Online Sermons
Words of Life - Prophesy
Series: Words of LifeWORDS OF LIFE
“But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand….” / Jude 17
PROPHESY
prof-e-si
1. To reveal by Divine inspiration - - to speak as a prophet.
2. To reveal the will or message of God.
3. To prefigure, foreshow and predict the future.
All of three of the above definitions can be seen in Scripture.
> Questions & Observations For Discussion ?
1. Prophesying in its simplest form is “forth-telling” - - not all prophesying included predictions about the future.
Prophets and other divinely inspired Bible characters engaged speaking out with a “thus saith the Lord”.
In word and deed Abraham’s life prophesied of the covenant made to him and his descendants by God. / Gen.12:1-4
Moses spoke forth (with the help of his brother, Aaron) the words and directives of God. / Ex.7:1-2
Paul & Peter and James, John & Jude spoke and wrote of God’s revelations. e.g., Rom.1:16
Although he did not write an epistle, Stephen prophesied. / Acts 7:1
In a generic sense of the word, preachers & Bible class teachers (any and all Christians) can “speak forth the message”.
While the Holy Spirit guided men & women in times past (as to what to write or speak), today The Word is our source.
We are not to go beyond what is written (1Cor.4:6 - - cf. Deut.4:2 and Rev.22:18-19).
2. Some prophesying recorded in the Scriptures involved not just forth-telling, but also foretelling the future.
Prophets and other select ones in Scripture were prompted by God to predict future events. / 2Tim.3:16 & 2Pet.1:20-21
3. When examined carefully, prophecy illustrates the God-given nature of the sacred writings.
Some prophecies are noted for their scientific foreknowledge (science not known in the day in which it was revealed).? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
a. THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH - Isa.40:22 / It is He who sits above the vault (circle) of the earth…
b. SEA LANES - Ps.8:8 / whatever passes through the paths of the sea
c. LIFEBLOOD – Lev.17:11 / the life of the flesh is in the blood
d. CONTAGIONS - Lev.13:45 / the leper…shall cover his upper lip and proclaim, ‘unclean, unclean’.
e. QUARANTINE – Lev.13:46 & 14:-46 / he shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp
f. PURIFICATION – Num.19:17-19 speaks of the value of water in bringing about purification.
g. DIET & DISEASE – things prohibited included: pork (Lev.11:7)…certain flying creatures (Lev.11:13f)…reptiles (Lev.11:29f)
h. CIRCUMCISION – Gen.17:12-13 / every male among you shall be circumcised on the eighth day…
“The preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.” (Ecclesiastes 12:10)
