12. The Prophets And Bible Prophecy
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE PROPHETS AND BIBLE PROPHECY
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:19-20).
It is for us today to consider present world activities in the light of Bible prophecy, and in the prospect of future results. Next to a knowledge of salvation should be a knowledge of God’s prophetic program for the times in which we are now living. A prophet is one who speaks forth the message which has been communicated to him through divine inspiration, whether of practical duties or of future events. A list of many Bible prophecies and of their fulfillment is given in the concordance of the Scofield Reference Bible.
The age of the prophets covers a period of about 500 years. The prophets during this period are:
(1) pre-exile prophets: Obadiah (887 B.C.), Jonah (862 B.C.), Joel (800 B.C.), Amos (787 B.C.), Hosea (785 B.C.), Isaiah (760-698 B.C.), Micah (750-710 B.C.), Nahum (713 B.C.), Zephaniah (630 B.C.), Jeremiah (629-588 B.C.), Habakkuk (626 B.C.).
(2) Exile prophets: Daniel (607-534 B.C.), Ezekiel (595-574 B.C.).
(3) Post exile prophets: Haggai (520 B.C.), Zechariah (520-518 B.C.), Malachi (397 B.C.).
The whole scope of prophecy must be taken into account in determining the meaning of any particular Bible passage (2 Peter 1:20). The pivotal chapters, taking prophecies as a whole, are Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Deuteronomy 29:1-29; Deuteronomy 30:1-20; Psalms 2:1-12, and Daniel 2:1-49; Daniel 7:1-28. The key that unlocks the meaning of prophecy is the prediction of two Advents of the Messiah: the First Advent to suffering, and the Second Advent to glory. The devil hates prophecy because he does not want people to know that he and his works are to be destroyed by Christ. He hates the Bible, he hates Christian people and he hates Christ.
One clear proof of the truth of the Bible is the fact that, of all the Bible prophecies, not one has failed to come to pass in its time. The Christian has reason to believe that all prophecies concerning this present day and future days will also be fulfilled in their time, for the Bible is the Word of Truth.
Daniel, the key prophet of God during the Babylonian captivity, said, “And I heard but I understand not; then said I, Oh my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:8-9).
The time of the end is here, because the Holy Spirit is opening the eyes of Christian people to the meaning of these prophecies. There are thousands of Christians who are not surprised or astonished by the present otherwise appalling trend of events. Instead of having their faith disturbed or destroyed, they see the Bible prophecies being fulfilled before their eyes. These people are more interested in the study of God’s word, and are more active in His service, because they have increasing hope, as they see the day approaching, “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). The remedy for the world chaos is the personal return of Jesus Christ.
A worldly church and a worldly people, who do not fellowship with God, cannot understand the strange events about which they read in the daily newspapers and magazines, and which they hear talked about over the radio and on the street. They are so busy trying to do good that they do not take time to read the prophetic word in the Bible. The wise are those who understand God’s book and who teach the same.
Prophecies have a way of becoming history. They pass into history unnoticed by the blind world. But to the Bible student, light and understanding beams suddenly upon particular prophecies in the Bible.
As these events pass, only a literal and an exact fulfillment gives this light to students. Bible searchers can praise God that they have been given a knowledge of present and future events in the light of Bible prophecy.