Expert: Brenda Martin - 3/7/2008

Question
Every word in the bible is true, thus I have ehard. However, I have a
list of verses from the Bible itself that have erros in it.  I really
hope that you can help me with this, and explain these errors to me:

Genesis:

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

As a punishment for killing Abel, God says Cain will be "a fugitive and
a vagabond." Yet in just a few verses (4:16-17) Cain will settle down,
marry, have a son, and build a city. This is not the activity one
would expect from a fugitive and a vagabond. 4:12

God promises Abram and his descendants all of the land of Canaan. But
both history and the bible (Acts 7:5 and Heb.11:13) show that God's
promise to Abram was not fulfilled. 13:15, 15:18, 17:8, 28:13-14

How long was the Egyptian captivity? This verse says 400 years, but
Ex.12:40 and Gal.3:17 say 430 years. 15:13

"In the fourth generation they [Abraham's descendants] shall come
hither again." But, if we count Abraham, then their return occurred after
seven generations: Abraham, Isaac (Gen.21:1-3), Jacob (Gen.25:19-26),
Levi (Gen.35:22-23), Kohath (Ex.6:16), Amramn (Ex.6:18), and Moses
(Ex.6:20). 15:16

God promises Abram's descendants the land of Canaan from the Nile to
the Euphrates. But according to Acts 7:5 and Heb.11:13 God's promise to
Abram was not fulfilled. 15:18

God promises to make Isaac's descendents as numerous as "the stars of
heaven", which, of course, never happened. The Jews have always been,
and will always be, a small minority. 26:4

God renames Jacob twice (32:28, 35:10 ). God says that Jacob will
henceforth be called Israel, but the Bible continues to call him Jacob
anyway (47:28-29). And even God himself calls him Jacob in 46:2. 32:28,
35:10

Exodus:

God promises to cast out many nations including the Canaanites and the
Jebusites. But he was unable to fulfill his promise. 33:2

In this verse God says he will write on the stone tablets, but in 34:27
he tells Moses to do the writing. 34:1

Deuteronomy:

God promises to cast out seven nations including the Amorites,
Canaanites, and the Jebusites. But he was unable to fulfill his promise. 7:1

God says that the Israelites will destroy all of the peoples they
encounter. But according to Joshua ( 15:63, 16:10, 17:12-13) and Judges
(1:21, 27-36, 3:1-5) there were some people they just couldn't kill. 7:24

Joshua:

God promises to give Joshua all of the land that his "foot shall tread
upon." He says that none of the people he encounters will be able to
resist him. But later we find that God didn't keep his promise, and that
many tribes withstood Joshua's attempt to steal their land. 1:3-5

Joshua tells the Israelites that God will "without fail" drive out the
Canaanites and the Jebusites. But later, the Bible tells us that he
could not drive them out. 3:10

This verse says that Ai was never again occupied after it was destroyed
by Joshua. But Nehemiah (7:32) lists it among the cities of Israel at
the time of the Babylonian captivity. 8:28

God promised the Israelites that he would drive out all the inhabitants
of the lands they pass through. But this verse shows that he didn't
keep his promise since he couldn't drive out the Jebusites. 15:63

"And they drave not out the Canaanites." Once again God fails keep his
promise to destroy all the people the Israelites encounter. 16:10

Samuel 2:

God says that Solomon's kingdom will last forever. It didn't of course.
It was entirely destroyed about 400 years after Solomon's death, never
to be rebuilt. 7:13, 16

Chronicles 2:

God puts lies into the mouths of his prophets and speaks evil about
people. 18:21-22

Josiah died from an arrow wound in battle, not "in peace" as is
promised in 2 Kg.22:20. 35:23

Isaiah:

God told Isaiah to tell Ahaz, the King of Judah, not to be concerned
about Rezin (the king of Syria) or Pekah (the king of Israel). But
according to 2 Chr.28:5-6 "God delivered him [Ahaz] into the hand of the king
of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of
them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered
into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great
slaughter." 7:3-7

The King James Version mistranslates the Hebrew word "almah", which
means "young woman" as "virgin". (The Hebrew word, "bethulah", means
"virgin".) In addition, the young woman referred to in this verse was living
at the time of the prophecy. And Jesus, of course, was called Jesus --
and is not called Emmanuel in any verse in the New Testament. 7:14

These verses falsely predict that Babylon will never again be
inhabited. 13:19-20

Dragons will live in Babylonian palaces and satyrs will dance there.
13:21-22

This verse prophesies that Damascus will be completely destroyed and no
longer be inhabited. Yet Damascus has never been completely destroyed
and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities. 17:1

The river of Egypt (identified as the Nile in RSV) shall dry up. This
has never occurred. 19:5

"The land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt." Judah never invaded
Egypt and was never a military threat to Egypt. 19:17

This verse predicts that there shall be five cities in Egypt that speak
the Canaanite language. But that language was never spoken in Egypt,
and it is extinct now. 19:18

These verses predict that the Egyptians will worship the Lord (Yahweh)
with sacrifices and offerings. But Judaism has never been an important
religion in Egypt. 19:18-21

These verses predict that there will be an alliance between Egypt,
Israel, and Assyria. But there has never been any such alliance, and it's
unlikely that it ever will since Assyria no longer exists. 19:23-24

Jeremiah:

Jeremiah prophesies that all nations of the earth will embrace Judaism.
This has not happened. 3:17

Apparently, prophets that preach good news and tidings anger God. So he
will kill them. 5:12-13

"The prophets prophesy falsely." 5:31

God will make Jerusalem "a den of dragons." 9:11

Judah will become a desolate den of dragons. 10:22

"The prophets prophesy lies" in God's name. 14:14

God will destroy by famine and sword those who are misled by the
prophets, as well as the prophets themselves. 14:15-16

Matthew (1:12) lists Jeconiah as an ancestor of Jesus -- which,
according to this prophecy, disqualifies Jesus as the Messiah. 22:28-30

