Bible Difficulty

Ezekiel 40–48 – How can these prophecies be understood literally when the NT declares that the sacrificial system has been abolished by Christ’s death?

Problem: Ezekiel seems to predict that, in the messianic period, the sacrificial system used by the Jews before the time of Jesus will be reinstituted (chaps. 40–48). However, the NT in general and the Book of Hebrews in particular is emphatic in declaring that Christ has by one sacrifice forever done away with the need for animal sacrifices (10:1–9).
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 37:15-20 – Could Ezekiel 37:15-20 have a dual fulfillment in the Book of Mormon?

Problem: The historic position of the LDS church is that the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph in Ezekiel 37 are the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the “two sticks becoming one stick” being the work that Joseph Smith accomplished in bringing the Bible and Book of Mormon together as one body of scripture. Many Mormon missionaries repeat this interpretation still today. The prophecy reads:
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Posted by petra1000 in Apologetics, Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 29:17–20 – Does Ezekiel prophesy about an invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar which never actually took place?

Problem: According to this prophecy of Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar would attack and devastate Egypt. However, the Greek historians made no mention of this event, and there does not seem to be sufficient historical evidence to substantiate the claim that there ever was such an invasion. Is this an error in the biblical record of history?
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 18:32 – Does God rejoice over the sinner’s doom?

Problem: According to this verse, God declares, “I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies [in his sins].” Yet in Proverbs 1:26, God declares to the sinner, “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes.” But, these seem to be contrary attitudes toward the doom of the sinner.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 18:20 – Do the sons bear the sins of the fathers or not?

Problem: In one area of Scripture, it appears that a son will bear the sins of his father, yet in other areas, it seems that that is not the case. So which is it? The answer lies, as always, in examining the context of the statements. Ultimately, the Bible has no internal contradiction. It just takes looking and reading to figure things out.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 18:20 – Does God ever punish one person for another’s sin?

Problem: Ezekiel says clearly God does not punish the sons for their fathers’ sins, but that “the soul who sins shall die [for its own sins].” However, in Exodus 20:5 we are informed that God visits “the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations.” These seem flatly contradictory.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 16:49 – Sodom and Gomorrah: What Was the Primary Sin?

Problem: While most Orthodox Jewish and Christian scholars have held the position that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their rampant homosexual behavior (namely, sodomy), there are others who believe that those cities were destroyed because of their pride.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 16:49 – Was the sin of Sodom selfishness rather than homosexuality?

Problem: Ezekiel described the sin of Sodom as selfishness: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy” (niv). No mention is made of homosexuality or related sexual sins. Contrary to the traditional view, they were apparently condemned simply because they were selfish, not because they were homosexuals.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching

Ezekiel 14:9 – Does God deceive people?

Problem: Ezekiel states, “If a prophet is deceived into giving a message, it is because I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet. I will lift my fist against such prophets and cut them off from the community of Israel” (Ezek. 14:9 NLT).
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching