PROPHECY
We take 1017
silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the
state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole
mass thoroughly… Blindfold a man and tell him…he must pick up one silver
dollar… What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same
chance that the prophets would have of writing…eight prophecies and having them
come true in any one man.
Science Speaks, Moody Press, 1963, p.
100-107.
Understanding
Bible prophecy encourages in two unique ways. First, it serves as a reminder
that God controls history. When, you read from the pages of Scripture how He
keeps His promises, your faith is strengthened… By reflecting on the fulfilled
promises of the past, you can find great comfort as you look toward the future.
Second, understanding God's promises for the future provides a solid foundation
to which you can anchor your hope – a sturdy shield with which you can deflect
your doubts and fears about tomorrow… When you reflect on God's plans and
promises for you and for the world, you can face the future without fear.
John MacArthur
Facing the Future Without
Fear.
Typically,
the prophet of the Word of God assigned by God to give a far-future prophecy
gave also a near prophecy to establish his credentials. In other words, if he
proves to be accurate in the historically verified prophecy, we can believe him
for the one that's so far in the future that we can't see it.
John MacArthur
Warnings
of Coming Peril, The article originally appeared (www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/2370_Warnings-of-Coming-Peril)
at www.gty.org. © 1969-2008. Grace to You. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The events
that Matthew recorded as happening in the fulfillment of Old Testament
prophecies all happened as a result of human decisions, and were worked out in the
course of ordinary human circumstances. Were it not for the inspired commentary
by Matthew, we would have no more reason to see the sovereign hand of God in
them that we do in the most mundane occurrences reported in our daily
newspapers… God recorded in His Word specific instances of His sovereign rule
over history in order that we might trust Him in the affairs of history as they
unfold before us today. We should remember that, for those experiencing the
events recorded in the biblical narratives, God’s hand was no mare apparent to
them in those events than His hand is apparent to us today in ours.
Jerry Bridges
Trusting God, 1988, p. 80. Used by permission of NavPress – www.navpress.com, All
rights reserved.
God gave the
prophecies, not to gratify men’s curiosity by enabling them to foreknow things,
but that after they were fulfilled they might be interpreted by the event, and
His own providence, not the interpreters, be thereby manifested to the world.
Isaac Newton
For
my part, I had rather enjoy the sweet influences of the Spirit. I had rather
show Christ’s spiritual divine beauty, infinite grace, and dying love. I had
rather draw forth the holy exercises of faith, divine love, sweet complacence,
and humble joy in God. I had rather experience all this for one quarter of an
hour than to have prophetical visions and revelations the whole year.
Jonathan
Edwards