Can We Know the Future?

Humankind has long found intriguing the idea of somehow knowing the future.

Through the centuries various peoples have sought out seers, fortune-tellers and mediums to predict what lies ahead. These self-proclaimed seers usually come to nothing. Their few accurate predictions are either outnumbered by their misses or are lucky guesses.

The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., however, is different. It contains hundreds of detailed prophecies, then it shows how many of those predictions were fulfilled centuries later. Much of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. is prophecy, and its predictions are so sure that we could call BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. prophecy "history written in advance." In this lesson we will read the headlines of tomorrow. Let's see what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says is in store for this world.

Does God foretell the future?

"Remember the former things of old, for 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 that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'" (Isaiah 46:9-10 [9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
[10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

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Does He allow people to understand what will take place in the future?

"Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
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God has revealed specific aspects of the future through His prophets. The messages of those prophets, as well as some of the apostles who had aspects of the future revealed to them, are recorded for us in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. God's Word is the only sure source for understanding the future.

Can God bring to pass what He has foretold?

". . . Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it" (Isaiah 46:11Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
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It is one thing to predict the future. It is something else entirely to have the power to bring those events to pass. No human seer has that power!

Does the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. speak of various ages?

"So [Jesus] said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life''' (Luke 18:29-30 [29] And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
[30] Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

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"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age . . ." (Galatians 1:3-4 [3] Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
[4] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

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Jesus Christ contrasted "this present time" with "the age to come." The apostle Paul described this era as "this present evil age." In this lesson we see what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says about the transition from "this present evil age" to "the age to come."

Does the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. discuss "the end of the age"—our particular epoch in history?

"Now as [Jesus Christ] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?'" (Matthew 24:3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
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Did Jesus Christ predict specific conditions and events that would precede His return?

"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near . . ." (Luke 21:27-28 [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
[28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

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"So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near" (verse 31).

Carefully study Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. These are parallel accounts of the Olivet ProphecyA prediction of events to come. "A discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp[ecially] by foretelling future events" (Revised Thayer's Greek English Lexicon, "Propheteia")., given by Jesus Christ to His disciples shortly before He was crucified. In this astounding prediction, given on the Mount of Olives, Jesus summarizes the conditions and events that will affect the world in the time leading up to His return.

This prophecy also unlocks our understanding of the prophetic books of Daniel and RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25)., which describe some of the same events. After completing this lesson, you should also read these two books to expand your comprehension of end-time conditions and events.