Biblical Prophecy: Lesson 1

Overview

Principles of Biblical Prophecy

A prophet, simply put, is a person who speaks for God. In the wide sense, this includes anyone who delivers God's message—Moses confronting Pharaoh, Nathan rebuking David, John the Baptist calling Israel to repentance. The prophet's basic task is to preach law and gospel, call for repentance, and offer forgiveness. In the narrow sense, however, prophecy refers specifically to the foretelling of future events, and it is this dimension that warrants careful study—particularly because misunderstanding here often leads interpreters to abandon sound principles and drift into imagination.

Descriptors of Prophecy

Prophecy in Scripture takes many forms, and recognizing its variety guards us from misreading it:

• Small or great matters. A prophecy may concern lost donkeys 1 Samuel 9:20, a coin in a fish's mouth Matthew 17:27, or a man carrying a jar of water Luke 22:8-10—or it may concern the flood, the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ's death and resurrection, and the end of the world.
• Short or long fulfillment. Some prophecies are fulfilled the same day; others span thousands of years. Peter reminds us that the Lord is not slow but patient, "not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:3-9.
• Conditional or unconditional. Christ's birth, death, resurrection, and return are unconditional. Others depend on human response—Nineveh was spared when it repented, and God Himself states the principle plainly in Jeremiah 18:7-10.
• Mode of delivery. Prophecies came through dreams (Nebuchadnezzar, Jacob, Joseph), visions (Paul, John in Revelation), direct encounters with God (Abraham in Genesis 18), or angelic messengers (announcing John the Baptist and Jesus).
• Plain or symbolic language. Some prophecies are literal; others use types (Melchizedek, the Passover lamb, the exodus all pointing to Christ), symbolic actions (Jeremiah wearing a yoke in Jeremiah 27:1-11), or symbolic imagery (the beasts of Daniel, the lampstands of Revelation).

A Crucial Interpretive Rule

Truths taught in symbolic language elsewhere in Scripture are also taught in plain, literal language. Therefore, always interpret the symbolic in light of the clear. When this principle is ignored, interpretation collapses into speculation. Faithful study lets Scripture interpret Scripture.

Why Prophecy Matters

Prophecy is no minor portion of God's Word—roughly 8,300 of Scripture's 31,000 verses contain prophetic elements. Studying it bears real fruit:

1. It displays God's glory. Fulfilled prophecy proves He alone is God, "declaring the end from the beginning" Isaiah 46:8-10.
2. It directs us to Christ. Jesus Himself opened the disciples' minds to see that the Law, Prophets, and Psalms all spoke of Him Luke 24:44-45.
3. It prepares us for what is coming. Like the budding fig tree, prophetic signs alert us that the Lord "is near, at the very gates" Matthew 24:32-33.
4. It shapes present conduct. Knowing the Day of the Lord is coming, we "strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish" 2 Peter 3:14.
5. It equips us to discern error and gently correct false interpretations.

Grounded in these principles, we can approach the prophetic Scriptures with confidence rather than confusion—seeing in them the trustworthy God who keeps His Word, the Christ to whom every page points, and the sure hope that anchors our daily walk.

Transcript

Good morning. I begin today a new five week class, simply entitled biblical 2s

prophecy and I'm so looking forward to teaching this class. We're going to take a 9s

survey look of biblical prophecy because there's so much confusion that 15s

exists around this topic and sometimes there can be interpretations of biblical 22s

prophecy that just apart sound biblical principles and understandings and 30s

what happens is it's just a launch into one's imagination. So I pray that these 37s

five weeks in which we study this very very important topic will be a blessing 43s

to you. So there's very various topics that we're going to explore. We're going to 49s

explore prophecy fulfilled before Christ. Prophecy already fulfilled by Christ. 55s

Prophecy being fulfilled today. Prophecy to be fulfilled at Christ's return. And 64s

today I'd like to begin our examination of this important topic with the 71s

topic principles of prophecy. Principles of prophecy. So let's just start with a 77s

very very simple definition. A prophet is a person who speaks for God. A 85s

prophet is a person who speaks for God. They are people who are called by God 91s

and are a caller for God. So often when we think of prophecy we only think of 97s

prophecy that has to do with the future but certainly prophecy is not 106s

limited to that at all. In fact anyone who delivers God's message is a 111s

prophet in what's called the the wide sense. So for example when Moses commanded 120s

Pharaoh to let Israel go he was functioning as a prophet. Nathan when Nathan 126s

rebuked David for his sin that's an expression of a prophet. When John the Baptist 135s

called the nation of Israel to repentance that's one doing what a prophet does. 142s

So a prophet's basic task is to preach law and gospel call for repentance and 150s

offer forgiveness. In these classes as we get together for these five weeks as we 158s

explore this important topic we're going to be taking a look at prophecy in 166s

terms of its narrow sense. In other words we're going to focus our examination on 171s

prophecy with regard to predicting the future. So let's just lay out some 177s

groundwork here in terms of the understanding of the topic of prophecy. First 185s

prophecies can deal with matters small or great. They can deal with matters small 191s

or great. For example let's go into the Old Testament into 1 Samuel chapter 9. 198s

