Willmington, Harold

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Liberty UniversityScholars Crossing101 Most Asked Questions 101 Most Asked Questions About the Bible1-2019Question 98 - What supernatural elements may beseen regarding the prophetical accuracy of theBible?Harold WillmingtonLiberty University, hwillmington@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/questions_101Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought,Theology and Philosophy of Religion CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 101 Most Asked Questions About the Bible at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted forinclusion in 101 Most Asked Questions by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contactscholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationWillmington, Harold, "Question 98 - What supernatural elements may be seen regarding the prophetical accuracy of the Bible?"(2019). 101 Most Asked Questions. 73.https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/questions_101/731  101 MOST ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE  98. What supernatural elements may be seen regarding the prophetical accuracy of the Bible? One of the acid tests of any religion is its ability to predict the future.  In this area (as in all other areas) the Bible reigns supreme.  One searches in vain through the pages of other sacred writings to find even a single line of accurate prophecy.  Some seven centuries B.C. the Hebrew prophet Isaiah wrote, “Let them . . . shew us what shall happen . . . or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods” (Isa. 41:22-23). The purpose of this section is to locate some key predictions as recorded in the Scriptures, and place them under one of five topical categories.  Only God, of course, can predict the future.  Isaiah, the prophet, reminds us of this time and again in his great book.  Note but a few references: “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isa. 42:9). “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them” (Isa. 44: 6-7). “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isa. 46:9-10). “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass” (Isa. 48:3).  A.   • OLD TESTAMENT 1. Abraham   a. That God would father a great nation through him (Gen. 12:2; 15:5) b. That God would reward or punish nations according to their treatment of Israel (Gen. 12:3) c. That God would give Abraham and his seed a land (Gen. 12:7; 15:18-21; 17:8) PREDICTIONS REGARDING INDIVIDUALS 2  d. That Abraham would have a son in his old age (Gen. 15:4; 18:10, 14) e. That the nation Abraham founded would serve in a foreign land for 400 years (Gen. 15:13) f. That God would lead them out with great riches (Gen. 15:14) g. That God would destroy Sodom (Gen. 18:20-21) 2. Adam a. That he would die spiritually if he disobeyed God (Gen. 2:17; 3:7) b. That he would die physically if he disobeyed God (Gen. 2:17; 5:5) 3. Alexander the Great a. That he would utterly defeat the Persians and establish a world empire (Dan. 2:32-39; 7:6; 8:5-8, 21; 11:3) b. That he would suddenly die and his kingdom would be divided into four parts (Dan. 8:8, 22; 11:4) 4. Antiochus Epiphanes a. That this Syrian Jew-hater would persecute the Jews and profane their temple (Dan. 8:9-13) b. That the temple would be cleansed after a period of 2,300 days (Dan. 8:14) 5. Barak That he would defeat Sisera through the help of a woman (Judg. 4:6-9) 6. Belshazzar That God would judge this wicked Babylonian ruler by immediately allowing the Persians to take his kingdom (Dan. 5:25-28) 7. Cyrus a. That this Persian warrior would be allowed to build a world empire  (Isa. 45:1-4) b. That he would permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild both their temple and city, which were previously destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (Isa. 44:28; 45:13) 8. David a. That both sword and sorrow would be a part of his household because of his sins of adultery and murder (2 Sam. 12:9-12) b. That Bathsheba’s first infant son would die (2 Sam. 12:14) c. That David’s kingdom would eventually be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16) d. That Solomon, not David, would build the temple (1 Chron. 