Having grown up in a non-Christian home, and having done a decent
amount of work in Christian apologetics and having spoken to many people
of all sorts of backgrounds, from atheists, agnostics, materialists,
communists, etc., the evidence for the Bible is irrefutable and
incredibly powerful. (For example, see the evidence here and here.) The Bible contains vast numbers of specific and detailed
predictive prophecies that cannot be explained away. Many other categories of evidence, from
incredible scientific facts, to pinpoint archeological accuracy, etc.
validate the Bible (and, of course, it is self-attesting and
self-authenticating as God’s Word; “never man spake like this Man,” Jn
7, etc.) I have never spoken to an atheist, agnostic, or other skeptic. who has what
approaches anything like a decent explanation for the predictive
prophecies and other categories of evidence for the Bible. When I speak
to people like that, I never go away saying, “Boy, I wonder if the
Bible is really true–they have such great stuff against it!” On the
contrary, it is always, “Wow, how incredible God’s Word is–it’s too
bad, because of his sin, he isn’t willing to listen to the evidence for
it and makes up such foolish reasons to reject it!”
amount of work in Christian apologetics and having spoken to many people
of all sorts of backgrounds, from atheists, agnostics, materialists,
communists, etc., the evidence for the Bible is irrefutable and
incredibly powerful. (For example, see the evidence here and here.) The Bible contains vast numbers of specific and detailed
predictive prophecies that cannot be explained away. Many other categories of evidence, from
incredible scientific facts, to pinpoint archeological accuracy, etc.
validate the Bible (and, of course, it is self-attesting and
self-authenticating as God’s Word; “never man spake like this Man,” Jn
7, etc.) I have never spoken to an atheist, agnostic, or other skeptic. who has what
approaches anything like a decent explanation for the predictive
prophecies and other categories of evidence for the Bible. When I speak
to people like that, I never go away saying, “Boy, I wonder if the
Bible is really true–they have such great stuff against it!” On the
contrary, it is always, “Wow, how incredible God’s Word is–it’s too
bad, because of his sin, he isn’t willing to listen to the evidence for
it and makes up such foolish reasons to reject it!”
Now
let’s contrast that with the writings of Ellen G. White, founding prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Even looking at the most
voceiferous defenders of her writings, there is nothing in them that is like
the specific predictive prophecies and other categories of evidence for
the Bible. Even if one were to set aside the plain false prophecies in
her writings (see here) as the inventions of evil people who have some kind of
irrational hatred of the SDA movement, there simply is nothing
comparable in what she wrote to the evidence for Scripture. Christian apologists
regularly debate skeptics on college campuses and in other places and crush them with
the intellectual power of the Bible, but I can’t imagine a Seventh-day Adventist even
trying to do that with Ellen White’s writings against an equally intelligent and
well-researched opponent.
let’s contrast that with the writings of Ellen G. White, founding prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Even looking at the most
voceiferous defenders of her writings, there is nothing in them that is like
the specific predictive prophecies and other categories of evidence for
the Bible. Even if one were to set aside the plain false prophecies in
her writings (see here) as the inventions of evil people who have some kind of
irrational hatred of the SDA movement, there simply is nothing
comparable in what she wrote to the evidence for Scripture. Christian apologists
regularly debate skeptics on college campuses and in other places and crush them with
the intellectual power of the Bible, but I can’t imagine a Seventh-day Adventist even
trying to do that with Ellen White’s writings against an equally intelligent and
well-researched opponent.
Now let’s compare
the size of the Bible and Ellen White’s writings. A typical Bible has around 1,000 pages, but
EGW’s writings are around 100,000 pages, according the White Estate.
How reasonable is it that only 1% of God’s revelation, the Bible, is
attested in such an incredible way, by apostles, etc. who raised the
dead, reattached missing limbs, and so on, but 99% of God’s revelation,
EGW’s writings, were composed by one person who did no apostolic
miracles (and admitted she couldn’t), and whose writings simply have
nothing like the overwhelming evidence for them that the Bible has?
the size of the Bible and Ellen White’s writings. A typical Bible has around 1,000 pages, but
EGW’s writings are around 100,000 pages, according the White Estate.
How reasonable is it that only 1% of God’s revelation, the Bible, is
attested in such an incredible way, by apostles, etc. who raised the
dead, reattached missing limbs, and so on, but 99% of God’s revelation,
EGW’s writings, were composed by one person who did no apostolic
miracles (and admitted she couldn’t), and whose writings simply have
nothing like the overwhelming evidence for them that the Bible has?
Even
apart from other facts, like the fact that 99%+ of the Bible was
written by holy men, not by women (because men are to lead/have
authority), the striking difference between 66 books in Scripture and
only one lady writing 99 times as much as all the other inspired authors
combined–Ellen White’s writings do not meet the standard for
something that is the Word of God. There is no proof of their inspiration at all.
apart from other facts, like the fact that 99%+ of the Bible was
written by holy men, not by women (because men are to lead/have
authority), the striking difference between 66 books in Scripture and
only one lady writing 99 times as much as all the other inspired authors
combined–Ellen White’s writings do not meet the standard for
something that is the Word of God. There is no proof of their inspiration at all.
The same sort of argument is valid for the allegedly inspired books of Mormonism, the Christian Science cult of Mary Baker Eddy, the Koran, and all other books that claim to be inspired outside the Bible–including the Apocrypha. Even apart from the way that they contradict Scripture and are filled with factual errors–the negative disproof of them as God’s Word–there is no positive proof for any of them. Only the true God can bring about the predictive prophecies found in the Bible (Isaiah 44)– that is why no other book claiming inspiration has anything like them.
Readers who think that something outside of the Bible is inspired ought to consider these facts and reject their nonbiblical books. They can get further help here. Christians can use the facts above to help unconverted cultists consider their ways.
By the way, if you are a Ruckmanite who believes that the King James Version was produced in 1611 by the miraculous inspiration of the Holy Spirit the way that the original manuscripts were, you need to consider what evidence there is for your view also. Could you win a debate with an atheist on a college campus with the alleged evidences for the miraculous giving of the King James Version by the Holy Spirit in 1611? As readers of this blog know, I am passionately KJVO, with a knee-jerk reaction to defend the translation of the King James whenever it is criticized, am totally committed to the perfect preservation of Scripture in the Old Testament and New Testament’s Textus Receptus, etc. (see here), but you can’t defend with Scriptural exegesis a move from the Holy Spirit in 1611 like that which took place in the production of the original manuscripts of the Bible, so if you are going to take that view, you are going to have to do better than the weird and totally unconvincing things that people like Gail Riplinger make up to support it.
I was with you till the last paragraph, boss. Actually, I jest. Doc (as us accused Ruckmanites affectionately call him) and Ms Riplinger have both done some impressive work in the defense of the King James, but they both come with a certain amount of baggage.
At the end of the day you are wasting your time defending a man, any man, and the scriptures can defend themselves.
I have tried to read one book by Ruckman but I couldn't get through it because of all the nasty language. I felt defiled by reading it. I believe Riplinger also turns more people off by misquoting people and by making bizarre statements than any good that she does. That is why critical text people like James White in his The King James Only Controversy love to focus on them and either ignore or downplay KJVO defenders who are not bizarre.
Thanks for the comment.
"Could you win a debate with an atheist on a college campus with the alleged evidences for the miraculous giving of the King James Version by the Holy Spirit in 1611?"
Why would I debate a LOST person about the inspiration of the scriptures which is the Holy King James Bible?
Do you believe preaching the scriptures (inspired by the Holy Ghost) or debating him will allow the Spirit of God to "reprove him of sin, righteousness and judgment to come" so that he can repent and believe the gospel?
Do you believe in an English speaking world that preaching "the Greek text" will open a mans eyes and turn him from darkness to light?
Dear Brother Kent and Brother Thomas,
I hope you and your families are doing well today! Here’s a broken link or something like that for the first blue link above you referenced Brother Ross Site here this one doesn’t work
https://faithsaves.net/is-the-bible-gods-word/
But this is the actual newer version that does work here
https://faithsaves.net/gods-word/
Hopefully you can correct it for those who are searching and since I just shared it on social media ! I’ll correct my post to assist anyone who might see it! Thanks for your awesome service to The LORD GOD Almighty Jesus and us all especially myself! Love you guys! May GOD bless you and your families with health love joy and peace always in Jesus name amen have a blessed day and week be safe praying for you and ❤️ you guys!
Thanks Chris! I changed that link.