All those who move to Egypt will die by the sword, famine, or
pestilence. None "shall escape from the evil" that comes directly from God. But
many, including Jews, have moved to Egypt and most seem to have escaped
from God's promised evil. 42:15-18, 22

Jeremiah predicts that humans will never again live in Hazor, but will
be replaced by dragons. But people still live there and dragons have
never been seen. 49:33

God prophesies that Babylon will never again be inhabited. But it has
been inhabited constantly since the prophecy was supposedly made, and is
inhabited still today. 50:39

God says that Babylon will be desolate and uninhabited forever. He says
that only dragons will live there. But Babylon has been dragon-free
and continuously inhabited since then. 51:26, 29, 37, 43, 62, 64

God promised Zedekiah (Jer.34:5) that he would die peacefully and be
buried with his fathers. But here we see that he died a miserable death
in foreign land. 52:10-11

Daniel:

"I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." (If Daniel
couldn't understand his visions, then how could anyone else?) This is the
one true prophecy in the book of Daniel: "none understood it." 8:27

Zechariah:

The gospels (especially Mt.21:4-5 and Jn.12:14-15) claim that Jesus
fulfils the prophecy of Zech.9:9. But the next few verses (9:10-13) show
that the person referred to in this verse is a military king that would
rule "from sea to sea". Since Jesus had neither an army or a kingdom,
he could not have fulfilled this prophecy. 9:9

Israel shall never again be oppressed. Another obviously false
prophecy; Israel has been occupied many times since the time of Zechariah. 9:8

The river of Egypt (identified as the Nile in NIV, NASB, and RSV) shall
dry up. This has never occurred. 10:11

Malachi:

The gospel of Mark claims that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy
given in Malachi. But the Malachi prophecy says that God will send
Elijah before "the great and dreadful day of the LORD" in which the world
will be consumed by fire. Yet John the Baptist flatly denied that he was
Elijah (Elias) in John 1:21 and the earth was not destroyed after
John's appearance. 3:1, 4:1, 5

Matthew:

The devil kidnaps Jesus and takes him up to the top of the temple, and
then to the top of "an exceedingly high mountain," high enough to see
"all the kingdoms of the world." Was the world flat?

Mark:

Jesus is incorrect when he says that the mustard seed is the smallest
seed. (The smallest seeds are found among the tropical, epiphytic
orchids.) 4:31

In those days ... the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of
heaven shall fall."  The billions of stars will never fall to earth and
the moon does not produce its own light. 13:24-25

When Jesus was crucified, there was three hours of complete darkness
"over the whole land." It is strange that there is no record of this
extraordinary event outside of the gospels. 15:33

_________________________________________________

I hope that you can take a look on this, and explain these errors to
me. Thank you so much. God bless.  

Answer
Hi there Lee, since it is a big question I will answer it in stages ok, I have answered the "Genesis" questions first.


PART 1 GENESIS

"GENESIS:(3:6) DAY;AND YET LIVES FOR ANOTHER 930 YEARS?"

2 Peter 3;8—“However, let this one fact not be escaping your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.”

In one of God’s thousand-year days Adam and Eve died, he living to be 930 years old.

In both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures, the word “day” (Heb., yohm; Gr., he•me´ra) is used in a literal and in a figurative or even symbolic sense.

This flexible use of the word “day” to express units of time of varying length is clearly evident in the Genesis account of creation. Therein is set forth a week of six creative days followed by a seventh day of rest. The week assigned for observance by the Jews under the Law covenant given them by God was a miniature copy of that creative week. (Ex 20:8-11) In the Scriptural record the account of each of the six creative days concludes with the statement: “And there came to be evening and there came to be morning” a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth day. (Ge 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31)

The seventh day, however, does not have this ending, indicating that this period, during which God has been resting from his creative works toward the earth, continued on. At Hebrews 4:1-10 the apostle Paul indicated that God’s rest day was still continuing in his generation, and that was more than 4,000 years after that seventh-day rest period began. This makes it evident that each creative day, or work period, was at least thousands of years in length. As A Religious Encyclopaedia (Vol. I, p. 613) observes: “The days of creation were creative days, stages in the process, but not days of twenty-four hours each.”—Edited by P. Schaff, 1894.

"GENESIS (4:16-17)CAIN FUGITIVE; YET CAIN SETTLES DOWN, MARRIES, HAS A SON, BUILDS A CITY?"

Jehovah cursed Cain and banished him from the environs of Eden. He was to be a wanderer and a fugitive in the earth. Cain then “went away from the face of Jehovah and took up residence in the land of Fugitiveness to the east of Eden.” (Genesis 4:16) Having taken a wife from among his sisters or nieces, he built a city that he named after Enoch, his firstborn son.

It is reasonable to conclude also that like his parents, he went to Gehenna when he died. (Matthew 23:33, 35) What a contrast this is with the situation of righteous Abel

Cain as a fugitive suffered expulsion from his own native land or home, he had been a farmer, but the ground thereafter would not respond to his cultivation.—Ge 4:2, 3, 11-14.

"GOD PROMISED ABRAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS ALL OF THE LAND OF CANAAN BUT IT WAS NOT FULFILLED?"

It was--Jehovah told Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan—but not for four hundred years “because the error of the Amorites [had] not yet come to completion.” (Genesis 12:1-5; 15:13-16) Here the term “Amorites” (a dominant tribe) likely represents the peoples of Canaan as a whole. So some four centuries would pass before Jehovah would enable his people to take over Canaan.

When Abraham’s descendants were organized as a nation under the Law, Jehovah blessed them according to his promise to the patriarch. In 1473 B.C.E., Moses’ successor, Joshua, led Israel into Canaan. The subsequent division of the land among the tribes fulfilled Jehovah’s promise to give the land to Abraham’s seed.

