mean that Jesus is Almighty God. The more accurate translation is, “of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ” (NAB; NRSV margin).

2 Peter 1:1 is likewise rendered as though Jesus Christ is Almighty God in most translations: “Through the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus Christ”. However, the Greek is more accurately translated as: “the righteousness of our God and the savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1 NAB margin; NRSV margin; KJV; ASV; Weymouth; Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

The=&9=& renderings=&10=& modern refined Greek Texts, such as the N-A and UBS, upon which many modern=&11=&

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

November 26, 2018 BibleAuthenticity Comments 5 comments

God created the first humans perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4,5; Job 14:4; Ecclesiastes 7:29). If Adam and Eve had obeyed God, there would never have been suffering or problems. They were warned of the dire consequences of disobedience (Genesis 2:16,17). Yet, they chose to believe lies, and rejected God’s truthful warnings (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:44). God mercifully allowed humans to live long enough to produce the human race, albeit with inherited sin (Romans 8:21; 5:12). But, God allowed the consequences of sin to develop, without his intervention. Why? Because to interfere with the natural results of sin would be to help Satan’s cause, that is, that people could violate God’s standards with impunity (Genesis 3:4,5; John 8:44).

God has provided his creation to prove his existence (Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:20), and the Bible to guide us in living (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Psalm 119:97-15). In the future, God will undo all the harm that has been done (Isaiah 65:17; John 5:28,29; Revelation 21:4). God has a precise timetable set for these tremendous changes for the better, and has advised humans that they can be beneficiaries of these changes, if they will meet his standards, which are not too difficult (Psalm 15:1-5; Habakkuk 2:3; Zephaniah 1:14; John 3:16,36; 1 John 2:1,2; 5:3,4). He has not told us the exact time for these radical changes, but has warned us to be ready at all times (Matthew 24:37-25:46).

Daniel Accurately Predicted Antiochus IV Epiphanes

November 24, 2018 BibleAuthenticity Comments 2 comments

Critics claim the writer of the Book of Daniel was a fraud who really lived in the 160’s BCE, rather than Daniel himself, who wrote the book in the 530’s BCE. Could it possibly be true that Daniel accurately predicted Antiochus IV Epiphanes 350 years in advance?

“And now I shall tell you the truth about these things”—Daniel 11:1 NJB

“The vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been revealed is true”—Daniel 8:26 NJB

Other articles on this site have provided documented evidence that the Book of Daniel was written in the 500’s BCE, and 350 years in advance, accurately predicted details of the exploits of Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who was the Biblical “king of the =&0=& for about 12 years. The Greek philosopher Porphyry (233-304 CE) wrote a work in fifteen volumes he called Against the Christians, in which he attempted to prove that Jesus Christ was only an outstanding philosopher, but not who he said he was. In fact, Porphyry railed against Jesus’ reference to “the prophet Daniel” (Matthew 24:15 NIV) as being the writer of the book bearing his name. His reasoning was based, at least, in part, on the fact that Daniel 8:9-14,23-25; 11:21-39 so accurately predicted Antiochus IV Epiphanes, that he could not accept it as prophecy written in advance. The “predictions” were just too accurate for him to accept. He claimed that a fraud pretending to write prophecy in advance had to have written Daniel, because the events described could not have been so accurately predicted.

This article will discuss exactly what some of the scriptures in Daniel 11 foretold about Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and how they were fulfilled.

“The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by =&1=&

This verse accurately foretold the coming to power of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 175 BCE. He’s also the “small horn” of 8:9-14, 23-25, and is historically described in detail in 1 Maccabees 1:7-6:16; 2 Maccabees 1:1-10:5; 4 Maccabees 4:15-18:5. Why was Antiochus foretold to be despicable? He was not a legitimate successor of his brother Selucus IV, since Selucus IV had a son. He was called despicable because he would usurp the kingship through his use of “flattery and intrigue”, thus currying the favor of Rome, and for his notorious acts as king. His brother, Seleucus IV had a son, Demetrius, who was very young , and held in Rome as a hostage at the time. Antiochus therefore seized the throne for himself with the help of King Eumenes II of Pergamon., proclaiming himself co-regent with another son of Seleucus, an infant named Antiochus (whom he murdered a few years later). The prediction called him a “despised,” or “despicable,” person because of his hatred of the Jewish people, his attempt to destroy Jerusalem, his desecration of the Temple and his megalomania displayed in calling himself Epiphanes (‘Manifest One; Illustrious One’). People of that time also called him Epimanes (‘Madman’).

“Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince”—Daniel 11:22 NLT

Daniel accurately these details of the actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The “great armies” refer to the way all opposition against Antiochus IV will be broken. Despite Ptolemy VI Philometor (181 BCE–146 BCE) attacking with a flood of forces, Antiochus IV would be able to defeat them, and also depose the covenant prince, the Jewish high priest Onias III, in 175 BCE and replace him with his brother Jason (2 Maccabees 4:7-10). In 171 BCE, Onias was murdered by Menelaus, through manipulation of one Antiochus IV’s nobles, Andronicus (2 Maccabees 4: 32-43). Menelaus then became high priest (171–162 BCE), until his execution (2 Maccabees 13:3-8). Menelaus supported Antiochus IV’s program of hellenization.

“With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers (quoted from NLT). During a time of peace, he will come into the richest parts of the province and do what his fathers and predecessors never did (quoted from HCSB)”—Daniel 11:23,24

Antiochus IV would increase in power by sharing the wealth of his conquests, lavishing plunder, loot, and wealth on his supporters. He introduced Greek religion into Judea, helped by lawless followers who supported his policies (1 Maccabees 1:11-15). Antiochus IV seized the riches of the Temple, took large tributes from Jerusalem, and stationed troops there (1 Maccabees 1:29-40).

“Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. the king of the south will go to battles with =&2=&

These verses refer back to the first campaign of Antiochus against Ptolemy VI Philometer of Egypt (vs 22), predicting that not only would the power of Antiochus defeat Ptolemy VI, but also that plots “against him” would cause his army to be swept away. Antiochus IV attacked Egypt twice between 170 and 168 BCE (1 Maccabees 1:16-19). The guardians of Ptolemy VI Philometer demanded the return of Coele-Syria in 170 BCE, but Antiochus launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, capturing all but Alexandria. In this first campaign of Antiochus IV against Ptolemy Philometer of Egypt (son of Antiochus’ sister Cleopatra, and Ptolemy V), Ptolemy was mislead by his advisers, and was defeated, and captured by Antiochus, at Pelusium, on the border with Egypt. Antiochus, pretended friendship, but plundered Egypt. On the way back, Antiochus IV Epiphanes savagely mistreated the Jews (verse 28), as Daniel predicted.

“The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but because an end will still come at the appointed time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country”—Daniel 11:27,28 NIV

After the defeat of Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VII took control of Egypt. Then, “the two (other) kings”, Antiochus IV and Ptolemy VI, who was living in Antiochus’ custody, would meet, ‘speaking lies at the same table’, to plot Ptolemy VI’s restoration to the throne. To avoid alarming Rome, Antiochus allowed Ptolemy VI to continue ruling as a puppet king. After initial limited success, they would eventually fail. Then “the king of the North”, Antiochus IV, having plundered Egypt, would return to his land, but ‘with his heart set against the holy covenant’. On the way home to Syrian Antioch from Egypt, in response to intrigues in Jerusalem against his supporters, he would turn his hatred toward and attack Israel. This would result in killing 80,000 Jewish men, women, and children, and plundering Jerusalem and the holy temple’ (170-169 BCE), and enslaving many others (1 Maccabees 1:20-42; 2 Maccabees 5:1-23). His arrogance was unbounded (1 Maccabees 1:24,25).

We can learn even from the bad example of these ‘two treacherous kings’ (vs 27). Treachery and deceit are a power broker’s way to position himself over someone else. When two power brokers try to gain the upper hand, it is a mutually weakening and self-destructive process. It is also futile because God ultimately holds all power in his hands.

“At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and and show favor to the those who forsake the holy covenant”—Daniel 11:29,30 NIV

Upon Antiochus’ withdrawal, the city of Alexandria chose a new king, one of Ptolemy’s brothers, named Ptolemy VIII Euergetes. The Ptolemy brothers agree to rule Egypt jointly instead of fighting a civil war. In 168 BCE, Antiochus IV again invaded “the South”, Egypt. However, this second campaign against Egypt would end in ignominy. “Ships of the western coastlands” (“ships of Kittim”, Numbers 24:24), would come from the west, past Cyprus. They were the Romans fleet vessels under the command of Roman consul Gaius Popilius Laenas, who would arrive at Alexandria before Antiochus reached it. He would inform Antiochus of the Roman senate’s order to withdraw, forcing Antiochus to give his answer right then —whether he would continue to fight. The general drew a circle in the sand, forced Antiochus to stand inside it, before he was allowed to exit the circle, he had to decide whether return home or prepare for war with Rome, which would put Antiochus in a state of war with the Roman republic. The other decision would force Antiochus to retreat from Egypt, withdrawing in shameful humiliation— which is what he did, since he feared the Roman fleet, “ships of the western coastlands”, “ships of Kittim” (compare Numbers 24:24). These “ships” had sailed from the west past Kittim (Cyprus). On the way home, he vented his anger and humiliation on the Jews the people of “the holy covenant”, determined to exterminate the Jewish religion, attacking Jerusalem in 168 BCE.

