לתשובת המינים

Unsubstantiated Theological Fulfillment (Indemonstrable)

Another difficulty one runs across is a "prophecy" whose fulfillment cannot be witnessed. The "prophecy" is not something which can be observed, even if one were present at the time of fulfillment. The “beauty” of this type of "fulfillment" is that it is un-falsifiable. Just as no one can witness its fulfillment no one can view it not being fulfilled. The only evidence it has been “fulfilled” is the claim that it has.

One example is the assertion that the Nazarene is Divine (in supposed fulfillment of prophecy). Even if it were true, one cannot "observe" the Nazarene being Divine, just as one cannot observe God Himself. So if we where to accept that the T'nakh predicted that Mashiach would be divine we would not have proof of its fulfillment in the Nazarene, just the claim. To highlight the difficulty of this is to note that according to the Christian Bible the "Antichrist" will claim to be God and "back it up" with miraculous signs. True, by Christian belief the Nazarene' claim was true and the Antichrist's will be false but one cannot observe the validity of one claim over the other. To the human observer the "Antichrist" would fulfill this prophecy just as well as the Nazarene.

Another is the idea the Nazarene’s death atoned for our sins. If one would have witnessed the crucifixion one could tell the Nazarene died, but that it had any effect in forgiving our sins would not be observable. How much more so now? We can not see the effect, even if it were there. How could we distinguish the Nazarene's death as fulfillment of this prophecy as opposed to any other death? It is only if we accept the doctrines of Christianity can we come that conclusion. Rather than prophetically verifying Christianity, such a belief is a theological result of accepting Christianity.

Again, the problem with this is even if we were to concede that the T'nakh taught such doctrines we could have no way of knowing if they were fulfilled in Christianity. What would be to say that Christianity didn't incorporate these doctrines to "fulfill" these prophecies rather than actually fulfill them? Such beliefs would have to be taken on faith (be it blind faith or with good basis) rather than be evidence. They are an effect of Christian belief, not a cause (reason/evidence). Yet repeatedly we see Missionaries offer up "proof" the Nazarene fulfilled Messianic Prophecies even though one could never observe the fulfillment. In truth however one must first believe in Christianity before one could come to the conclusion that these "prophecies" where fulfilled by the Nazarene.