Nothing Else Like It

“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth; you lay Me in the dust of death. Dogs have surround Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me; they have pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones; people stare and gloat over Me.”

Jesus, the Son of God placed Himself into the hands of men and we did our absolute worst to Him. As the song says, “How can it be; that you my King would die for me?” God, nailed to a Roman cross by the humans He came to save from sin. The King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator of the Universe gave His life for ours. Such was the love of God for His creation, a creation that of its own free will turned against the greatest love in the universe.

And in that process, Jesus, by the same power that brought us into existence, defeated the great enemy of human-kind, death itself.

On the road to Emmaus, after His resurrection, Jesus spoke with two of His disciples. “And beginning with Moses and the prophets Jesus explained all that had been written about Him.”

Jesus came in weakness to save those who admit they are weak; to those who admit they need forgiveness. He laid down His life of His own freewill, for us. 

Once you know the ending of the story, it is impossible to read the Old Testament without seeing Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus; there's nothing else like it! 

Of Camels and Prophecy

There's been some chatter on the internet lately. Both Time and CNN carried the story. Apparently the Bible can't be trusted because, according to the writer, Abraham had Camels before it is believed that people had tamed Camels. So there!

The solution to why the Bible says what it does, again according to the writer, is that these accounts were written 100's of years after the events in question.

Well, until God opens our spiritual eyes, we can't believe or understand what the Bible says to us so . . .

Regardless, these doubters run into a bit of a problem (they can't see it, but the problem is there nevertheless) when it comes to prophecy of Jesus. By the time these prophecies came true, the Old Testament had already been translated into Greek. They were not written hundreds of years after the fact. So . . .

What is the probability of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah being fulfilled? Contained in the Old Testament, there are more than 300 specific prophecies alone that concerned Jesus, the promised coming Messiah. These were written from 450 to more than 2,000 years before his birth. It's been mathematically calculated that the probability of just 8 of the more than 300 prophecies being fulfilled by chance is 1^1017. Anything greater than 1^50 is generally considered to be beyond natural possibility.

Science Digest

You Wanna Be a Christian?

Ironically, this is a question that is asked, perhaps in different words, by those of us who too poorly represent the image of Jesus the Christ.

We've evangelized others even though:

. We had little idea what Jesus was like. We thought we could know Him without actually studying the documents that spoke about Him.

. We had almost no understanding of how the Old Testament related to the life of Jesus. At best we saw the Bible as a collection of unrelated stories.

. We thought that going to Church was enough to transform us into the character of Jesus. More Church = More Christian. Or so we thought.

. To say that we were ungracious and unloving toward those who believed and lived differently would have been a generous assessment of our character.

. We believed that being a follower of Jesus meant nothing more than not doing what sinners did.

If you want to evangelize, know your Saviour first.

Jesus claimed to be the great I AM -

. “I am the Good Shepherd.” Jn.10:11 - But the Old Testament says that Yahweh is our Shepherd
. “I am the Judge of all men.” Matt.25:31ff Jn.5:27ff - But the Old Testament says that Yahweh is the Judge of all nations.
. “Father, glorify me, in your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began,” Jn.17:5 - But in the Old Testament Yahweh says that He will not give His glory to anyone except Himself.
. “I Am the Bridegroom,” Matt 25:1 - But the Old Testament uses this term only for Yahweh
. “I am the first and the last,” Rev.1:17 - But this is the exact term that Yahweh uses of Himself in the Old Testament.
. “I am the light of the world,” But the Old Testament says that Yahweh is the light of the world. 
. “Before Abraham was, I AM,” But the Old Testament says that Yahweh is the great I AM.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

Jesus claimed to be equal with God:
. “Son, your sins are forgiven.”Mk. 2:5ff - But the Old Testament says that only God can forgive our sins.
. “I have the power to raise the dead and to judge them also.” Jn5:25-29 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes,” Jn 5:21 - But the Old Testament says that only God can give life and raise from the dead.
. “He who does not honour Me does not honour the Father,” Jn. 5:23 - But the Old Testament says that only God should be honoured.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

Jesus claimed to be Messiah - God
. Isaiah says of the coming Messiah, [He will be] “Mighty God, the everlasting Father.”
. Jesus says that prophecies from the Old Testament concerning Messiah were referring to Him and to Him alone. 
. “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus answered, “I Am.” The High Priest tore his robes and said, “What need of we for further proof. You have heard Him say He is God.”

