Jesus the False Prophet

By WizenedSage

Christ at the Second ComingImage by Sacred Destinations via Flickr

Christians are fond of defending the claim of Jesus’ divinity by pointing out the “fulfilled” prophesies of the Bible. However, if they paid attention to the whole Bible, then they would see that they are obviously guilty of the confirmation bias; that is, they count the apparent hits and ignore the misses. Below are a number of passages from the Bible where Jesus or one of his minions (on Jesus’ behalf) prophesies that the end of the world will be soon. That was 2,000 years ago. Now, for those who might be tempted to suggest that a couple thousand years could be like a couple days to a god, please be aware that that is irrelevant. The Bible was written for the instruction of humans and no human would interpret 2,000 years as ‘soon.’

Please observe:
Matt 10:23: [Jesus said to his disciples] 'When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes'.

Mark 13:30: [After detailing events up to the end of the world, Jesus says] 'Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place'.

1 Thess 4:15: We who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord [“ are left” for 2,000 years?].

1 Cor 7:29: The appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none [he certainly didn’t mean live that way for 2,000 years].

Hebrews 1:2: In these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.

1 Peter 1:20: He [Christ] was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times.

Rev 22:20: [Jesus said] 'Surely I am coming soon'.

1 Peter 4:7: The end of all things is at hand.
If the believers are aware that Jesus was wrong over and over about the “imminent” end of the world, why do they still accept him as a prophet?
Not convinced yet? Well, here are a dozen more: Mark 9:1, Mark 14:62, Rom 13:12, 1 Cor 7:31, Phil 4:5, 1 Matt 16:28, Hebews 10:37, James 5:8, 1 John 2:18, Rev 1:1, Rev 3:11, Rev 22:6.

That’s 20 misses. And, in upholding Jesus as a prophet, aren’t they ignoring Deuteronomy 18:21-22?
“You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.”

Doesn’t this pretty much prove that Jesus was a false prophet, since what he said did not come true – at least 20 times over?

Now think of the “Left Behind” novels authors and all the televangelists and other preachers who are still carping about the imminent rapture and ‘end times.’ I can’t help but see that picture of the three monkeys in my mind; hands over mouth, hands over ears, hands over eyes. Willful ignorance personified.

Think about it. If someone gave you stock tips or horse racing picks a half-dozen or so times, and they were always wrong, would you continue to listen to his tips another dozen times or more? Would you still expect wisdom from this guy? Wouldn’t that be a pretty good definition of “gullible?”

If the believers are aware that Jesus was wrong over and over about the “imminent” end of the world, why do they still accept him as a prophet? And if they aren’t aware of this, why is that? How could they miss so very many instances of false prophesy? Is this indeed a simple case of willful ignorance?

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