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Table Talk
Scientific Proof and the
Accuracy of Biblical Prophecy
Most Christians have
no difficulty accepting prophecy as a "normal" means by
which God communicates his power and purpose in redemptive history.
In fact, it has been calculated that every fourth verse in Scripture
deals with prophecy and that the only subject mentioned more
frequently than the Second Coming of Christ is the doctrine of
salvation!
For believers in Scripture, prophecy and fulfillment clearly
illustrates God's omniscience (all-knowing) and sovereign
working in human history. However, convincing a skeptic or an
unbeliever that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God may be
a big challenge for some Christians. And while there are a number of
ways we can attempt to establish the authority of Scripture, none is
so powerful as predictive prophecy and fulfillment as evidence for
divine inspiration. Scores of books and journal articles have been
written in recent years on history and archaeology as evidence for
divine inspiration, but few books have been published presenting
prophecy and fulfillment based on the mathematical law of permutation
or probability.
By this we are not suggesting mathematical probability can in any
way dictate the truth or falsity of a statement nor can it
demonstrate moral truth; that objective rests with philosophers and
theologians and ultimately with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
However, in essence, applying the laws of probability to predictive
prophecy lends tremendous weight to the proposition that the
Bible is the supernaturally inspired Word of God and,
therefore, may be trusted.
Now, some may argue by the same logic, that the prophesies of
Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, or Jean Dixon would then qualify as
inspired. The Christian's response is certainly one may apply
the same laws of probability to their prophesies but the difference
between theirs and the biblical prophets is both the origin
and outcome of their prophecies as well as their teachings.
In other words, prophetic fulfillment (other than truly divine) may
prove inspiration of another source- it may demonstrate demonic or
human influence (or calculation) as means of prediction and
fulfillment. True biblically inspired prophecy will always be in
agreement with revealed truth as found in both the Old and New
Testaments. So, we are admonished in Scripture to be careful not to
follow those who perform signs and wonders simply because they have
the power to dazzle the mind! Indeed, our forbearers were told over
and over in Scripture to test those who claim to be representatives
of God (Deu. 13 & 18; Jer. 23; Ezekiel 12-14) and so must we
(Matt. 7: 15-23; Acts 20:28-31; 2 Cor. 11:1-15; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1
John 4:1-7; the Epistle of Jude). Who then, is a prophet of God and
what is the purpose and nature of their prophetic utterances?
Defining a
True Prophet of God
The Bible gives
strict guidelines as to what constitutes a true prophet of God
and the necessity of prophetic fulfillment exactly as given
(Deu. 13 & 18; Jer. 23; Ezekiel 12-14). Implicit in these
passages of Scripture is the two-fold function of a prophet: one, he
represents God or acts as a spokesman to deal with life's
issues (a forth-teller);
and two, he is one who predicts future events either contemporary to
his own time or centuries later (fore-teller). So then, the
Bible speaks of individuals God personally calls as a means to
maintain communication with man who has been estranged and separated
from Him through sin.
But please note the very passages of Scripture affirming true
spokesmen for God clearly state that there are those whose
predictions may very well come to pass. They are the false prophets
God has permitted in order to test His people (Deu. 13:3).
Interestingly, the determination of whether that person was a true or
false prophet was not to be made only on the basis of
fulfilled prophecy, but on whether or not he leads people away
from God to serve other gods!
The test, then, is two-fold: failed prophecy and false teaching and
worship. By all accounts, Notradamus, Edgar Cayce, Jean Dixon,
Joseph Smith, The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society and a host of
other individuals claiming to be prophets, cannot be considered true
prophets of God based on their occultic worldview, failed prophecies,
and theological aberrations.
The
Purpose and Nature of Prophecy
Evangelicals believe
that biblical prophecy originates with God, is inspired
by Him and has its fulfillment in the divine counsel and
purpose of God. The true prophet of God is not an astrologer or
magician but is under divine constraint. God literally moved upon an
individual so as to produce His thoughts through human words.
In the Old Testament God chose to reveal His will through the
prophets by means of visions, dreams, inspiration, and revelation.
In fact, the word used often for prophet was "seer" which
indicates that visions were typically the mode of revelation to them.
Moreover, they almost always came with clearly discernible moral and
teaching content. And yes, they were often predictive in that their
fulfillment would set the seal of truth.
The divine purpose of
prophecy then, is three-fold: first, it is to reveal to man the hand
of God in the events of human history. It is the supernatural
intervention of God outlining events beforehand demonstrating to
finite humans that He is the one who ultimately controls and governs
all of history and the final destiny of men (Dan. 4:17; Psalm 22:23;
Acts 17: 26). Second, prophecy gives us assurance of God's hand
in redemption and to reveal glimpses of the coming glory for His
people (Gen. 3:15; Dan. 12:3; Isa. 65:17; Jer. 31:15-17; 1 Thess.
4:13-17; Rev. 21). Prophecy produces hope and faith that the God who
promises will deliver: He keeps His word! Third, prophecy clearly
affirms that the God we serve is the living God of the universe!
Time and again the Bible uses prophecy as a challenge to the false
prophets who worship false gods (Isa. 41: 21-23; 42:8,9) and to
demonstrate that He is Ruler over His own creation.
Conclusion
Finally, it is
important that we look briefly at Jesus' view of prophecy as a
divine witness to his own life and mission. Throughout the New
Testament Jesus made reference to Scripture which he interpreted as
applying to his person and purpose. In Luke 4 Jesus was handed the
book of Isaiah and stated without equivocation that he was the
fulfillment of those very words of Scripture (Luke 4: 17-24). John's
Gospel records Jesus affirmation that Moses prophesied of the coming
Prophet who was none other than Himself (John 5:43-47) and on another
occasion Jesus claimed that He was the one the Scriptures (Isa. 12:3;
43:20) was alluding to when it said "He who believes in Me, out
of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-39).
Then, on the road to Emmaus the Lord shared with the two disciples
"beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded to them
in the scriptures concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25-27). These
are but a few examples of predictive prophecy and fulfillment in the
life of Christ. Obviously there are numerous other references to
Jesus' prediction of his own death and resurrection which also
came to pass as predicted. Based on these predictions and
fulfillment, we may be confident that Jesus own words regarding his
soon return will surely come to pass as well!
Having briefly laid a
foundation for what constitutes a true prophet of God as well as
defining the nature and purpose of prophecy, we may now consider
prophecy in light of scientific probability. Again, this serves only
to buttress our faith and to demonstrate the tremendous mathematical
odds that prophecy by any one other than true biblical prophets can
even come close to prediction and fulfillment! The attached article
written by Dr. Hugh Ross entitled "Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence
for the Reliability of the Bible" should cause us all to humble
ourselves and ponder the vastness and wonder of the God we worship!
To Him be the glory throughout the ages!
Dan
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