Proclaim good

“It’s a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.” Sometimes I cringe when I hear this. Is the Israel-Palestinian conflict fulfilling prophecy? What about the Ukrainian war or recent political chaos? Is the end near? Throughout history, well-meaning believers have tried to understand difficult times with the light of Scripture.

End-time claims sell books and get publicity. Consider Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye or Charles Hagy. They are influencing many conservative Christians, (as a recent conversation with a friend proved to me).

What is prophecy?

Prophecy is not fortune-telling or even primarily future-telling. We are misled into this view by pagan forms and the Greek word “pro” which can mean “before” (so it is understood as speaking beforehand). “Pro-“ can also be “on behalf of.”

Prophecy is, first and foremost, to speak on behalf of God. A prophet is a “forthteller,” not primarily a foreteller.

As “forthtellers,” a prophet addresses the word of God to the life-and-death struggle of his people. The prophets are primarily addressing their own historical situation. They bring a message of God’s judgment on his people’s covenant unfaithfulness. This is a call to return to faithfulness. It is also a defense of the justice and holiness of God. When God’s judgment comes, the prophets also bring a message of hope or salvation. God will remain faithful to his covenant promises. The God of history is in control and will be gracious to his people.

Prediction

As part of their “forthtelling,” the prophets are, admittedly, also “foretellers.” The prophets predict that God’s judgment will come to move his people to repentance. They predict that there is hope of future salvation to motivate the people to trust in God. The prominent theme is exhortation, not prediction. The “foretelling” serves the “forthtelling.” The prophets are addressing, first and foremost, their historical situation.

What is fulfillment?

The prophets are tied to their history, but not limited by it. What a prophet says has on-going meaning, not as prediction, but as principle. The principle is that God is at work in history to defeat evil and fulfill his promise of salvation.

We can see this principle in corresponding events throughout history. When the New Testament speaks of the fulfillment of prophecy, it is showing how God’s work in Jesus and the early church corresponds to the way God has worked in the past.

Ezekiel predicted a new temple. About 70 years later the returning Jewish exiles started to build it. Jesus embodied it. The church became it. The new creation will complete it. It is not about a possible building in Israel today. It is about God’s presence in the world.

Prophecy is about proclamation, not prediction. Prophecy proclaims God’s faithful action and calls for our faithful response. It is not a judgmental weapon to use against our enemies or an attempt to “read the times.” Prophecy is proclaiming the principle of God’s good news.