Word of the Week - Prophecy
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
In light of the war in Israel along with many other major world events we have all witnessed in recent days, months and years, I have been prompted to dive deeper into understanding biblical prophecy. I am currently reading and studying this fascinating area of our faith that has historically been somewhat seen as taboo. The more I learn, the more I realize the need for us as Christ followers to be informed in this important part of God’s plan. By the way, the more I learn and read about prophecy the more encouraged and hopeful I am as a believer. Our God is sovereign and reigns over all of heaven and the earth. He has a perfect plan, and as His children we can rest assured that our eternal destiny is secure in Christ no matter what is to come here on earth.
Biblical Prophecy is a message from God communicated through a human prophet. About 27%, more than one out of every four verses of the bible are considered prophetic, so apparently this is an important part of our faith as believers and what God is trying to communicate to us. In the New Testament, almost every book contains some prophecy, with Revelation being wholly devoted to a prophetic. The consistent relation of prophecy in the Bible is staggering not to mention the amazing accuracy of detailed prophecies in the bible. This is confirming to our faith and God’s promises to us His children.
Prophecy in the bible can be divided into two broad groups: fulfilled and not yet fulfilled.
Fulfilled Prophecies: • The first coming of Christ (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Numbers 24:17; Daniel 9:25–26; Micah 5:2). • Jesus as the Savior of mankind (e.g., Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:4–5). • Prophecies regarding individual people, such as the doom of Jezebel (2 Kings 9:10). • Prophecies regarding Israel, such as in the case of Israel’s exile to Babylon (2 Kings 20:18; Jeremiah 34:3). • The destruction of the temple, which occurred in AD 70 (Matthew 24:1–2). • Daniel’s prophecies about the rise and fall of many kingdoms (Daniel 7:2–6, 16).
Prophecies Still to Be Fulfilled: • The second coming of Christ (Zechariah 14:3–4; Matthew 24:44; Acts 1:10–11; Revelation 1:7). • The rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). • The tribulation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15–22). • The resurrections of the saved and the unsaved (Daniel 12:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:20–23; Revelation 20:11–15). • The millennial reign of Christ (Psalm 72:7–11; Zechariah 2:10–11; Revelation 20:4). • The restoration of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31–37; Romans 11:26–27). • The new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13;
The amount of prophecy in the Bible is one of the things that make it unique among religious books. There is absolutely no emphasis on predictive prophecy in the Qu’ran or the Hindu Vedas, for example. In contrast, the Bible repeatedly points to fulfilled prophecy as direct proof that it is God who speaks (see Deuteronomy 18:22; 1 Kings 22:28; Jeremiah 28:9). Given God’s omniscience, it should come as no surprise that the Bible contains so many clear predictions or that those predictions are literally fulfilled: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9–10, ESV).
What are the Reasons for Prophecies in the Bible? Human beings – even God’s chosen people (the Jews) – are sinful and lost. God’s entire plan is one of love and redemption for us His children. The Bible communicates God’s love for us in many ways. One way is by giving us an understanding of what is to come on earth, so we can be prepared and have hope and peace in the midst of these trying times we are witnessing and experiencing.
Some of the reasons for prophecies include:
To warn both believers and non-believers and lead us to repentance/change.
To expose our sin nature and need for a savior – to draw us to Jesus!
To help us understand the future and our role as believers.
To give us hope!!!! Revelation 21:3-4
Over the next few weeks, I plan to share more about biblical prophecy and how we can benefit from it as children and followers of the living God.
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:23
Be encouraged, we are victorious in Christ!!!! .
-Duane