How Do We Know God Exists? He Predicts The Future In His Word
Thus far we have looked at the world’s beginning as an explanation of what is around us. I think that is helpful because the Bible’s explanation of the beginning makes sense of the world around us. And the naturalistic explanations of the world don’t actually explain anything. I think it is good to understand this. I believe it helps us to have confidence in God’s Word as we deal honestly with the other explanations of how life came to be. We have looked both at Scripture and the naturalistic explanation of how things came to be. And repeatedly we have seen that the naturalistic explanation does not really make sense of the world. And Scripture does.
I have been writing our Wednesday Night messages and posting them as a blog post form our church website. And then I post them on some of our Church’s social media pages. They occasionally get read by someone that is outside of our church, which I believe to be a good thing.
A while back I posted that God has revealed Himself in nature. A response from someone not associated with our church was Tlaltecuhtli, which is the Aztec deity whose body was broken to pieces. That is the Aztec creation story.
I mention this because, while it is true that our Bibles explain all of creation and societal structures better than anything else, most unbelievers are not convinced that it explains things better than ancient pagan creation myths. A big part of the reason for this is that they haven’t read the Bible or know anything of the pagan creation myths, meaning they really don’t know any of it.
How do we, as Christians, begin to think through arguments for the existence not only of God, but of the God of Scripture? And I think one of the ways we do that is by looking at prophecies of Scripture that have come to pass.
What We Believe About The Bible
Our Church’s statement of faith is the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant Denomination in the United States. And around here, this statement of faith will be seen often as there are a lot of SBC Churches here in Arkansas.
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
We do not believe that Scripture is man’s attempt to describe the world, as many claim it to be. We believe Scripture to be God’s revelation of Himself to us. And there’s a massive difference in the two. And we believe that he used human beings to give this revelation of Himself to us.
Two passages of Scripture pop out immediately.
In the BFM 2000, we read “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired”. Divinely inspired does not mean the same thing as me saying that Kelce is going to be inspiration for Taylor Swift’s next album. It means something much different and much more than that. 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21 help us to understand what we mean by “inspired”.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
The Scripture is “breathed out by God”, means that it is the product of God. Scripture originated with God. He is the producer of it.
What about people? We read in the BFM 2000 that men wrote the Bible.
Human beings did write the Bible. Moses wrote the Pentateuch. David wrote a lot of the psalms. Peter, Paul, Mark, John, and others wrote books of the Bible. And Peter helps us understand how these two things come together.
“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21 ESV)
What does this mean? It means that human beings wrote what we have in our Bibles, “carried along by the Holy Spirit”. These people were actual human beings, who committed actual sins. They were often wrong in things that they did in their lives, but as they were “carried along by the Holy Spirit” they were used to give to us God’s perfect Word.
The word used here means to “carry a burden”, but was often used to describe wind that filled sails and moved boats over the sea. These people were moved by God to write what they did in such a way that we have God’s Word.
God so perfectly oversaw the process that what we have in Scripture is His Word. And we have some unassailable proofs that this is exactly what we have.
Bare Facts
There is something very unique about the Bible. In the Scriptures we see a lot of space devoted to future events. Oftentimes in Scripture we see prophecies about the future.
A lot of the Bible is itself concerned with future events. Every book in the New Testament contains some prophecy. The Book of Revelation is concerned with a lot of this. There is a lot of prophecy in the Old Testament as well, with huge portions of big Old Testament books being devoted to what will happen in the future.
Other religious books do not do this.
“”Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:8-11 ESV)
God has revealed Himself to us in Scripture. And He has revealed things to come to us in Scripture. He knows the end from the beginning. He is God and there is no other. It only makes sense that He would tell us what is to come.
Depending on who one consults, they will get different numbers, but somewhere around 25% of the Bible is predictive. This means that when the passage was written, the things written about were still to happen in the future. At least 50% of those have already been fulfilled, with half yet to be fulfilled.
As Christians, we know this and celebrate it often. The fulfilled prophecies concerning the coming of Christ are repeatedly read around Christmas time as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15, Numbers 24:17, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2). We do the same thing around Good Frida and Resurrection Sunday when we discuss predictions concerning Jesus’s death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53).
