Does this Disprove the Old Testament?

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The Case for the Reliability of the Old Testament (Free Bible Insert)

In this episode of the Cold-Case Christianity Broadcast, J. Warner answers listener email the Old Testament. Can the Old Testament be investigated with the same rigor we applied to the New Testament in J. Warner’s book, Cold-Case Christianity? How are we to interpret the Genesis creation account in light of the variety of interpretations that are offered by Christians today?

[michaelanthony]

I am not a skeptic or anything - I'm a legit believer, I appreciate everything you guys said, but just something to note at 4:30 ---- THE WORD OF GOD itself actually says that the parting of the Red sea was caused by a wind from the Lord. Exodus 14:21 ---- [ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. ] --- I think the Hollywood special effects/ imagery of the TEN COMMANDMENTS movie is what most of us envision when we imagine what the parting of the Red sea looked like or how it happened. We imagine it to be an instant "Supernatural" occurance when in fact, scripture literally says that a natural factor was involved in this particular instance of the supernatural.

[BNichols]

Carol Hill actually wrote an article for the American Scientific Affiliation in 2003 titled, “Making Sense of the Numbers in Genesis.” She demonstrates quite convincingly that the Ancient Near East used “sacred numbers, ” and numbers were often used in a numerological sense (i.e. they were often meant to symbolize an ideal, not a numerical value) rather than a purely numerical sense like we would today. Hill shows that every age in the pre-Flood patriarchs is mathematically derived by the “sacred” or “preferred” numbers, and the probability of that occurring by chance would be 1 in a billion. I encourage others to go read it.
Christians are not bound to read the early chapters of Genesis through the lens of a modern reader. The ancients would have interpreted much about Genesis 1-6 quite differently than we do today. It is not heresy to hold a different view on these things than many of our young earth brothers; in fact, I have personally found that after my views changed about how I should understand Genesis 1-6, I felt less burdened to try to do mental gymnastics to make sense of certain details, and more free to embrace the gospel without fear of being wrong about those details.

[scovafd]

Higher oxygen levels, clean air, no processed foods, little to no diseases and viruses, cleaner waters, lakes, and ponds.

[NashvillainSE]

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
--Psalm 90:10

[jackdamaris]

This makes sense. We are actually devolving, creation is breaking down. As far as miracles, they are happening today. They are simply not believed.

[mbfrommb]

I agree with the video and hope I can add to it. Genesis 2:15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Did Adam sin and then die in the next 24 hours? No. Why? God was telling us all something that the Psalmist and Peter confirmed.
Adam and everyone else never lived longer than 1000 years into the next "day" on the biblical calendar.
Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3: 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

This isn't some random period of time it is a conversion of time. Adam died in the "Day" (less than 1000 years) from which He was created fulfilling the promise of "in that day you shall surely die"

As far as the calendar that was used it was very similar to ours.
Genesis 7-8
Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." 2nd Month 17th Day. Genesis 8: 3 And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days (150 days) the waters decreased. 4 Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat." 7th Month, 17th Day. (5 months later =150 days means each month is 30 days).

So sure there might be a slight discrepancy in the years but they were 900+ years any way you look at it. The Bible uses a 24 hour clock for a day and 360 days per year (we use a 365.25 days per year) x 900+ years.

Why is this important today? There's a lot of debate about Eschatology and what is the correct understanding and all sorts of interpretations. I think that it's interesting that there are Dead Sea Scroll writings and calendars, Judaism, and early Christians who all believe in a 7000-year calendar which is 6000 years of human dominion + 1000 years messianic age.

Early Christian writings: these are excerpts from Ken Johnson's book "The End Times by the Ancient Church Fathers"
Barnabas, AD First Century
“Therefore, children, in six days, or in six thousand years, all the prophecies will be fulfilled. Then it says, ‘He rested on the seventh day.’ This signifies at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus, He will destroy the Antichrist, judge the ungodly, and change the sun, moon, and stars. Then He will truly rest during the Millennial reign, which is the seventh day.” Epistle of Barnabas 15:7-9

Commodianus, AD 240
“We will be immortal when the six thousand years are completed.” Against the Gods of the Heathens 35 “Resurrection of the body will be when six thousand years are completed, and after the one thousand years, the world will come to an end.” Against the Gods of the Heathens 80

Victorinus, AD 240
“Satan will be bound until the thousand years are finished; that is, after the sixth day.” Commentary on Revelation 20.1-3

Methodius, AD 290
“In the seventh millennium we will be immortal and truly celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.” Ten Virgins 9.1
Johnson, Ken. The End-Times by the Ancient Church Fathers (p. 11-12).

Judaism:


Ken Johnson is an expert on ancient church-father writings and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
He does a video on the Zadok Priests which we find in 1 Kings and 1 Chronicles and that they had a calendar.
But we can see this general outline in Scripture: Adam year 1- almost 1000, year 2000 Abraham, Year 3000 David, Just before year 4000 Jesus year 4000 the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem 70AD+/-, Year 6000 2070AD+/-.

I know for some this may be a controversial topic but if we can know the framework of the Bible we can begin to see how this is all laid out, at least to get some basic continuity between Christians. Let's assume we have a biblical calendar that shows that about 2070 ish AD is the year 6000. Jesus says in Matthew 24/Mark 13
21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.

So what if Jesus is saying that if He waits to the year 6000 (2070 AD) that humanity would cause it's own self-extinction?
There is another clue which is in Mark 11 where Jesus curses the Fig Tree and it dies. The Fig Tree the Jewish people in the Promised land of Israel. Deuteronomy 8:7-8, Hosea 9:10a, Jeremiah 24:3-8. Jesus is pronouncing judgment on the Jewish people where Jeremiah 8:13 would come to pass.
I will surely consume them. There will be no more harvests of figs and grapes. Their fruit trees will all die. Whatever I gave them will soon be gone. I, the Lord, have spoken!’

