The Prophets

PROPHETIC testimony occupies a large and important part of Old Testament writings. It was when God’s people, the Jews, had terribly turned away from Him and His word that the principal prophets were raised up. They therefore testified against their evil ways, reminded them of former blessings through divine favor and goodness, and set forth God’s faithfulness. By their word they encouraged the true-hearted, and warned the unruly of divine displeasure and judgment. They generally brighten the dark page by bringing in the hope of Messiah’s coming, by whom all their blessings will be established on entirely new ground; for in Israel’s future glory they will know Him who died for that nation as the One by whom all their blessings arc secured, and all God’s promises established. Daniel gives us “the times of the Gentiles.” The post-captivity prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, only mention Israel, or Judah, as the people of God in connection with the future when their blessings will be established by Messiah. In tracing the history of God’s earthly people, we learn deeply-precious lessons of the goodness, patience, and faithfulness of God.
The prophets do not speak of “the Church,” though they do refer to blessing coming on the Gentiles. But this itself is not “the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.” The revelation of that “mystery” was reserved for an after age. It was not known till revealed to the apostles. (See Ephesians 3:2-10.)