Skepticism Silenced Intro Benjamin Franklin said in reference to America that “atheism is unknown there; infidelity rare and secret.” Is that still the case today? I’ll be back in a moment with the prophetic perspective on Silencing Skepticism. Message Hello, this is Cody Francis with Prophetic Perspectives. Unfortunately Benjamin Franklin’s advice to immigrants in 1782 is not as pertinent as it was them. Atheism, skepticism and the like have seen a rapid growth in the past few years. Some groups are claimed to have grown by 90 percent in the last six years. Books promoting intellectual atheism have catapulted into the New York Times best sellers list from Richard Dawkin’s The God Delusion to Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation. According to a recent poll 42 percent of adult American’s are not absolutely certain about the existence of God. The trend is disturbing to say the least for Christians. Then how many others are losing faith in other key components of the Bible? Is there a way to silence the arguments of atheism and skepticism? Can the Bible be proven to be a historical and reliable book or even the inspired Word of God? Today we turn to the subject of silencing skepticism from one of the clearest prophecies of God’s Word. Not just does this prophecy silence skepticism, but it bolster’s with unanswerable arguments the claims of Jesus Christ and as the true and only Messiah. What is this prophecy and how does it silence the howling of the skeptics about us today? Let us turn to the Lord in prayer as we begin. Outline I. Jesus is verified as the Messiah by the prophecy declaring exactly when he would arrive. A. Daniel given striking & important vision – Dan. 8 1. Began study & pray – Dan. 9:2, 3 2. Angel Gabriel came in answer – Dan. 9:21, 22 B. Prophecy given probation & prediction 1. Probation upon Jewish nation – Dan. 9:24 a. Day = year in prophecy – Ez. 4:6 b. Rebelled repeatedly; God’s longsuffering c. Line unseen crosses every path 2. Reveal exactly when Messiah arrive – Dan. 9:25 a. 69 x 7 = 483 days/years b. Began decree restore & rebuild Jerusalem 1) Ezra 6:14; 7:8 2) 7th Artxerses = fall 457 BC c. 483 - 457 = 26 + 1 = AD 27 1) AD 27 = 15th yr. Tiberius 2) Luke 3:1-3, 21, 22 3) Baptism = anointing – Acts 10:37, 38 4) Jesus “time fulfilled” – Mark 1:15 d. Jesus came exactly when predicted 500 yrs. 3. Reveal when Messiah die – Dan. 9:26 a. Middle of week – Dan. 9:27 1) Jesus establish new cov. – Matt. 26:28 2) Sacrifices & all typical ceased 3) Temple veil rent in two – Mark 15:38 b. Jesus fulfilled eternal covenant to save man! C. Reveal when probation closed for Jewish nation 1. Rebellious nation refused gift of life a. Misinterpreted prophecy & lost! b. Promises conditional – Jer. 18:7-10 c. Jesus revealed taken from – Matt. 21:42, 43 2. Stephen stoned – AD 34 – gospel Gentiles a. Faith Christ = Jew–Gal. 3:29; Rom. 2:28,29 b. Jerusalem, Israel, temple—no longer imp! D. Jesus clearly fulfilled prophecy—Infidelity silenced II. Skepticism is silenced.
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