But there are others. There are a lot of others that we don’t ever speak or think about. There are all sorts of prophecies concerning the future, whether that be the future of individuals, kings, or nations in the Scriptures that have already come to pass.
These work as proofs that God, not a generic god, but the God of Scripture exists.
The Objections
The objection that I have heard to this proof is one that is easily disprovable in some cases and not so much in others. The objection is that these texts were not predictive at all, and that people wrote these as if they were predictive after the fact. But we will see that this is obviously not the case.
One other objection that I have seen a lot today is the belief that one of the prophecies has failed. But if this prophecy of Jesus is rightly understood, it was fulfilled already and is a powerful proof for the reliability of God’s Word.
You may think that this sounds strange, but this sort of skepticism is called scholarship in the secular world. And it goes a lot like this.
They see that in a Book of the Bible an event is accurately predicted, therefore it must be the case that said Book of the Bible must be written after the event. There is not even a thought given to the supernatural nature of the Scriptures.
Even though we see through the ludicrousness of such an argument, a lot of people don’t. But there are things that prove that they are wrong in their assumptions.
The Historicity Of The Prophecies
I know that it is going to be near impossible to look at a skeptic and convince them that some of the things that happened in the past were prophecies that came to be. They don’t really want to hear it and are not really open to hear it. So, the task is very difficult. I understand that. But we should also understand that the responses of the people to the prophecies actually do some explaining of history that can’t be explained otherwise.
Consider with me,
“And I commanded Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing.” (Deuteronomy 3:21 ESV)
The people of Israel have not always lived in Israel. We know from archaeological digs and different historical accounts who it is that lived in the land we now call Israel. And that is also the account that we have in Scripture. There were people in the land before the Israelites. But God promised to give them the land and He promised to conquer the kingdoms that were in the land.
Now, people that do not believe Scripture will argue that the people of Israel meandered slowly over time, grew, and eventually conquered all of the different tribal peoples that lived in the land.
When you consider what they are saying, it simply does not make sense. How could this small band of people that meandered into Israel over a period of hundreds of years grow to conquer the peoples that had been there for a long time?
But the prophecy and fulfillment in Scripture does make sense. It makes sense to see that God made promises to the people of Israel and they went into the Promised Land to take it. In fact, as we give it more consideration, it seems that this is the only thing that makes sense historically.
This is just one of many cases that when looking and thinking about what happened, considering the prophecy and its fulfillment makes much more sense than any other explanation that can be given. A simple observation of the world combined with common sense helps us to see that the promises drove the people to take the land. Nothing else would give this small band of Hebrew people the audacity to attempt to take the land. And nothing short of a miracle, or many of them, would allow this people to actually take it.
Another instance like this is that of Daniel’s predictions concerning Alexander the Great.
“As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. … As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.” (Daniel 8:5-8, 20-21 ESV)
The King of Greece describes the conquest of Alexander the great somewhere around 200 years before it happened. This is a very unexpected event in history. But Alexander the Great conquered much of the world.
And it seems that Alexander the Great was acquainted with this prophecy concerning himself after it happened. And this story is rather eye opening if you think about what is here taking place.
Josephus wrote about this in his “The Antiquities of the Jews”. Josephus was a Jewish historian that was also a Roman historian. He has been a very trusted ancient historical source for many years. Listen to what Josephus said about this event.
“And when he had said this to Parmenio, and had given the high priest his right hand, the priests ran along by him, and he came into the city; and when he went up into the temple, he offered sacrifice to God, according to the high priest’s direction, and magnificently treated both the high priest and the priests. And when the book of Daniel was showed him, wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended; and as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present, but the next day he called them to him, and bade them ask what favors they pleased of him: whereupon the high priest desired that they might enjoy the laws of their forefathers, and might pay no tribute on the seventh year. He granted all they desired: and when they entreated him that he would permit the Jews in Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly promised to do hereafter what they desired: and when he said to the multitude, that if any of them would enlist themselves in his army on this condition, that they should continue under the law of their forefathers, and live according to them, he was willing to take them with him, many were ready to accompany him in his wars.” (Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, 11.8.6)
This is incredible. I can’t imagine the moment that a king who was prophesied to conquer this mighty army held the book about his prophecy. It is so fantastic. I can’t imagine what Alexander would’ve thought when he held that scroll in his hand. But there is something else that is fantastic about this moment.
The prophecy had to be written before Alexander was able to look at it. This was written on a scroll and stored in the temple. There’s no way that this could have been added or changed. It had to exist for Alexander to see it.
The Supposed Failed Prophecy “This generation will not pass away before these things take place”
I remember getting into an argument with someone close to me when I was a teenager concerning a supposed failed prophecy. At the time I did not know the answer to the question.
We were entering a time of war in the middle east and I was pleading with him to trust in Jesus while he had time. I spoke of wars and rumors of wars and his response was this, “There’s always wars. There always has been and always will be.” It kind of took me aback. And I began to look into the text and see other issues. One issue is often brought up in discussion. The Olivet Discourse is considered by many Atheists and Agnostics to be a failed prophecy of Jesus.
And the reason for it is that Jesus seems to give a time indication that passed away a long time ago. Jesus spoke of a lot of things that at least seem to be about the end times, but time is still marching on. What is going on?
Read what Jesus said in Matthew 24. You’ll notice that at least part of this was a warning of future events.
“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:1-51 ESV)
Jesus told them that they would hear wars and rumors of wars. And then he said, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
The desolation was an idol or a desecration of the sacred place of worship. When this was seen, it was time to flee to the mountains. This happened a few times in history. Antiochus IV desecrated the temple, set up an altar to Zeus over the burnt offering, and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Then he slaughtered Jews and sold them into slavery.
But Jesus is here speaking after the event. And besides that, it is obvious enough that Antiochus IV didn’t fulfill all the prophecy concerning the abomination of desolation in Daniel.
And, the Early Church obeyed these words of Jesus and actually fled for the hills and were saved. According to Eusebius in his Church History.
“The people of the Church in Jerusalem were commanded by an oracle given by revelation before the war to those in the city who were worthy of it to depart and dwell in one of the cities of Perea which they called Pella. To it those who believed on Christ traveled from Jerusalem, so that when holy men had altogether deserted the royal capital of the Jews and the whole land of Judaea.” (Eusebius, Church History 3:5:3)
This prophecy was, at least in part, about the events surrounding 70 AD. This is a topic that people argue about, and have been arguing about for many years. Some people have considered nearly all of what Jesus said here to be fulfilled in 70 AD. Others have stated that only part of it was fulfilled in 70 AD. But everyone that studies Scripture understands that at least part of it was fulfilled at that time.
To make a long story short, over the course of months the Roman General Tacitus allowed people to go into Jerusalem but not out. Many people within Jerusalem starved to death. The Romans battered down the walls, destroyed, and desecrated the temple. Only a portion of the Western Wall was left after the siege. And most people agree that one can interpret AD 70 in a way that makes it fit all the prophecies found in Matthew 24. I do agree with that.
The desecration and destruction happened. And the temple was destroyed as Jesus had predicted (Mark 13:1-2, Matthew 24:1-14). Jesus’s exaltation was obvious to all at this point. He had predicted all of this. It came to pass powerfully and now all could see that Jesus was right and His detractors wrong as He was seated in His throne on High. All of that happened before that generation passed away.
But that does not mean that there is no future fulfillment left of this passage. I believe we will see this again in a much fuller sense. Jesus will return and gather us up to be with Him forever. That will happen. And there is judgment coming. And we do not know when Jesus will return.
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ESV)
So, all that Jesus declared to us has happened already. And, some of these things will be happening again in a much grander way.
Seeing that this prophecy has been fulfilled should give us, as Christians, this gives us reason to rejoice and have confidence in the Lord. We see these fulfillments and are heartened.
For the unbeliever it should give pause. And here is the reason. It is obvious that the God of Scripture is who He claims to be. And it is obvious that Jesus is who He claims to be. As He said in Matthew 24, those who do not trust in Him are headed to a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth. That is a place we call Hell.
The prophecies have not been wrong yet. And on this one, your eternity hangs in the balance.
R. Dwain Minor