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There is a remarkable unity and symmetry of the Bible that cannot be duplicated or imitated by any other so-called "holy scriptures"

(The Koran, Zendavesta, Shastas, Puranas, Vedas, Sutras, etc.). In the first book of the Bible there is the first creation; in the last book of the Bible there is the last creation. Bullinger laid it out like this: 1) The first creation (Gen 1:1). 2 Satan's first appearance (Gen 1:2). 3) Restoration and blessing (Gen. 1:3- Gen 2). 4) Satan enters (Gen 3). 5) God deals with mankind in general (Gen 4-11). 6) God deals with the Jews in particular (Gen 12 - Mal.). 7) The first Advent (Matt-John). 8) Transition period of the books of Acts. 9) The Church Age (Rom-Phile.). 10) The Second Advent (Rev 19). 11) The restoration of the Jews. 12) The Millenial calling out of the gentiles. 13) The binding of Satan (Rev 20:1-3). 14) The Millenial restoration of the earth (Rev 20:4-6). 15) Satan's final appearance (Rev 20:7-9). 16) The new creation (Rev 21-22).

In that layout, points 8 and 9 are the center events of the Bible plan. You will notice that there are seven points that precede point 8 and seven points that follow point 9. Points 1-8 are the counterpart matches for points 9-16; points 10-16 are like reading points 1-7 backwards The Second Advent (point 10) matches the First Advent (Point 7), the restoration of the Jews (point 11) matches God's dealings with the Jews in the Old Testament (point 6), and so on. The entire book is balanced from start to finish.

How can you explain this, given the fact that the Book was written by forty different authors over a period of 1,600 years on three different continents? Mohammad couldn't even do that as one author in his own lifetime. The only explanation for such a phenomenon is Someone sitting up in Eternity, past Revelation 22, who sees all history laid out from Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21 and reveals these things to His creation. in the order He wants. Allah, Buddha, Jupiter, Ra, Baal, Thor, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, et al., can't do that. Only "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ " (Eph 1:3, 4:6) can do that!

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

The explanation is far more prosaic and obvious than that!

It was all written, collated and edited by mere mortals who happened to share much the same religious ideas developed by the Hebrews from older faiths, especially Zorastrianism, from their views of their own history, assorted widespread but nebulous myths, and their own imaginations!

The Bible is of course an anthology of Hebrew / Jewish books, and the OT and Torah are from the same set of books written probably in the last 5 centuries BCE, though put in a different order. There are said to be other books that never made it into this Middle Eastern, fairly small, culture's best-seller list, but I don't know if that has ever been established.

The NT was written and compiled over a much shorter time.

Once Christianity developed from what started as a minor Jewish sect, its founders and later leaders started to choose, edit and collate the books in the order that suited them; with the consequence of later translation errors and deliberate warping creeping in.

It's quite possible that Christianity as a faith of its own would not have developed as widely as it has, if it not been taken up by the Romans, despite their Empire brutally suppressing it at first. It was thanks to them that it spread across much of Europe, thence it spread into Scandinavia and Russia. The nearest to its original form is claimed by the Coptic Church, in Egypt; but such claims are probably very difficult to verify or indeed disprove.

Zoroastrianism was a major Persian faith, with two Gods, one of Good, one of Bad; with everything balanced between them. It still exists, now very much a minority, though the Iranians (modern Persians, with a deep love of their ancient history) do respect it and even give it a voice in their Parliament. After all, Islam is from the same roots as Christianity and Judaism, though you might not think any of them are, at times.

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Aliveshock

@ArishMell
Islam is not of the same roots as Jesus.
All was created and established by Jesus.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@Aliveshock

Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire
I will explain it to someone intelligent.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Aliveshock No. Islam respects Jesus as a prophet but rejects his divinity.

Jesus was a Jew, as were his immediate disciples; their religion being broadly that established several centuries previously; and they did NOT create anything, nor did they found a new religion. All they did was interpret Judaism, which cites God as the creator, in their own way; and it was later followers who founded Christianity.

Aliveshock

@ArishMell
Jesus created the Universe. When Islam preaches this then they will know their God also.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Aliveshock I was taught God created the Universe! That's because that founding belief was written down centuries before Jesus' time (assuming he did actually exist of course).

Sincere Muslims won't adopt that strange idea, which compromises God's unique and ineffable mystery, and why should they?

It's not for you or I to call them wrong!

Aliveshock

@ArishMell
Genesis and the New Testament might help clear the confusion. Try the first chapter of John for the clarity of how preeminent Jesus is if you haven’t read it yet. If you believe that Jesus never existed it would explain the mind trap that you put yourself in to block salvation.

