As far as I am concerned, Christians are free to interpret the scriptures any way they want to. What bothers me is when they use their, IMO, faulty interpretations to try to prosyletize Jews.
Which you are absolutely free to do, recognizing of course that your interpretation is subject to the same scrutiny and rejection.
As far as I am concerned, Christians are free to interpret the scriptures any way they want to. What bothers me is when they use their, IMO, faulty interpretations to try to prosyletize Jews.
My only concern is the extent to which that proselytizing goes. My concern doesn't just apply to sharing the gospel with Jews, but with anyone. As one familiar with Christian doctrine, you must understand the Christians' obligation to fulfill the great commission and bring the gospel to as many as we can. You must also understand the frustration a Christian has with someone who, from their viewpoint, only gets half the truth. Unfortunately, that frustration often manifests itself in belittling insults, anger and an ultimate classification of that person as ignorant. This is not the proper attitude to have.
From my perspective as a Christian, I share the gospel and defend the faith not because I think I can win someone over to "our side," but because God has chosen to use His elect as the instruments to call upon His elect. Without the Spirit of God working within a person, I can preach and proselytize till perousia and not make a dent. All I can do is plant seeds:)
Angelo, please;
To crystallize what I perceive as un-reconciled in your position is:
1) The Jewish Messiah must fulfill all messianic prophecy within one [human] lifetime (among other criteria, but this one will suffice for my question).2) Daniels prophecy of 70 weeks (1 + 2 + 7 + 60) 9:24-27 remains wholly unfulfilled.
The website you cite while rebutting Christian interpretations of dates in Dan 9 states Christians and Jews agree means seventy groups of seven years. One (possibly you) might argue dating to be important. I agree it is, but bear with me as an even larger more encompassing date issue arises from your position (I believe).
So, Dan 9 is prophetic (it predicts the future, at least from Daniels timeframe) and is Messianic (it foretells a coming of the mashiyach), yet according to your view point is unfulfilled, remaining to be fulfilled by the true Jewish Messiah, one criteria of which is that it will be fulfilled in one lifetime.
So can you help me understand from your position how a messianic prophecy extending some 490 years will yet be fulfilled, along with Daniel 9:24-27 other predictions that Jerusalem be rebuilt, then destroyed, then a covenant and then desolation/appalment in the temple, all starting with Daniels timeframe (assuming youre not going to posit that Daniels prophecy was delayed in starting)?
I assume you might posit a Methuselah type lifespan for the Jewish Messiah yet to come, but again, if hes yet to come, are not Daniels 1st 69 (if not 70) other weeks also unfulfilled and does this not accuse Daniel of being a false prophet?
.thus necessitating that Daniel be stoned and removed from the Holy Scripture?