Then you will no doubt conceed, that when Revelation talks about Israel and the Temple etc. it is prophesying the future, (Since Israel and the Temple were destroyed in 70 AD 25 years before Revelation was written.)
I concede no such thing. You must explain to me very carefully why there were a whole host of prophets before Christ... but only one (John) after Christ. Did Jesus forget to tell us something when he was here? Why have there been no further prophets? Was John really a prophet or was he an inspired man?
Therefore, I hope you will agree that it was GOD, not puny mortal men at the UN, that brought Israel back to the land in 1948, so that the prophesies in Revelationcould be fulfilled (which is the will of God).
I do not agree. Was it God? Or was it men who (perhaps thinking it may be Gods will) decided to establish physical Israel. Your argument also takes us onto new ground... If God, did indeed willfully establish Physical Israel, then we must also conclude that God willfully established the Nazi party of Germany as agents of the Holocost, and thus the "rebirth" of Israel. And where in the bible do you find God willfully creating anything evil such as the Nazi's?
How curious then, that Pius XII did NOT want this to happen! (See my note #18, with link to the story).
See my Post #23.
Since the Catholic Encyclopedia admits Revelation was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, and Revelation prophesies about a literal, physical Israel, restored to their ancient homeland, WHICH GOD GAVE TO THEM FOREVER AND EVER
The history of the Jews is one of a stiff-necked people who have determined to go their own way. Witness that even after being freed from the slavery of Egypt by the miricles of God...they still built a "golden idol." God gave them a "physical Israel" His name was Jesus. And He will rule forever and ever.
P.S.: Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The system moderator switched this thread to the religion section while I was in mid post...messed-up my system and it's taken this long to get back to you with a reply.
Why was there need for 23 books after the Gospels? Because that was God's plan. Prophet or inspired man?? Clearly a prophet. Revelation starts out with 7 letters to churches DIRECTLY from Jesus. This is the established pattern of prophets. God speaks to man... man writes down God's words for us. Also..
Rev 4:1 After these things I (John) looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
That's pretty much the essence of prophesy.
And where in the bible do you find God willfully creating anything evil such as the Nazi's?
Let's see... the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Romans... God definitely used the Nazis to re-birth Israel. God is Sovereign over EVERYTHING.
." God gave them a "physical Israel" His name was Jesus. And He will rule forever and ever.
This is a willful misreading of Genesis on your part. re-read my post. God tells Abraham he will give him the LAND to his seed forever. The LAND. Literal.
Great questions, by the way. Now I have a question for you and redhead... I am wildly curious...
Why do you guys not WANT God to give the Jews their ancestral homeland? Why would you not WANT the Temple to be re-built? I'm having a hard time understanding why you both seem so resistant/afraid of these things happening. Why?? If indeed, the Jews are back in their land (which they are) and their Temple is re-built (which I'm certain it will be) what skin off your noses would that be? Just curious. All of you Catholics on this thread seem deathly afraid of the Book of Revelation. Why is that?
Thanks!