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

Jesus claimed to be worthy of worship:
. Even though both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible forbid the worship of anyone or anything but Creator God, Jesus allowed people to worship Him. 
-In Matt. 8:2it was a leper whom Jesus had healed. 
-In Matt. 9:18 it was a rich ruler. 
-In Jn. 9:38 it was someone who Jesus healed of blindness. 
-In Matt. 14:33 it was His closest followers after He had done what only God could do - calm a storm. 
-In Matt. 15:25 Jesus allowed a Canaanite women to worship Him as did the mother of James and John which is recorded in Matt. 20:20
-In Mk. 5:6 A man who’d just be freed from a legion of demons worshipped Jesus. 

In all these cases Jesus allowed people to worship Him and to call Him God as though it was His due. Jesus considered Himself to be God Incarnate and 
The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

Jesus claimed that His authority was equal to that of God:
. One of the most famous portions of the historical record of Jesus’ ministry is Jesus’ promises to the people as found in the Sermon on the Mount and in His, “You have heard it said . . . but I say,” statements. He said that He was the Promise and the Authority and the people recognised that He spoke with authority, ‘Not as their teachers who quoted other authorities.’ Jesus told His followers that by His authority He was sending them out to tell others about God’s love as they had seen that love demonstrated through Him. Jesus pointed out that it was those who reject what He taught that would be condemned to eternal life in the total absence of God’s love. "He who rejects me rejects the Father." Clearly He taught that He was more than just a man.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

Jesus claimed that people could and should Pray “in His name:”
. “Whatever you ask in My Name, I will do it.” Jn.14:13. 
. Jesus explained what it meant to be asking for something “In Jesus’ name” when He said, “If you abide (walk, talk, live and exist in an ever increasingly intimate relationship with Jesus) in Me I will give you want you want.” Jn.15:7. 
. “No one comes to the Father but through Me. I and the Father are one.” We are encouraged to pray to God, but also to Jesus who is God.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

. The people who knew Jesus best, both His friends and His enemies recognised Jesus’ claims to be Yahweh. He demonstrated this fact by the things that He did. At one point Jesus said, “You don’t have to believe that I Am God by what I say, but you should believe that I Am God by what I do.” Why? Because the things that He was doing were not possible via natural means. They were supernatural. He fulfilled prophecy, He led a sinless life, He performed miraculous deeds, the greatest of which was His resurrection from the dead.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be killed because they clearly heard Him claim to be God.

As far as I can see, there can be only two reasons for making a statement like, “Jesus never claimed to be God.” 
First, the writer suffers from profound ignorance regarding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Second, the writer is a liar. 
There may be other reasons that I’m not aware of but the conclusion is the same, the writer is wrong at every level.

On the other hand, I guess Jesus had only Himself to blame. If He didn't want people thinking that He was God:
- He shouldn’t have claimed to be omniscient (Matt. (9:4), 
- He shouldn't have claimed to be omnipotent (Matt. 28:18) and 
- He shouldn't have claimd to be omnipresent Matt.28:20). 
And of course He shouldn’t have ever done things that only God can do like forgiving sins (Mark 2:1-12)raising the dead (John 12:9) creating the universe (John 1:3) sustaining the universe Col. 1:17) and judging you and I on whether or not we bend our knee in humble submission to Him as Lord, Saviour and Creator, (John 5:27). 

Now, the religious leaders of that day weren’t able to spend three very intense years being taught by Jesus so they weren’t able to conclude, as could His closest followers, that “The Word (Jesus) was God.” (John 1:1). 

Nevertheless, 
. The religious leaders of the day heard Jesus proclaiming Himself to be God. 
. Jesus’ followers heard Jesus proclaiming Himself to be God. 
. Jesus’ converts today numbering two billion strong, recognise Jesus to be God. 

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? For example, have you ever seen atheists ripping this verse?

Hosea 14: 9 - Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Jesus and the Old Testament

Jesus quoted the OT in a way that revealed His respect for its divine authority. He said it was “the word of God.” Jesus referred to each of its main divisions and said that each of those division foretold His appearance, His mission and His work. Jesus accepted the OT as true in its prophecy and normative ethics.