17:1-12; 22:8-10; 28:2-6) 3  9. Elijah a. That it would not rain for three and one-half years (1 Kings 17:1) b. That a starving widow and her son would be supernaturally fed by God (1 Kings 17:14) c. That wicked King Ahab would have his blood shed and die in the same place where he had godly Naboth killed (1 Kings 21:19) d. That Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:23) 10. Elisha a. That a widow’s oil would be supernaturally increased (2 Kings 4:1-4) b. That a barren Shunnamite woman would have a son (2 Kings 4:16) c. That Naaman’s leprosy would be healed by washing in the Jordan River  (2 Kings 5:10) d. That the starving citizens of besieged Samaria would enjoy an abundance of food within 24 hours (2 Kings 7:1) e. That the skeptic who ridiculed the abundant food prediction would live to see it fulfilled but would not eat the food (2 Kings 7:2) 11. Gideon That he would defeat a mighty Midianite army with but 300 soldiers (Judg. 6:14; 7:7) 12. Hezekiah a. That a divine plague would supernaturally deliver both King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from Assyrian troops who had surrounded the city (2 Kings 19:6-7a; Isa. 37:33-35) b. That the Assyrian king Sennacherib would be killed upon returning to Nineveh (Isa. 37:7) c. That God would heal and add an additional 15 years to the life of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-6; 2 Chron. 32:24; Isa. 38:1-5) 13. Jacob a. That he and his seed would be served by Esau and his seed (Gen. 25:23) b. That God would bring him back to the land of Canaan (Gen. 28:15) c. Jacob predicted the lifestyle of his 12 sons and the tribes they would found (Gen. 49) 14. Jehoshaphat That God would save the hopelessly outnumbered people of Judah from a threatened Moabite and Ammonite invasion (2 Chron. 20:14-17)  15. Joseph 4  a. That his 11 brothers would someday bow down to him (Gen. 37:5-7) b. That the Middle East would experience seven years of bumper crops, followed by seven years of famine (Gen. 41:29-31) 16. Josiah That this godly Judean king would burn the decayed bones of ungodly Israelite king Jeroboam’s pagan priests upon the false altar the wicked ruler had once constructed (1 Kings 13:1-3) 17. Joshua a. That Joshua would be given victory over his enemies in Canaan  (Josh. 1:1-9)  b. That the Jordan River would be parted (Josh. 3:13) c. That the walls of Jericho would fall after the sounding of trumpets  (Josh. 6:5) 18. Moses a. That he would deliver Israel from the Egyptian captivity (Ex. 3:10) b. That the deliverance would be effected by divine miracles (Ex. 3:20) c. That Israel would leave Egypt with great wealth (Ex. 3:21-22) d. That God would divide the Red Sea waters, bringing escape for Israel and death for the Egyptians (Ex. 14:16-17) e. That God would feed Israel with manna (Ex. 16:4) f. That the Sabbath would be observed by Israel throughout the ages  (Ex. 31:16-17) g. That Moses, because of a previous sin, would not enter the promised land (Num. 20:12; Deut. 3:23-26) h. That Moses, however, would be allowed to see it (Deut. 3:27; Mt. 17) 19. Nebuchadnezzar a. That Nebuchadnezzar would lose his mind and live like an animal for seven years because of his pride (Dan. 4:24-25) b. That after seven years, Nebuchadnezzar would have his kingdom restored (Dan. 4:26) 20. Noah a. That God would destroy the earth but save him and his family (Gen. 6:13, 18) b. That God would never again destroy the world by a flood (Gen. 8:21; 9:11) c. That God would preserve the four seasons and the day and night arrangements (Gen. 8:22) 21. Solomon 