If I were an honest atheist, before I declared my belief I would want to be able to explain and defend my position against the Bible. The Bible claims to be the only book that is God breathed whereas its past prophesies have been fulfilled in times past therefore assuring us that all future prophecies will also be fulfilled.
For instance, If I were an honest atheist I would want to know how the prophet Isaiah living 700 years before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ could accurately predict that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. In Isaiah chapter 7:14 the prophecy was given “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (God With Us) In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 1:30 – 34 approximately 700 years later “And the Angel said unto her, fear not Mary, for thou has found favor with God. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.” Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man.” Vs: 34 How would I as an honest atheist explain this incredible fulfilled prophecy?
If I were an honest atheist I would want to be able to know how the prophet Micah who also lived approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ could have accurately predicted that the Lord would be birthed in Bethlehem of Judea. “But thou Bethlehem, though thou be little among thousands (of villages and hamlets) of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel” Micah 5:2 “And (700 years later) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. Luke 2:4 “And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son…..” V: 6-7
If I were an honest atheist I would want to be able to explain the everlasting Abrahamic Covenant found in Genesis 15:18 and elsewhere repeated where the Lord chose Abraham to be the father of a great nation, the nation and land of Israel and where He gave him the land forever. “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
How would I, an honest atheist explain how the nation of Israel, being driven out of their land with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD for nearly 2,000 years, dispersed among many countries and nations, yet being able to maintain their own language, and finally being able to return to the land of their God given everlasting covenant in 1948. How many nations can one account who has been assimilated into various countries for nearly 2000 years and have maintained their native language. The return of Israel to her God given land, after being dispersed for 2000 years is a modern day miracle.
If I were an honest atheist I would want to consider the many finding of archelogists that match historical past civilizations, cities and accounts recorded in the Scriptures.
If I were an honest atheist I would want to be able to know when asked of the disciples concerning future events, how the Lord Himself knew and prophesied the destruction of Herod’s Temple. Matt. 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 21:6 In Matthew 24:1 -2
“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, see ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. “ The massive glorious Temple took 46 years to build but when destroyed by the army of Titus just 40 years after the Lord’s decree, not one stone was left upon another just as our Lord had foretold.
Space will not allow us the many other Old Testament prophecies that could be citied and documented as fulfilled. We on this side of the Cross now await the soon coming fulfillment of both the Old and New Testament prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled in the end times. As in the past we can be assured that end time prophecy will be fulfilled as we see the demise of world conditions around the world. All conditions for the coming one world government and the appearing of the Anti-Christ are upon us. And the Body of Christ, the believers of the church age patiently wait this soon coming prophecy. John 14: 2b – 3 (…..I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” Thus as we have seen the exact fulfillment of biblical prophecy throughout past ages, we can be assured that unfulfilled future prophecy will likewise come to pass as well. Happy Easter, He Has Risen and Is Coming Again. The question remains, are you prepared to meet Him.