Thank you for the question on responses to prophecies, “Why don’t atheists find Biblical prophecy convincing? What’s that convincing in the Bible for the believers?”
The fundamental reason is the existence of God. If one acknowledges a Creator God, then the character or attributes of God would determine the events of history. Since atheists deny the existence of God, their perspective of the Bible is that the events already happened and that the writers were projecting that it hasn’t happened.
For example the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel’s interpretation is interpreted that the Book of Daniel was written in the 2nd century BCE since it refers to Antiochus Epiphanes. It could not have been written in the 6th century for those predictions are impossible to make. If one concedes one point on prophecy, that will leave the door open to the existence of God or just lucky “a shot in the dark” prediction.
As I commented on other responses, there are prophecies that may give pause for one to consider whether it is prophetic or not. I cite one example that in Matthew 24 that says this, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory” (NIV). It has been argued by some individuals that it is impossible for Jesus to be seen by all the world’s people. If he were to appear in Jerusalem, the people in Beijing, New York or in Fiji will see him. That is impossible and viewed as nonsense before the 19th century and even as late as the 20th century before television or radio was invented. Today, with Iphones, instant recording of live events and instant replay of past events, it is literally possible for all the Iphones of the world to see how the world celebrates the countdown of New Year. While the return of Jesus may be debated or not debated since the atheists doesn’t exist Jesus ever existed, the prophecy that all the world will seem him is possible through our technology. The subject of that Iphone may be debated but the viewing of real events in real time is happening today.
For one consideration, how will individuals interpret the Bible prophecies of the rebuilding of the Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. If that were to happen, will it be viewed as another “a shot in the dark” prediction or that it has nothing to do with prophecy but political peace. There will no credit given to Biblical prophecy since God doesn’t exist. The Bible is a fable book. It can’t be real.
As one already knows, Christians believe in the existence of God. The existence of the Creator God would argue that he knows the detail of his plan just as an author knows the story of the book that is being written or completed. The sovereignty, omniscience and omnipotence of God makes prophecy possible since it is his story to mankind.
SUMMARY: Biblical prophecy is possible if there is a Creator God for it will be God’s revelation to humans.
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