5  a. That he would be given much wisdom, riches, and honor (1 Kings 3:10-13)  b. That God would rend the kingdom from his son because of Solomon’s sin  (1 Kings 11:11-13) 22. Zedekiah a. That Judah’s final and wicked king would be forced to look into the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 32:4-5) b. That he would not see the land of Babylon even though he would be carried there (Ezek. 12:13)  • NEW TESTAMENT 1. John the Baptist a. That he would be a spirit-filled Nazarite (Lk. 1:15) b. That he would be the forerunner of the Messiah (Isa. 40:3-5; Mal. 3:1a;  Lk. 1:17, 76) 2. Judas a. That he would be possessed and controlled by Satan (Jn. 6:70) b. That he would betray Christ (Matt. 26:21-25; Mk. 14:18-21; Lk. 22:21-23; Jn. 13:18, 21-26) 3. Paul a. That he would suffer much for Jesus (Acts 9:16) b. That he would serve as a minister to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15) c. That he would preach before kings (Acts 9:15) d. That he would be arrested by the Jews when he arrived in Jerusalem (Acts 21:4, 11) e. That he would eventually go to Rome (Acts 23:11) f. That all the 276 people (including Paul) would safely leave a sinking ship, caused by a terrible storm at sea (Acts 27:22, 26, 37) 4. Peter a. That he would deny Jesus (Matt. 26:34; Mk. 14:30; Lk. 22:34; Jn. 13:38) b. That he would suffer martyrdom for Jesus (Jn. 21:18-19; 2 Peter 1:12-14) 5. Zacharias a. That his barren wife Elisabeth would give him a son whose name would be John (Lk. 1:13)  b. That he would be unable to speak until that son was born (Lk. 1:20)  6  B.   • Those Old Testament Predictions Jesus Fulfilled 1. In regard to His birth a. That He would be called Emmanuel (Isa. 7:14) b. That He would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2) c. That He would be worshipped by wise men and presented with gifts  (Psa. 72:10; Isa. 60:3, 6, 9) d. That He would be in Egypt for a season (Num. 24:8; Hos. 11:1) e. That His birthplace would suffer a massacre of infants (Jer. 31:15) f. That He would be called a Nazarene (Isa. 11:1) 2. In regard to His human ancestry a. That He would be born of a woman (Gen. 3:15) b. That He would be from the line of Abraham (Gen. 12:3, 7; 17:7) c. That He would be from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10) d. That He would be from the house of David (2 Sam. 7:12-13) e. That He would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) 3. In regard to His nature (Isa. 9:6) a. That He would be the son of man: “For unto us a child is born . . .” b. That He would be the son of God: “unto us a son is given . . . and his name shall be called . . . the mighty God . . .” 4. In regard to His forerunner That John the Baptist would serve as His forerunner (Isa. 40:3-5; Mal. 3:1) 5. In regard to His relationship with the Father a. That He would be zealous for the Father (Psa. 69:9; 119:139) b. That He would be filled with God’s Spirit (Psa. 45:7; Isa. 11:2; 61:1-2) 6. In regard to His earthly ministry a. That He would heal many (Isa. 53:4-5) b. That He would deal gently with the Gentiles (Isa. 9:1-2; 42:1-3) c. That He would speak in parables (Isa. 6:9-10)  7. In regard to His triumphal entry a. That He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9) b. That He would be praised by little children (Psa. 8:2) 8. In regard to His sufferings PREDICTIONS REGARDING JESUS 7  a. That He would be a man of sorrows (Isa. 53:3) b. That He would be rejected by His own (Psa. 69:8; Isa. 53:3) c. That He would be the rejected cornerstone (Psa. 118:22-23) d. That His miracles would not be believed (Isa. 53:1) e. That He would be forsaken by His disciples (Zech. 13:7) f. That His friend would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver (Psa. 41:9;  55:12-14; Zech. 11:12-13) g. That He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver which would later be used to buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:12) h. That