THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY
Isaiah 48:3-6 I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze. Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say; ‘My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’ You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them?
From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.
God considers prophecy very important in our relationship with him. He knows that we are easily led astray, and sad to say take for granted much of what he does for us. Prophecy is God’s instruction to us. It can come as explaining something that happened in the past, present or future. Often people say that anyone can explain or understand the past or present. This may be true to some extent, but sometimes while the answer may seem obvious from the natural aspect, it can be wrong due to the spiritual aspect of it. This is another reason why God will also give us instruction or prophecy regarding the future. When something comes to pass that God has predicted, it causes us to have more confidence in God’s prophecy in general. While prophecy requires faith, we must also have discernment to test the spirits to see if what is said is really from the Lord. (I Jn 4:1) We can do this by asking help from the Holy Spirit, affirming it in the Bible and also insight from mature Christians. As a rule when all of these affirm that something is from God, chances are it is.
There are certainly things that God wants us to have confidence in as well as to be prepared for. This is one of the reasons why God has given us prophecy concerning the end of times regarding Jesus’ return. As we read Daniel 8-9, Zechariah 14, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and the Book of Revelation as well as other passages, we get an overall picture of things to look for so we can have assurance that what we may experience is really from God and is truly Jesus.
God can be very specific in his prophecy as we see in Jesus coming to earth, and his atonement for us on the cross. The thing is with this and some other prophecy is it can only be verified after it has taken place. God realizes this, but he has done it purposely regarding assurance. While we weren’t there to witness Jesus fulfilling his prophecy on earth, we certainly read about it and help us to believe. Jesus pointed this out in John 17 as he prayed for himself, his disciples and those like us that would come later through the message of the apostles. It seems to me that the greater the importance of the prophecy the more specific God becomes. Sometimes God will repeat the prophecy through different people, at different times and places. A case in this might be how much is said about the last years leading up to Jesus’ return. Matthew 24:24 even warns us to beware because some will be deceived regarding the antichrist and the real Christ, Jesus God’s only begotten Son. The other being the atonement of Jesus as it is seen prophesied very clearly here in Isaiah. To help you have confidence in Jesus ‘ atonement and his upcoming return I am going to type it out for you. Remember this was written hundreds of years before Jesus went to the cross.
Isaiah 50:6says, “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I didn’t hide my face from mocking and spitting.” We see this fulfilled in Mk10:34.
Isaiah 52:13-15 tells us more especially regarding the implications of the cross and his atonement. It says,”See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness - so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.”
Isaiah 53:1-12 says, “Who has believed our message and to who has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
As we read in Psalm 22:8-18 it describes the cross of Christ even more in detail. It says, “He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him. Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”
We can certainly have good reason to believe that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, that God told Abraham that would come through him and was depicted in the verses above. Prophecy is important, but it must be known and believed to be of benefit. There are many people throughout time that have known these passages, but would not accept them. Consequently they were of no value to them. We need to diligently search out scripture in the Bible that helps us to have confidence in the Bible. We need to do it to help prepare us for the coming of Jesus so that we will not be deceived by the false prophet and the antichrist. Even now as in the early church there are false prophets. (Matt 7:15 & II Peter 2:1
& I Jn 2:18)
Prayer: Holy Spirit, please help us to know your prophecy in the Bible, so we can have confidence in it and be prepared for Jesus’ return and not be deceived. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Thank you Holy Spirit!