“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes =&3=&

Antiochus would once again attack Israel, while returning to Syria. He captured and plundered Jerusalem in 167 BCE, desecrated the Temple, and stopped the Jews’ “daily sacrifice” at the altar (“take over the Temple, put a stop to the daily sacrifices”–NLT), and made all Mosaic Law practices illegal . He rewarded (“flatter and win over”–NLT) those who would come over to him, “those who have violated the holy covenant”. The Temple was desecrated when he sacrificed pigs on an altar erected in honor of the pagan Greek god Zeus Olympius. (1 Maccabees 1:54,59; 2 Maccabees 6:2). According to Jewish Law, pigs were unclean and were not to be touched or eaten. (Leviticus 11:7,8; Daniel 8:9-14, 23-26), and was considered to be one of the worst insults against the Jews. This prefigured a similar abomination that Jesus predicted would be erected in the future (Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20).

Antiochus harassed and killed whoever refused to ‘ violate the covenant’ (1 Maccabees 1:43-61). “The people who know their God”, who would resist the Hellenizers and would be ready to die for their faith, were foretold to “firmly resist him”, as expressed in the Maccabean revolt (1 Maccabees 1:62-64).

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Are Restoration Prophecies About Israel Literal – or Symbolic?

November 17, 2018 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

The majority of Biblical commentators and preachers take the restoration prophecies about Israel literally, so many Christians today think that the modern-day Republic of Israel is fulfilling Bible prophecies. However, a careful analysis of the Bible, especially the New Testament, shows that this is not the case at all. Please keep in mind, however, that a symbolic or spiritual fulfillment does not mean not real or not true. All Bible prophecies are real and true!

When the first Christians miraculously spoke in foreign languages (Acts 2:1-12), “Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘they have had too much wine.’ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd . . . ‘No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people”‘” (Acts 2:13-17 NIV). Peter, under God’s direction through the Holy Spirit, applies Joel 2:28-32 about the spirit poured out on all people as being fulfilled right then and there, “In the last days”. Peter’s quote from Joel 2:28,29 was fulfilled on that Pentecost Day, but not literally. Peter (and Luke, the Bible writer) includes this part of Joel’s prophecy also:

“I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:19, 20 NIV, which quotes Joel 2:30,31)

There were no literal, physical signs, on Pentecost Day fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, such as “fire”, “smoke”, ‘sun going dark’, or ‘the moon turned to blood’. This highly figurative language shows that God does indeed intervene in history, and does miraculous things, and that is what is symbolized by the cosmic language of Joel 2:30,31.

“After much discussion” (Acts 15:7 NIV) about the assertion that “Unless you are circumcised, according to the the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1 NIV), “James spoke up” (Acts 15:13 NIV). He stated the fact that “God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles” (Acts 15:14 NIV). James then quotes Amos 9:11, as an accurate prediction of the reality that “God made a choice . . . that the Gentiles might hear . . . the gospel and believe. God . . . showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them” (Acts 15:7-9 NIV):

“‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild and I will restore it'” (Acts 15:15 NIV).

This restoration prophecy of Israel at Amos 9:11 is clearly applied to the spiritual “Israel of God”, the Christian church comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. “David’s fallen tent” is an obvious reference to fleshly Israel in its Old Covenant relationship with God, which has been “=&0=&. The ‘rebuilding of it’ is the New Covenant relationship of the church, in covenant with God, mediated by Christ (Hebrews 9:15; 1 Timothy 2:5). But there is no literal rebuilding of a fallen tent from ruins, etc! This leads to the main point, as James quotes Amos 9:12 from the Greek Septuagint Version (LXX):

“‘That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’—things known from long ago” (Acts 15:16-18 NIV). By quoting both Amos 9:11 and Amos 9:12, James is showing that restoration prophecies of Israel are accomplished by bringing the Gentiles into the Church on an equal status basis with the Jews. The house of David is rebuilt, not with physical Jews, but with spiritual Jews, the Christian “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15,16 NIV), some of whom are physical Jews, and the rest, the vast majority, are physical Gentiles, non-Jews.