He would be scourged and spat upon (Isa. 50:6) 9. In regard to His crucifixion a. That He would be crucified between two thieves (Isa. 53:12) b. That He would be given vinegar to drink (Psa. 69:21) c. That He would thirst (Psa. 22:15) d. That He would be surrounded and ridiculed by his enemies (Psa. 22:7-8) e. That He would suffer the piercing of his hands and feet (Psa. 22:16;  Zech. 12:10) f. That His garments would be parted and gambled for (Psa. 22:18) 10. In regard to His death a. That He would die at the end of the 69th “week” as predicted by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 9:24-27) b. That He would commend His spirit to the Father (Psa. 31:5) c. That His bones would not be broken (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psa. 34:20) d. That He would be stared at in death (Zech. 12:10) 11. In regard to His burial That He would be buried with the rich (Isa. 53:9) 12. In regard to His resurrection That He would be raised from the dead (Psa. 16:10) 13. In regard to His ascension That He would ascend (Psa. 24:7-10) • Those New Testament Predictions Jesus Foretold 1. In regard to the church That He would establish it, protect it, and give it its authority (Mt. 16:13-19) 2. In regard to Himself a. His transfiguration (Mt. 16:28) b. His sufferings (Mt. 16:21a; 17:12b) 8  c. His betrayal by Judas (Mt. 26:21-25; Mk. 14:18-21; Lk. 22:21-23;  Jn. 13:21-26) d. His denials by Peter (Mt. 26:30-35; Mk. 14:26-31; Lk. 22:31-34;  Jn. 13:36-38) e. His death (Mt. 17:23a; 20:18; Jn. 3:14; 12:32-33) f. His resurrection (Mt. 17:23b; Mk. 9:31b) 3. In regard to the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn. 11:11)  C.   1. Edom That its commerce would cease, its land to become desolate and its very race to become extinct (Obadiah; Jer. 49:17-18; Ezek. 35:3-7; Mal. 1:4) 2. Egypt a. It was to experience seven years of plenty and seven years of famine  (Gen. 41:1-7, 17-24; 45:6, 11)  b. It was to host Israel for 400 years and afflict them (Gen. 15:13) c. Egypt would be judged for this by the ten plagues (Gen. 15:14;  Exod. 3:20; 6:1; 7:5) d. It would decline from its exalted position and become a base nation  (Ezek. 29:1-2, 15) 3. Assyria a. It would conquer the ten northern Israelite tribes (Mic. 1) b. It would suffer the death of many of its troops outside the city of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:6-7a; Isa. 37:33-35) c. It would be overthrown by the Babylonians (Isa. 10:12; 14:24-27; Nah. 1-3)  4. Babylonia   a. It would defeat the Egyptians (Jer. 46)   b. It would defeat the Assyrians (Nahum)   c. It would be defeated by the Medes and Persians (Dan. 5)  5. Persia a. It would defeat the Babylonians (Dan. 2:39; 7:5) b. It would be defeated by the Greeks (Dan. 8:5-8, 21-22) 6. Greece PREDICTIONS REGARDING NATIONS 9  a. Alexander the Great would conquer Greece and establish a world empire (Dan. 7:6; 8:5-8, 21; 11:3) b. It would be divided into four parts following Alexander’s death (Dan. 8:8, 22; 11:4) 7. Rome a. It would defeat the Greeks (Dan. 2:40; 7:7) b. It would destroy Jerusalem (Mt. 23:37-39) 8. Israel: Past Predictions a. A great nation would come from Abraham (Gen. 12:2) b. This nation would exist forever (Jer. 31:35-37) c. Israel’s kings would come from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10) d. Canaan will be given to Israel forever (Gen. 13:15) e. Israel would sojourn in another land (Egypt) for 400 years, there to serve and be afflicted (Gen. 15:13) f. This oppressive nation (Egypt) would be judged by God (Gen. 15:14) g. Israel would leave Egypt with great substance (Gen. 15:14) h. Israel would return to Canaan from Egypt in the fourth generation (Gen. 15:16) i. Israel would set a king over them (Deut. 17:14-20) j. Israel would suffer a tragic civil war after the death of Solomon (1 Kings 11:11, 31) k. The Northern Kingdom would be carried away into Assyrian captivity  (1 Kings 14:15-16; Hos. 1:5; 10:1, 6) l. The Southern Kingdom would be carried away into Babylonian captivity (Jer. 13:19; 20:4-5; 21:10; Mic. 4:10) m. The temple would be destroyed (1 Kings 9:7; 2 Chron. 