KING'S BUSINESS PROPHECY FEATURE
PROPHECY: the Mold of History
S o m e o n e h as expressed w e l l a great truth in stating that prophecy is “history pre-written.” This is lit erally true. Those acquainted with prophetic truth are aware that history has conformed to the mold of pro phecy. The truth of such a statement can be verified by comparison of the prophetic word with 4,000 years of history. The Importance of Prophecy The words prophet or prophecy occur more than 400 times in Scripture. Nabi is derived from the root word, meaning to boil up or to bubble as a spring, suggesting the impulse of the Spirit. The importance of the subject of prophecy. In other words, nearly one-third of the to prophecy. From Isaiah to Malachi it is all prophecy; likewise a part of Genesis, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, as well as a great part of the Psalms, are found devoted to the subject of Prophecy. In other words, nearly one-third of the entire Old Testament is prophecy. Again, the importance of prophecy is seen in the fact that much of it has been literally and accurately fulfilled and is now history. At least 109 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in our Lord’s first advent — fulfilled with mathematical ac curacy and in detail, though many were seemingly gro tesque and impossible, such as the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). The “ taint” in Joseph’s ancestry forbidding a son of Coniah to sit on David’s throne (Jeremiah 22:24-30) was overcome by Joseph’s marriage to Mary before the birth of Jesus. Prophecy declared that Christ was to be bom in Bethlehem, yet Mary and Joseph lived in Naza reth. This was solved and prophecy fulfilled through a decree of Caesar (Luke 2:1-7). The Roman Empire, through Pilate, ordered Christ’s legs to be broken on the cross, but God decreed otherwise a thousand years before (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20). God’s Word stood; Pi late’s did not. Pilate did not order Christ to be pierced; but the Lord did (Zechariah 12:20). A Roman guard could not prevent Christ’s resurrection for God had de creed it. Not one word of prophecy has ever failed when the time for its fulfillment arrived.
Objections Offered to the Study of Prophecy First, there are those who tell us that Old Testament prophecies no longer apply. They are all fulfilled, and therefore the subject should not concern us. Yet we read: “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel- unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (I Peter 1:12). Others decry the subject of prophecy on the grounds that it is not essential to salvation. Granting that this is true, we are wondering if our duty stops with salvation. One’s argument at this point is with the Lord and not with men. Some insist that the subject of prophecy is merely speculative. This might be true if the word of Almighty God had not been spoken. Many may be speculative in dealing with prophecy, but God is never speculative in dealing with man. Even our blessed Lord said, “ Not one jot or tittle shall fall,” without fulfillment. Many tell us that they avoid the subject of prophecy on the grounds that there are so many extravagances connected with its preaching. We readily admit this is true. There were the Anabaptists during the German reformation, the Miller- ites, who were the forerunners of the Seventh Day Adven tists, Russellites, and many other such persons and move ments who interested themselves in prophecy and inter preted it incorrectly. But one cannot avoid the subject of prophecy on such a ground. The whole Bible has been abused from time to time. Should we avoid the doctrine of the Holy Spirit on the grounds that the perfectionists and Holy Rollers have abused the subject? Yet others are ready to tell us that those who preach prophecy adopt a pessimistic program. This objection cannot be substantiated by facts. The contrary is true, for the gospel of grace is not very optimistic concerning the condition of the natural man, but it offers the great est hope in the world when God’s redemptive plan is rec ognized. The same is true of God’s prophetic Word. Some Results of the Neglect of Prophecy The neglect of prophecy leads to intoxication with
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