"HOW LONG WAS THE EGYPTIAN CAPTIVITY? 400 YEARS OR 430 YEARS".

Neither--- Genesis 15;13--When was the foretold 400-year affliction of Abram’s offspring fulfilled? This period of affliction began in 1913 B.C.E. when Abraham’s son Isaac was weaned at about 5 years of age and his 19-year-old half brother, Ishmael, was “poking fun” at him. (Genesis 21:8-14; Galatians 4:29) It ended with the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage in 1513 B.C.E.

Exodus 12:40 says: “The dwelling of the sons of Israel, who had dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.” Note that “the dwelling of the sons of Israel” is not limited to the time the Jews spent in Egypt; instead, it evidently covers the entire period that began with Abraham’s entry into the land of Canaan. The apostle Paul showed that this 430-year period began when the Abrahamic covenant was validated. (Galatians 3:16, 17) That occurred when Abraham entered Canaan in 1943 B.C.E. Bible chronology indicates that it was 215 years before the Jews moved to Egypt. That leaves 215 years for the Jews to have actually “dwelt in Egypt.”

"GENESIS 15;16--IN THE FOURTH GENERATION THEY [ABRAHAM'S DESCENDANTS] SHALL COME HITHER AGAIN." THEIR RETURN OCCURRED AFTER SEVEN GENERATIONS?"

Jehovah told Abraham that in the fourth generation his descendants would return to Canaan. (Ge 15:16) In the entire 430 years from the time when the Abrahamic covenant took effect to the Exodus there were more than four generations, even considering the long life spans that they enjoyed during that time, according to the record. But it was only 215 years that the Israelites were actually in Egypt. The ‘four generations’ following their entering Egypt can be calculated in this way, using as an example just one tribe of Israel, the tribe of Levi: (1) Levi, (2) Kohath, (3) Amram, and (4) Moses.—Ex 6:16, 18, 20.

The census at Numbers, chapters 1-3, indicates that there must have been many father-to-son generations during the 215-year stay in Egypt, the total number of men 20 years old and upward shortly after the Exodus being 603,550 (aside from the tribe of Levi). But the ‘four generations’ of Genesis 15:16, counting from the time of the entry into Egypt until the Exodus, might be reckoned as follows: (1) Levi, (2) Kohath, (3) Amram, (4) Moses. (Ex 6:16, 18, 20) These persons averaged well over a hundred years in individual life span. Each one of these four “generations” thus saw numerous descendants, possibly down to great-great-grandchildren or farther, allowing 20 or sometimes even 30 years from father to the birth of his first son. This would explain how ‘four generations’ could see such a large population come into being by the time of the Exodus.

"GENESIS 26;4--GOD PROMISES TO MAKE ISAAC'S DESCENDENTS AS NUMEROUS AS "THE STARS OF HEAVEN"; NEVER HAPPENED. THE JEWS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, AND WILL ALWAYS BE, A SMALL MINORITY?"

The Creator chose to use the descendants of Abraham, Genesis 22:15-18 this promise was repeated to Isaac in 26;4
The liberating ‘seed of promise’ of Genesis 3:15 would be produced by the descendants of Abraham and could thereby be identified.
The Liberator of mankind had to be born as a human into the world of mankind as a pure, fleshly human, a natural descendant of Abraham. While thus dealing exclusively with Israel temporarily, God was working out his long-term purpose to bless peoples of all the nations at a later time.

So then, the blessing of all peoples of the earth must come through Abraham’s “seed.” And who is that “seed”? The apostle Paul answers: “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. . . . ‘And to your seed,’ who is CHRIST.”—Gal. 3:16.

God’s promise then; “I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore,” has a spiritual fulfillment and means that others, who “belong to Christ,” are added as part of Abraham’s seed. (Ge 22:17; Mr 9:41; 1Co 15:23) God did not disclose the number but left it as indeterminate to man as are the number of the stars and the grains of sand. Not until about 96 C.E., in the Revelation to the apostle John, did He reveal that spiritual Israel, those “sealed” with God’s spirit, which is a token of their heavenly inheritance, numbers 144,000 persons.—Eph 1:13, 14; Re 7:4-8; 2Co 1:22; 5:5.

"(32:28, 35:10 ). GOD SAYS THAT JACOB WILL HENCEFORTH BE CALLED ISRAEL, BUT THE BIBLE CONTINUES TO CALL HIM JACOB ANYWAY?"

The name “Israel” was given to Jacob by God when he was about 97 years old. Later, at Bethel the change in name was confirmed by God, and from then on to the end of his life Jacob was frequently called Israel. (Ge 35:10, 15; 50:2; 1Ch 1:34)

Many of the more than 2,500 occurrences of the name Israel, however, are in reference to Jacob’s descendants as a nation.—Ex 5:1, 2.

Plus the individual’s having two names was a common thing in those days.

All the best
Part 2 soon

Brenda


PART 2

"EXODUS 33;2--GOD PROMISES TO CAST OUT MANY NATIONS INCLUDING THE CANAANITES AND THE JEBUSITES. BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE?"

HITTITES--The Hittites were one of the seven nations named by God as due to be devoted to destruction.

The cities of the Hittites therefore should have been destroyed and their inhabitants wiped out so that they would not be a danger to Israel’s loyalty to God and cause Israel to incur God’s disfavor. (De 20:16-18) BUT Israel carried out God’s command imperfectly. After Joshua passed off the scene they disobediently failed to clear out these nations, which remained as a thorn in the side and a constant harassment to them.—Nu 33:55, 56.

Because Israel did not obey God by destroying the Canaanite nations completely, God declared: “I, in turn, have said, ‘I shall not drive them away from before you, and they must become snares to you, and their gods will serve as a lure to you.’” (Jg 2:3) It appears that those Canaanites remaining among Israel were tolerated and, in some rare instances, were even given positions of respect and responsibility. Also, it seems that, of the Canaanite nations, only the Hittites maintained prominence and strength as a nation.—1Ki 10:29; 2Ki 7:6.

