Friday Night Message: Understanding Prophecy - Part IV

Jan. 6, 2023

Good evening brethren,

How can we better understand Prophecy?

 We continue for another few weeks with our focus upon one very important aspect of prophecy… specifically how to understand prophetic material in the Bible.

Dan. 12:4 – But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

Is it really possible to comprehend Biblical prophecy?  How can we hope to understand it when sometimes the prophets themselves were “left in the dark”?  Well, there are some basic principles that, when applied, can unlock vast portions of prophecy to our understanding.

1. Symbolism

2. Duality

3. Blessings and Curses

This third principle is simply acknowledging cause and effect, the understanding that prophecy is conditional.  Sin brings about God’s punishment, both on an individual level, and on a national or global scale.

Rom. 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gal. 6:7-8 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

May I suggest that you spend 12-15 minutes this evening to read both Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 in order to ponder the magnitude and plethora of blessings that come for obedience to God’s laws and the horror and quantity of curses that come from disobedience to God’s laws.

One of the main purposes of Biblical prophecy is to warn people that evil behavior leads to negative consequences.  God gives warning before He sends judgment… and the warning includes believers.  So prophecy is a catalyst for repentance, a turning from wickedness to goodness …in order to have a positive consequences cause and effect! 

So let’s analyze this a bit more, regarding this vital purpose of prophecy … 

Well, there are prophecies that have been fulfilled already, and prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled in the future.  Additionally, there are believers and unbelievers, and the purpose[s] of prophecy may differ for those two groups of individuals.  So we have four combinations to look at and evaluate, in terms of the basic purpose of prophecy – fulfilled prophecy for believers, unfulfilled prophecy for believers, unfulfilled prophecy for unbelievers, and fulfilled prophecy for unbelievers. 

• For believers, fulfilled prophecy is a proof of God and the Bible.  There are many examples of OT predictions re: ancient cities and civilizations.  It is an encouraging thing to see God’s word stand the test of time, and it is true in its predictions about the future.  As the years pass, more and more archaeological evidence is showing the accuracy and veracity of the Bible.

• For believers, unfulfilled prophecy shows what the future will be like as God’s people, and is a reminder for them to obey God.

Amos 3:7 – Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Rev. 1:1 – The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants, things which must shortly take place.  And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John…

• For unbelievers, unfilled prophecy gives them the opportunity to repent.  God doesn’t want anyone to say – “No fair, you didn’t warn me.  If only I would have known what awful punishment was coming, I would have changed my ways.”

Jer. 36:2-3 – Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:  Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day.  It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

• For unbelievers, fulfilled prophecy can become a proof of God and the Bible.  After the prophecy comes to pass, some of those skeptics or scoffers who see its dramatic fulfillment will realize that indeed it was God’s inspired prediction and that it was God’s true servants who were delivering the warning message.

So then, prophecy frequently uses the cause and effect principle in judging all people.  Next week we will consider a fourth principle of understanding prophecy.

Have an exceptional Sabbath,

Fred