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NASB | Luke 16:31 "But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 16:31 "And he said to him, 'If they do not listen to [the messages of] Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" |
Bible Question:
Dear Memebers of this forum, HELP HELP HELP ! A very close friend of ours has come up with another difficulty that I have no answer for regarding the risen saints that were awakened at the time Jesus died on the cross. We never new of this event. Here is his letter to us: Aloha Charles and Karen, It was nice talking to you this morning about the bible. Here is that passage you weren't aware of, Matthew 27, verses 52-53, "And the graves were open, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of their graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." If the bible is N O T a book of fairy tales, folklore and legends, then a reasonable assumption would be that secular evidence of some sort would be available for such a phenomenon. The Jewish and the Romans were dilligent at keeping records of births, Hanukkahs, marriages, elections, properties, deaths and many other significant events. The Jewish historian Josephus was such a keeper of records that he meticulously wrote volumes chronicling the events of that day. Strangely though, nowhere in his writings does he mention anything about previously known dead people up and about. If indeed this supernatural event were true, it would certainly have garnered the curiosity of a lot more people to say the least. Such an event would undoubtedly be passed on to many generations, yet there are no other accounts of such a miracle. Even the Apostles who began the work of spreading the good news did not mention a word about all the risen saints that appeared to many. What a witness for the new church that surely would have been. Don't you think it would have been an impressive validation and proof of the resurrection of Jesus? Don't you think it would have been the talk of the town seeing deceased loved ones resurrected and reunited with their families? Don't you think at least one Apostle would have used that event as part of his evangelism? Why is not a word of such a miraculous event mentioned at all by the other gospel writers? The answer my dear Charles and Karen is a simple one. It is folklore and fairy tale. It never happened. The problem with the whole thing about religion is how religious people insult God by claiming that He inspired writers to write such things as dead saints being raised, the sun being created on the fourth day, kill a dissenting family member if he tried to entice you away from the lord, that bastards were barred from the assembly of the lord for up to ten generations and women were unclean during their menstrual cycle. It is preposterous to support the notion that God would command the death penalty for a rebellious child, forbid disabled and handicapped people from entering the assembly of the lord, proclaim Solomon as the wisest man that ever lived while blessing him with a thousand women and having the prophet Samuel threaten David with having his wives raped in front of everyone. How is it possible that God would be so petty as to be concerned with his people cooking a goat in its mother's milk? That eating pork or shrimp or lobster is an abomination? That if a man found his bride not a virgin on their wedding night, he could have her stoned? That it was a shame for women to speak in churches? That women were to remain silent and learn from their husbands at home? That women were forbidden to teach or have authority over men? How is it possible that God would be so petty on a myriad of unimportant and insignificant practices BUT not say a word forbidding slavery, outlawing polygamy or declaring the rights of women? How is it possible that God would instead, condone and sanction polygamy, slavery, the death penalty for petty infractions and the chattel treatment of women? I don't believe, in fact I guarantee you, God had nothing to do with the foolish men who claimed to be writing the word of God. He had nothing to do with inspiring the writers of the bible, the Koran, not even Ellen G. White, Joseph Smith or Charles Russell. The evidence that comes from the bible is as clear as a bright sunny Hawaiian day. No amount of spin can change its horrendous insult to our magnificient God of the universe. Be reasonable and think seriously about the majesty of God, He is not a God of confusion. Respectfully given and friends forever, Steve Our best friend Steve has stumped us and we are desparate for a way to answer his logic. The Word tells us to go into all the world and spread the good news of salvation. How are we to explain these questions to someone who is reading the bible for the first time? We cannot deny there are many people out there who have never heard of the bible and will ask about these difficulties. What are we supposed to say to them? What is the reason there is nothing more said about the risen saints that appeared to many in the holy city? Thank you for any help you may have, kam |
Bible Answer: kam, The person with whom you are discussing these things is not open to hearing. Not based on this letter you copied here. I do think that everyone of his points is a good question to ask and worthy of treatment, but the attitude he brings with his comments (not really questions) is hostile. I have found that it is best not to get into specific issues such as these when the main issue is far more important. These issues are merely for the sake of avoiding the primary concern, and that is an open heart. Unfortunately, at least from my theological understanding, only the Holy Spirit can open and soften someone's heart. Rather than engaging in what amounts to a meaningless and endless discussion on secondary issues, I'd pray for his heart. Again, I think that each issue he has is valid to address, and certainly many here on this forum can do so, but going to that much detail is pointless when the person rejects the foundation. That being said: The Bible is exceedingly pro-women, as is of course the God who made them. The Bible is not pro-slavery as in actively promoting it, and certainly not in the way we understand it today. The Bible is not anti-disabled or against bastards, but quite the contrary. Solomon is chastised severely for his many wives and there is not doubt that the Bible claims it to be a sin in his life. And of course Samuel did not (nor did Nathan) threaten David with having his wives raped, but rather said it would happen as a result. The only way this man will have peace with these issues is if he studies the Text with a good community and is open to the Holy Spirit. Sorry I can't simply answer away like you may want, but the logic he uses may sound strong on the service, but it's based on faulty understanding and sometimes it is simply in error. MJH |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Luke 16:31 | Author | ||
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kamschoolgrad | ||
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srbaegon | ||
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MJH |