Word Studies

Prophecy

I. Understanding the Word:
A. In the Old Testament, the term translated prophecy is “naba”,
1. Meaning to “bubble up”, “boil forth”, hence, “to pour forth words.
2. Like those who speak with fervor of mind, or under divine inspiration, as prophets and poets.”
3. The Biblical use of the word has the idea of “to receive God’s speech and then to proclaim it, emphasizing the reception of divine communication by the nabi.
4. The word occurs 123 times in the Hebrew Old Testament.
B. In the New Testament the word for prophecy in “propheteuo” - proph eh tha’o, and the word for prophet is “prophetes” - prof ay’ tace.
1. “By and large the New Testament understands by “the Prophet” the Biblical claimer of the divine, inspired message”.
2. The Cretan poet Epimenides (Titus 1:12) would be one of the exceptions to this in the New Testament.
One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (Titus 1:12)
3. The word prophet or the verb prophesy is found 216 times in the Greek New Testament.
C. In God’s divine wisdom, He chose to communicate His will through men.
1. Some might take issue with this approach, preferring to hear messages directly from God.
2. Yet these direct communications were rare in Biblical times.
3. Rather if one wanted to know the will of God he was to find one of God’s prophets.
4. This led to a number of potential obstacles:
a.) The prophet might decide to withhold message he received.
b.) The people might fail to listen to the message proclaimed.
c.) The people might not trust the message as being from god.
d.) Some might wrongfully claim to be a prophet of God, thereby misleading the people.
D. Despite these obstacles, it was still God’s design to communicate through prophets.
1. Why might God have chosen this medium?
2. Here are found four advantages of prophecy:
a.) It required the people to become proactive in discerning truth from error.
b.) It enabled God to utilize faithful spokesman.
c.) It became a test of genuine faith, for one had to trust the messenger and the message.
d. It provided a vehicle to communicate His divine truths to future generations.
3. Today, we are reading prophetic messages when we read the Bible.
4. These messages are from God through His inspired prophets (Ephesians 3:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

II. Reading the Word:
A. One of the striking aspects of the prophecy in the Old Testament is its abuse.
1. The number of men who assumed roles (and prestige) of a prophet is amazing.
2. Out of the approximate forty references in the book of Jeremiah, many have to do with those who have “prophesied falsely”, (Jeremiah 5:31; 14:14; 20:6; 23:25, 26; 27:15; 29:9, 21), or who were prophesying lies (Jeremiah 27:10; 14, 16).
3. Yet we read with amazement and admiration the men who stood before God’s people (and sometimes His enemies) and boldly declared the divine message.
4. They did so at great peril to their own safety.
5. Yet they proclaimed nevertheless!
6. As Ezekiel would say, they were faithful “watchmen” (Ezekiel 3:16-21).
B. In the New Testament we are inundated with the concept of prophecy.
1. There are numerous references to Old Testament prophecies in the Gospels, prophecies that predict the coming of the Messiah.
2. Then, in Acts through revelation there are many references to God’s New Testament prophets (some of whom were also apostles).
3. We are also warned of “false prophets” who, like their counterparts in the Old Testament, seek to deceive God’s people.
4. Therefore John warns:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1).
5. Peter notes:
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
C. The Book of Ephesians has two key texts n discussing prophecy.
1. First, Paul notes in Ephesians 2:20 that the church is “built the foundation of the apostles and prophets.”
2. We must understand where the church fits in our lives today.
3. Do I need to attend?
4. Can I be a Christian without going to church?
5. Second, in Ephesians 3:1-5 Paul explains that by reading his writings we can understand God’s plan for man today.
6. So, what about the Bible?
7. Is it the only inspired revelation from God?
8. If we understand the role and authority of the prophets, we will know the answer to those questions.