“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart , by the Spirit, not by the written code” (Romans 2:28,29 NIV). What one is outwardly, in the flesh, no longer matters (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11-18; Colossians 3:11). These and other NT scriptures give very strong proof that the restoration prophecies about Israel are real, but they are not literal, they are spiritual.

“The ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6 NIV). The New Covenant is thus affirmed to be highly superior to the Old Covenant, “which has been replaced” (2 Corinthians 3:11 NLT). The writer, likely Paul, quotes from Jeremiah’s prophecy to demonstrate the point:

“I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah” (Hebrews 8:8 NIV). On the surface, it looks like the New Covenant is made with Jews only. However, by stating that the covenant is made with both Israel and Judah, the fact is emphasized that God’s people will again be united, not divided. We’ve already seen from Romans 2:28,29 (above) that the New Covenant is made with spiritual Jews, not fleshly, Jews. Also, notice:

“Understand, then, those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed together along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:7-9 NIV). Taken together, the New Testament scriptures, combined with the prophecies of the Old Testament, clearly show that the restoration prophecies of Israel are fulfilled spiritually, not literally., with the Christian “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15,16 NIV). “The Church is the true Israel, the recipient of God’s promises, which goes out to all nations in the power of Christ” (New Jerusalem Bible, Pocket Edition, Introduction to Matthew).

Paul said that all Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, who follow the Christian way, comprise “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16 NIV).

Peter wrote that Christians:

“Are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special =&1=&Peter says that Christians are ” a chosen people”, which was predicted by Isaiah: “My people, my chosen” (Isaiah 43:20 NIV).

Peter says Christians are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession”, which fulfills the prediction at Exodus 19:5,6: ” If you obey me fully and keep my =&2=&(NIV), and Malachi 3:17: “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, when I take action. I will have compassion on them” (NAB).

Why can we say for certain that what was promised to fleshly Israel was given to spiritual Israel?

“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you (fleshly Israel in the Old Covenant) and given to a people who will produce its fruit (spiritual Israel in the New Covenant)” (Matthew 21:43 NIV).

” But you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were ‘no people’ but now you are God’s people; you ‘had not received mercy’ but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9,10 NAB). “The prerogatives of ancient Israel mentioned here are now more fully and fittingly applied to the Christian people” (NAB note on 1 Peter 2:9,10).

Peter says that non-Jews they were “once . . . not a people” who had “once not received mercy”, but “now . . . are the people of God”, who “now . . . have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10 NIV.

This fulfills the predictions of:

“You are not my people, and I am not your God” (Hosea 1:9 NIV).

“Say of your brothers, ‘My people'” (Hosea 2:1 NIV).

“I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’, and they will say, ‘You are my God'” (Hosea 2:23 NIV).

“Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people” (Jeremiah 7:23 NIV; also 11:4; 30:22).

“I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 37:23 NIV).

These scriptures originally applied to God’s Law Covenant with the people of Israel. However, Peter applies them to the church, made up of spiritual Jews, who are Jews and Gentiles in the flesh (Romans 2:28,29). Peter addressed the letter to Christians living in five provinces of Asia Minor, 1 Peter, which was a largely Gentile area (1 Peter 1:1). We can confirm that Peter was indeed writing to a predominantly Gentile audience from the following scriptures:

“Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14 NIV).

“You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors” (1 Peter 1:18 NIV).

“Called you out of darkness” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).

“You have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” ( 1 Peter 4:3 NIV).

Christians, who are mostly Gentiles, “are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV). God has blessed the church with the blessings promised to “Israel” in the Old Testament (OT)!

Many assert that Romans 11 promises the national restoration of fleshly Israel to God’s special favor, including the land fully restored to Israel, rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple, and a visible rule of Christ enthroned in Jerusalem. Romans 11 says nothing about any of this. NT writers correctly saw spiritual fulfillment of OT prophecies. John the Baptist fulfilled: “Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him” (Malachi 4:5,6; Matthew 17:11-13 NIV). The promise to David that his son would establish an eternal kingdom was fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Acts 2:29-36; 13:29-38). Christians living back then and us today “have already come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22 NIV). The NT interprets OT restoration prophecies as already fulfilled in Christ and the gospel.

“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made them a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross . . . The reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:15,17b NIV). Interpreting Old Testament prophecies about Israel’s restoration literally minimizes the important work of Christ in his first coming, and, in effect, shifts major attention from Christ’s first coming to his second coming.

“By this gospel you are saved . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared . . . ” (1 Corinthians 15:2-5 NIV).

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