Congregational Study: Prophecy Series #1 - Introduction to Prophecy

1. Introduction to Biblical Prophecy Study Series

    

   1. Why a Biblical Prophecy Study Series?

1. It has been noted that 1/3 of the Bible is prophecy. 

    

   1. Jesus viewed the Old Testament in 3 parts. The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. (Psalms)

       

      1. Luke 24:44 - 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.” 
         1. The prophets (Nevi'im)

       

1. Former Prophets

    

   1. Joshua

      1. Judges
         1. Samuel
            1. Kings
            2. Latter Prophets – includes 3 major + 12 minor prophets
               1. Isaiah
               2. Jeremiah
               3. Ezekiel
               4. Hosea
               5. Joel
               6. Amos
               7. Obadiah
               8. Jonah
               9. Micah
               10. Nahum
               11. Habakkuk
               12. Zephaniah
               13. Haggai
               14. Zechariah
               15. Malachi
            3. Interestingly, what book do the Jews not place in the group section of the Prophets?
            4. Matthew 24:15 - 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)

       

       

    

    

1. The Bible is stated as 1/3 prophecy or possibly more.

    

   1. The church’s foundation includes the Prophets.

       

      1. Ephesians 2:19-22 - 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
         1. The church, as the household of God, has a foundation that includes the prophets. We should understand what God said and recorded through His servants, the prophets. 
         2. Christ is the chief cornerstone, and everything perfectly fits together. 

    

2. As Bible students who believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we should have a reasonable understanding of one-third of the Bible.

3. The objective of this Prophecy Series Bible study is to provide a foundational understanding of biblical prophecy and present it in a logical framework.

4. A framework with the intent to understand and appreciate Biblical prophecy.

2. What do I mean by Framework? 

2. Instead of studying a specific prophecy, such as the Book of Daniel or a book of prophecy, such as Revelation, the framework approach is intended to provide an overview and survey of biblical prophecy, organizing it and helping readers recall its main aspects and understanding.

3. For example, how a significant topic is approached in school. For example, World History and even European History are vast topics. When these subjects are taught, there is a framework for presenting historical events that provides students with a way to place certain events and why certain events are important and relate to other historical events.

4. I plan to do that with this series by providing a framework for Biblical prophecy, an overview of some aspects, and focusing on the details of others related to other prophecies.

1. Prophecy Series Framework – subject to change.

    

Topic

Key Subject Covered

Intro to Biblical Prophecy Series

• Why A Prophecy Study Series
• Review of Prophecy Framework
• Studying Prophecy from the lenses of 2 Tim 3:15
• What is Prophecy
• Principles of Understanding Prophecy

Fulfilled Prophecies

The First Recorded Prophecy for Mankind Sets the Stage

• Why Study Fulfilled Prophecies?

• Gen 3:15 

   

Messianic Prophecies

• Review of prophecies of Jesus and their fulfillment

The Man of God and Naming of Josiah

• A prophecy that named King Josiah before he was born

The Naming of Cyrus

• A world dominant leader named 150 years before Cyrus’s time and the prophecy of Jewish Captives returning to Jerusalem

Partially Fulfilled / Dual / Type

Abrahamic and Throne of David prophecies

• Review of Fulfillment of promises to Abraham and his descendants

• Review of Promise of that someone always on the throne of the house of Israel

Return of Christ

• Key Scriptures passages of Christ 2nd return 

Millennial Prophecies

• How Revelation and the Holy Days help place Millennial prophecies from Isaiah

• Survey of Millennial prophecies

Daniel Prophecies

• Review of Daniel’s prophecies

• Daniel 2 and the Image 

• Daniel 7 and the four Beasts

• Daniel 8 and The Ram and Goat and Abomination of Desolation 

• Daniel 11 and 12 and 1290 and 1335 days

Yet to be Fulfilled

Revelation Prophetic Survey

• The outline of Revelation

• The Seals

• Is there more? Rev 21 and 22 and Is 65

2. Let’s set a foundational principle for approaching Prophecy.

2. Prophecy is scripture –

    

   1.  2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

5. All scripture, including prophetic scripture, is profitable and provides us with doctrine:

3. Doctrine (G1319 didaskalia) = teaching and instruction. 

5. Question: What God-breathed instruction would we be without if we did not have prophetic scripture? 

6. Instruction and teaching on:

1. A Messiah
   1. A return of a Messiah to Earth
      1. A Millennium
         1. A Time of Judgment
            1. The Kingdom of God
               1. A New Heaven and Earth
               2. The list could go on….

4. Reproof and Correction

7. Prophecy should lead us to repentance and change. (reproof and correction)

8. Jesus and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:14 -15 - 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

9. Paul and Felix – Acts 24:24-25 - 24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now, as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you.” -  Felix heard about judgment to come, and Felix was not known for righteousness and self-control.  He was afraid but did not repent.

10. Ninevah – Jonah 3:1-10 - Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. 4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

11. Instruction in Righteousness

12. 2 Peter 3:8 – 14 - 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 

13. Revelation 21:6-8 - 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.    

3. Love and Prophecy –

    

   1. 1 Corinthians 13:2 and 8  2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

       

      1. Prophecy tends to be an interesting topic!

          

         1. Yet Paul says that if HE understands ALL mysteries and has ALL knowledge but does not have LOVE, he is nothing.

5. Prophecy is important, but let’s put the HIGHEST priority on developing Godly Love.

6. John 13:3-35 - 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

6. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

    

   1. Love never fails (Gr piptó), which means it continues, does not perish, or has a final completion point.

       

      1. Prophecies they will fail (Gr katargeó) meaning not that they fail but they will eventually come to completion or end as they fulfilled.