III. Preaching the Word:
A. Illustration:
1. Peter Popoff (born July 2, 1946) is a German American televangelist, con artist, and self-proclaimed prophet.
2. He conducted revival meetings and once hosted a national television program.
3. He initially rose to prominence in the 1980’s.
4. In 1986, skeptics exposed his method of receiving supposedly divine revelations from his wife via an in-ear radio receiver.
5. Popoff declared bankruptcy in 1987 after his tactics were exposed, but he has since made a comeback using similar techniques.
6. According to Fred M. Frohock, “The case of Peter Popoff is one of many egregious instances of fake healing.”
7. “Most of these guys are fooled by their own theology,” said Ole Anthony of the Trinity Foundation, which has investigated Popoff and other televangelists since 1987.
8. “He’s fundamentally evil, because he knows he’s a con man.”
B. Idea: - Sing edifying songs.
1. The key concept if prophecy involves how God revels His will to man.
2. Thus, songs that focus on the Bible as God’s message to man would be appropriate.
3. Sing songs like “Give Me the Bible”, “Break Thou the Bread of Life”, “Holy Bible Book Divine”, and “Wonderful Words of Life”.
4. Also, involved in the idea of prophecy are divine promises.
5. The New Testament is filled with God’s predictive promises.
6. Therefore, sing songs like “Standing on the Promises”, “Sweet Is the Promise”, “Walking in Sunlight”, and “Where He Leads I will Follow”.
C. Illustration:
1. Jesus describes a false prophet as a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)
2. This presents a powerful image that can be used in discussing prophecy.
D. Quote:
1. The Greek word ?e?d?p??f?´t?? - pseudoprophe¯te¯s - psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace G5578 pseudo-prophet is not used by Paul.
2. It occurs in all, 11 times, in the New Testament, of which 3 are in Matthew and 3 are in Revelation.
3. The question of whether the pseudo-prophet is a man who falsely pretends to be a prophet of God or a man who is thus styled because he proclaims what is false must be answered according to context in the New Testament.
4. In most cases pseudo-prophets are those who claim to be prophets without any truth.
5. According to Matthew 7:15, they act like prophets but are liars by nature.
6. In Mark 13:22; Matthew 24:24; 1 John 4:1; 2:18, they are mentioned alongside ?e?d?´???st??, pseudochristos - psyoo-dokh'-ris-tos -G5580.
7. As the a??t?´???st?? – antichristos - an-tee'-khris-tos - G500, is not a Christ who disseminates lies but one who falsely claims the title, so the pseudo-prophet is primarily one who says he is a prophet when he is not.
8. But 1 John 4:1-3 shows that the pseudo-prophet is also a man who proclaims what is false.
9. For he is shown up as a false prophet by the fact that he champions false doctrine.
10. In 2 Peter 2:1 the pseudo-prophets of the Old Testament are compared with the false teachers who introduce destructive heresies.
11. They are thus men who proclaim ?e?d?? – (falsely).
12. By and large, however, the pseudo-prophet is called this, not because his teaching and predictions are false, but because he raises without justification the claim to be a prophet.
13. Because he is a false prophet it follows that in most cases he also says what is false, that is disseminating lies.”

IV. The Spirit of Prophecy 2 Peter 1:16-21
A. Humanity has an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
1. We plumb the depths of the oceans, explore the remotest areas in the world, ad turn our telescopes toward the stars.
2. Documentaries aired on the National Geographic, discovery, and History Channels fascinate us.
3. Others want more otherworldly information, so they take a superstitious turn toward astrologers and palm reads.
4. Simply put, we want to know.
B. There is no subject worth knowing more than God.
1. He is our creator, sustainer, and the grand architect of our redemption.
2. In order to help, in our pursuit of knowing Him, God reveals Himself through the messages of the Hebrew prophets (Hebrews 1:1-2)
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2)
3. These men (and occasionally women) serve as messengers or spokesmen.
4. They do not craft their own messages, but speak the words that God gives them (2 Peter 1:21)
5. As a result, their messages are consistent, and their predictions come true.
C. Prophecy is validated by the prophet’s fidelity to the covenant and by signs and wonders that he performs.
1. Its truthfulness is also demonstrated by the fulfillment of predictions made by the prophet.
2. These predictions could include the fates of individuals such as Ahab and Jezebel, as well as the fate of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms in the exile.
3. Perhaps the most wonderful are the hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (Psalm 22:18; Isaiah 7:14; 53:9; Luke 4:21).
D. Revealing the future is only one aspect of prophecy however.
1. The work of the prophets is really to reveal the will of God.
2. Unfortunately, this often comes in the form or warning (Nehemiah 9:30).
3. The prophets have a grim task of helping the people realize the depths of their sin as well as the importance of obedience.
E. Although readers today sometimes see Biblical prophecies as boring, we have to remember that each one is a letter from the heart of God to a beloved people.
1. He rebukes the sinful and gives hope to the hopeless, all because He loves His creation.
2. Though many prophecies were fulfilled long ago, it should still cause our hearts to leap for joy.
3. We need to be content that everything we need to know for our spiritual life has already been revealed by God.
4. He has anticipated our needs and provided instructions accordingly.