God was not “unable” to get rid of the Canaanite nations, as you can see from the verse in Judges 2; 3 he left them intentionally because of Israel’s disobedience.

"34;27--GOD SAYS HE WILL WRITE ON THE STONE TABLETS; 34;1  HE TELLS MOSES TO DO THE WRITING."

Jehovah through an angel representative on Mount Sinai wrote the first set on tables of stone for Moses, which set Moses broke in anger when he descended from the mount and found the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. (Ex. 32:15, 16, 19) Jehovah then wrote a second set on new stone tablets, as is clearly shown by Deuteronomy 10:1-4. A careful consideration of Exodus 34:1-28 shows it to be in agreement, and not in contradiction.

Exodus 34:1 plainly states that Jehovah would write on the second set of tables the same Ten Commandments that he representatively wrote on the first tables. Then in verses 10 to 26 we read about the making of a covenant between Jehovah and the nation of Israel, and verse 27 then shows Jehovah commanding Moses: “Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.” The words of this covenant, from verses 10 to 26, make no reference to the Ten Commandments. Thereafter verse 28 states: “And he was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.”

Verse 1 states that Jehovah will write the Ten Commandments, and verse 27 only indicates that Moses was commanded to write the words of the covenant discussed in verses 10-26.
 
"GOD PROMISES TO GIVE JOSHUA ALL OF THE LAND THAT HIS "FOOT SHALL TREAD UPON." BUT LATER WE FIND THAT GOD DIDN'T KEEP HIS PROMISE?”

God always keeps his promises as Joshua himself states—

Joshua 21;43-45---“Jehovah gave Israel all the land that he had sworn to give to their forefathers, and they proceeded to take possession of it and to dwell in it. Furthermore, Jehovah gave them rest all around, according to everything that he had sworn to their forefathers, and not one of all their enemies stood before them. All their enemies Jehovah gave into their hand. Not a promise failed out of all the good promise that Jehovah had made to the house of Israel; it all came true.

After slaying the five kings, Joshua devotes Makkedah to destruction. Passing on quickly to the south, he utterly destroys Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir—cities in the hills between the Salt Sea and the Great Sea. By now news of the invasion has spread the length of Canaan. Up in the north, the alarm is sounded by Jabin, king of Hazor. Far and wide, to both sides of the Jordan, he sends out the call to mass for united action against the Israelites. As they encamp by the waters of Merom, below Mount Hermon, the assembled forces of the enemy are “as numerous as the grains of sand that are on the seashore.” (11:4) Again Jehovah assures Joshua of victory and outlines the battle strategy. And the result? Another crushing defeat for the enemies of Jehovah’s people! Hazor is burned with fire, and its allied cities and their kings are devoted to destruction. Thus Joshua extends the area of Israelite domination through the length and breadth of Canaan. Thirty-one kings have been defeated.

"SAMUEL 2:--GOD SAYS THAT SOLOMON'S KINGDOM WILL LAST FOREVER."

Yes--David had been given a covenant for a lasting kingdom that was to be in his line. David had many kings of his line to sit upon the throne, but there was One to come who would take the kingship permanently. This One was the Greater Solomon, Christ Jesus. The peaceful reign of Solomon in which everyone was happy and sitting in his own allotment of land and enjoying the blessings of righteous rulership was pictorial of the reign of Christ Jesus the Greater Solomon, the Seed of God’s “woman,” the Prince of Peace. (Matt. 12:42; Isa. 9:6, 7) He, because of his immortality, has a lasting hold on the kingship and will keep it forever, rooting the line of David in the throne forever.

"2 CHRONICLES 18:21-22 :--GOD PUTS LIES INTO THE MOUTHS OF HIS PROPHETS AND SPEAKS EVIL ABOUT PEOPLE."

It was “lying prophets” NOT God’s prophets.

Jehovah God allows “an operation of error” to go to persons who prefer falsehood “that they may get to believing the lie” rather than the good news about Jesus Christ. (2Th 2:9-12) This principle is illustrated by what happened in the case of Israelite King Ahab. Lying prophets assured Ahab of success in war against Ramoth-gilead, while Jehovah’s prophet Micaiah foretold disaster. As revealed in vision to Micaiah, Jehovah allowed a spirit creature (an angel) to become “a deceptive spirit” in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets. That is to say, this spirit creature exercised his power upon them so that they spoke, not truth, but what they themselves wanted to say and what Ahab wanted to hear from them. Though forewarned, Ahab preferred to be fooled by their lies and paid for it with his life.—1Ki 22:1-38; 2Ch 18.

"JOSIAH DIED FROM AN ARROW WOUND IN BATTLE, NOT "IN PEACE" AS IS PROMISED IN 2 KG.22:20. 35:23"

Was Huldah’s prophecy accurate, since Josiah died in battle? (2 Kings 23:28-30) Yes, for the “peace” in which he was gathered to his graveyard is in contrast with “the calamity” due to come upon Judah. (2 Kings 22:20; 2 Chronicles 34:28) Josiah died before the calamity of 609-607 B.C.E. when the Babylonians besieged and destroyed Jerusalem. And ‘being gathered to one’s forefathers’ does not necessarily exclude dying a violent death. A comparable expression is used with reference to both violent and nonviolent deaths.—Deuteronomy 31:16; 1 Kings 2:10; 22:34, 40.

"GOD TOLD ISAIAH TO TELL AHAZ, THE KING OF JUDAH, NOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT REZIN (THE KING OF SYRIA) OR PEKAH (THE KING OF ISRAEL)"

Yes on condition that Ahaz trusted in God, but he didn’t, instead he made alliances with pagan nations--The combined Syro-Israelite forces laid siege to Jerusalem, intending to make “the son of Tabeel” its king, but they were unable to capture the city. (2Ki 16:5; Isa 7:1, 6) The situation greatly frightened Ahaz, despite Isaiah’s assurance that Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel need cause no fear. (Isa 7:3-12; 8:6, 7) AHAZ TURNED TO ASSYRIA FOR HELP, bribing Tiglath-pileser III to attack Syria.—2Ki 16:7, 8; 2Ch 28:16, 20.

