how do you determine what is prophecy and what is just a comment on the times?

Question

so many of these so-called prophecies that i'm reading over, don't really seem to be prophecies at all. they seem more to be just comments about an event which is current to the time of the particular story that was written. are we to take it that every single instance where text in the old testament is loosely (and i stress the word loosely) coincidental to text in the new testament it should be considered prophecy?

charles, thanks for that bit of scripture which explains nothing...

the point is, the bulk of these 300 or so "prophecies" that were fulfilled, were not considered to be prophecies at all. they were instances that, when studied over a few times, someone drew a connection between the two, and declared the earlier instance must be a prophecy of the newer instance.

i'm amazed by comments like, "there is no such thing as coincidence." as if everything that is coincidental is so because someone made it that way.

Answer 1

Pick and choose. They've been doing it for centuries.

Answer 2

You are correct that most of what the prophets had to say was commentary on the condition of their times. That is the main function of a Bible prophet. The word "prophet" simply means someone who proclaims something.

Within the commentary, there will be times in which the prophets will speak of future events. Sometimes these events will happen within a few years, so that the fulfillment comes within the lifetime of the author.

Other times a prophecy is made that not fulfilled until generations later. For example, in the book of Joshua, after the city of Jericho was destroyed, Joshua prophecied that if someone where to rebuild the city, that the youngest son of the family would die the day the work began, and the oldest son on the day it was completed. In the book of 2 Kings, about 400 years later, you see tha very thing happen.

Some prophecies did not happen until after the entire Bible was completed. For example, Ezekiel prophecied that the city of Tyre would be destroyed by an army that would use planks to walk across the sea and burn it down. It would then be used for mending fishing nets. This was a ridiculous prophecy since Tyre was not a coastal city. But after the Bible was complete, Tyre was destroyed in an earthquake. The people decided to rebuild on the city on a nearby island. That city would be destroyed when a Roman legion used planks to make a bridge, crossed over it, and burned ti city. Today, the island is used for mending fishing nets.

But there are also many prophecy within the Old Testament that find fulfillment in the New. Take a look at Psalms 22. It opens with the first words that Jesus spoke from the cross, and goes on to list many of the events that would happen that day: the words his enemies would use to mock him, the soldiers gambling for his clothing, the piercing of his hand and feet, that his legs would not be broken after death, that he would thrist, that his bones would be out of joint (the main case of death in a curcifixion), that he would be laid in a rich man's tomb, etc. This is far more that a "loosely coincidental" mention of a text in the New Testament. Thanks to the Dead Sea Scrolls, we have manuscripts proving the existence of this prophet before the time of Jesus.

So while the majority of the teachings of the prophets did deal with their own times, there are still many looks into the future in their writings. Some of them remarkable in their detail like Psalms 22.

Answer 3

I wish you would have given a more specific prophesy and text you are referring to. This is a little vague.

When it came to prophesying, though, I had asked a similar question myself. I was especially curious because it is a gift of the spirit. I was wondering how many lunatics we may have running around and thinking they are foretelling the future.....so I researched what the word "prophesying" actually means...it is taken from the Hebrew word "naba" or "nebiy" and it means to speak as a prophet(one who speaks inspired utterances often including the application of the message): the focus is on encouraging or restoring covenant faithfulness, the telling of future events encourages obedience and warns against disobedience. The Greek word "propheteuo" means to speak an inspired message, sometimes encouraging obedience to God, sometimes proclaiming the future as a warning to preparedness and continued obedience.

I suggest that you pray and ask God to guide you through the truth and answer the questions you may have. When I did a study on the end times,...I used the Prophesy study bible with commentary by Tim LaHaye. If I still had further questions or did not agree with it entirely, I prayed about it and God eventually led me.


Also,...when some things were foretold,...many did not understand what they were talking about at the time because it had not happened yet. (an example of this is the fact that Jesus told everyone that he would die and be raised again on the third day, but they did not comprehend it because their minds were set on this glorious physical king that would come into Jeruselem and reclaim the throne of David. Once it began to take place, we began to understand. That is why Jesus told so many parables. To help our minds grasp the great big things that God has intended for us outside of our little box we live in. The same thing is happening in the book of Daniel prophesies. Daniel was told that noone would understand until that time came to be. It is that time and it is becoming more clear.

Answer 4

I was just talking to a guy about how an understanding of ancient literary genres is essential to a proper understanding of the Bible. Prophesy is a good example. Ancient prophesies were usually written after the events that they supposedly predicted. They were not intended to predict the future, but rather to offer a commentary on what had already happened. Early readers (or hearers, rather) understood the genre, and understood its meaning.

The other point is that ancient prophesy was approached from a different perspective. People used prophesy almost like you would use an oracle. They knew what the actual prophesy was talking about, but a good commentator was also expected to find a relevant, current meaning for the text. Matthew, for example, knew that Isaiah wasn't predicting that a virgin was going to have a son. But Matthew followed Jewish convention and interpreted the prophesy in Isaiah according to a religious dogma of his own day. That was the hallmark of a good teacher in the late first first century.

Answer 5

There ain't no such a thing as coincidence!
The Old is full of prophecy, allusions to what is to come (in the New) and foreshadowings. It is no coincidence, for instance that all the Jewish festivals foreshadow the work of Christ.
Below is a book that spells that out. It is an eye opener.
The prophecies are many. I thought to add this one particular with the book reference as I found it to be a good book to study.

Answer 6

When it comes true then you will know it was prophecy, In the last days people will become more violent, especially the youth.They will start to rebel against authority, parents. Brother will turn against brother. Just take notice it will become clear.

Answer 7

apocalyptic literature was regularly written AS THOUGH the writer was looking ahead to the future, while actually writing about a past event......none of it is prophecy.....it is a religious perspective of a historical event that took place before the writing.

Answer 8

a discerning spirit given to the believer from God...this is how you can tell....God also reveals things to His people. If you don't have the Spirit of God...you couldn't possibly understand. Spiritual things cannot be comprehended with carnal minds. God and His word are one...see John 1:1

Answer 9

People are forever telling others what they believe is going to happen . Those who guess right are prophets . All the wrong guessers are forgotten .

Answer 10

prophecy is all through out the bible... i guess it is hard to tell one from the next but if you need help on a spasific one i would be happy to explain this to you.. expecially revelation.. its a tough one.. haha

-me