Forth-telling and Foretelling
In the realm of biblical prophecy, forth-telling and foretelling are two distinct aspects, and understanding their balance requires insight into how prophecy operates in Scripture.
Forth-telling refers to proclaiming God's will, calling people to repentance, correcting behavior, or exhorting them to live righteously in the present moment. It is focused on moral and spiritual instruction, aligning people's lives with God’s purposes. Examples include many of the messages of the prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos, who rebuked and encouraged the people regarding their covenant relationship with God.
Foretelling, on the other hand, involves predicting future events, often revealing God's plan for redemption, judgment, or the coming of the Messiah. Examples include Daniel’s visions of future kingdoms, prophecies about the birth of Christ (e.g., Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6), or the book of Revelation.
The Proportion of Forth-telling vs. Foretelling
While the Bible does not explicitly quantify these aspects, scholars and theologians commonly observe that forth-telling far outweighs foretelling in the prophetic writings. An often-cited estimate is that 80–90% of biblical prophecy is forth-telling, with the remaining 10–20% being foretelling.
Supporting Observations:
- The major and minor prophets repeatedly address the sins, idolatry, and disobedience of Israel and Judah, urging them to return to God and live faithfully according to His covenant. This constitutes a large portion of their writings.
- Foretelling is present but less frequent, often appearing in contexts where God reveals His sovereign plan (e.g., Isaiah 53 regarding the Suffering Servant or Daniel's prophecies of the coming empires).
Application in Prophetic Ministry
The emphasis on forth-telling highlights that prophecy primarily serves to reveal God’s heart for His people in their immediate context, guiding them toward righteousness. Foretelling serves to affirm God's sovereignty and inspire hope in His overarching plan.
Some specific prophetic books to illustrate the balance between forth-telling and foretelling, focusing on their themes
1. Isaiah
Forth-telling: Isaiah frequently rebukes the sins of Judah and Israel, calling them to repentance and righteousness. For example:
- “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16–17)
- He exposes their hypocrisy in worship and warns of judgment if they do not return to God.
Foretelling: Isaiah includes significant predictive prophecies about:
- The coming Messiah (“For unto us a child is born...” – Isaiah 9:6–7).
- The suffering servant (“But he was wounded for our transgressions...” – Isaiah 53:5).
- Future restoration of Israel and the new heavens and new earth (“Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth...” – Isaiah 65:17).
Proportion: Isaiah is heavily focused on forth-telling (~80%), but his messianic and eschatological foretelling (~20%) is foundational to Christian theology.
2. Jeremiah
Forth-telling: Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah’s primary role was to confront Judah’s rebellion and warn of imminent judgment through Babylon:
- “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.” (Jeremiah 7:3)
- He emphasizes God’s desire for repentance and covenant faithfulness.
Foretelling:
- The Babylonian exile and the 70-year captivity (Jeremiah 25:11–12).
- The new covenant (“I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts...” – Jeremiah 31:33).
Proportion: Jeremiah is predominantly forth-telling (~85%), with a smaller but important portion devoted to foretelling (~15%).
3. Ezekiel
Forth-telling: Ezekiel prophesies during the exile, addressing Israel's sin and their need for spiritual renewal. For example:
- “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezekiel 18:30)
Foretelling:
- The vision of dry bones symbolizing the restoration of Israel (Ezekiel 37).
- Prophecies about the future temple and God’s eternal kingdom (Ezekiel 40–48).
Proportion: Ezekiel is largely focused on forth-telling (~75%), though his vivid symbolic visions and eschatological prophecies (~25%) hold significant theological weight.
4. Daniel
Forth-telling: While Daniel is more focused on foretelling, some portions include forth-telling, such as interpreting God’s judgment on Nebuchadnezzar (“The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men...” – Daniel 4:32).
Foretelling:
- Detailed predictions about future kingdoms and the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:24–27).
- The end times and the resurrection of the dead (Daniel 12:2).
Proportion: Daniel is unique in that foretelling (~80%) predominates, particularly with his apocalyptic visions, compared to forth-telling (~20%).
5. Minor Prophets (Hosea, Amos, Jonah, etc.)
Forth-telling: Most of the Minor Prophets address the immediate moral and spiritual failures of Israel and Judah:
- Hosea highlights Israel’s unfaithfulness, symbolized through his marriage to Gomer (“For she is not my wife, neither am I her husband...” – Hosea 2:2).
- Amos calls for justice and righteousness (“Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” – Amos 5:24).
Foretelling:
- Many include glimpses of the Messiah’s coming or future restoration (e.g., Joel 2:28–32, Amos 9:11–15).
Proportion: Minor Prophets are heavily forth-telling (~85%), but their foretelling (~15%) often points to key messianic and eschatological themes.
Key Takeaways
- Forth-telling dominates in most prophetic books, with an emphasis on calling people back to God, addressing sin, and providing moral and spiritual guidance.
- Foretelling, though less frequent, is crucial, especially in its messianic prophecies and eschatological revelations.