Though assured by the prophet Isaiah that within a short time the two conspiring kingdoms would be wiped off the scene, King Ahaz chose to send a bribe to Tiglath-pileser to come to his rescue. (2Ki 16:7, 8; Isa 7:7-16; 8:9-13)

Instead of trusting in Jehovah, King Ahaz tried to stave off the threat made by Syria and Israel, resorting to bribery of the king of Assyria to gain his protection. Because of this, Jehovah allowed Assyria to become a great threat to Judah and actually to flood into the land right up to Jerusalem itself, as Isaiah had warned.—Isa 7:17-20.

Part 3 soon

Brenda
-----------------

Here is part 3 Lee

"THE KING JAMES VERSION MISTRANSLATES THE HEBREW WORD "ALMAH", WHICH MEANS "YOUNG WOMAN" AS "VIRGIN"."

ISAIAH 7;14--The Son of God was not to have an ordinary birth, since the ransoming role he was to fill required that he be a perfect man. (Isa. 53:5; Dan. 9:24, 25) This, in turn, required that he be born of a virgin woman with the seed miraculously provided by Jehovah God, by means of his holy spirit. Such a prophecy of a virgin birth is indeed found in the Hebrew Scriptures. In a modern English translation of Isaiah 7:14, it states: “Look! The maiden herself will actually become pregnant, and she is giving birth to a son, and she will certainly call his name Immanuel.”

True, it does not specifically say that she would be a virgin, as some older English translations mistranslate the Hebrew word almah. But this does not prevent the passage from being prophetical of a virgin birth. Certainly a maiden would be a virgin, or else she could hardly be considered a maiden.

Interesting to note is the fact that the Jews more than two hundred years before the beginning of the Common Era actually expected and anticipated a virgin birth. The famous Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures made by Jewish scholars proved this fact in their translation of Isaiah 7:14 into Greek. Instead of translating the Hebrew word almah for “maiden” into the equivalent Greek word for “maiden,” they translated it into the Greek word parthénos, which means simply “virgin”! Thus those Jewish scholars showed their knowledge of this prophecy of the virgin birth of the Son of God.

"THE YOUNG WOMAN REFERRED TO IN THIS VERSE WAS LIVING AT THE TIME OF THE PROPHECY."

The Bible record does not say who gave birth to the son named Immanuel. It may have been a Jewish maiden who became the second wife of the prophet Isaiah. In any event, the prophecy went on to state that before the boy would grow old enough to distinguish between good and bad, the two kings conspiring against the house of David would come to a disastrous end. (Isaiah 7:15, 16) This proved true. The fact that the identity of Immanuel in the days of Isaiah remains uncertain to us may be in order not to distract the attention of later generations from the Greater Immanuel when he would appear as a miraculous sign from heaven.

Some have suggested that “Immanuel” was a third son of Isaiah, perhaps by a Jewish maiden who may have become a second wife of the prophet. Certain Jewish commentators endeavored to apply the prophecy to the birth of Ahaz’ son Hezekiah. This, however, is ruled out, since the prophecy was uttered during Ahaz’ reign (Isa 7:1), making Hezekiah at least nine years old at the time.—2Ki 16:2; 18:1, 2.

"JESUS IS NOT CALLED EMMANUEL IN ANY VERSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT."

Yes he is-- Immanuel) [With Us Is God].

A name first mentioned by the prophet Isaiah (7:14; 8:8) during the reign of Ahaz (761-746 B.C.E.). In MATTHEW 1:23, the only other occurrence, Immanuel is a name-title applied to Christ the Messiah.


In the prophecy’s complete fulfillment, the maiden who produced the child as the sign and Heir of the Kingdom covenant was Mary, a Jewish virgin descended from King David. The angel Gabriel told her that she would give birth to a son who would be named Jesus, that Jehovah God would “give him the throne of David his father,” and that there would be “no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:26-33)

"ISAIAH 13 19, 20--THESE VERSES FALSELY PREDICT THAT BABYLON WILL NEVER AGAIN BE INHABITED."

Although Babylon lingered on for a while after its conquest, Isaiah’s words eventually came true. Today the site of ancient Babylon “is flat, hot, deserted and dusty,” reports Smithsonian magazine.

It is awesome to contemplate the magnitude of Isaiah’s prophecy. What he foretold would be the equivalent of predicting the exact manner in which a modern city, such as New York or London, would be destroyed 200 years from now and then emphatically stating that it would never again be inhabited. Of course, most remarkable is the fact that Isaiah’s prophecy came true!

Clearly, no man in Isaiah’s day could have foretold Babylon’s fall and her eventual desolation. After all, Babylon’s fall to the Medes and the Persians occurred some 200 years after Isaiah wrote his book! And her final desolation came centuries later. Does this not strengthen our faith in the Bible as the inspired Word of God? (2 Timothy 3:16)

"ISAIAH 13:21-22--DRAGONS WILL LIVE IN BABYLONIAN PALACES AND SATYRS WILL DANCE THERE."

My translation reads—“And there the haunters of waterless regions will certainly lie down, and their houses must be filled with eagle owls. And there the ostriches must reside, and goat-shaped demons themselves will go skipping about there. 22 And jackals must howl in her dwelling towers, and the big snake will be in the palaces of exquisite delight. And the season for her is near to come, and her days themselves will not be postponed.”

This did not happen immediately in 539 B.C.E. Still, today it is very clear that everything Isaiah foretold regarding Babylon has come true. Babylon “is now, and has been for centuries, a scene of wide desolation, and is a heap of ruins,” says one Bible commentator. Then he adds: “It is impossible to behold this scene and not be reminded how exactly the predictions of Isaiah and Jeremiah have been fulfilled.”

"ISAIAH 17:1--DAMASCUS WILL BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NO LONGER BE INHABITED"

My translation reads—“The pronouncement against Damascus: “Look! Damascus removed from being a city, and she has become a heap, a decaying ruin.”

Damascus, to the north of Israel, is “the head of Syria.” (Isaiah 7:8) During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, Rezin of Damascus in league with Pekah of Israel invades Judah. At Ahaz’ request, however, Assyrian Tiglath-pileser III wars against Damascus, conquering it and exiling many of its inhabitants. Thereafter, Damascus ceases to be a threat to Judah.—2 Kings 16:5-9; 2 Chronicles 28:5, 16.

"ISAIAH 19:17--"THE LAND OF JUDAH SHALL BE A TERROR UNTO EGYPT."

In the Bible, Egypt often symbolizes Satan’s world. (Ezekiel 29:3; Joel 3:19; Revelation 11:8) so if you keep that in mind it will help you understand the verses to follow.

While “Egypt’s” leaders are weak, “like women,” there are still some individuals who look for godly wisdom. Jehovah’s anointed ones and their companions ‘declare abroad God’s excellencies.’ (Isaiah 19:16; 1 Peter 2:9) They are doing what they can to warn people of the coming demise of Satan’s organization. Looking ahead to this situation, Isaiah says: “The ground of Judah must become to Egypt a cause for reeling. Everybody to whom one mentions it is in dread because of the counsel of Jehovah of armies that he is counseling against him.” (Isaiah 19:17) The faithful messengers of Jehovah go forth telling people the truth—including the announcement of the plagues foretold by Jehovah. (Revelation 8:7-12; 16:2-12) This is disturbing to the religious leaders of the world.

"ISAIAH 19:18--THERE SHALL BE FIVE CITIES IN EGYPT THAT SPEAK THE CANAANITE LANGUAGE."

In ancient times this prophecy was apparently fulfilled when the Hebrew language was spoken in Egyptian cities by Jews who had fled there. (Jeremiah 24:1, 8-10; 41:1-3; 42:9–43:7; 44:1)

Today, there are people in the territory of modern-day “Egypt” who have learned to speak the “pure language” of Bible truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) One of the five figurative cities is called “The City of Tearing Down,” signifying that part of the “pure language” is related to exposing and “tearing down” Satan’s organization.

"ISAIAH 19:18-21--EGYPTIANS WILL WORSHIP THE LORD (YAHWEH)"

“Jehovah will certainly deal Egypt a blow. There will be a dealing of a blow and a healing; and they must return to Jehovah, and he must let himself be entreated by them and must heal them.” (Isaiah 19:21, 22)

People from all nations of Satan’s world, individual “Egyptians,” come to know Jehovah and render him sacrifice, “the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15) They make a vow to Jehovah by dedicating themselves to him, and they pay their vow by living a life of loyal service. Following the “blow” that Jehovah will deal this system of things at Armageddon, he will use his Kingdom to heal humankind. During Jesus’ Millennial Reign, mankind will be elevated to spiritual, mental, moral, and physical perfection—healing indeed!—Revelation 22:1, 2.
 
"ISAIAH 19:23-24--THERE WILL BE AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN EGYPT, ISRAEL, AND ASSYRIA."

Yes, one day friendly relations will exist between Egypt and Assyria. How?

When Jehovah rescued his people from the nations in times past, he made for them highways to freedom, so to speak. (Isaiah 11:16; 35:8-10; 49:11-13; Jeremiah 31:21) A limited fulfillment of this prophecy took place after the defeat of Babylon when exiles from Assyria and Egypt, as well as from Babylon, were brought back to the Promised Land. (Isaiah 11:11) But what of modern times?

Today, the remnant of anointed spiritual ISRAELITES is “a blessing in the midst of the earth.” They promote true worship and are declaring the Kingdom message to people in all the nations. Some of these nations are like ASSYRIA, heavily militaristic. Other nations are more liberal, perhaps like EGYPT—at one time “the king of the south” in Daniel’s prophecy. (Daniel 11:5, 8)

Millions of individuals from the militaristic nations and the more liberal nations have taken up the way of true worship. Thus, people from all nations are united in ‘rendering service.’ There are no nationalistic divisions among these ones. They love one another, and it can truly be said that ‘Assyria comes into Egypt and Egypt into Assyria.’ It is as if there were a highway from one to the other.—1 Peter 2:17.

PART 4 SHORTLY.

Brenda
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PART 4

JEREMIAH: 3:17—“ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH WILL EMBRACE JUDAISM.

“In that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and to her all the nations must be brought together to the name of Jehovah at Jerusalem, and they will no more walk after the stubbornness of their bad heart.”

The first fulfillment of this prophecy took place in 537 B.C., after Babylon had fallen before the conquering Medes and Persians. That year King Cyrus the Persian published a decree and let a remnant of Jewish witnesses of Jehovah leave Babylon and return to the desolate land of Judah and rebuild Jehovah’s temple at Jerusalem. The Holy Bible records this small-scale fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy. (2 Chron. 36:20-23; Ezra 1:1 to 3:13)

It also has a modern day fulfillment which does not however point to literal Israel but to the “Israel of God” spiritual Israel. People from “all nations” are embracing true worship today & in the future only true worship will exist on the earth.

JEREMIAH 5:12-13-- PROPHETS THAT PREACH GOOD NEWS AND TIDINGS ANGER GOD.

“They have denied Jehovah, and they keep saying, ‘He is not. And upon us no calamity will come, and no sword or famine shall we see.’ 13 And the prophets themselves become a wind, and the word is not in them. That is how it will be done to them.”

The previous verse tells us –“the house of Israel and the house of Judah have positively dealt treacherously with me,” is the utterance of Jehovah.”