V. In Good Company Luke 20:9-19
A. “It’s not fair!”
1. These are the words that we often hear from children, usually because of some perceived inequality.
2. Christians experiencing difficulties because of their commitment to Christ may be tempted to say the same thing.
3. We must realize that siding with God means opposing the world, and vice versa.
B. Jesus’ parable of the wicked tenants criticizes the Jewish religious leadership.
1. They seethe in anger and make plans to destroy Him.
2. They could not bear to hear the truth that those who consider themselves the most righteous are often just as far from God as any unbeliever.
3. Their plans would eventually succeed, culminating in the crucifixion of Christ.
C. Jesus is not the only prophet to be treated with contempt for speaking the words of God.
1. Prophets in the Old Testament knew persecution well.
2. The wicked Jezebel attempts to exterminate God’s spokesmen “en masse” (1 Kings 18:4).
3. Jewish officials attempt to kill Jeremiah and succeed in killing one of his peers, another prophet named Uriah son of Shemiah (Jeremiah 26:20-23).
4. The writer of Hebrews tells us that prophets suffered terrible treatment, including being flogged, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in tow, and killed by the sword (Hebrews 11:35-38).
5. It is doubtful that many people would have responded to an advertisement for a position as prophet if it included these details in the job description.
D. Why were the prophets opposed so fiercely?
1. Generally speaking; they did not show up at someone’s doorstep unless that person or persons had been very, very bad.
2. Prophetic messages often consisted of a denouncement of sinful behavior and an exhortation to remain faithful to God.
3. For this reason, prophets rarely received a warm reception.
E. Anyone communicating the Gospel message today may face unpleasant consequences.
1. Jesus warned believers of this very thing (John 15:18-20).
2. At the same time, there is a kind of comfort to be had in times of persecution.
3. It can be a sign of validation, an indication that we are faithful to a message that the world despises.
4. If we face discrimination because we take a stand for God’s Word, we stand in good company with those prophets of old who did the same.
5. We need to reflect upon our relationships and daily activities to make sure that we are communicating the Gospel message in both word and deed to all around us.

VI. When Days Are Dark Mark 8:31-38
A. Abraham Lincoln reportedly dreamt of his own death only days before his fateful visit to Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
1. In his dream, he heard people crying softly.
2. Going from room to room to find the source of the sobbing, he found a corpse in the East Room.
3. The body was dressed in funeral vestments: the face was covered.
4. Lincoln demanded to know the person’s identity.
5. One of the soldiers replied, “The President…he was killed by an assassin.”
B. History is filled with eerie stories of individuals who anticipated terrible events before they happen, including their own deaths.
1. Unsurprisingly, the prophets – including Jesus – do much the same.
2. God’s men of ten see horrific things that could not be stopped, only announced.
3. Here we might think of the prophet Micaiah, who foresees the death of Ahab and the ensuing chaos of Israel’s defeat (1 Kings 22:17).
4. Jeremiah foretells the destruction of the nation (Jeremiah 25).
5. We could include Jesus, who weeps over the impending Roman destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
6. Prophetic foresight was a terrible privilege.
C. Although the prophets issued grim prophecies of doom and destruction, they also give messages of hope.
1. The prophets include declarations of God’s love and celebrate times of renewal once the penalty of sin has been satisfied.
2. One of the most famous is the prophet Isaiah, who speaks of the devastation of the Southern Kingdom yet looks forward to a time of restoration that would follow.
D. The invasion of the Southern Kingdom by Babylon in the sixth century B.C. must have been terrible.
1. It must have been saddening to the prophets who announced it.
2. We might say the same of Jesus’ death.
3. Yet, without the cross, no human being could be reconciled to God.
4. The prophets teach us to look beyond the horizon even when times are dark.
5. God has made marvelous plans, even if we cannot see them yet.
6. Always remember that God holds the future in His hands and put all our confidence in Him to accomplish His will.