- Books like Isaiah and Daniel contain more balanced or even foretelling-focused content due to their emphasis on the Messiah and end times.
The Messiah in Prophecy
The Messiah (meaning "Anointed One") is the central figure in biblical prophecy, especially in the Old Testament. Many prophecies point to a future deliverer who would bring salvation to Israel and ultimately to the world. These prophecies are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and understanding the Old Testament prophecies helps deepen our appreciation of who He is.
1. Genesis 3:15 – The First Promise of a Savior
- Prophecy: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)
- Fulfillment: This is the first prophecy about the Messiah, often referred to as the Protoevangelium (first gospel). It speaks of the eventual victory of the woman's seed (Jesus) over Satan. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, would crush the power of sin and death.
2. Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Birth
- Prophecy: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
- Fulfillment: This prophecy is directly fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. The name Immanuel means "God with us," which is affirmed in Matthew 1:23. Jesus' virgin birth emphasizes His divine origin and His role as God incarnate.
3. Isaiah 9:6-7 – The Coming King
- Prophecy: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
- Fulfillment: This passage speaks of the Messiah's divine attributes and eternal reign. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, recognized as the Prince of Peace in His first coming and as the eternal King in His second coming.
4. Isaiah 53 – The Suffering Servant
- Prophecy: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows..." (Isaiah 53:3-4)
- Fulfillment: This powerful chapter describes the suffering and atoning death of the Messiah. Jesus' crucifixion, where He bore the sins of the world, is a direct fulfillment of this prophecy. The New Testament writers frequently cite Isaiah 53 as being fulfilled in Jesus (e.g., Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24).
5. Micah 5:2 – The Birthplace of the Messiah
- Prophecy: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel..." (Micah 5:2)
- Fulfillment: This prophecy points to Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. In the New Testament, we see that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7), fulfilling Micah’s prophecy.
6. Zechariah 9:9 – The Triumphal Entry
- Prophecy: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zechariah 9:9)
- Fulfillment: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, as described in Matthew 21:5 and John 12:15, directly fulfills this prophecy, demonstrating His kingship and humility.
End-times Predictions
The End Times in biblical prophecy refer to the final events in God's plan for humanity, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ, the judgment of the world, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Both the Old and New Testaments contain significant prophecies regarding the End Times.
1. Daniel 2 – The Statue and the Kingdoms
- Prophecy: Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue made of different materials (gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay) representing successive empires.
- "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed..." (Daniel 2:44)
- Fulfillment: This prophecy outlines the rise and fall of world empires (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome), culminating in the establishment of God's eternal kingdom, which was inaugurated with the first coming of Christ and will be fully realized in His second coming.
2. Daniel 7 – The Four Beasts and the Son of Man
- Prophecy: Daniel sees four beasts representing four kingdoms, followed by the judgment of the nations and the coming of the "Son of Man" to receive an everlasting kingdom.
- "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days..." (Daniel 7:13)
- Fulfillment: The Son of Man refers to Jesus, who is identified in the Gospels as the one who will return to establish His kingdom (Matthew 24:30). This prophecy emphasizes the sovereignty of God's kingdom, which will never be destroyed.
3. Matthew 24 – The Olivet Discourse
- Prophecy: Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse, predicts the destruction of Jerusalem, signs of the end of the age, and His second coming.
- "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars... but the end is not yet... For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world..." (Matthew 24:6-21)
- Fulfillment: Jesus' predictions of wars, earthquakes, and persecution have been seen throughout history. The final fulfillment of His return, however, remains future. The prophecy points to the rise of false messiahs, the great tribulation, and the eventual return of Christ to gather His elect.
4. Revelation 6-19 – The Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls
Prophecy: The Book of Revelation provides vivid imagery of the End Times, including the opening of the seven seals, the blowing of seven trumpets, and the pouring out of seven bowls of God's wrath.
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1-8) symbolize conquest, war, famine, and death.
- The Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-18) symbolizes the rise of a final world ruler who will demand allegiance.
- The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) culminates in Christ’s victorious return.
Fulfillment: Revelation is often interpreted as unfolding both in stages throughout history and as a final event at the end of time. The return of Jesus is described as the moment when He will defeat the forces of evil, judge the world, and establish a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-4).
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – The Rapture and the Second Coming
- Prophecy: Paul speaks of the coming of the Lord and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
- "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first... and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
- Fulfillment: This prophecy points to the resurrection of believers and the gathering of the saints when Christ returns. It emphasizes the hope of Christians in the second coming of Jesus.
Summary
Messianic Prophecies: The Old Testament is filled with prophecies about the coming Messiah, all of which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, from His virgin birth to His sacrificial death and glorious reign. These prophecies lay the foundation for the understanding of Jesus' role in God's plan.
End-times Predictions: Biblical prophecy about the End Times speaks of judgment, the rise of a world ruler (often associated with the Antichrist), tribulation, and the ultimate victory of Christ. This includes His second coming, the final judgment, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment