Biblical Prophecy is Not Prediction

There is an ever increasing fascination in both the secular and religious worlds with "the future". From the vague and malleable predictions of Nostradamus to the wild interpretations of Scripture by sensational televangelists and writers -- there is universal appeal in knowing the future.

I believe there are many reasons for the morbid fascination with apocalyptic visions of the future. In the secular world, this is based purely on ignorance -- the Bible is used only as a prop for adding the supposed weight of its authority to a particular argument. There are movies, books, television shows -- all garbage, even if they make reference to the Bible.

Then there are the various interpretations -- read, mutilations -- of Scripture among Christians that have long represented ignorance, division, and the faithlessness of professing Christians. It doesn't take an extended visit to a "Christian" bookstore for one to realize something must be wrong. C.H. Spurgeon once said the bookshelves bow under the weight of all that had been written on the book of Revelation.

I believe the Bible was written for our learning:

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. -- Romans 15:4

We ought to receive Biblical prophecy on faith, accepting those things as literal events that are not otherwise announced as "signs" (though even signs may be both literal and yet represent something as well). Hardly a Christian could be found to deny that the plagues of Egypt were literal plagues, and so we should accept the judgements of Revelation as literal judgements -- even if we don't understand them completely.

However, it is not my aim to expound upon the principals of eschatology. I will now come straight to the point and say: Biblical prophecy is NOT prediction.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost. -- 2 Peter 1:21

The first occurrence of the word "prophet" is nabiy' (H5030, naw-bee'), meaning "a prophet or (generally) inspired man:--prophecy, that prophesy, prophet".

Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live: and if you restore [her] not, know you that you shall surely die, you, and all that [are] your. -- Genesis 20:7

There is no connection whatever to prediction, but rather to prayer and the work of an advocate or spokesman. When Moses said he was of a "slow tongue" (Exodus 4:10) and therefore could not go back to Egypt, Jehovah said that Aaron would be the "spokesman".

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, [Is] not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he comes forth to meet you: and when he seeth you, he will be glad in his heart. And you shall speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. And he shall be your spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, [even] he shall be to you instead of a mouth, and you shall be to him instead of God. -- Exodus 4:14-16

Compare this with:

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet (H5030, nabiy'). -- Exodus 7:1

The work of a prophet was to declare "says the Lord". Here's an example:

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], says the LORD. -- Ezekiel 37:12-14

Prophecy is not prediction because it is the declaration of God, and when He says it, He will perform it. "Thus says the Lord, there will be light" is the same as "And God said, Let there be light". The result is ultimately the same: "and there was light".

Prophecy is not prediction because God is infinite. He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He is outside of time.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. -- 2 Peter 3:8

Prophecy is not prediction because God does not change. He is the same "yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8) and therefore His plan does not change.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. -- James 1:17

God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do [it]? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good? -- Numbers 23:19

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he [is] not a man, that he should repent. -- 1 Samuel 15:29

These are blessed truths. If God changes, our hope is built upon an unstable foundation, but instead He is our Rock. Through faith our sins are broken upon this rock, but the unrepentant is destroyed in unbelief:

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. -- Matthew 21:44