VII. Watching for False Prophets Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1-6
A. A televangelist sits before a live studio audience and tells viewers God wants believers to prosper --financially – as long as – they send large monthly gifts to fund his ministry.
1. Another prosperity preacher tell his audience how he wishes he had a “Holy Ghost machine gun” to blow the head off one of his critics.
2. His wife is little better, telling listeners that they need a “Holy Ghost enema”.
3. A disgraced televangelist claims being caught with a prostitute is no one else business but his own.
4. The founder of a religious television network goes on the air, telling viewers that he is god.
5. He grimly cautions others not to criticize him, or else God will give them cancer.
B. In the Mosaic Law, the Lord includes a means by which His people could determine whether a prophet is true or false (Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:21-22).
1. Moses instructs the people to reject any prophets who lure the to worship false gods or who make predictions that go unfulfilled.
2. Miraculous deeds often accompany genuine prophecy to demonstrate its legitimacy (the same holds true for the preaching of the apostles).
3. In some cases, historical events confirm a prophet’s pronouncement centuries later.
C. False prophets did not disappear at the end of the Old Testament period.
1. The apostle John warned his readers that many false prophets exist in the first century (1 John 4:1).
2. Their spiritual descendants still exist in ours.
3. They woo their followers with marvelous predictions and promises of prosperity that never seems to come true.
4. God has always wanted His people to believe only the truth regardless whether the speaker is an Old Testament prophet or a 21st century televangelist.
5. The knowledgeable and discerning Christian will be able to detect the differences between God’s Word and the message of prophetic charlatans and spiritual snake oil salesmen.
6. Commit yourself daily to the reading of God’s Word, so that you will be able to tell the difference between truth and falsehood.

VIII. The Day of the Lord Malachi 4:1-6
A. At the beginning of the 1st century A.D., o word from the Lord had been heard for almost 5 centuries.
1. Jews believe that the voice of God had fallen silent.
2. The prophecies of the magisterial Isaiah, the weeping Jeremiah, the socially conscious Amos, and all the rest seem like a distant echo.
3. Now the only time the prophets speak is in readings of the Hebrew Scriptures in the synagogues.
B. The fifth-century B.C. prophet Malachi knows that the people have grown spiritually indifferent.
1. Their Zeal has grown cold.
2. Some go even further, offering blemished sacrifices and robbing God. By failing to tithe properly.
3. The oppress the poor and the downtrodden society,
4. They no longer worship idols, but they do not worship the one true God either.
5. They may have put on a veneer of righteousness, but their disobedience betrays them.
C. Malachi foretells a time when God would intervene in a marvelous and dramatic way.
1. He knows the people would need God to work powerfully as He has done in the past.
2. Five centuries later, something marvelous happens.
3. John the Baptist explodes upon the scene announcing the kingdom of God and preaching a message of repentance.
4. Wearing rough clothes and living in the wilderness, he looks very much like an Old Testament prophet.
5. Malachi’s new Elijah has arrived, meaning the Messiah would not be far behind.
6. The excitement of the people must have been at a fever pitch.
7. No wonder John and Jesus both attract so many followers.
D. Studying the prophets remains us of the need to be patient.
1. Some prophecies took centuries to fulfill.
2. Waiting for God can be a challenging task, especially in a culture that demands immediate gratification and instant access.
3. The Apostle Peter tells us that God is not slow in keeping His promise, but is patient (2 Peter 3:9)
4. He tells us that one more Day of the Lord remains, when Christ will return and redeem all things.
5. For now, we must wait in excited anticipation, awaiting the conclusion of the final chapter in the marvelous drama of redemption.
6. We must work to cultivate more patience, understanding that God is not slow but rather is working out all things according to His schedule instead of mine.

By Gary D. Murphy

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