Bible Prophecy is God revealing history in advance.
by VANESSA WHITE
A prophet is a spokesman for God; one who has been called or appointed to proclaim as a herald the message of God himself. The prophetic office was instituted in Deuteronomy 18:15-18 and immediately anticipated the greater prophet, Messiah; Savior; Jesus Christ our LORD, to whom the people would listen Deut. 18:18.
God spoke a message through the prophets, a message of repentance, redemption, the coming Messiah, and turning away from sin, to warn, to cleanse the land of idol worship. They spoke of God’s character, His holiness, His everlasting love, His righteousness judgments, and His preeminence.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. Hebrews 1:1-2 {Read Hebrews Chapter 1}
God reveals himself through humanity and desires to be known by those He created.
God’s prophets foretold the future based on Divine revelation. In the New Testament, we are told that God is the one who said it. This proves that God is the ultimate source of prophetic words.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
God made it clear only HE can appoint and predict future events.
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.” Isaiah 42:8-9
God is sovereign: He is in control.
God is omniscient: God is the only true One who knows it all.
Studying Bible prophecy and understanding the times we live in is one of the most encouraging and faith-building adventures we can take. Bible prophecy gives us hope, a blessed hope, keeps us anticipating the Lord’s return, the rapture, His magnificent glory, purpose, direction, it points us to a glorious future and our glorious Savior, Jesus Christ. The prophetic books have provided an outlook of God’s future dealing with Israel and the world. The prophets provide a great picture of the first advent, when Jesus came, born as a human, to die and be resurrected to become Savior. The second advent; when Jesus returns in victory and is ruler of the millennial kingdom. How exciting! Prophecy brings comfort and blessing. Prophecy proves the Bible is God’s Word and can be trusted. Oh, the recognition and adoration of the holiness of God.
The Old Testament is filled with prophecies of Christ, virgin birth Genesis 3:15 is known as the protoevangelium because it is the first prophecy (good news) about Jesus Christ. There will be enmity between Satan and Messiah, it’s identified here by the phrase “her seed” concerning Mary alone and points us to the virgin birth; Messiah is born of Mary alone.
“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 NKJV
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.” Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV
Christ died a substitutionary death on behalf of sinners. His death was without resistance because Christ death was necessary atonement to cover sins and bring redemption.
{Read Isaiah 53} Jesus was sinless, He suffered on behalf of mankind. He bore our sorrows, transgressions, and iniquities. He took the place that we deserved. By dying on the Roman cross Christ died as a substitute for all humanity. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18.)
Christ’s death provided redemption! We were slaves to sin. We were bought at a price, it’s a picture of being purchased from a public slave market. Christ purchased believers out of the slave market of sin and set them free. (1 Cor. 7:23, Gal. 3:13;4:5; Rev. 5:9;143,4) Christ reconciled us back to God. Christ death provided forgiveness for sinners and Justification which is a legal act in which God the Judge declares the believing sinner righteous. Romans 5:1 says; “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
The resurrection of Christ determines the validity of the Christian faith. Paul tells us; “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17
The finished work of the cross is the Father’s acceptance of the Son’s work. It is finished. It fulfilled the prophecies concerning His resurrection (Psalm 16:10) Christ Himself predicted His death and resurrection. (Matthew 16:21, Mark 14:28)
The ascension of Christ
Peter’s Sermon tells us about the prophecy of Joel and tells of the evidence in Acts 2:33 Christ’s ascension is the fact that HE sent forth the Holy Spirit, who was witnessed by so many on the day of Pentecost. Peter also tells us; Christ’s ascension was in fulfillment of Psalm 110:1. And Ephesians 4:8 Christ ascended on high and gave gifts to men. Christ is now exalted and enthroned in heaven. Christ sends us the Holy Spirit.
It’s so important that we study the scriptures, so we can recognize false teaching and false doctrine. It is not that we just want to fill our heads with knowledge we want to know Him, have a relationship with Him, behold Him, love Him, reverence, and honor Him. We know God through the scriptures; we learn about Him, and His Word is transformational. Intimacy is spending time with the Lord through reading His word, worship, prayer, and praising Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Seek Him for yourself, don’t just take my word for it; study, look up the scriptures, learn from the Lord, ask Him. Our God is faithful and true.
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Dear Lord, thank You for Your sovereignty. You are a Holy awesome Father. Thank You for sending us Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Glorious and magnificent You are. Thank You for the blessed trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Please forgive me of all my sins, help me to behold Your glory to fall in love with You more and more. Teach me how to live for You. Thank You for the Holy Bible the truth of Your Word. Thank You for prophecy and prophecy to be fulfilled. You can be trusted.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
