How can the Bible predict the future?

The bible is full of general predictions that can apply to any circumstances. I challenge anyone to give me evidence that the Bible is able to predict accurately something that has happened.

There are plenty of prophecies for example in the Old Testament that predicted the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Micah 5:1-2 (NIV) Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod. 2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Isaiah 11:2 (NIV) The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

Isaiah 61:1 (NIV) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Isaiah 9:5-7 (NIV) Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Genesis 3:15 (NIV) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Jeremiah 31:15 (NIV) This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."

Zechariah 12:10 (NIV) "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Psalms 22:16 (NIV) Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

Psalms 34:20 (NIV) he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Psalms 22:18 (NIV) They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

John 19:24 (NIV) "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

Isaiah 53:9-10 (NIV) He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

Hosea 6:2 (NIV) After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

There are many more - these are just a few....

The bible also predicted the dispersion of the Jews, and the return and formation of the nation of Israel.

The predictions are very accurate. It is beyond pure coincidence.

It's a circular argument - to believe that the prophecies from the Bible are true, you need to believe that the Bible is a book of fact, and not fiction. So far no one has given me a shred of evidence to support their argument yet.

The creation of the state of Israel - the second time.

The prophet Isaiah wrote that the nation of Israel will be created a second time (this when the state of 1st State of Israel had not been wiped out by Babylon - ancient Iraq).

ISAIAH 11:11
In that day the Lord will reach our His hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Eqypt, from upper.... and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and ... assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth."

Nowhere in human history has a nation been obliterated twice, had its people scattered throughout the world, and then to have them return to reform the ancient nation.

Israel was utterly destroyed by Rome 2000 years ago. (Before then it was wiped out by the ancient Iraqis) Its people were sold into slavery by the Romans and ended up thousands of miles away in various parts of the Middle East, Europe, Asia etc.. Who would have thought that the Israelites or Jews, would be able to maintain their cultural identity for 2000 years, without their homeland, and to come back to reform their state?

As you see they have returned from all over the world to recreate the state of Israel.

You believe the Bible is a book of fiction and not a book of fact and so you refuse to believe any of the prophecies. Look who's got a circular argument!


Give us a shred of evidence to support your argument!

There's a book called "A Ready Defense" by Josh McDowell. It speaks about many of the predictions in the Old Testament and how they were fulfilled.

The book uses historical evidence found even recently through archeology that show the fulfillment and accuracy of the Old and New Testament.

The bible is a historically accurate account of the past. If it weren't, don't you think that other writing from those time periods would reflect a rebuttal?? Do you actually think the Romans or the Jews would allow accounts of Jesus death and resurrection to go unanswered if it weren't true? Bring it to today, If a miracle were to happen, let's say, water turning to blood, with several hundred witnesses, do you think that hostile witnesses, if there were any, would allow their side of the story to go unheard? Can you explain why there are no such writings to speak of from the same time period Jesus lived?

Actually, in the Gospels, it is reported that the authorities did try to offer a rebuttal. They bribed the guards at Jesus tomb and told them to say that the disciples stole the body away at night. Not particularly convincing though. Because the guards would have been executed or imprisoned if they had actually allowed the deed to occur. Moreover, the disciples were not of the heroic types (pre-Pentecost of course) as evidenced by their actions when Jesus was captured and later led away to be crucified.

Give me some evidence to prove that the Bible is fact! All the history books that I have read are lies and propaganda - the accounts of history are written by the winners of wars, and are not accurate!

I am asking for scientific proof. So far I have seen none.