DocSavage · M

@Aliveshock
Way I heard it, the Jews rejected Jesus because they only recognize one god, Jehovah. Not Jehovah and Jesus.
Commandment #1 says “no other god” when Christian’s made Jesus the “way” they no way but Yahweh.

Aliveshock

@DocSavage
Are you claiming to be a practicing Jew by chance. Didn’t you understand that when Jesus states “I am” that all fall to the floor.

Jesus is no recognizer of person.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@Aliveshock

Didn’t you understand that when Jesus states “I am” that all fall to the floor.

I understand that you need to

Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire
You skipped Sunday School.
Catch up first!

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@Aliveshock I'm sorry. Personal attacks do not qualify as evidence. Try again.

Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire
You haven’t stated anything intelligent yet. You don’t have a stated position so fly away pest.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@Aliveshock So you can't prove your positive statement, and now you're mad.

Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire
You don’t have a point to stand on.
You put in no effort and you will receive not a thing from me.

DocSavage · M

@Aliveshock
No, but that doesn’t stop me from talking with them. They don’t need Jesus for that, do they

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@Aliveshock

You don’t have a point to stand on.
You put in no effort and you will receive not a thing from me.

You are literally the one who made a positive statement, and is now offering zero evidence. Now you're trying to shift that burden of proof to me. Classic.

Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire
Obtain a base of knowledge so that you have a point of view to speak from.

Aliveshock

@DocSavage You can speak with them. I can testify truth.

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Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire
Grow up.
No one likes a cry baby.

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

Aliveshock

@LordShadowfire Nice potty mouth there, pretty brave for an alt account.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Aliveshock I did not say Jesus is not pre-eminent. Of course he is - but the Bible says God created the universe.

I did not say Jesus did not exist, at least as the New Testament describes him. I do not know if he did or not, and nor do you - you simply believe he did. I ask if he did, but I accept he may have done as a uniquely wise teacher and prophet whether his divine attributes were real or mythical.

Christianity was founded by later followers of Jesus; not by Jesus. He and his immediate followers, and those around them, were Jews and their scriptures were the Hebrew Torah (or what became it).

The Hebrews' books pre-date Jesus by centuries, and already credit a single, unique god - that called 'God' - as the omnipotent, omniscient, creative being or power. They almost certainly drew heavily on bits of older religions like Zoroastrianism, which had been a major faith in the region and still exists in a very minor way; but were determined to give a particular theological and social message for their own reasons.

That Hebrew anthology became the Torah.

Once the early Christians several hundred years later had developed their faith from what had started as a small Judaic sect, they picked and put in a different order, the books they wanted from the same Hebrew anthology, to form the Christians' Old Testament as they saw fit.

Like Christianity, Islam has more than one sect, but unlike Christianity was founded by a single writer. He did draw on the Hebrew traditions, and he did respect Jesus; but he saw God as unique and ineffable, not taking human form.

I realise you find religious history that questions your personal interpretation of just one religion, offensive; but it is not for you or me to say any one religion, sect or interpretation themselves is the only correct one, and all others are wrong!

As for dreaming of Muslims converting to your Jesus-only version of the three Abrahamic faiths.... sorry, but I don't think they will.

Aliveshock

@ArishMell
It isn’t just my belief.
Your stated religion is more Unitarian than it is the Abrahamic God.
I am sorry you misunderstand the Holy Bible. If you look to John 1 it clearly states that Jesus was the creator and God.
John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word,(A) and the Word was with God,(B) and the Word was God.(C) 2 He was with God in the beginning.(D) 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.(E) 4 In him was life,(F) and that life was the light(G) of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness,(H) and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.(I)

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.(J) 7 He came as a witness to testify(K) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.(L) 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light(M) that gives light to everyone(N) was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,(O) the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.(P) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed(Q) in his name,(R) he gave the right to become children of God(S)— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.(T)

14 The Word became flesh(U) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,(V) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace(W) and truth.(X)

15 (John testified(Y) concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)(Z) 16 Out of his fullness(AA) we have all received grace(AB) in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses;(AC) grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.(AD) 18 No one has ever seen God,(AE) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b](AF) is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

There is one author but for those who don’t know Kesus it looks like only different men wrote the Testaments.

All scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16

New International Version
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

It is so easy to get confused by who authored the Holy Bible. It is discerned by the Spirit which is given once you confess Jesus as Lord and savior of your soul!

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