Prophecy In The Bible.
Prophecy in the Bible is very important to study when trying
to decide if the Bible is trustworthy or not. In this article we will look
at several important prophecies in the Bible which have been or soon will
be fulfilled. We will start with a prophecy whose conclusion was mostly
fulfilled just a few years ago, after the end of World War Two. For hundreds
of years, many people thought this prophecy about the Jews would never be
literally fulfilled.
Copyright 1996-2021 by Wayne Mckellips. Last revised 6/7/2021.
Please copy and share but don't sell. You do not have permission
to mirror this article or site on the Internet. When studing prophecy
remember the Hebrew and Greek words Olam and Aion respectfully are
often translated as forever, eternal, etc., in most modern Bibles.
However, they are translated "age during" in Youngs Literal Translation.
I believe the evidence supports the translation of "age" or "age during".
The Jews and Palestine
Leviticus 26:31-33. The first five books of the OT were probably
written by Moses. See Exodus 7:7 & Deut 34:7.
Joshua was probably responsibe for chapter 34 of Deuteronomy.
Ezekiel 36:24,33-35; & 38:8. Ezekiel was written around 593 to
571 B.C. This prophecy predicted: 1) The land, cities, and
sanctuaries of the Jews would become waste and destroyed. Fulfilled for
almost 2000 years. 2) The Jewish people would be scattered among the
nations. Fulfilled around 70 A.D. Although the Jews had been exiled
before this was the first time they were scattered to many nations.
3) A sword or death would claim many Jews. Fulfilled by many, especially
Hitler. 4) The Jews would come back to Palestine. They would rebuild
their cities and work their land. This happened, and on May 15, 1948,
Israel declared itself a nation. Today, more and more Jews are going
back to Israel. In his book "The Oracle" Jonathan Cahn records a number
of prophecies about Israel that God is and has fulfilled in our day.
Exodus from Egypt, & 10 Plagues
Exodus 1-15. Simcha Jacobovici presents a lot of evidence the exodus
took place around 1500 BC under Pharoah Ahmose.
Evidence for where Israel crossed the Red Sea
Exodus 14 and 15. Wagon wheels and human bones, etc., found in this
part of the Red sea. Terrain that matches the Biblical description.
Melted rock and sand caused by the pillar of fire protecting the
Israelites. A pillar erected by King Solomon detailing what happened
at that location.
Jericho
Joshua 6:26 written around 1450 B.C. This prophecy specifically
predicted: 1) The city of Jericho would be rebuilt. Fulfilled
when King Ahab had Hiel rebuild Jericho. 2) When the builder lays
the new Jericho's foundations his oldest son would die. Fulfilled
when Hiel's oldest son Abiram died. 3) When the builder sets up
the city's gates his youngest son would die. Fulfilled when Hiel's
youngest son Segub died. I Kings 16:34.
Babylon
Isaiah 13:17-21. Isaiah was written around 762 to 698 B.C.
Jeremiah 51:24,26,43. Jeremiah was written around 629 to 599 B.C.
Daniel chapter 5 and 6:28. Daniel was written around 570 to 536 B.C.
Together this prophecy predicted: 1) The Medes and Persians
would conquer Babylon. Babylon was conquered in 538 B.C. by Cyrus the
Persian, and Darius the Mede. Apparently, the city of Babylon
had double walls which were many miles in length. The Euphrates river
flowed through the city. Note: After being conquered in 538 B.C.,
by the Medes and Persians, Babylon slowly became entirely desolate.
Hardly anyone has lived there for ages.
There is evidence the Babylon in Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 49 as well as Revelation,
etc., is Saudi Arabia which is in a desert which is surrounded by seas. I learned this
first from Walid Shoebat. The youtube video Islam: Babylon the Great also examines
and explains this idea.
Edom
Jeremiah 49:16-18. Jeremiah was written around 629 to 599 B.C.
Isaiah 34:6-15. Isaiah was written around 762 to 698 B.C.
This prophecy predicted: 1) Edom would be defeated.
2) The land of Edom shall burn, smoke and lay waste "to the age" according to
Young's Literal Translation of Isaiah 34:10. It will
be empty of people. See Isaiah 34:9-10. Jeremiah 49:17-18.
In his introduction to Isaiah 34 Matthew Henry seems to feel this
prophecy has several layers (my words) of fulfillment. First, it was
partially fulfilled by Sennacherib the Assyrian between 705 and 701 B.C.
Next, it was the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar who conquered Edom. Jeremiah
27:3-6. Finally Matthew Henry feels this prophecy will have its final
or complete fulfillment at the day of judgment. I think that is because
Isaiah 34:10 also says none is passing into her for ever and ever.
Notice Petra, a very important city in south Edom, was in
solid rock, and had great natural defenses. Selah, or Petra in
Isaiah 16:1 means rock. Petra was conquered long after Nebuchadnezzar
in 636 A.D. Although not totally unhabited. It is almost empty.
Tyre
Ezekiel 26:3-5,7,12,14,16. Ezekiel was written around 593 to 571 B.C. This prophecy
predicted: 1) Nebuchadnezzar would conquer Tyre, a powerful and
glorious city. Fulfilled in 573 B.C. 2) Many nations would fight against
Tyre. I believe this was first fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar when he
couquered Tyre as a king of many nations. He no doubt pressed soldiers
from many nations to serve in his army. Later this part of the prophecy
was fulfilled again in 332 B.C. by Alexander the Great. During the
centuries that followed many nations cames against Tyre until it was
finally destroyed in 1291 A.D. 3) Tyre's stones, timber, and even dust would go
into the sea. The city would be made flat, like a rock's top. Apparently,
under Alexander the Great, the stones, timber, and even dust from daughter
Tyre, on the west coast of Lebanon, was dumped into the sea in order to
build a land bridge to Mother Tyre, which was actually a fortress like
island, a short distance away. 4) Other rulers would fear greatly when Tyre
was conquered. I believe this was fulfilled in 332 B.C.
5) Referring to this powerful and glorious
Tyre, according to Young's Literal Translation Ezekiel 26:14 God said thou art not built up anymore.
Verse 21 includes the words to the age in YLT. Nets would be spread out
where it used to be. For many years visitors could pass by where daughter
Tyre used to be, and view the nets of fishermen. Today, there is a new
daughter Tyre, in Lebanon, of around 132,000 people.
It is my understanding, Tyre, the mother city remains vacant and destroyed.
Egypt conquered by Nebuchadnezzer
Note: In Ezekiel 29 especially verses 2, 11, 13, 19-20 and Jeremiah 43:10-13
God says he will give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar and their people will be
displaced for 40 years. I've read critics who say Nebuchadnezzar never
conquered Egypt. Jim Reilly wrote "Displaced Dynasties". In volume 1
chapter 4 Mr. Reilly gives evidence Nebuchadnezzar conquered Egypt around
565 B.C. when Taharka was king of Egypt. Egypt's educated and skilled
people were displaced for 40 years. After that Egypt never again rose
to become a world power.
The Golden Gate of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 44:1-3. Ezekiel was written around 593 to 571 B.C. This prophecy
predicted: 1) This specific gate would be shut. Fulfilled 1543 A.D.
2) This gate would stay shut except when it opens to allow Jesus,
the LORD (Jehovah) God, to enter Jerusalem through it.
An Increase in Knowledge and Travel
Daniel 12:4. Daniel was written
around 570 to 536 B.C. This prophecy
in Daniel predicted knowledge and travel would increase during the end
times. Today, we can fly around the entire world in a few hours and our
knowledge of the physical universe is exploding.
The abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place
Prophecied first by Daniel. Daniel 9:21-27. 12:11. Mentioned by Jesus.
Matthew 24:14-16. Written about by Paul. 2nd Thessalonians 2:2-4.
Is it possible the temple will be rebuilt and this will happen in
the rebuilt temple. Here is evidence the temple was not where the
Dome of the Rock is but was in Zion, the city of David, were the
Gihon Springs were and are.
It is possible the location of the ark of the covenant and other
temple artifacts is known and was found years ago by Ron Wyatt.
Jerusalem - a burdensome stone to the world
Zechariah 12:2-3, 9-10; 14:1-5, 9 written around 518 B.C. This prophecy
specifically predicts:
1) In the day of the LORD, Jerusalem will be a stone of burden to the
nations of the world. 2) All nations will fight against Judah and Jerusalem.
3) Jerusalem will be conquered and half of her people will be taken taken
away. 4) Then Jehovah will fight against the nations that are fighting
against Jerusalem and Judah. Of course, Jehovah will win, destroying
the nations that are fighting Jerusalem.
Bodies Destroyed While Still Standing
Zechariah 14:12 written around 518 B.C. This prophecy specifically
predicts: 1) In a future war, the flesh, the eyes, and the tongues
of those who fight Jerusalem will rot or be consumed while they are
still standing. Today, Nuclear weapons can vaporize standing
soldiers before they can even fall to the ground. Of course, only
God knows what method He will use to accomplish this.
All Mankind Destroyed
This prophecy in Matthew 24:21-22 was written around 65 A.D. Here
Jesus predicted:
1) All human beings would die during the great tribulation, which
is still to come, except that God will (koloboo) shorten, cut off,
amputate, or in our words, end those terribly destructive days.
Today, with our Nuclear Weapons the United States or Russia either
one could destroy all life on planet earth several times over.
When Jesus said all flesh would die during the great tribulation
except for the intervention of God there were no Nuclear Weapons.
An Army of 200 Million
Revelation 9:13-16 and 16:12 written around 95 A.D. According to this prophecy by
John: 1) An army of 200 million soldiers will cross the Euphrates River and kill
many people as they head West. When John wrote Revelation there were only 200 million
people on the face of the whole earth. Since 1961 China which is East of the Euphrates
River is estimated to have a militia of 200 million armed soldiers. I thought, no
nation on earth could produce and support an army as large as China can. However, I
recently found out from Walid Shoebat the Muslim nations surrounding Israel including
Turkey, Iraq, Iran, etc., can field an army of 200 million armed soldiers.
I found the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown commentary on the whole Bible
very helpful while studing these and other prophecies. It was very helpful
when looking for answers to the tough questions critics raise. The Blue
Letter Bible project website with its text and word searches, as well as
its Matthew Henry commentary, and Bible dictionaries was extremely
helpful in answering questions.
You can obtain much more detailed information about many of the
above prophesies from "Evidence That Demands A Verdict" by Josh
McDowell and "Science Speaks" by Peter W. Stoner. I especially like
Prophecy Central Prophecy Central has scriptures, background information,
current events, links, and on line books about many Biblical prophecies!
Hal Lindsey a very famous Christian writer examines the news and
current happenings and sees how they relate to events that were
prophecied in the Bible.
How could the Bible accurately predict all these happenings in such great
detail? The Bible is 100% accurate in its predictions because God who has
always existed and who knows the future gave this information to the writers
of the Bible. Surely, you can trust what the Bible says about Jesus!
Amazing Discoveries in Bible ArchaeologyHas links to
several good archaeology sites. Focus on Jerusalem has a lot of good
articles of what will happen in the end times according to the Bible.