Biblical Basis for Words from God as Foretelling Prophecy
The concept of prophecy in the Bible frequently involves the foretelling of future events, a "miracle of knowledge" that transcends human ability to foresee [3]. This type of prophecy is understood as originating from God, who declares what will happen [1, 7]. The Bible itself is referred to as the "Word of God" because its writers were instruments through whom God communicated His will, making its declarations true and binding [2].
Biblical prophecy is not merely human conjecture but is divinely inspired. The prophets who uttered these words were raised up, ordained, and sent by God, filled and moved by the Holy Spirit [1]. The apostle Peter emphasizes that prophecy did not come by human will but through men speaking from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) [1]. This divine origin ensures that the prophetic word is "sure" and reliable [1].
A central theme of Old Testament prophecy is the coming and work of the Messiah, serving to maintain faith in His advent and prepare the world for it [3]. For example, Isaiah's prophecies include both "former things"—predictions already fulfilled, such as Israel's restoration from Babylon—and "new" predictions concerning the Messiah, who would bring all nations to worship God [12]. The New Testament frequently highlights how events in Jesus' life fulfilled Old Testament prophecies [9, 11]. Jesus Himself is seen as perfectly embodying the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel [10].
The "gospel," or good news, was also foretold by prophets [5]. The Scripture, personified as foreseeing future events, proclaimed the good news to Abraham that God would justify the Gentiles by faith [8, 13, 14]. This demonstrates God's foreknowledge and His consistent plan throughout history [13]. The divine word is also understood to be the means by which the ages were prepared, indicating its foundational role in creation and history (Hebrews 11:3) [4].
The reliability of God's prophetic word is a recurring theme. The fulfillment of past predictions serves as evidence that people should trust in God alone [12]. The "Word of God" is considered infallible because it was written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, making it free from error in fact, doctrine, or precept [2]. This divine inspiration extends to the entire biblical text, which is seen as God speaking to humanity through its pages [2].
The concept of predestination, or God's eternal purpose, is also linked to His foretelling nature. The Greek word for "predestinate" appears in passages that teach God's "determinate purpose" governs all events, though this doctrine is acknowledged to have difficulties and belongs to the "secret things" of God [6]. Nevertheless, the revealed word of God serves as guidance in understanding these divine purposes [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecy — Is the foretelling of future events -- Ge 49:1; Nu 24:14. God is the author of -- Isa 44:7; 45:21. God gives, through Christ -- Re 1:1. A gift of Christ -- Eph 4:11; Re 11:3. A gift of the Holy Spirit -- 1Co 12:10. Came not by the will of man -- 2Pe 1:21. Given from the beginning -- Lu 1:70. Is a sure word -- 2Pe 1:19. They who uttered Raised up by God. -- Am 2:11. Ordained by God. -- 1Sa 3:20; Jer 1:5. Sent by God. -- 2Ch 36:15; Jer 7:25. Sent by Christ. -- Mt 23:34. Filled with the Holy Spirit. -- Lu 1:67. Moved by the Holy Spirit. -- 2Pe 1:21. Spoke by ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prophecy — Or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture." (See [509]PROPHET.) The great prediction which runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work of the Messiah; and the great use of prophecy was to perpetuate faith in his coming, and to prepare the world for that event. But there are many subordinate an”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:3 (YLT) — by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- Isaiah ““Let them announce, and declare to us what shall happen. Declare the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come. -- Isaiah 41:22”
- Galatians “Galatians 3:8 (YLT) — and the Writing having foreseen that by faith God doth declare righteous the nations did proclaim before the good news to Abraham--”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 4:14: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet-- (Isa 9:1-2 or, as in Hebrew, Isa 8:23, and Isa 9:1). saying--as follows:”
- Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 3:12: 3:12 Jesus the Messiah perfectly expresses the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel (Isa 42:1-4; 53:3, 7-9; Zech 9:9; see Matt 11:28-30; 12:15-21; Phil 2:1-8; 1 Pet 2:23).”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 12:17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying-- (Isa 42:1).”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 42:9: former things--Former predictions of God, which were now fulfilled, are here adduced as proof that they ought to trust in Him alone as God; namely, the predictions as to Israel's restoration from Babylon. new--namely, predictions as to Messiah, who is to bring all nations to the worship of Jehovah (Isa 42:1, Isa 42:4, Isa 42:6). spring forth--The same image from plants just beginning to germinate occurs in Isa 43:19; Isa 58:8. Before there is the slightest indication to enable a sagacious observer to infer the coming event, God foretells it.”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:8: And--Greek, "Moreover." foreseeing--One great excellency of Scripture is, that in it all points liable ever to be controverted, are, with prescient wisdom, decided in the most appropriate language. would justify--rather, "justifieth." Present indicative. It is now, and at all times, God's one way of justification. the heathen--rather, "the Gentiles"; or "the nations," as the same Greek is translated at the end of the verse. God justifieth the Jews, too, "by faith, not by works." But he specifies the Gentiles in particular here, as it was their ”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 3:8: And the Scripture foreseeing,.... This seems to agree with the Jewish forms or citing passages of Scripture, , "what does the Scripture foresee?" and , (n) "what does the law foresee?" The Scripture here, by a "prosopopeia", is represented as foreseeing an event that would come to pass, and accordingly spoke of it before hand, and designs God the author of the Scripture; and so the Syriac version renders it, "for seeing" , "that God" foreknew, &c. and means either the Holy Spirit, who searches the deep things of God, is privy to all his counsels and decrees, and to ”