Are there any valid Biblical prophesies?

[McCulloch]

There are several ways in which a prediction of the future can be fulfilled, without invoking the supernatural:

1. The prophecy can be written or modified after the events fulfilling it have already occurred.
2. The prophecy can be worded in such a way that people can interpret any outcome as a fulfillment. Nostradomus's prophecies are all of this type. Vagueness works particularly well when people are religiously motivated to believe the prophecies.
3. The prophecy can predict something that is almost sure to happen, such as the collapse of a city. Since nothing lasts forever, the city is sure to fall someday. If it has not, it can be said that according to prophecy, it will.
4. One can claim that the fulfilling events occurred even if they have not.
5. Self-fulfillment. A person can act deliberately to satisfy a known prophecy. Or the person recording the event alleged to have fulfilled the prophecy, knew the prophesy and altered or invented the record in order to fulfill it.

Are there any fulfilled prophecies in the Bible that cannot easily fit into one or more of those categories?

[Goat]

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Judging by some comments it appears that some have searched very little to discover all the prophecy's contained in the bible, much less their fulfillment.

Does one seek to know the full details of a prophesy and or it's fulfillment for curiosity sake or for a deeper purpose?

Where does one find "the full details" of a one-sentence prophesy? Does one "interpret" what it "really means"?

It one were to show the details of a prophecy and it's subsequent fulfillment would you have faith to accept it or merely scoff at the results?

"Faith" would have nothing to do with my reaction. I would evaluate the EVIDENCE presented (and not the emotion).
I would evaluate whether the "prophesy" (a prediction of something to come) was clear and precise or whether it was vague and general. For example:

"It will rain here tomorrow" is clear and precise. The time, place and event are specified.

"There will come a big rain" and "The end is near" are vague and general. The time and place are not specified.

Number one is a valid "prophesy" (prediction). Number two is not valid because any rain in the future can be cited as "fulfillment of prophesy" and the meaning of "end is near" can be "interpreted" to mean nearly anything.

Some on this post have or at least appear to claim that there are no prophecies in the bible that have been fulfilled.

Can you list all of the unfulfilled prophesies contained therein?

A list of 238 unfulfilled "Prophecies, Promises, and Misquotes in the Bible" is presented at
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/proph/long.html

Wikipedia presents a similar list
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_prophecy

Not all presented are assured to be "unfulfilled prophesies" and many are excused or "interpreted" by Theists.

I went to the link you provided to unfulfilled prophesy. I saw the very first one and had to laugh:

"God says that if Adam eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, then the day that he does so, he will die. But later Adam eats the forbidden fruit (3:6) and yet lives for another 930 years (5:5). 2:17"

Die = "become mortal (Symmachus)" in this scripture. This was fulfilled.

I will continue to check out the list on that link. Looks like fun.

Tell me when you get ot the one about King Neb destorying Tyre forever.

[AB]

Are you using a trick definition of "die". I consulted many dictionaries and did not find reference to die meaning "become mortal". All definitions indicated "die" means to undergo death.

Why do you refer to Symmachus' translation? Is there some reason to prefer that translation (other than to "justify" an obscure definition)?

No trick...
"I am just dieing to see the Jonas brothers". "I died laughing at his great joke"
Very common statements. Do you really think "means to undergo death" is what is actually being implied? Naw, I don't think so. It's a figure of speech. By the way, I don't care to see the Jonas brothers. Got that from my 13 year old.. Anyway, back on track..

My source of the Genesis verse : "The Pentateuch and Haftorahs" Edited by JH Hertz. Great book.. explains from a hardcore judaism perspective. No Christology. I am a Christian. But to study the OT, I feel a judaism perspective is a must to include. I know my spots where I disagree.

I love Biblical prophesy. Don't you?

[AB]

Tell me when you get ot the one about King Neb destorying Tyre forever.

Ok. I will go to that one and check it out. Give me some time.

[Zzyzx]

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Are you using a trick definition of "die". I consulted many dictionaries and did not find reference to die meaning "become mortal". All definitions indicated "die" means to undergo death.

Why do you refer to Symmachus' translation? Is there some reason to prefer that translation (other than to "justify" an obscure definition)?

No trick...
"I am just dieing to see the Jonas brothers". "I died laughing at his great joke"
Very common statements. Do you really think "means to undergo death" is what is actually being implied? Naw, I don't think so. It's a figure of speech. By the way, I don't care to see the Jonas brothers. Got that from my 13 year old.. Anyway, back on track..

My source of the Genesis verse : "The Pentateuch and Haftorahs" Edited by JH Hertz. Great book.. explains from a hardcore judaism perspective. No Christology. I am a Christian. But to study the OT, I feel a judaism perspective is a must to include. I know my spots where I disagree.

I love Biblical prophesy. Don't you?

I see. Adam and Eve were dieing to get out of the garden and god died laughing at them. God didn't mean die -- he meant to become mortal -- sure -- that makes as much sense as anything else about the story -- including a talking snake and a "tree of knowledge".

Yes, biblical "prophesy" demonstrates that people are dieing to believe what they are told by "authority".

[bernee51]

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Are you using a trick definition of "die". I consulted many dictionaries and did not find reference to die meaning "become mortal". All definitions indicated "die" means to undergo death.

Why do you refer to Symmachus' translation? Is there some reason to prefer that translation (other than to "justify" an obscure definition)?