Gentle Jesus took a strip of those who did not believe the OT regarding Him and His work. Although Jesus was and is God incarnate, He never put that position above the authority of Scripture; in fact He deferred to and referred to Scripture regarding His teaching and actions as well as His messianic ministry. In fact, Jesus made sure that His ministry adhered to OT prophecy.

“This happened so that prophecy may be fulfilled.”

Whether Jesus was resisting satan or hanging on the cross, Jesus used the written word to guide His behaviour.

Now, some say that Jesus was just a product of His culture. This is ridiculous. Jesus’ culture was King of kings and Lord of lords. All through His ministry Jesus showed and lived a direct opposition to His culture. Jesus did not come from a human culture. He assumed a human consciousness, a human nature; an unfallen human nature; one that was foretold in the Old Testament. 

You know how atheists almost never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

Leviticus 19: 32-34 - Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD. When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself. I am the LORD your God.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing?  Do you think you will ever see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

Leviticus 19:10 - Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Now atheists incorrectly associate Southern U.S. Slavery with the safety net slavery of early Israel. That is why you will never see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

Ezekiel 36:26-27 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Now atheists incorrectly associate Southern U.S. Slavery with the safety net slavery of early Israel. That is why you will never see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed. There need be no poor people among you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

Deuteronomy 15.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? And you know how atheists accuse followers of Jesus of simply going after the reward?  

Habakkuk 3:17-18 - Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. 

Bet you never heard them whining about that one.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Now atheists incorrectly associate Southern U.S. Slavery with the safety net slavery of early Israel. That is why you will never see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

Micah 6:8 - He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Do you ever see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

Do not take interest or any profit from foreigners, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit

Leviticus 25:36,37

“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.

Exodus 22:25

You may not charge a fellow Israelite interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.

Deuteronomy 23:20

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

The Bible Sanctions Slavery? Mmm, nope.

"all of the specific references to slavery in the Bible seem to sanction it.

This is a statement that you can read in a recent post. Either this person is Biblically illiterate and is simply throwing out statements about which he knows nothing at all. Or, I would have to suppose that he is deliberately trying to mislead those who would love to believe what he’s just said.

It’s true that slavery in New Testament times, and Old Testament times for that matter, was a fact of life. It still is a fact of life in most countries in the world. But it certainly wasn’t acceptable for Paul, Jesus or any of the other New Testament writers. So why didn’t Jesus spend His time on earth trying to rid the world of this despicable practice? Well, He did, in a way. In fact He brought freedom from the effects of slavery to any and to all who wanted that freedom. You see, Christianity is about a relationship with one’s Creator that brings freedom despite circumstance. Jesus says that a life of integrity, meaning, context and purpose can be had no matter what one’s station in life, no matter what one’s race, no matter what one’s nationality, no matter what one’s gender. In one particular passage, Paul is addressing slavery when he says, "Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you . . ."

I suppose that if you stop there, you could have the beginnings of a case that Jesus thought slavery was no big deal. However Paul goes on to say, "although if you can gain your freedom, do so" 1st Corinthians chapter 7. Paul is saying, ‘slavery is not good, escape it you can; but neither is slavery the most important thing in this life’. Paul is saying, ‘don’t be distracted from the most important thing in life, by something that is less important’.

‘There are no references in the Bible that don’t sanction slavery’? Hardly! In fact because of the way that slavery is usually carried out, Paul announces in 1st Timothy 1:10 that 'those who take part in the trading of slaves will deserve eternity in hell'. The reason I say, "The way that slavery is usually carried out," is because slavery in ancient Hebrew society served as an important social safety net. There wasn’t any welfare system. There wasn’t any unemployment insurance. Many times, the only way to feed oneself and one’s family was to sell oneself into slavery. Nevertheless, human nature led back then, and has led right up to the present day to horrendous abuses. This is the world that we have chosen to create for ourselves.

Since all people are desperately wicked, desperately wicked people are all God has to work with. That is why He laid down guidelines for the ‘given’ practice of slavery in ancient Hebrew culture. God works with us where we're at. That is why it's foolish to judge 1st century Israel through the lens of 21st century America. Jesus is saying to those who lived in a society where slavery was normal practice, "Masters, treat your slaves in the same way [with respect]. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him, Ephesians 6:9. And Colossians 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Is slavery as it is usually carried out supported or sanctioned in the Bible? Absolutely not. Is it accepted as a fact of life? Yes. God has accepted, for a time, the world that we have chosen for ourselves. And to that end, just like cancer, earthquakes, war and other events that bring difficulty in our lives, God provides a means of coping in a healthy manner with things that can’t be changed.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbour.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay. “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell himself to you, do not treat him as your neighbours treat their slaves. Show your fear of God by not treating them harshly

Leviticus 19:13,25,43

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

What Do You Mean, Fulfil?

It’s not unusual for an atheist to counter a comment about sexual purity with, “Well you don’t stone your child to death for being disobedient.” The implication, which seems clear to the atheist is that if you don’t adhere to every law of Leviticus you have no business paying attention to any moral dictum. Sometimes it’s followed up by, “Jesus was all about love.”

So what did Jesus have to say about all this? “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil the law.” Matthew 5:17 Then six times in the next few minutes Jesus starts, “You have heard it said . . .” and follows through with what the Old Testament Law always meant. The Old Testament Law was addressing the problem of the heart.

On our own:

. We would love to believe that not killing someone means that we were kind people.

. We’d love to believe that all we have to do to be good people, is to be good to those who are good to us.

. We’d love to believe that not taking something that belongs to someone means that we were honest.

. We’d love to believe that not having sex with our neighbour’s spouse, means we are faithful to our own.

Most people can do those behaviours. That's why atheists think they're good people. But not killing someone is not the same as living in peace. Loving only those who love us does not create a safe community. Resisting the temptation to steal from our employer does not deal with our corrupt heart.

By thinking that only outward acts constitute violations of God’s law, we are left free to entertain and nurture our deeply flawed inner nature. This in turn compels us to celebrate those actions in others that rot not only us but our society from the inside out.

“As long as I'm a reasonably moral person,” goes the argument, “God has no business condemning me to hell.” In fact many people become furious at the mere suggestion that they deserve eternity in hell.

On the other hand:

Jesus got very specific on how the law was meant to be applied. For example:

. Jesus said that what we today call serial monogamy is actually serial adultery.

. The “eye for an eye” law was meant to limit legal retribution. Today we're tempted to see it as license for revenge. 

. Loving one’s enemy did not originate with Jesus on earth. He had given it as a law as far back as Exodus 23:4,5 and Proverbs 25:21.

Every single principle of the Sermon on the Mount had already been stated or clearly implied in the Old Testament. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbour as yourself had been there all along. That is the fulfilment of the law.  

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.”

Deuteronomy 24:5

Not only was the family shown to be a high priority in regard to those serving in the armed forces. Exemptions also applied to those who had just built a new house or started a new business.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

Jews and Prophecy

It's no news to say that, while many Jewish people have accepted the truth of Jesus as Messiah, as of yet most have not. Like atheists, these people can pour over the Torah and completely miss what's being said.

The rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the Jews as a whole was prophesied in Isaiah and in Daniel. The Jews’ preconceived ideas of what the Messiah would do made it impossible for them to recognise Jesus as Messiah.

The problem is, they have ignored Old Testament prophecy which clearly explains that the Messiah will NOT accomplish what the Jews expected Him to accomplish. Many times I've heard Jewish people say, “The Messiah is supposed to bring peace. But when I look out my window I don't see peace.” The problem is not what they see. The problem is that they don't know Torah, which says clearly, 

"The Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler [Rome] will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple" (Daniel 9:26). (My insertion).

At the same time, thousands upon thousands of Jews DID accept Jesus as Messiah and all of the first missionary efforts took place in Jewish places of worship. From that time until now there has always been a remnant of Jews who know their Scriptures and recognise Jesus as their Messiah. 

1) Isaiah 52:13- 53:12: This tells us that the Messiah will be highly exalted BUT not before He suffers terribly. He would be beaten beyond recognition, lifted up (crucified) and would live again after being crucified. 
2) There have been two Temples in Jerusalem. 
a) In 2nd Chronicles 7:17-22 Israel was warned that if its sin reached a certain level the first Temple would be destroyed. Its sin did reach that level and the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, just as predicted. 
b) In Daniel chapter 9, Daniel prophesied that a second Temple would be built and that Temple too would be destroyed. It did get built and it was destroyed by Rome, again as prophesied. 
According to prophecy, several things regarding Messiah were going to happen prior to the destruction of the second Temple. 
a) Haggai 2:6-9 - This prophecy tells us that the glory of the second Temple would be greater than the first. That sounds like a “so what” kind of statement. Build a bigger Temple and you get your greater glory. Problem - the physical structure of the second Temple was pitiful in comparison with the first Temple that was built by Solomon. Yet, this passage tells us that the glory of the second Temple would be GREATER than the first. While the word for glory can sometimes mean “wealth” (was the Temple filled with coins?) for the passage to say - “I” will fill the [second] Temple with glory,” clearly implies the presence of God Himself. 
b) Malachi 3:1-5 - This prophecy tells us that prior to the destruction of the second Temple, the Messiah would come to the Temple. “The Lord you are seeking will come to His temple.” The Jews were looking for a human Messiah. However, since the word used for “Lord” always and only refers to God Himself, they COULD have known that Messiah would be God Himself. 
c) Daniel 9:24 - This prophecy tells us that before the second Temple is destroyed the Messiah would provide for an everlasting atoning sacrifice for all people. No more temporary sacrifices would need to be offered.
If prophecy is accurate then these things had to happen and in fact they did happen prior to the Temple being destroyed in 70AD.
Since the death and resurrection of Jesus 2,000 years ago, religious Jews have had:
NO atonement system, 
NO functioning priesthood and 
NO functioning Temple. 
That is because all of the above found their fulfilment in Jesus. The Jews were expecting Messiah to come and rescue them. He did come, He did provide the means for spiritual rescue (the only kind that’s important), but they did not recognise Him.
Are you getting this? 
1. According to prophecy of the Jewish Scripture, the Messiah would come to the second Temple before it was destroyed. 
The second Temple was destroyed in 70AD. 
If Messiah didn’t come to the Temple prior to its destruction in 70AD, then Messiah isn’t coming at all. 
2. According to prophecy of the Jewish Scripture, atonement for sins would be made by Messiah prior to the destruction of the second Temple. 
The second Temple was destroyed in 70AD
If atonement for the sins of the world didn’t take place prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70AD it isn’t going to happen. 
But 
. One claiming and proving to be the Messiah - Jesus - did appear prior to the destruction of the second Temple in 70AD.
. One providing atonement for sins - Jesus - did appear prior to the destruction of the second Temple in 70AD
. Jesus visitation to the second Temple was the only visitation by Messiah to take place.
. Jesus glory, the very presence of God incarnate, was the only way that the second Temple’s glory was greater than the first. 
Because of a prior commitment to a different belief system, you may not like the idea of Jesus being Messiah, but if Jesus isn’t Messiah then nobody is Messiah.
If none of this took place prior to the destruction of the Temple which took place in 70AD then we may as well say that atheists are correct because the prophecies were not fulfilled and it’s all a lie. 
However:
All of this did take place in the person of Jesus. 
The prophecies were fulfilled. 
The Messiah did come right on schedule.
This is not speculation. This is historical fact!

You know how atheists never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them. He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

Deuteronomy 17:16-17

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Unlike their neighbours, unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

The Warrior Jesus

Gentle Jesus

Peaceful Jesus

Jesus was all about love

Those are familiar terms, more familiar than “warrior” Jesus. Yet, at least for this stage of history, Jesus is more of a warrior than anything else. 

Although it's nothing like anyone will see when Jesus returns with undiluted wrath poured out against evil and those who have deliberately sided with evil.

For now, earth is enemy territory. It’s satan’s turf and the very coming to earth of God in the form of Jesus was the establishing of a beachhead deep, deep in enemy territory. From the time that He was born, Jesus encountered battle after battle. 

Atheists of course note how violent the Bible is, especially the Old Testament - actually only the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus uses the violence of humans toward one another to turn away from Him those destined for hell.

“One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe - a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees. This universe is at war.”

former atheist, C. S. Lewis - Mere Christianity

Like Jesus, we too have been born into the midst of battle. There is no sitting on the fence. “Those who are not for Me are against Me,” said Jesus. There is no neutrality. You’re making a choice of sides even as you read this. Since that is the case, you may as well know, the Winner has already been decided.