[papertyger]

Holy Scripture, which even the Catholic Church attests to, IS the Word of God....

Then find me the Old Testament Scripture that let Simeon know he would see the Messiah before he tasted death.

[metmom]

Then find me the Old Testament Scripture that let Simeon know he would see the Messiah before he tasted death.

Utterly unrelated, but I understand why you would try to get onto another subject...

[boatbums]

Then find me the Old Testament Scripture that let Simeon know he would see the Messiah before he tasted death.

What that has to do with my statement about the Catholic Church proclaiming Holy Scripture is the Word of God, I don't know. But to humor you, I'll try to answer you.

We first hear about a man named Simeon in Luke 2, when Joseph and Mary present the Christ child at the temple to dedicate him to the Lord as was the custom.

Luke 2:22-24 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(Lev. 12:2) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”(Exodus 13:2,12) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons (Lev.12:8)”

Luke 2:25-35 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,* and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”(**)

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling(***) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

* The "consolation of Israel" is spoken of in Isaiah 52:9:

Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.

** The "glory of your people Israel" is spoken of in Isaiah 42:6

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

And Isaiah 49:6:

he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

*** Simeon saying, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel" is a reference to Isaiah 8:14, which says:

He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

So, to answer your question, this guy Simeon sounds like a very righteous and devout Jew who knew his Scripture well, was looking for the coming Messiah, the Holy Spirit was "on" him and, as Luke said, "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah." (Luke 2:26) See, not only did Simeon KNOW to look for the Messiah because of Scripture, but he also had a special revelation - a personal revelation - that he WOULD NOT die until he saw the Messiah. The Holy Spirit confirmed within his heart that Jesus was the Messiah and he knew that he could die in peace having seen the chosen one of Israel.