Bible Questions and Answers

What are the reasons God gave Biblical prophecy?

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

God has a purpose with the earth. He intends to fill the earth with his glory. Isaiah 45:18; Numbers 14:21

God’s glory will be in the form of men and women raised to the divine nature, in whom, and with whom, God will live forever. 2 Peter 1:4

God made man with free will so that we can choose whether we want to be part of his purpose or not. Eve allowed herself to be misled by the serpent and she and Adam disobeyed God and brought sin and death upon themselves and all their progeny.

God in his foreknowledge put a plan in motion to save from sin and death those who want to be part of his purpose. From the beginning he prophesied the coming of a descendant born of a woman who would ‘bruise the head of the serpent’ being understood as one who would undo the consequences of the serpent’s deception. Genesis 3:1

This prophecy gave a reason to hope and serve God to Adam and Eve's descendents. It is first seen in their son Seth following the birth of Enosh. Genesis 4:26

As time went on more details of the events which would lead to the fulfilment of God’s purpose were revealed.

Abraham received a prophecy that the promised seed would come through him. Genesis 22:18

He also receives a promise of an eternal inheritance in the land of Canaan. Genesis 17:8 

This of course means that Abraham will be raised from the dead to eternal life.

David received a prophecy that his descendant would reign upon his throne forever. 1 Chronicles 17:11-14

The first part of this prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, a physical descendant of David through his mother Mary. The angel Gabriel told Mary: Luke 1:32,33

The second part of the prophecy will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to restore the kingdom of David as the kingdom of God on earth.

Jesus is also literally the 'seed of the woman' in that God was his Father.

From the above short example we see that the purpose of prophecy is to give a concrete hope to those who will believe God’s word. A solid reason to believe that his purpose will be fulfilled, though the day and hour is not revealed. Matthew 24:36

There are prophecies in the Bible which enable the faithful to discern the signs of their own times.

Many prophecies concerning Jesus, including his death and resurrection and ascension to heaven were fulfilled, showing beyond reasonable doubt that he is the promised Messiah, the one who would redeem the faithful from their sins. Luke 24:27; Acts 3:18

It was prophesied of Israel that because of their unbelief, they would be removed from the land – but also near to the end time they would be restored to the land in order that Ezekiel 38 & 39 and Zechariah 12 to 14 can be fulfilled. Israel was re-established in 1948 after an exile of nearly 2000 years..

Fulfilled prophecy gives us the evidence we need to believe that the scriptures which make up the Bible are what they claim to be – the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16

Prophecy gives us a solid hope that if we believe and obey the Gospel preached by Jesus Christ, we too can be raised from the dead to eternal life in the kingdom of God.

Paul prophesies what is to happen in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

Thus the purpose of God with the earth will come to fruition as prophesied.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn