Prophecy - an overview

The mystery of God's prophetic word

Open your Bibles to…

Dan. 12:8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

Dan. 12:9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Dan. 12:10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

Dan. 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Dan. 12:12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

Dan. 12:13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Pray

Intro

√ Prophecy ~ an overview

In view our recent studies of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Joel I thought it might be a good idea to step back and look at the general subject of prophecy.

Ex. Can’t see the forest for the trees

Same with Bible prophecy! We can get lost in the details of the individual prophecies we’ve studied and miss the main point of Bible prophecy!

So, let’s step back and look at the purpose and unique nature of Bible prophecy.

The Mystery of God’s Prophetic Word

√ The mystery of God’s prophetic word

Daniel writes…

"Although I heard, I did not understand!" ~ vs. 8

Many people have a difficult time understanding Bible prophecy.

However, God gave prophecy so that people could understand it and heed His warnings.

Ex. Daniel understood Jeremiah's prophecy regarding the Babylonian captivity (Dan. 9:2)

Dan. 12:9 tells us that prophecy is…

“sealed until the time of the end"

The prophets spoke by faith, not knowing what they were shown or what they were told.

Many of the prophecies regarding the End Times and the return of Christ have not been clearly understood until this last century.

One clue that we are living in the End Times!

Dan. 12:10 tells us that…

“the wise will understand prophecy”

The wise are those who seek to know God as He is revealed through His Word, including prophecy.

There is an inherent blessing to those who seek to know and understand God's prophetic word.

Ex. Rev. 1:3 promises that those who hear, read and keep the prophecies contained in the Revelation will be blessed.

Dan. 12:11 tells us that there will be signs indicating the nearness of the end…

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

God has provided many sign posts in the prophetic word so that those who study the Bible can see where they're at on the prophetic calendar.

The Bible is a prophetic book

√ Facts

Every book of the Bible contains some prophecy.

1 of every 3 words in the Bible was prophetic when it was spoken!

Prophecy sets the Bible apart from all other books in the world…

…it is God's "fingerprint" that validates the Bible as the inspired Word of God!

Ex. The “God test”

Is. 41:21 “Present your case,” says the LORD.

“Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.

Is. 41:22 “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;

Let them show the former things, what they were,

That we may consider them,

And know the latter end of them;

Or declare to us things to come.

Is. 41:23 Show the things that are to come hereafter,

That we may know that you are gods;

Yes, do good or do evil,

That we may be dismayed and see it together.

Is. 41:24 Indeed you are nothing,

And your work is nothing;

He who chooses you is an abomination.

What is prophecy?

√ What is prophecy?

The word prophecy literally means to "tell forth".

Throughout the history of Man, God has spoken to people by means of prophets who "tell forth" the message of God.

While many people assume that prophecy speaks of future events, the Biblical use of the word is not limited to that function.

Many of God's prophets spoke prophetic words, which were not predictive (ex. Nathan's rebuke to David, "you are the man".)

Messages from God, which foretell the future, are often called apocalyptic which means…

"an unveiling, a disclosing, or a revelation."

The main (though not the only) apocalyptic books of the Bible are Daniel, Ezekiel and the Revelation.

Apocalyptic writings are characterized by:

The person writing recorded what he saw in a vision or dream.

(Ex. Dan had four, chaps. 7, 8, 9, 10-12)

Use of signs and symbols to communicate truth

(Ex. animals, elements - wind, water, metal etc.)

To reveal God's plan for the future

(Ex. the Gentile kingdoms that will rule over the land of Israel)

To give comfort to His people

("I read the back of the book and we win!")

The necessity of understanding prophesy

√ Throughout the Bible we find that God exhorts people to understand and heed prophecy.

Jesus' rebuke to the religious leaders (Matt. 16:1-4)

Jesus' repeated warnings throughout the Gospels to "watch & be ready".

Paul's instruction to the church in Thessalonica to "…not be ignorant" regarding future events (I Thess. 4:13).

Jesus' promise of blessing to those who heed prophesy (Rev. 1:3).

The central theme of prophecy

√ The central theme of prophecy

The central theme or character of prophecy is the message of Messiah. That is, Jesus is the central theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Rev. 19:10…

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Luke 24:27…

"And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."

Luke 24:44…

"Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Thus we find it no surprise that the first and last prophecy recorded in the Bible both speak of Jesus!

Genesis 3:15…

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

God foretelling the 1st Advent of Jesus to redeem Man from sin.

Rev. 22:20…

"He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

God foretelling the 2nd Advent of Jesus when He comes to redeem the Earth!

√ Jesus ~ the central theme of prophecy

The Bible then is primarily concerned with the mission of Jesus Christ and His love for Mankind. Therefore, when you are teaching the Bible follow Jesus' example from Luke 24 and always bring the message back to those things concerning Him.

The Old Testament Prophets

√ Major (major simply means the longest messages)

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel & Daniel

√ Minor (minor simply means the messages are shorter)

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi.

We’ll be studying the minor prophets in the weeks ahead.

The New Testament Prophets

√ The Revelation is the only New Testament book that is considered primarily a book of "prophecy".

It was recorded by the apostle John while imprisoned on the island of Patmos in the Mediterranean.

However, we find many prophecies recorded throughout the New Testament spoken by Jesus and His disciples.

Ex. Jesus’ “Olivet Discourse” in Matthew 24

Paul’s writing to Timothy describing the conditions of the “Last Days” (ref. 2 Tim. 3)

Peter’s description of people’s attitude toward the Lord’s return (ref. 2 Peter 3:3)

Paul’s description of the Antichrist (2 Tim. 2:1-12)

Recommended Reading

√ Hopefully our overview of Bible prophecy has stirred an interest in your heart for additional Bible study on this fascinating topic. With that in mind I have listed a number of books to assist you in your study.

“Charting the End Times” – Tim Lahaye & Tomas Ice

"The Rapture Question" - Wolvoord

"The Tribulation & the Church" - Smith

Final note

√ The passion of prophecy

Joseph A. Seiss writes:

Fiction has painted the picture of a maiden whose lover left her for a voyage to the Holy Land, promising on his return to make her his beloved bride. Many told her that she would never see him again. But she believed his word, and evening by evening she went down to the lonely shore, and kindled there a beacon-light in sight of the roaring waves, to hail and welcome the returning ship which was to bring again her betrothed. And by that watch fire she took her stand each night, praying to the winds to hasten on the sluggish sails, that he who was everything to her might come. Even so that blessed Lord, who has loved us unto death, has gone away to the mysterious Holy Land of heaven, promising on His return to make us His happy and eternal Bride. Some say that He has gone forever, and that here we shall never see Him more. But His last words were, “Yea, I come quickly.” And on the dark and misty beach sloping out into the eternal sea, each true believer stands by the love-lit fire, looking, and waiting, and praying and hoping for the fulfillment of His word, in nothing gladder than in His pledge and promise, and calling ever from the soul of sacred love, “EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS.” And some of these nights, while the world is busy with its frivolities, and laughing at the maiden on the shore, a form shall rise over the surging waves, as once on Galilee, to vindicate forever all this watching and devotion, and bring to the faithful and constant heart joy, and glory, and triumph which nevermore shall end.

Rev. 22:17 ~ "And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”