10. Foretelling Power

Prophets and Prophetic Words
Weekly Newsletter Series
by Mark W. Weaver
Last Week - Adjudicating Power | Series Overview

... For the LORD sees every heart
and understands and knows every plan and thought...
1Ch 28:9 NLT

This is the last week in PART I of our series titled When God Speaks. Last week we looked at God's prophetic power in judgment. And over the past few weeks, we have been looking at scriptural examples of some of the various ways in which God spoke directly to individuals. This week we will conclude PART I by looking at the power of God's prophetic Word to foretell the future.

Some believe that prophecy is more of a "forthtelling" than a "foretelling." To forthtell means to put "forth" the Word, to proclaim it, to speak it forward into the stream and flow of human life and culture. In future articles, we will be looking at the "forthtelling" aspects of the prophetic Word more closely.

To foretell means to tell that something is going to happen before it actually occurs. Because of God's foreknowledge, He has the ability to reveal the future before it happens. He revealed the captivity of Israel, the return of Israel from captivity, and the collapse and destruction of many nations, before these events actually occured. But nothing foretold in the Old Testament writings compares with God's prophetic foretellings of the coming Messiah.

Scholars claim that there are over 300 Old Testament prophecies foretelling and detailing the life and ministry of Christ. Christ the Messiah fulfilled both direct prophetic predictions and veiled foreshadowings of His life and ministry.

Direct Prophetic Foretellings. Many believe God's curse of the serpent in the Garden of Eden to be a direct prophetic foretelling of the coming Messiah. "... [the woman's] seed ... shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15 KJV) God foretold the Messiah's birthplace (Micah 5:2); the scope of His ministry (Isaiah 9: 6-7); the manner of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion (Zechariah 9:9); and many details about His death (Psalms 22). There are numerous others.

Foreshadowed Foretellings. In addition to the many direct prophetic predictions of Christ's life, ministry, death, and resurrection, God also provided numerous veiled foreshadowings of Christ in the Old Testament. In some ways, these prophetic foreshadowings reveal the glory and majesty of God even more clearly than the direct words of Messianic prophecy. Here are a few examples: 1) Abraham and Sarah, like Joseph and Mary, went into and came out of, Egypt. The birth of their son, Isaac, was miraculous. Later, God instructed Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Isaac complied without complaint and was later miraculously spared. 2) God's plague of death to the firstborn in Egypt passed over the Israelites when they sprinkled blood on the doorposts of their homes. 3) Moses created a bronze serpent on a pole (see scripture reference below). 4) Moses' wilderness tabernacle provides numerous, detailed pictures of Christ, His work and ministry, His death and resurrection. Can you think of other examples of Christ foreshadowed in the Old Testament?

Christ's Foreknowledge and Revelations about His Death and Resurrection. Christ Himself prophetically foretold many things. He revealed the manner of His death (John 3:14, see also Numbers 21:8-9); His time in hell between His death and resurrection (Matt 12:40); Peter's denial (Matt 26:34); and Judas' betrayal (Matt 26:21). Can you think of others?

Christ's Foreknowledge and Revelations of Future Events. Christ also foretold the destruction of Jerusalem (Matt 24). Today's popular interpretation of Matthew 24 is for a series of yet-to-be-fulfilled events. However, though not popular, nor widely published, there is also a not-so-modern interpretation of Matthew 24 which postulates that the events revealed or foretold by Christ in this chapter occurred in 70 AD when the Roman army conquered Jerusalem. Those not familiar with this interpretation would likely be astonished at the accuracy of Christ's words in Matthew 24 in light of the historically documented events of 70 AD.When Christ spoke these words, 70 AD was still in the future.

God's Word overflows with predictions of future events. And there are many interpretations of the prophetic words of Scripture. For example, there is a large body of Christians today who believe that all Old Testament prophecies have already been fulfilled. These are not a widely held or popular beliefs today, though those who believe them are very much a part of the body of Christ.

What are you views on the topic of God foretelling the future through His prophetic Word?

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As you contemplate your responses, don't forget that we are still in PART I of our series titled When God Speaks. We are looking at how God speaks directly and personally. We have not yet begun to explore God's prophetic Word spoken through His prophets. That discussion will begin next week when we launch PART II of our series titled God's God's Prophets.

Articles are published online one week after they go out in email form.

GroundWorks is an imprint of Reconciliation Press. The name has been chosen to reflect the biblical idea of roots and foundations in Christian life and culture. As you read these weekly articles, look for words and imagery in the text that illustrate these themes.