Da Vinci Code

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Jacob

Ahem. I'm very sorry to be the one to break this to you, but the Bible was written by Middle Eastern tribesmen, sitting in their tents and guessing that the earth is a flat disc made by a magical man a few thousand years ago. It is not a historically accurate or verifiable amalgam of documents, nor does it have any real basis in science. The Bible teaches that man was created from dirt just days after the creation of the universe. This is false.

You are right to suggest that middle eastern tribesmen 2000 years ago believed the earth was flat. You might be surprised then by what the Bible actually says about the earth. Consider Job 26:7 for instance:

"7 He is stretching out the north over the empty place,
Hanging the earth upon nothing; "

Interesting concept for ancient sheepherds to be grasping don't you think?

Also: about 2,700 years ago, the Bible said: "There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth." (Isaiah 40:22) The Hebrew word here translated "circle" can also mean "sphere," as various reference works note. Other Bible translations, therefore, say, "the globe of the earth" (Douay Version) and, "the round earth."—Moffatt.

Once again surprisingly astute and thousands of years ahead of its time.

Also if you read Genesis you will note that it describes the Heaven and the Earth being created before the six creative days begin.

Genesis 1:1-2

1 In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of [the] watery deep; and God’s active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.

After this the "creative days" each begin with the specific phrase "And God proceeded to say:..." and each end with "...a first day."

So the days of creation are all about the preparing of the already constructed Earth for life.

Also there is no reason to imagine the "days" are litteral 24 hour periods. Ancient hebrew uses the word 'day' similarly to modern english. It can mean 'era' or 'age' or some arbitrary length of time.
In fact the Bible suggests we are still in God's "day of rest from His creation" which is by Bible chronology some six thousand years long and counting.

Really it's not untill you begin to study the Bible that you come to realise quite what an amaizing library of books it really is.

You might find this article interesting. It discusses some of the areas where the Bible has proven to be astonishingly ahead of it's time:

http://www.watchtower.org/library/pr/article_03.htm

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by Jeff Mills

"""""""As for the Da Vinci Code... you can't criticize a movie without seeing it for yourself. It doesn't matter what everyone else says. If you don't like the movie, then don't see it. Of course, then you relinquish any right to condemn the film, its message and its producers. You have to make that decision.""""""""

Now here IS A DOUBLE standard person! Criticizes the Bible and Cristians but has never studied the Bible and has no intention of wanting to listen to reason. The Bible tells us to stay away from fools like this, so as this person is not open here endeth the lesson! Proverbs: 26:4-11

Jeff, I have read the Bible in its entirety.

[ruined_freedom]

Originally Posted by Jeff Mills

Satan will let the false religions flourish because he
doesn't fear them.

if that were true than large religions would be the ones to stay away from because they are flourishing and therefore the work of the devil, that would mean the true religion would be the smallest, possibly a cult.

[ruined_freedom]

hey Gareth, you do know that the church was the one that said the earth was flat right? they would persecute(behead) anybody who told them differently.

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by ruined_freedom

if that were true than large religions would be the ones to stay away from because they are flourishing and therefore the work of the devil, that would mean the true religion would be the smallest, possibly a cult.

LOL! Good point.

Good points Gareth. The Bible also has many prophecies of which all have so far come to pass. There has not been one false one.

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by Jeff Mills

Good points Gareth. The Bible also has many prophecies of which all have so far come to pass. There has not been one false one.

Ahem. Instead of giving you a long list of unfulfilled Bible prophecy, I will give just one:

"Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:27)

Here, Jesus says that the apocalypse would occur in the same generation as those who Jesus was speaking to. Clearly, they are all dead. Clearly, the apocalypse has not happened.

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by ruined_freedom

hey Gareth, you do know that the church was the one that said the earth was flat right? they would persecute(behead) anybody who told them differently.

I certainly did not say the church had anything to do with what the the Bible teaches. The Bible predicted there would be a great apostacy. Please don't think Bible = Church. For instance if I murder some one and call my self a pacifist do you then say all pacifists are murderers? Anyone can make false claims. The churches have done some evil deeds over the centuries. None of them were obeying God's will.

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by Gareth

I certainly did not say the church had anything to do with what the the Bible teaches. The Bible predicted there would be a great apostacy. Please don't think Bible = Church. For instance if I murder some one and call my self a pacifist do you then say all pacifists are murderers? Anyone can make false claims. The churches have done some evil deeds over the centuries. None of them were obeying God's will.

This is a cop-out. It doesn't matter what the ideals of Christianity are. More people have suffered and died in the name of Jesus than any other superstition, and this is enough to convince me that Christianity does not work. Take Marxism, for example. The original ideals of equality and whatever were quite noble. But it has consistently proven untenable in the government of a nation state, and for this reason I do not espouse Marxist theories.

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Jacob

Ahem. Instead of giving you a long list of unfulfilled Bible prophecy, I will give just one:

"Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:27)

Here, Jesus says that the apocalypse would occur in the same generation as those who Jesus was speaking to. Clearly, they are all dead. Clearly, the apocalypse has not happened.

And at Luke 9:28

"28 In actual fact, about eight days after these words, he took Peter and John and James along and climbed up into the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying the appearance of his face became different and his apparel became glitteringly white. 30 Also, look! two men were conversing with him, who were Moses and E·li´jah. 31 These appeared with glory and began talking about his departure that he was destined to fulfill at Jerusalem. "

Here his deciples are shown a vision of the future. Elijah and Moses have been resurected so it must be after the Apocolypse (which clearly hasn't happened yet). In this way they truly did see the Kingdom of God (as a future vision). Also John when he was in his 90's recieved the vision of the Revelation. In the vision he clearly describes being transported to "The Lord's Day". There he views events before Armageddon, during Armageddon and after Armageddon. And all this before he died, some 2000 years ago. So add that to the list of prophecies fulfilled please.