Claims Require Proof:
Here you are making a philosophical claim about scripture, without proving that claim.
Claims require proof.
We can't just claim a thing because we "feel" it is true, or "say" it is true.
Let's examine the claim:
CLAIM: A prophecy cannot have a double meaning because that would indicate deceit.
a.) Logically, deceit would only occur if two propositions contradict each other.
b.) It is common for multiple propositions to be different, but without containing a contradiction between them.
c.) Therefore, there is no logical reason a passage cannot contain several propositions which are different in some way (more than one meaning or point) without also containing contradictions or deceit.
CONCLUSION:
1.) If we make a claim that does not hold up to simple logic, or to simple principles of language, then it is proven false.
2.) It IS possible that some prophecies, or all prophecies, do NOT contain dual meanings. But if so, this would only mean there is some other explanation, because the explanation you gave is already proven to be false.
Take care everyone, and have a great week.
.
Claims require proof? Coming from religious people? I would rather say, "Claims require reasonable explanations", cause you can't have proof for most religious claims. Did Elisha have proof that Elijah really went up to heaven on a chariot? No, but you still believe. So many such things in the Bible.
"a.) Logically, deceit would only occur if two propositions contradict each other." - not true, there is such a thing as half-truth, which is more dangerous than a lie. So you can use some factual statements and add word salad to it to cook up your story and though there is truth to it, the fact that it is not completely coherent and that you are conscientious while doing it would mean, you are deceitful. You can be deceitful without lying or contradicting. We live in a generation that is best evidence of that and I am surprised I am having to explain this. The definition of deceit - "the action or practice of
deceiving someone by
concealing or
misrepresenting the truth." If G-d's intention through not revealing that some prophecies are dual while others are not is bad, then that would mean G-d is deceitful. If G-d's intention is purely that people have to be patient and humble to allow G-d to reveal what is happening and going to happen ahead, then that is purely a testing strategy - like how the Jews were tested by the Messiah being the Son of G-d. So, if someone says that prophecies have double meanings, then they are trying to say that they have two completely different explanations, without one linking to the other. That is not what is happening. It is dual fulfillment where usually the first fulfillment is actually not a complete fulfillment and hence the second shot is when it really gets fulfilled fully because enough time has been given to mankind for that.
"b.) It is common for multiple propositions to be different, but without containing a contradiction between them." - possible but not in prophecies. Prophecies are expectations of things to happen. They are for us to be prepared. How can we be prepared if we have all the faculties to understand something (which may not have existed in the past), but cannot still know what the proposition of what we are reading is? That would be considered deceitful by the person who gives us the text
"c.) Therefore, there is no logical reason a passage cannot contain several propositions which are different in some way (more than one meaning or point) without also containing contradictions or deceit." - again, what you are talking about are passages. I am specifically referring to prophecies and their fulfillment. To claim that prophecies were intended to have multiple meanings is different from claiming they have multiple fulfillments. If they have multiple meanings, they were written with an intention to play tricks. You wouldn't prophecy that the Messiah would die on the cross and live happily with his descendants in the same passage. Cause if the first thing happens when he doesn't have children, then the second thing would be a contradiction. Such a conundrum does exist in Isaiah 53 but of course, we Christians assume that the descendants are spiritual descendants, which I don't agree with. But they are not in the same verse, that's why I don't consider it a contradiction. In the same passage, one verse can refer to one person and another to another. Like this one -
[He now explains why Balaam made duplicate statements each time:] “I shall see him, but not now”--this is David; “I shall behold him, but he is not near”--this is the King Mashiach; “There shall shoot forth a star out of Jacob”--this is David; “And a scepter shall rise out of Israel”--this is the King Mashiach; “And shall strike the corners of Moab”--this is David... “And rule over all the children of Seth”--this is the King Mashiach...
Page 5 - https://images.shulcloud.com/618/uploads/PDFs/Divrei_Torah/150415-the-jewish-messiah.pdf
"1.) If we make a claim that does not hold up to simple logic, or to simple principles of language, then it is proven false." - sure, but that's if you've proven that what you have is simple "logic".
"It IS possible that some prophecies, or all prophecies, do NOT contain dual meanings. But if so, this would only mean there is some other explanation, because the explanation you gave is already proven to be false." - no prophecy contains dual "meanings". They are prophecies, come on! Some "texts" can contain dual meanings. Texts and prophecies are not the same thing. Prophecies are accurate, else you can just keep tip-toeing around the topic and explain away why you believe the prophecy has been fulfilled - like the Isaiah 53 prophecy about the Messiah having descendants - we all know Jesus will never have physical descendants. And the term offspring/descendant has not been used spiritually before so why do we assume that in Isaiah 53:10 alone? Cause it adds up to our explanation of Jesus being the Messiah?