Jesus cursed the Fig Tree in 32AD before His Crucifxion, but the prophecy wasn't fulfilled until 135AD when the LORD had taken everything He had given the Jewish people. The Temple, Jerusalem, banished from the land, even took the name "Israel" away from them. Paul in Romans 11 even says the LORD blinded them to the knowledge of who the Messiah was. It took 103 years from 32AD-135 AD for the prophecy to be fulfilled.
But in Mark 13 in connection to His return Jesus says:
28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near—at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

The Fig Tree bloomed again in 1948 (had we understood the calendar and asked what if 2070 AD-103 years = 1967 we see the Jewish people return to the Promised Land again as a sign?) Well the LORD made it happen in 1948. 1948 +103 years =2051. So what if the LORD has now decreased the window for us to watch that within the generation from 1948-2051 this generation will not all pass away. People live 103 years but they don't live (1948-2070).

Now Jesus say watch for the signs. False Messiahs, wars and rumors of wars. famines, etc. But these events need more context.
For example in John 5:43 Jesus says 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
In Mark 13 Jesus says (NLT) 21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah, ’ or ‘There he is, ’ don’t believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 23 Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!

God's chosen ones in this context are the Jewish people Isaiah 44 & 45
Isaiah 44:1 “But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. 2 The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one.
Isaiah 45:4 “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.

Well we are seeing a lot of Jewish rabbis proclaiming "Moshiach" (Messiah) is here.


The second sign isn't just about wars, it's about wars and rumors of wars that contain "kingdom against kingdom" Daniel 2 and many other passages use the word "kingdom" to represent world empires. The Babylonian kingdom, the Medo-Persian Kingdom, The Roman kingdom, etc. Our modern examples would be the US, China, Russia, the G7, BRICS, etc. Global empires that go to war. Esentially WW3. Jesus says don't panic, these things are meant to come to pass.

Famines due to global economic collapse via hyperinflation and the destruction of currencies (Seal 3 Revelation 6:5-6)


I'm not saying all this will come to pass tomorrow. I'm saying this is the world Jesus described in the timeframe He described it in. We are to watch, share Jesus, encourage one another, pray for the Lost, occupy the time sharing the Gospel at every opportunity knowing our KING is Coming. Trust Him. Dont be like the scoffers, see the signs and trust Him no matter what comes. Let Him give you peace and comfort as the days grow darker. I read Isaiah 45:9-11 for comfort. I hope this helps. Take care.

[charlesholder]

God didn't blink creation into existence, he SPOKE it into existence.

[gavinannashailer]

God did say, 'I'm limiting your years to 120', which tells us a cap has been placed on us. Old age is a deterioration in the generic code in our cells. The copies fail more and more and more. Why not fail slower? Because God sped up the rate of deterioration.

[crownsoutreach]

Josephus talks about this directly and says two reasons why they lived this long: 1. blessed by God, and 2. the food was better and kept them going. A predeluvian context supports both very well.

[Disciple]

What a great point Mr. Wallace about miracles. Until Jesus returns the world shouldn't expect to see the kind of miracles that happened in the bible. Why? Miracles are always accompanied by a messenger.

[AJBulava]

Lee Stroble has done a lot of work on Miracles that show they are happening more often than we realize in the 21st century.

[jawneethecurious]

BTW.... Aubrey de Grey, who is the preeminent leading scientists on longevity, stated on a TED talk that humans should be able to live to be 900 years old when the internal physical causes of aging are eliminated.

[Mrjdholbrook]

On a side note, there are ancient cultures (such as China, Japan, and Greece) that noted individuals who lived for hundreds of years, but finding evidence would be a challenge.

[marthaj]

Here on the East Coast, we used to say, _"Punch bug! No punches back!"_ I think I like _"Slug bug"_ better 😂

[putrasore]

Genesis 1:1 such a strong verse. Thanks for reminding us how great is our God

[GliderSteve]

The question is not "how did the patriarchs live so long" it is rather "why did they die so early?". The answer to this prepares us to examine all the other questions!

[petersisler]

I think the real question is why don't we all live forever, and the answer is for disobedience. We were made in God's image so we started with forever.

[stuartofblyth]

"... maybe there were strong winds ..." (4:40). No maybe about it:
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the water to retreat by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. As the waters were divided, the Israelis went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall for them on their right and on their left".

[roncurtis]

7:40 Please be careful. Miracles *can* authenticate messengers, but even the antichrist will perform signs and wonders, deceiving many. (2 Thes Chapter 2). Joseph Smith claimed to perform miracles, which is very likely complete lies than fact. But even if he DID perform miracles, it wouldn't authenticate him as a true messenger due to Gal 1:8

[jordanmadden]

It is understandable for someone who does not believe the Bible to think this is crazy. However, the Bible clearly indicates how this is possible. God created Humans to live forever. Sin entered the world and the wages of sin is death. You cannot assume that everything you experience today (Human physiology, Earth’s weather patterns and chemical properties) is exactly as how God created it ~6, 000 years ago. The Bible explains that God changed it. Also for the record, if you do not believe the Bible, then you also believe that no humans were ever living to be 900 years old. And the mere thought of writing that as Biblical history would have been just as absurd to the human authors who penned the Bible as it is to you today. Sometimes the fact that there is stuff that is difficult to believe or embarrassing in the Bible actually helps to authenticate the truth of scripture. If people were wanting to lie, they wouldn’t record embarrassing events.