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Originally posted by BobbinHood
If fundamental Christianity were the only true version of Christianity, you might have a case, but that is where your argument falls apart.
Originally posted by Nightchild Religion always manages to shoot itself in the foot, doesn't it.
Originally posted by Michael Cecil
Now, the reason for this should be obvious: That is the job of the Jewish and Christian theologians in the first place: knowing what the messiah will say when he arrives or returns. That, after all, is why they have been paid so many trillions of dollars over the past 2500 years or so: because what they are claiming is a Knowledge of Truth fully equivalent to the Knowledge of the messiah. So, in reality, this messiah can never say anything other than what has already been said by either the Jewish or the Christian theologians…
Which, of course, means that there is no real need for the messiah to arrive or return in the first place; since, allegedly, the Jewish and Christian theologians already know what he is going to say; which is why there are no Prophecies of the messiah saying anything different than what these religious ‘authorities’ are saying in the first place.
If the Jewish messiah were to arrive tomorrow—or, even if Jesus were to return, literally, on a white horse out of the sky tomorrow—it would make absolutely NO difference whatsoever to this civilization.
Why not?
Because, eventually, after getting off his white horse or whatever, he would actually have to SAY something.
And, at that point, the fox would be amongst the chickens.
What if this messiah were to contradict even one of the fundamental doctrines of either Judaism or Christianity—or even one of the fundamental beliefs of the Jews or the Christians?
What if he were to say that he had been here before--more than once?
What if he were to affirm that Mohammed was a prophet, for example?
What if he were to contradict even one of the ‘universally-recognized-as-the-Absolute-and-undeniable-Truth’ interpretations of the Revelation of John vomited out by tens of thousands of televangelists, Ph.D. theologians, or ‘do-it-yourself’ theologians?
What if he were to say something that was, in the least degree, ‘off script’ about either the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gospel of Thomas, the Treatise On Resurrection, the Holocaust, the scientific method, the Eastern religions, Greek mythology, or the whole subject of consciousness (for example, the findings of the Jungian analysts); things which the Jewish or Christian theologians do not understand because they are completely unacquainted with that language?
The conclusion would be both obvious and necessary:
Even riding a white horse out of the sky is not sufficient proof that one is the messiah.
In fact, any messiah who contradicts even so much as one of either the fundamental doctrines or beliefs of the Jews or the Christians—even a messiah who arrives on a white horse out of the sky—is, in fact, nothing but a false messiah; riding a white horse out of the sky being merely another “lying wonder” to convince “even the elect”.
In other words, even if the messiah were to return on a white horse out of the sky—but then deny or contradict anything said by either the Jewish or the Christian theologians—those religious ‘authorities’ would COLLECTIVELY decide to wait for the NEXT messiah arriving ‘on a white horse out of the sky’ who did NOT contradict anything said by either the Jewish or the Christian theologians.
Michael
Originally posted by Michael Cecil
NO Christian believes that.
Michael
Luke 5:37,38 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’"
Luke 5:36 He also told a parable to them. "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old."
Luke 16:19-31 "Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’
"But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
"But Abraham said to him,
‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
"He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
"He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’"
Originally posted by Sectumsempra
This is an interesting thread. It's normal to see Christians presenting Jesus as a character who was promised in the Christian OT. Being Jewish the Messiah concept is much different and I have to admit I don't know where Christians get their information on the concepts in the text.
The HUMAN Jewish Messiah will accomplish the following prophecies - ALL of them with no "second coming"' * The Sanhedrin will be re-established (Isaiah 1:26) * Once he is King, leaders of other nations will look to him for guidance. (Isaiah 2:4) * The whole world will worship the One God of Israel (Isaiah 2:17) * He will be descended from King David (Isaiah 11:1) via King Solomon (1 Chron. 22:8-10) * The Moshiach will be a man of this world, an observant Jew with "fear of God" (Isaiah 11:2) *****In other words - this must all be accomplished in a human lifetime***** * Evil and tyranny will not be able to stand before his leadership (Isaiah 11:4) * Knowledge of God will fill the world (Isaiah 11:9) * He will include and attract people from all cultures and nations (Isaiah 11:10) * All Israelites will be returned to their homeland (Isaiah 11:12) * Death will be swallowed up forever (Isaiah 25:8) * There will be no more hunger or illness, and death will cease (Isaiah 25:8) * All of the dead will rise again (Isaiah 26:19) * The Jewish people will experience eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 51:11) * He will be a messenger of peace (Isaiah 52:7) * Nations will end up recognizing the wrongs they did to Israel (Isaiah 52:13-53:5) * The peoples of the world will turn to the Jews for spiritual guidance (Zechariah 8:23) * The ruined cities of Israel will be restored (Ezekiel 16:55) * Weapons of war will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:9) * The Temple will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 40) resuming many of the suspended mitzvot * He will then perfect the entire world to serve God together (Zephaniah 3:9) * Jews will know the Torah without Study (Jeremiah 31:33) * He will give you all the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4) * He will take the barren land and make it abundant and fruitful (Isaiah 51:3, Amos 9:13-15, Ezekiel 36:29-30, Isaiah 11:6-9).
Originally posted by Sectumsempra
Sorry to say but Jesus never fulfilled any of the Messiah prophecies.
Originally posted by Sectumsempra
Of course! But the Messiah will be someone in the future. Because the Messiah has not been born as of yet. We also have to wait for Elijah. I'm not looking for a savior I'm looking for a leader the promised one.
Originally posted by Sectumsempra
Well I'm still sticking to my views on the Messiah concept the same with you.
Originally posted by Sectumsempra
I just cannot wait for the promised one. I can even taste it! I do feel I am an individual I guess in your view your own king or queen.