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Know Your Bible. Welcome to Week 6. Prophecy. What is prophecy?. God’s message to His people – forthtelling, proclamation Includes ‘edification, exhortation and consolation’ (1 Corinthians 14:3) May include predicting the future – foretelling, prediction. What is prophecy?.
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Know Your Bible Welcome toWeek 6 Prophecy
What is prophecy? • God’s message to His people – forthtelling, proclamation • Includes ‘edification, exhortation and consolation’ (1 Corinthians 14:3) • May include predicting the future – foretelling, prediction
What is prophecy? Three contexts: • the immediate • the future – some already fulfilled, some relevant for today • the distant future – yet to be fulfilled, e.g. Christ’s return – see Revelation Many prophets point forward to Jesus.
Major and Minor Prophets • Major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel • Minor prophets (shorter books): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Prophecy – Distinct Periods Four distinct periods: • The divided kingdom and Israel’s fall (930 – 722 B.C.) • The fall of Judah (722 – 587 B.C.) • The exile (605 – 537 B.C.) • The restoration (537 - 440 B.C.)
Some key scriptures 1: Isaiah 61 What does it say about: • God’s heart? • God’s priorities? • The prophet’s response? • Our relationship with God? Fulfilment: Luke 4:18 2: Amos 8:4-7 • What does it say about social and economic justice?
Some predictive prophecies: • ProphecyFulfilment • Micah 5:2 ……………… Matthew 2:6 • Isaiah 11:1 …………….. Luke 3:23,32 • Jeremiah 23:5 …………. Luke 3:23,31 • Isaiah 53:5 …………….. Matthew 27:26 • Isaiah 50:6 …………….. Matthew 26:67 • Psalm 22:2-8 ………….. Matthew 27:31 • Psalm 69:21 ………….. Matthew 27:34 • Psalm 34:20 ………….. John 19:33
Some predictive prophecies: • Amos 8:9 …………….. Matthew 27:45 • Jeremiah 31:28-32 ……. Luke 22:20 • Joel 2:28-32 …….. ……. Acts 2:17-21 • Zechariah 9:9 …………... Matthew 21:5 Plus….. story of Jonah often seen as foretelling the resurrection of Jesus. Daniel 9:24 predicts the precise timing of the coming of the Messiah.
The test of a true prophet Deut 18:22 discounts false predictions, but even if true… Deut 13:1 Jeremiah 23: • Loyalty? • Morality? • Call to holiness?
Prophecy in New Testament • To be tested (1 Cor 14:29-33); • Not to be despised (1 Thess 5:19-21).
Prophecy in New Testament Five further tests: – • Conformity to teaching of scripture; • Fruit – does it glorify Jesus and edify His church?; • Consensus of recognised prophets/elders (1 Cor 14:32); • Consistency with other utterances in body of Christ; • Confession that Jesus is Lord (1 Cor 12:23) and came in the flesh (1 John 4:1-3).
Next week: The Gospels – Miracles and Teaching