No trick...
"I am just dieing to see the Jonas brothers". "I died laughing at his great joke"
Very common statements. Do you really think "means to undergo death" is what is actually being implied? Naw, I don't think so. It's a figure of speech. By the way, I don't care to see the Jonas brothers. Got that from my 13 year old.. Anyway, back on track..

My source of the Genesis verse : "The Pentateuch and Haftorahs" Edited by JH Hertz. Great book.. explains from a hardcore judaism perspective. No Christology. I am a Christian. But to study the OT, I feel a judaism perspective is a must to include. I know my spots where I disagree.

I love Biblical prophesy. Don't you?

I see. Adam and Eve were dieing to get out of the garden and god died laughing at them. God didn't mean die -- he meant to become mortal -- sure -- that makes as much sense as anything else about the story -- including a talking snake and a "tree of knowledge".

Yes, biblical "prophesy" demonstrates that people are dieing to believe what they are told by "authority".

Just as many apologists 'die' in front of the audience while performing hermeneutic gymnastics.

[Fallibleone]

I think there are many Biblical references to the name Goat & they all fit nicely I believe. Do you like to see your words in print or do you have a valid question. I don't assume anything for another person, so please don't assume anything for me ok!!! I read many versions of the Bible & do diligent comparisons. The main theme is what is important & on those points they mostly agree.. Not all the minor errors that so many non-believers like to pick on!!

Now we know where you stand on goat, do you think you could do what he asked?

[muffinmonkey]

I'm sorry, but you cannot say that God was just speaking colloquially.
"Ohh myy God, If you eat from the tree of knowledge you will so actually die"

However, I do have to admit that it probably did mean become mortal, it is a single book written at the same time, so unless the author was winging it, he knew Adam would not actually die.

[Zzyzx]

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I'm sorry, but you cannot say that God was just speaking colloquially.
"Ohh myy God, If you eat from the tree of knowledge you will so actually die"

However, I do have to admit that it probably did mean become mortal, it is a single book written at the same time, so unless the author was winging it, he knew Adam would not actually die.

Bible Believers / Literalists,

According to the tale there were only two people alive on Earth at the time of the "garden incident" supposed occurred. Therefore:

Who wrote the book?
When was it written?
How did the author know that Adam would not die?

Doesnt it seem more likely that the tale is a legend that "glorifies god"?

[AB]

.

Are you using a trick definition of "die". I consulted many dictionaries and did not find reference to die meaning "become mortal". All definitions indicated "die" means to undergo death.

Why do you refer to Symmachus' translation? Is there some reason to prefer that translation (other than to "justify" an obscure definition)?

No trick...
"I am just dieing to see the Jonas brothers". "I died laughing at his great joke"
Very common statements. Do you really think "means to undergo death" is what is actually being implied? Naw, I don't think so. It's a figure of speech. By the way, I don't care to see the Jonas brothers. Got that from my 13 year old.. Anyway, back on track..

My source of the Genesis verse : "The Pentateuch and Haftorahs" Edited by JH Hertz. Great book.. explains from a hardcore judaism perspective. No Christology. I am a Christian. But to study the OT, I feel a judaism perspective is a must to include. I know my spots where I disagree.

I love Biblical prophesy. Don't you?

I see. Adam and Eve were dieing to get out of the garden and god died laughing at them. God didn't mean die -- he meant to become mortal -- sure -- that makes as much sense as anything else about the story -- including a talking snake and a "tree of knowledge".

Yes, biblical "prophesy" demonstrates that people are dieing to believe what they are told by "authority".

Just as many apologists 'die' in front of the audience while performing hermeneutic gymnastics.

Funny how the clarification of the true meaning of one little word can send atheists into a tailspin.
And whenever I see the "gymnastics" statement, I know my position has been affirmed. I am moving on to the prophecy Goat wanted me to look at.

[Goat]

.

Are you using a trick definition of "die". I consulted many dictionaries and did not find reference to die meaning "become mortal". All definitions indicated "die" means to undergo death.

Why do you refer to Symmachus' translation? Is there some reason to prefer that translation (other than to "justify" an obscure definition)?

No trick...
"I am just dieing to see the Jonas brothers". "I died laughing at his great joke"
Very common statements. Do you really think "means to undergo death" is what is actually being implied? Naw, I don't think so. It's a figure of speech. By the way, I don't care to see the Jonas brothers. Got that from my 13 year old.. Anyway, back on track..

My source of the Genesis verse : "The Pentateuch and Haftorahs" Edited by JH Hertz. Great book.. explains from a hardcore judaism perspective. No Christology. I am a Christian. But to study the OT, I feel a judaism perspective is a must to include. I know my spots where I disagree.

I love Biblical prophesy. Don't you?

I see. Adam and Eve were dieing to get out of the garden and god died laughing at them. God didn't mean die -- he meant to become mortal -- sure -- that makes as much sense as anything else about the story -- including a talking snake and a "tree of knowledge".

Yes, biblical "prophesy" demonstrates that people are dieing to believe what they are told by "authority".

Just as many apologists 'die' in front of the audience while performing hermeneutic gymnastics.

Funny how the clarification of the true meaning of one little word can send atheists into a tailspin.
And whenever I see the "gymnastics" statement, I know my position has been affirmed. I am moving on to the prophecy Goat wanted me to look at.

You have an allegorical story (in other words it is not a historical occurence)< and you try to explain away something that disturbs with a non-standard translation and you say that it says 'my statement has been affirmed' when someone says your explanation doesn't make sense??

Talk about self justification!