So Genesis Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and 205s

then 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel chapter 9 verse 20. Here Samuel is speaking to Saul and 213s

notice what he says, verse 20. As for your donkeys they were lost three days ago 224s

give no further thought to them for they have been found and on whom is all 231s

Israel's desire fixed if not on you and all your ancestral house. Well 238s

this we're considering donkeys here one will consider that word of prophecy as a 248s

small matter right or let's go to Matthew the 17th chapter Matthew in the new 254s

Testament very first book Matthew chapter 17 verse 27. Jesus said this however 262s

so that we do not give offense to them go to the sea and cast a hook take the 274s

first fish that comes up and when you open its mouth you will find a coin take 281s

that and give it to them for you and me. More of a small matter here we're dealing 287s

with finding a coin in a fish and then using that coin or lastly let's look at 295s

Luke the 22nd chapter Matthew Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 22 and we'll pick 304s

up in verse 8 Luke 22 verse 8. So Jesus sent Peter and John saying go and prepare 312s

the Passover meal for us that we may eat it they asked him where do you want us 325s

to make preparations for it listen he said to them when you have entered the city a 332s

man carrying a jar of water will meet you follow him into the house he enters here's 339s

very specific instruction about this man so prophecy can really deal with small 348s

matters it can also deal with great events for example the prophecy with regard to 357s

flood the prophecy with regard to the destruction of Jerusalem both times Jesus's death and 364s

resurrection the end of the world so prophecy can deal with small and also great here's 372s

something else to keep in mind prophecy can cover either a short or long period for 382s

example some prophecies are fulfilled the very same day in Holy Scripture and other 391s

prophecies other prophecies take thousands of years the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ 399s

in his first coming or his second coming is an example of that or we hear it put this 408s

way in second Peter the third chapter a good way to find second Peter is to go to the 415s

book of Revelation and start to work your way back toward Matthew you're going to cross 421s

over the Johns and then you bump into the Peters very quick second Peter chapter 3 we'll 427s

pick up in verse 3 first of all you must understand this that in the last days scoffers will 436s

come scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming for 447s

ever since our ancestors died all things continue as they were from the very beginning of creation 456s

they deliberately ignore this fact that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an 463s

earth was formed out of water and by means of water through which the world of that time was 470s

deluged with water and perished but by the same word the present heavens and earth have been 476s

reserved for fire being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the Godless but 485s

do not ignore this one fact be loving that which the Lord one day that with the Lord one day is 494s

like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day the Lord's not slow about his 503s

promise is some think of slowness but is patient with you not wanting any to perish but all to come 511s

to repentance so what we see is it can be either covering a short period of time or a long period of 518s

time here's another descriptor with regard to prophecy it can be conditional or unconditional 530s

unconditional prophecy is God promises something and it's simply going to be Christ birth death 540s

resurrection his return perfect examples of unconditional prophecy but then you have conditional 550s

prophecies in other words they are fulfilled only if the people who received them met certain conditions 560s

so for example when when Jonah foretold the destruction of Nineveh that immediate fulfillment that 568s

immediate fulfillment was laid aside when the people repented or another example is in Jeremiah chapter 579s

18 let's turn there please in the Old Testament Jeremiah chapter 18 and we'll pick up in verse 7 Jeremiah 590s

18 verse 7 at one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will pluck up and break 606s

down and destroy it but if that nation concerning which I have spoken turns from its evil I will change my 620s

mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it and that another moment I made to 628s

declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and planted but if it does evil in my 635s

sight not listening to my voice then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to 640s

it so you can have prophecies then that are unconditional you can have prophecies that are conditional 649s

here's the next some prophecies were delivered by dreams or night visions so for example you've got 656s

Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the image that was interpreted by Daniel or Jacob's dream of the latter or 669s

Joseph's dreams about his family you can also have visions examples of of that is Paul and Acts 22 or 677s

John in the book of Revelation here's another descriptor of prophecies some prophecy is received by 686s

direct encounter with God Genesis 18 is an example of that Abraham received a promise of a son 697s

that was a direct encounter with God or sometimes the angels will come and deliver the prophecy 710s

we read in scripture about the angel coming and delivering the prophecy with regard to the 718s

birth of John the Baptist or the angel coming and delivering the prophecy with regard to the birth 725s

of our Lord so here's some then principles or descriptors of prophecy just to review they can 731s

deal with matters smaller great they can cover a short or long period they can be conditional or 740s

unconditional some were delivered as dreams or night visions some were received by a direct encounter 749s

with God okay let's go on let's gain that greater understanding around this whole issue of prophecy 760s

some can be given in plain literal language and other prophecies can be given in symbolic language 772s

what we can deal with are what are called types and types is an old testament event that looks 787s

forward to the new testament and the ultimate fulfillment so a type a type can be for example a person 797s

we see in scripture Melchizedek was a type a type of Christ the true priest or a type can be an event 811s

the freeing of Israel from Egypt is a type that points forward to the redemption that we have in the 823s