7. What endures or continues into eternity?  The character of God’s Love (selfless and outward concern and care for another as demonstrated by Jesus, who gave his life so we can have LIFE). 

7. Let’s have the proper focus priority!

    

   1. God declares the end from the Beginning 

       

      1.  Isaiah 46:8-10 - 8 “Remember this, and show yourselves men;
         Recall to mind, O you transgressors.
         9 Remember the former things of old,
         For I am God, and there is no other;
         I am God, and there is none like Me,
         10 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,’
      2. Biblical Prophecy, especially for prophecy that has already been fulfilled, is evidence that an almighty and all-powerful God declares the end from the beginning.
      3. Reviewing biblical prophecy that has been miraculously fulfilled adds to our faith in God’s purpose and involvement in His creation. As we read in Revelation 21, verses 3 and 6, this fulfills God’s purpose of being with His creation. 

       

    

8. 3Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God

    

   1. 6It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son

3. Let’s Define Prophecy

    

   1. Prophecy tells us what will happen. What becomes speculative is the how and when.

       

   2. Matthew 24:36 - 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
   3. Definitions of Prophecy

    

8. God making his will known in advance

    

   1. History written in advance – (HWA)
   2. The word prophet in the Bible

    

9. Hebrew /OT

9. Nabi – inspired man /an announcer/ one who brins a message from God.

   1. Roeh – a seer – mainly refers to Samuel
      1. Chozeh – a seer in terms through a vision
      2. 1 Chronicles 29:29 - 29 Now the acts of King David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer (Roeh), in the book of Nathan the prophet(Nabi), and in the book of Gad the seer (Hozeh),30 with all his reign and his might, and the events that happened to him, to Israel, and to all the kingdoms of the lands.
      3. Greek /NT 

    

    

10. Prophétés – Interpreter or forth teller of divine will

     

    1. Women prophetess 

        

       1. Miriam – Exodus 15:20
          1. Deborah – Judges 4:4
          2. Huldah -2 Kings 2:14 -15
          3. Anna – Luke 2:36 
          4. Phillip’s four unmarried daughters – Acts 21:9

     

11. Keys to understanding 

4. Not of Private Interpretation

    

   1. 2 Peter 1:20-21- 20 Knowing this first that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

       

      1. Understanding prophecy is not a private interpretation.

10. The Bible uses symbols in prophecy, and the Bible, with God’s Spirit, explains the meaning of symbols; otherwise, wrong interpretations occurs.

11. Revelation 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, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

     

    1. Christ is the Revelator or the one who reveals

14. Revelation 6:1-2 - Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

15. We can make wrong interpretations when we don’t understand symbols and let the Bible interpret itself with Christ as the revealer.

     

    1. Britannica - in Christianity, the four horsemen who, according to the book of Revelation (6:1–8), appear with the opening of the first four of the seven seals that bring forth the cataclysm of the apocalypse. The first horseman, a conqueror with a bow and crown, rides a white horse, which scholars sometimes interpret to symbolize Christ or the Antichrist;

16. With the wrong premise that this white horse is Christ, prophecy quickly can go off the rails.

17. Christ and the Bible provide us with a key to understanding.

18. Matthew 24:5- 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

19. The first horse aligns with a false Christ and religion.

5. Symbols defined in the Bible

    

   1. Here are some sample symbols from the Bible that help us understand. I will provide a more complete list as we progress in the series.
      1. Stars = Angels (Rev 1:20, Rev 12:4)
         1. Mountains = governments or Kingdoms (Micah 4)
         2. Woman = churches (Eph 5:25, Rev 12:17)

    

5. Prophecy becomes more apparent in its timing and the how. As Christ’s return approaches, the wise will understand.

6. Daniel 12:1-13 - At that time Michael shall stand up,
   The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
   And there shall be a time of trouble,
   Such as never was since there was a nation,
   Even to that time.
   And at that time your people shall be delivered,
   Every one who is found written in the book.
   2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
   Some to everlasting life,
   Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
   3 Those who are wise shall shine
   Like the brightness of the firmament,
   And those who turn many to righteousness
   Like the stars forever and ever.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.”5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 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.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. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.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.”

11. Daniel didn’t understand the prophecy WHEN HE HEARD IT AND RECORDED IT,  it is sealed till the end.

12. Daniel was considered among the most righteous, as we can read in Ez 14:14.

13. We do understand aspects of prophecy.

14. Those who are wise WILL certainly understand this prophecy fully if they are alive at the 1,335 days milestone.

15. We have some understanding of prophecy, and we will review it because it gives us faith and confidence that God has declared from the beginning what will happen, even if we may not always know the how and when.

16. But Daniel didn’t have to understand fully what he recorded to be told you shall rest and will arise to your inheritance at the end of these days.

17. I look forward to progressing in this Study with the congregations, and we should learn quite a bit.

7. As we go through this prophecy series, let’s not overlook or minimize the WHY Daniel will arise and when Christ returns, even though he didn’t fully understand what he wrote.