Who can tell the future?

[Mymom]

Some people believe that the Bible is a reliable book of prophecy. Others feel that it contains vague predictions that could be interpreted in many different ways. What's your opinion? And it would be appreciated if those answering did so in a serious and respectable way - unlike some previous comments I have noted in other threads. Thank you.

[beso]

The records of major earthquakes are proportional to the populated areas and the propensity record them. The figures are biassed toward recent times because of the vast increase in the amount of recording equipment.

The cost of natural disasters increases in modern times because there are more people and the value of the assets is greatly increased. Large numbers of big buildings cost much more than a few mud huts.

Seismic experts say the current frequency of earthquakes is well within the normal distribution that would be expected.

[karenmac60]

Only time travellers could tell what the future holds, and since we have not mastered time travel, yet, then no one at this point in time.

[beso]

Wel there certainly are plenty of smashing tales. Like smashing the bodies of the children of those who have incurred the wrath of God.

"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up."

Hosea 13:16

[beso]

And why only the "women with child"?

Because, as in many similar stories of the Bible, the general principle is that the virgins are taken as sex slaves by "God's People" as a reward for their participation in the slaughter.

[Mymom]

Birdie: //– no one (and no book) can tell the future. The Bible certainly doesn't do so and nor does the Koran.//
That no one can tell the future I agree wholeheartedly. Many have tried and failed. But the Bible has been proved true on more than one occasion.
But as Pillj123 said – “wait and see!”
Jomifl: Jesus is already here and has been since 1914. He has been ruling as King in the heavens since then. All we are awaiting now is that he takes action and begins to rule over the earth.

[Ankou]

"the Bible has been proved true on more than one occasion"

have you got any specific examples?

[LazyGun]

@MyMom

And who says Jesus has been ruling since 1914? Well, I'll be - this is a declaration from the JW, without any empirical evidence to support it, that some verse out of Revelations is it? has been satisfied. Handy then that he is confining himself to ruling in heaven at the moment -no evidence of course. No other cult,that I am aware of, believes this - just the JWs.With no evidence.

So, a bunch of geezers, in a fundamentalist religious cult arbitrarily decided that jebus was back on the basis of their subjective and biased interpretation of a verse in revelations - And you think this constitutes evidence? You unthinkingly accept this?

As for biblical prophecy coming true, you should post a few - trumpet your book of myth and legends inerrancy !- Of course, others may view such triumphs as selective, written after the event, or merely trying to crowbar into history a version of an event to match a piece of versifying. But hey, why let facts get in the way of your faith eh?

Is it any wonder that such faiths command such little respect?

[naomi24]

Here's something outlining the reasons for the 1914 date. It was about the first thing I came across in google, and I haven't read it all.

http://www.jehovahswitnesstruth.com/1914.htm

[jomifl]

Mymom, well that's the earthquakes explained then..

[vetuste_ennemi]

Hello, again, Mymom.
You've kindly answered a question I put to Brother Shanghi on a different thread. So JWs do still believe in the invisible return of Christ in 1914.
In answer to your question the Bible has striking examples of very accurate prophecy. Most of them can be found in the book of Daniel where you derive the 1914 date (based in the false date of 607 BC for the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar). Daniel predicts with astonishing accuracy the break-up of Alexander's empire and the doings of a number of the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt over 200 years AFTER Daniel's death.
Regarding wars, earthquakes etc. which JWs say are the sign of Christ's return. How do you justify this interpretation of Matthew 24, Mymom? The chapter begins with the question "what shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the world?". Christ replies with a list of things which will happen BEFORE then (wars, rumours of wars, etc.) followed by the remarks "but the end is not yet" and "then they will see the SIGN of the Son of Man and all nations...". So he didn't say what the sign was, only that everyone would see it. What is wrong with my reading of the text?