There is no other stronger proof that The Scriptures originate with God Himself than the existence of fulfilled prophetic pronouncements throughout world history. I make this statement knowing full well that such a bold claim is certain to be examined as though it were placed under a microscope to make absolutely certain that such really is the case. Such exacting attention to detail is to be expected, and rightfully so. Yet The Christian ought to never fear to make this claim, for God Himself demands such accuracy in every case where a Prophet sent by Him spoke in The Old Testament. It is written.
“And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
[6] And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
[7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
[8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
(Numbers 12:5-8)
To begin to understand why this is true it is necessary to understand the function of the Old Testament Prophetic office as revealed in the book itself rather than define it by some other means. A prophet was not one who simply foretold the future, but rather he was one who told forth that message which God instructed him to speak. In the course of speaking for God, and conveying the message he was sent to deliver, there would frequently be involved predictions given by God through him. Some were local and concerned specific individuals and places as well as the time of occurrence. Others were to declare an event yet far into the future which would involve places that did not yet exist and people who were not yet born. In every case that someone claimed Prophetic authority, the test of their claim was a 100% accuracy rate concerning everything they said every time they spoke. It was also necessary for everything which such a one spoke to align completely with all the prior revealed communication from God. The penalty for failure in either of these tests was death. It is written.
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
[2] And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
[3] Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
[4] Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
[5] And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”
(Deuteronomy 13:1-5)
And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
[18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
[19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
[20] But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
[21] And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
[22] When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously:
(Deuteronomy 18: 17-22)
In all of this it is important to note that there is a definite context which places the prophetic pronouncement being examined within the message being delivered on behalf of God. We today are given the opportunity to look back at many of these pronouncements and see through the lens of historical record that those which were to have been fulfilled to date have everyone come to pass as foretold. Let us examine a some of these. Since these are numerous and can be categorized in various manners let us linger here and not merely skim over this foundation of our faith. Let us begin with Prophetic Pronouncements concerning individual people found in The Scriptures. Please click the link below and follow on in this important journey.