Go roving through Jerusalem. What do you see? Only transgressions and unfaithfulness! The people have denied Jehovah, and His word in Jeremiah’s mouth must become a fire to devour them like pieces of wood. Just as they have left Jehovah to serve a foreign god, so He will make them serve strangers in a foreign land. Stubborn ones! They have eyes but cannot see, and ears but cannot hear. How horrible! That’s what “angered” God.

JEREMIAH 5:31--"THE PROPHETS PROPHESY FALSELY.

Prophets and priests actually prophesy in falsehood, “and my own people have loved it that way,” says Jehovah. Yes just like false prophets & priests, today they say they speak in God’s name but utter falshoods.

JEREMIAH 9:11--GOD WILL MAKE JERUSALEM "A DEN OF DRAGONS."

“And I will make Jerusalem piles of stones, the lair of jackals; and the cities of Judah I shall make a desolate waste, without an inhabitant.”

The situation with Jerusalem was different from that of other conquered cities such as Samaria, which was re-inhabited with imported captives from other parts of the Assyrian Empire. In contrast to the usual policy of the Babylonians toward the cities they conquered, Jerusalem and its vicinity were emptied and left desolate, just as Jehovah had predetermined.

Bible critics may question that Judah’s once-prosperous land was suddenly made “a desolate waste, without an inhabitant,” but there is admittedly no historical evidence, no records from this period, to prove otherwise. (Jer 9:11; 32:43) Archaeologist G. Ernest Wright declares: “The violence visited upon Judah is clear . . . from archaeological surveys which show that city after city ceased to be inhabited at this time, many never to be reoccupied.” (Biblical Archaeology, 1963, p. 182) William F. Albright agrees: “There is not a single known case where a town of Judah proper was continuously occupied through the exilic period.”—The Archaeology of Palestine, 1971, p. 142.

JEREMIAH 14:14--"PROPHETS PROPHESY LIES" IN GOD'S NAME.

Jehovah went on to say to Jeremiah: “Falsehood is what the prophets are prophesying in my name. I HAVE NOT SENT THEM, nor have I commanded them or spoken to them. A false vision and divination and a valueless thing and the trickiness of their heart they are speaking prophetically to you people.”

No different today there are still false prophets who prophecy in God’s name.Jesus spoke of such ones—

“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7;21-23)

JEREMIAH 14:15-16--GOD WILL DESTROY BY FAMINE AND SWORD THOSE WHO ARE MISLED BY THE PROPHETS, AS WELL AS THE PROPHETS THEMSELVES.

Yes quite right; proverbs tells us—“they will eat from the fruitage of their way,..” (Proverbs 1;31) They were “misled” because they wanted to believe these false prophets, they chose the “lie” instead of truth.

JEREMIAH 42:15-18, 22--ALL THOSE WHO MOVE TO EGYPT WILL DIE BY THE SWORD, FAMINE, OR PESTILENCE. NONE "SHALL ESCAPE FROM THE EVIL" THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM GOD."

The people seek Jeremiah’s advice, and he relays God’s word to them: ‘Jehovah will not uproot you from this land. Do not be afraid because of the king of Babylon. If, however, you go down to Egypt, you will die!’ Down to Egypt they go, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them. At Tahpanhes in Egypt, Jeremiah makes known Jehovah’s judgment of doom: The king of Babylon will set his throne in Egypt. It is useless for Israel to WORSHIP THE GODS OF EGYPT and to RESUME SACRIFICE to the “queen of the heavens.” Have they forgotten how Jehovah desolated Jerusalem for its idolatry? Jehovah will bring calamity on them in the land of Egypt, and they will not return to Judah.

The unfaithful Israelites wanted to go to Egypt to “resume” their pagan practices.

JEREMIAH 49:33-- HUMANS WILL NEVER AGAIN LIVE IN HAZOR, BUT WILL BE REPLACED BY DRAGONS.

Since jackals are denizens of wild, lonely, and even desert- like areas, the domain of the jackal is used figuratively in the Scriptures to represent a state of utter desolation, without human inhabitant. Various prophecies use this figure to forecast desolation for Jerusalem, the cities of Judah, Hazor, Babylon, and Edom. (Jer 9:11; 10:22; 49:33; 51:37; Isa 34:5, 13; Mal 1:3)

JEREMIAH 50:39--BABYLON WILL NEVER AGAIN BE INHABITED.

Alexander had great plans for rebuilding Babylon and making it his capital, but they were never realized. As Daniel had foretold, he was cut down and broken in death. (Da 8:8) Alexander’s ambition to rebuild Babylon failed to materialize not simply because in 323 B.C.E. at 32, in the prime of life, he suddenly died of malarial fever complicated by his reckless living but because Jehovah had long before determined that Babylon would never be rebuilt.—Jer 50:35-40.

Today nothing remains of Babylon but mounds and ruins, a veritable wasteland. The book Archaeology and Old Testament Study states: “These extensive ruins, of which, despite Koldewey’s work, only a small proportion has been excavated, have during past centuries been extensively plundered for building materials. Partly in consequence of this, much of the surface now presents an appearance of such chaotic disorder that it is strongly evocative of the prophecies of Isa. xiii. 19–22 and Jer. l. 39 f., the impression of desolation being further heightened by the aridity which marks a large part of the area of the ruins.”—Edited by D. W. Thomas, Oxford, 1967, p. 41.

"JER.34:5) ZEDEKIAH WOULD DIE PEACEFULLY. BUT HE DIED A MISERABLE DEATH IN A FOREIGN LAND. 52:10-11"

Jehovah’s word through Jeremiah was that the city and its inhabitants would experience calamity at the hands of the Babylonians. (Jer 21:1-10) It appears that after this, Jeremiah, in compliance with divine direction, personally went to Zedekiah to advise him that Jerusalem would be destroyed and that the king would be taken to Babylon, there to die in peace.—Jer 34:1-7.