7:20-21; Jer. 7:14) n. The length of the Babylonian captivity would be 70 years (Jer. 25:11; 19:10) o. Israel would then return to the land (Jer. 29:10) p. The temple vessels once carried into Babylon would be brought back to the land (2 Kings 25:14-15; Jer. 28:3; Dan. 5:1-4) q. Israel eventually would be scattered among the nations of the world (Lev. 26:33; Deut. 4:27-28; 28:25-68; Hos. 9:17) r. Israel would reject her Messiah (Isa. 53:1-9)  9. Israel: Present Predictions a. Israel would “abide many days” without a king, an heir apparent, the Levitical offerings, the temple, or the Levitical priesthood (Hos. 3:4) b. Israel also would be free from idolatry during this terrible time (Hos. 3:4) c. Israel would become a byword among the nations (Deut. 28:37) 10  d. Israel would loan to many nations, but borrow from none (Deut. 28:12) e. Israel would be hounded and persecuted (Deut. 28:65-67) f. Israel nevertheless would retain her identity (Lev. 26:44; Jer. 46:28) g. Israel would remain alone and aloof among the nations (Num. 23:9)  D.  1. Sodom That God would destroy it for its terrible wickedness (Gen. 18:20-21) 2. Tyre a. The city was to be scraped and made flat, like the top of a rock  (Ezek. 26:4) b. It was to become a place for the spreading of nets (Ezek. 26:5) c. Its stones and timber were to be laid in the sea (Ezek. 26:12; Zech. 9:3-4) d. The city was never to be rebuilt (Ezek. 26:21) 3. Jericho a. That the city walls would be supernaturally destroyed by God (Josh. 6:2-5) b. That the city would later be rebuilt by one man (Josh. 6:26a) c. That the builder’s oldest son would die when the work on the city had begun (Josh. 6:26b) d. That the builder’s youngest son would die when the work was completed (Josh. 6:26c) 4. Nineveh That the city would be destroyed by the Babylonians (Book of Nahum) 5. Babylon That the city would be given over to the Medes and Persians (Dan. 5:26-28) 6. Jerusalem: Past Predictions a. It would become God’s chosen place (Deut. 12:5-6, 11; 26:2; Josh. 9:27; 1 Kings 8:29; 11:36; 15:4; 2 Kings 21:4, 7; 2 Chron. 7:12; Psa. 78:68) b. It would be spared from invasion by the Assyrians (Isa. 37:33-35) c. It would be destroyed by the Babylonians (Isa. 3:8; Jer. 11:23; 26:18;  Mic. 3:12) d. It would be rebuilt by the Jews after spending 70 years in Babylonian captivity (Isa. 44:28; Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10) e. It would have its streets and walls rebuilt during a period of trouble  PREDICTIONS REGARDING CITIES 11  (Dan. 9:25) f. The walls would be rebuilt 483 years prior to the crucifixion of Jesus  (Dan. 9:26) g. It would be destroyed by the Romans (Lk. 19:41-44) h. The temple of Herod would also be burned at this time (Mt. 24:1-2) 7. Jerusalem: Present Prediction It would be trodden down by Gentiles until the Second Coming (Lk. 21:24)  E.   1. A Departure from the Christian faith caused by Christ hating and truth denying false religious teachers (1 Tim. 4:1a; 2 Tim. 4:3; 2 Peter 2:1-2) 2. An increase of demonic activity (1 Tim. 4:1b) 3. A godless and powerless form of religion (2 Tim. 3:5) 4. The rise of lust-controlled mockers, totally devoid of natural human affection  (2 Tim. 3:3; 2 Peter 3:3-4; Jude 18-19) 5. Blasphemers who will be self-centered, arrogant, greedy, and lawless (2 Tim. 3:2)   PREDICTIONS REGARDING CONDITIONS  JUST PRIOR TO CHRIST’S RETURN 

Question 98 - What supernatural elements may be seen regarding the prophetical accuracy of the Bible?

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Question 98 - What supernatural elements may be seen regarding the prophetical accuracy of the Bible?

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