Lord Jesus Christ or it can be a thing the Passover lamb in the old testament is a type that points 833s

forward to the lamb of God Jesus Christ prophecies can be acted out symbolically for example 845s

let's go to Jeremiah chapter 27 verse 1 Jeremiah 27 verse 1 and here we have a prophecy 861s

that's with symbolic actions as it's communicated so verse 1 chapter 27 872s

in the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah son of Josiah of Judah this word came to Jeremiah from the 881s

Lord thus the Lord said to me make yourself a yoke of straps and bars and put them on your neck 890s

send word of the king of Edom the king of Moab the king of the Ammonites the king of Tyra and the 898s

king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to kings at a kaya of Judah 904s

give them this charge for their masters thus says the Lord of hosts the God of Israel this is what 912s

you shall say to your masters it is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the 918s

earth with the people and animals that are on the earth and I give it to whomever I please 927s

now I have given all these lands into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon my servant 934s

and I have given him even the wild animals of the field to serve him all the nations shall serve him 941s

and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes then many nations and great kings 950s

shall make him their slave but if any nation or kingdom will not serve this king Nebuchadnezzar of 958s

Babylon and put his neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon then I will punish that nation with 968s

the sword with famine and with pestilence says the Lord until I've completed its destruction by 977s

his hand you therefore must not listen to your prophets your diviners your dreamers your 982s

soothsayers or your sorcerers who are saying to you you shall not serve the king of Babylon 989s

for they are prophesying a lie to you with the result that you will be removed far from your land 996s

I will drive you out and you will perish but any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke 1004s

of the king of Babylon and serve him I will leave on its own land says the Lord to till it and live 1012s

there see there we see the prophecy symbolically lived out by Jeremiah 1022s

there can be symbolic language you see that in Ezekiel Daniel Zechariah also with John 1033s

for example the candlesticks in Revelation they stand for congregation the beasts in Daniel stand 1042s

for the kingdom so prophecy can be communicated symbolically 1049s

here's a very important point I'd like you to remember 1054s

truths which are taught in symbolic language in scripture are also taught elsewhere in plain 1059s

literal language let me say that again truths which are taught in symbolic language in scripture 1069s

are also taught elsewhere in plain literal language so one looks then for the plain literal language 1077s

and then uses that in the interpretation of the symbolic so always when one sees symbolism 1093s

look for the plain literal interpretation if one doesn't that's where that launch into imagination 1102s

can simply come into being where sometimes people will interpret prophecy and you say where are 1112s

you getting that because you see it doesn't bear the correct biblical principles of interpretation 1121s

so why is it important to study prophecy we've laid principles with regard to prophecy why is it 1132s

important to study prophecy first prophecy shows the glory of the true God that he's in control 1140s

that we can count on him that we can count on his word let's go to Isaiah chapter 46 1152s

right before Jeremiah Isaiah 46 we'll pick up in verse 8 1163s

Isaiah 46 verse 8 remember this and consider recall it to mind you transgressors 1172s

remember the former things of old for I am God and there is no other I am God and there is no one like me 1183s

declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done saying my 1193s

purpose shall stand and I will fulfill my intentions prophecy shows as we see the fulfillment of prophecy 1205s

prophecy shows that we can rely on God that his word is trustworthy here's a second reason why it's 1217s

important to study prophecy prophecy directs us to Christ let's go to Luke chapter 24 Matthew 1225s

Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 24 verse 44 1236s

then he said to them these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you 1253s

that everything written about me in the law of Moses the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled 1260s

Jesus of course is the one speaking here then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures 1267s

see Jesus showed how the very scripture points to himself here's a third reason 1277s

prophecy prepares us for the events that are still coming let's go to Matthew chapter 24 1287s

verse 32 Matthew chapter 24 verse 32 Jesus said from the fig tree learn its lesson as soon as 1296s

its branches become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near so also when you 1316s

see all these things you know that he is near at the very gates here's another reason prophecy 1326s

influences are conduct in the present let's go to second Peter chapter 3 and we're a good way 1340s

to find second Peter's just go to revelation and then slowly work your way backwards second Peter 1349s

chapter 3 verse 14 1356s

therefor beloved while you are waiting for these things strive to be found by him at peace without spot or 1362s

blemish another reason why we study prophecy is it makes up a great part of the word of God there 1375s

are some 8,300 verses in holy scripture that have elements of prophecy in them so you consider 1386s

8,300 verses in scripture that contain elements of prophecy within the 31,000 verses in holy 1397s

scripture so a major portion of scripture is dealing with prophecy we study prophecy also so 1411s

that we may be a people that can recognize where there's a bad interpretation of prophecy and then 1420s

we can address that bad prophecy those false views so in the weeks ahead let's study about the 1431s

prophecies fulfilled at Christ's first coming the prophecies fulfilled being fulfilled today the 1443s

prophecies to be filled be fulfilled at Christ's return and next week we'll take a look at prophecies 1452s

fulfilled during the old testament God bless 1461s