Zedekiah was to “die peacefully” IF HE OBEYED JEHOVAH, but he didn’t—Zedekiah was a corrupt, cowardly King, who treacherously turned Jeremiah over to the princes who intended to put him to death.

At the time King Nebuchadnezzar made Judean King Zedekiah a vassal king, he had Zedekiah make a covenant in Jehovah’s name. Therefore, when Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, wanting to be free from subjection to a foreign power, he also rebelled against Jehovah, in whose name he had obligated himself to be a loyal vassal king. Because of this rebellion, Jehovah decreed that Zedekiah would die as a captive in Babylon.—2Ki 24:17-20; 2Ch 36:11-21; Eze 17:12-18.

On to Daniel now.

Brenda
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Last part


DANIEL: 8:27--IF DANIEL COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HIS VISIONS, THEN HOW COULD ANYONE ELSE?

If you look back to verse 20 the vision was partly explained to Daniel—

(Daniel 8:20-22) “The ram that you saw possessing the two horns [stands for] the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the hairy he-goat [stands for] the king of Greece; and as for the great horn that was between its eyes, it [stands for] the first king. 22 And that one having been broken, so that there were four that finally stood up instead of it, there are four kingdoms from [his] nation that will stand up, but not with his power.”

Then in V.26 Daniel is told—“keep secret the vision, because it is yet for many days.”

Daniel also said earlier in v. 17,18 “I got  terrified so that I fell upon my face. And he proceeded to say to me: “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of [the] end.”

We are now living in the “time of the end” these visions that Daniel received are understood now by Jehovah’s people.

Jehovah gave Daniel much specific information regarding both his own time and future times; Daniel did not understand ALL that was involved. Regarding some of the visions he saw, he said: “I heard, but I could not understand.” When he asked for more information he was told: “Go, Daniel, because the words are made secret and sealed up until the time of the end.” (Dan. 12:8, 9)

ZECHARIAH: 9:9--JESUS FULFILS THIS PROPHECY?

In 518 B.C.E., Zechariah foretold Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He wrote: “Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem. Look! Your king himself comes to you. He is righteous, yes, saved; humble, and riding upon an ass, even upon a full-grown animal the son of a she-ass.”

Fulfillment--Matthew 21:1-9; John 12:12-15

ZECHARIAH. 9:8--ISRAEL HAS BEEN OCCUPIED MANY TIMES SINCE THAT TIME

Ancient Philistia, Phoenicia and Syria were violent enemies of the restored remnant of former Jewish exiles. To mark a contrast between his dealings with those enemies and his dealings with his chosen people, the house of Israel, Jehovah of armies continued on to say: “And I will encamp as an outpost for my house, so that there will be no one passing through and no one returning; and there will no more pass through them a taskmaster, for now I have seen it with my eyes.”—Zechariah 9:8.

Encamping as an outpost, Jehovah of armies could prevent the attacking enemies from getting near His “house” and from invading them and then retiring. As an “outpost” he would prevent a slave-driving “taskmaster” from passing through their midst anymore and enslaving them.

Similarly to this, the same Jehovah of armies has protected his “house” of spiritual Israelites in this “time of the end,” when the enemies have massed together as never before in opposition to Jehovah’s worship at his spiritual temple. Strengthened by his mighty spirit, Jehovah’s “house” of spiritual Israel successfully resist all efforts of worldly “taskmasters” to pass through their spiritual estate and become their religious taskmaster. In imitation of Christ’s apostles, they obey God as ruler rather than men.—Acts 5:29.

MALACHI 3:1, 4:1, 5--MARK CLAIMS THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST FULFILLED THE PROPHECY

Whom does “Elijah the prophet” represent? It is foretold that “Elijah” would do a restoration work, that of preparing the hearts of people. In the first century C.E., Jesus Christ identified John the Baptizer as “Elijah.” (Matthew 11:12-14; Mark 9:11-13)

The angel told John’s father, Zechariah, that John would have “Elijah’s spirit and power” and would “get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.” (Luke 1:17)

MATTHEW: 4--  "ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD." WAS THE WORLD FLAT?

:¬) Even with a flat earth it would be impossible to literally see; “all the kingdoms of the world”,  it was a vision of course.

MARK: 4:31--THE SMALLEST SEEDS ARE FOUND AMONG THE TROPICAL, EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS.

While some may argue that a mustard grain is not “the tiniest” of all seeds, orchid seeds being smaller, and that it does not actually become “a tree,” it must be borne in mind that Jesus was speaking in terms familiar to his audience. As far as Jesus’ listeners were concerned, the mustard grain was indeed among the tiniest seeds planted, and it is noteworthy that the Arabs designate as “trees” plants smaller than the mustard.—Mt 13:31, 32.

13:24-25--THE BILLIONS OF STARS WILL NEVER FALL TO EARTH AND THE MOON DOES NOT PRODUCE ITS OWN LIGHT.

It is SYMBOLIC--“The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” This will be the blackest period of mankind’s existence. It will be as if the sun had been darkened during the daytime, and as if the moon did not give its light by night.

When stars fall from heaven, where do they drop? Down on this earth? This earth could not endure that; it could not accommodate them all. So that is not to be expected. Yet, if they fell from heaven, they would no longer be lights in heaven for men but would all disappear. This would add to the continual darkness caused by the sun’s being darkened during the day and the moon’s not giving its light by night. The world becomes all dark.

15:33--THREE HOURS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS; THERE IS NO RECORD OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY EVENT OUTSIDE OF THE GOSPELS.

Jesus has not been on the stake long when, at midday, a mysterious, three-hour-long darkness occurs. A solar eclipse is not responsible, since these take place only at the time of the new moon, and the moon is full at Passover time. Moreover, solar eclipses last only a few minutes. So the darkness is of divine origin.

That doesn’t make the bible in “error” just because it’s not written about outside of the gospels.

all the best
Brenda