EVIDENCES, PROPHECY AND REVELATION
By Jon Quinn
As the seeker explores the Word of God, he is going to make some fascinating discoveries! How tragic it is that many turn away from the Bible without making such an effort. Some will mock its teachings and refer to it as myth without ever even making an attempt to investigate. If they would, they would certainly be surprised! One skeptic years ago undertook such an effort. He was going to show that the Christian faith was baseless. He ended up convincing himself that the Bible was indeed the Word of God. He then warned other skeptics not to do the same thing as he had done if they did not want to convert because they would be treading on dangerous ground!
A prophet is one who speaks forth the word of God as directed by the Holy Spirit. We think of a prophet as one who foretells, and while this is true, a better description would be one who "forthtells" instead of "foretells". But predictive prophecy is a sign of God's glory, wisdom and power. For us, as we read the Bible and see that all the things predicted came to pass, our faith in the Bible as God's word is confirmed. Without the guidance of God, many of these passages could have never been written!
There were true prophets and false prophets. Many times they were in conflict with one another. There was Zedekiah, the false prophet confronting Micaiah, the true prophet of God (I KINGS 22). Even today, people such as Jean Dixon claim the ability to foretell the future. How does one go about distinguishing what is true from what is false? The Bible tells us how!
IF THE THING DOES NOT COME ABOUT
"And you may say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?' When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." (DEUT 18:21,22).
We must be careful here. Notice that the fact that a prediction is fulfilled does not necessarily mean that the prophet is true. Anyone can guess right some of the time. But if a so-called prophet misses even one prediction, that is an absolute guarantee that God is not with him or her! A ninety-nine percent success rate is one per cent less than the minimum required! Move over Jean Dixon!
THE COUNSELOR OF REBELLION AGAINST THE DOCTRINES OF GOD
"If a prophet...arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'...you shall not listen to the words of that prophet..." (DEUT 13:1-5).
Here we have a second test which works right along with the first. Even if the thing does come to pass, if the prophet is teaching things contrary to the Lord's will, he is to be rejected! The context suggests that only in staying true to the commandments of the Lord do we prove our love for Him! The Scripture is to be our sole authority. A true prophets religious doctrine will be pure. The Bible condemns, for example, astrology and the like (DEUT 18:9-14). If someone claims that astrology is good and even successfully makes a prediction by it, we are still to reject such practice because it is a detestable thing to our God! Jean Dixon, move over again!
THE IMMORAL PROPHET
"Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: the committing of adultery and walking in falsehood..." (JER 23:14).
Another test is the lifestyle of the prophet. A prophet is human and may sin from time to time, as David did. But David had to repent before God would again use him (PSA 51:10-15). How can a prophet call people to righteousness and obedience if he is not willing to live that way himself? For a rather complete discussion of the ways of the false prophet, read EZEK 12:21-14:11).
EXAMPLE OF FULFILLED PROPHECY: THE CITY OF TYRE
"...therefore, thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you...and they will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; and I will scrape her debris from her and make her a bare rock...behold, I will bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon...he will make siege against you...break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses, and throw your stones and your timber and your debris into the water...you will be built no more..." (EZEK 26:1-21).
This passage was written about 590 B.C. It deals with the future destruction of Tyre. It says that Nebuchadnezzar will destroy the mainland city; history shows us he did. After a thirteen year siege the city was destroyed and left as rubble. Most of the populace had moved onto an island offshore and built another city of Tyre, fortified and secure...or was it?
Two centuries later Alexander the Great laid siege to the island city. He unknowingly fulfilled another prophecy by taking the debris of the old ruined city and throwing it into the water to build a causeway out to the city. He fulfilled another by enlisting the ships of the many conquered nations under his rule thus making it a multinational affair.
History shows all the prophecy concerning Tyre has been fulfilled. Today, there exists another city of Tyre at a different location down the coast, but the original city has never been rebuilt.Even today, fishermen are seen spreading their nets to dry on the ancient site of Tyre just as the Bible predicted they would.
The seeker finds gems such as this when he makes an honest investigation. And to the mocker; make sure you never make such a search! The facts might force you to believe!
