Mission Venture Ministries

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19) 

The main reason we can trust biblical prophecy is that it is “God-breathed,” by the Creator of the universe. His Scripture is inerrant, perfect, and true. It was written through the penmanship of men by means of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Prophesy shows that Scripture is inspired by God Himself because it predicts the future with unerring accuracy before it happens. 

Over three hundred Old Testament passages pertain to the first coming of the Messiah. They cover His lineage, birth, life death and resurrection. The statistical odds i.e. scientifically observable and testable probability of these events happening by chance are a scientific impossibility. 

Let’s take a look at several types of prophecy: 

There are literal prophecies, which are the most common form. It needs no explanation and occurs exactly as predicted.

• Isaiah 7:14 tells us: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
• Matthew 1:23 tells us that this prophecy was fulfilled exactly as it was stated: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 

Then there are timeline prophecies, which occur when so many days months or years are given from one event until another specific event occurs.

• Daniel 9:24-26 records the number of days from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince comes.
• Then, all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19) show the fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew says that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 

Another type is the double fulfillment prophecy, which is fulfilled at one time in history and will be fulfilled again in the same way at a later date:

• Daniel 11 describes an antichrist type would place and abomination in the Temple, which Antiochus Epiphanes fulfilled in 167 BC.
• Mathew 24:14-15 states Jesus’ warning that the Daniel’s prophecy would be fulfilled again in the Antichrist in the End Times. 

And yet another type is the dual purpose prophecy which is given and fulfilled at one time in history and also serves as a type of prophecy for the future, yet is a totally different prophecy.

• Genesis 6:3-7, God warned the world of a worldwide flood to judge sin.
• 2 Peter 3:3-7, He also used this prophecy as a warning that He will judge sin again. This time, however, will be the final judgment and will happen with fire instead. 

As we see, the Bible can be trusted as coming from God through numerous accurate fulfillments, and it can be trusted as accurate regarding future predications as well. The major prophecies yet to be fulfilled include the rapture of the church that is imminent (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18), the judgments of the seven-year tribulation (Revelation 6 – 12), the second coming of Christ at Armageddon (Revelation 19), the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6), the defeat of Satan and final judgment (Revelation 20:7-15), and the new heavens and earth (Revelation 21 – 22) during which all of God’s people will dwell with Him for eternity. 

Therefore dear friend, “when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). 

Today could be “the day”, and we should fully expect it to be possible. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus . . . Amen. 

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