Reference: Prophets, The
Morish
The books so designated form a distinct and most important part of scripture. Prophecy usually implied a ruined state of things among God's people, calling for His intervention. Some of the prophecies are appeals, reminding the people of what God had done for them, and declaring how willing and ready He was to bless them if they would be faithful to Him; though interwoven with this are constant predictions of that which will be for the blessing of Israel in the future, after they have for the time been set aside. Others strictly allude to events which were then or are still future. As a whole the prophets refer to Israel as an inner circle, or chief platform, on which the dealings of Jehovah were and will be developed, and with which the Messiah is in immediate relation. The nations formed an outer circle, and were regarded more or less according to their relations with the twelve tribes. These nations are sometimes spoken of as being God's instruments by whom He punished His own people, they themselves having afterwards to bear the punishments of God. Beyond and above all, there is God's universal government; in which everything is in result to be made subject to the Messiah, while God's promises are made good to Israel, for all Israel will again be brought into blessing, with Jehovah in their midst surrounded with glory, and the nations will be blessed with them.
The Prophetic scriptures naturally fall into three divisions.
1. Those that were given to Israel while still a nation, though divided into two parts, extending to the complete break up of Judah.
2. Those referring to the times of the Gentiles, which began with Nebuchadnezzar, and, continuing beyond the days of the Messiah on earth, are still running on: these are almost entirely given in Daniel.
3. Those given after a portion of Judah had returned from exile, when they were helped by the prophecies of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, which present the time of the Messiah on earth, and go even beyond to future blessing.
To these may be added the prophecies in the Gospels, the Epistles, and the Revelation, embracing the judgements of God upon apostate Christendom and the nations generally; the final overthrow of Satan, and universal blessing, ending with the judgement of the dead and a glorious outlook into the eternal state.
It will not be inappropriate here to add a few words as to the relative position, in point of time, of the various O.T. prophetic scriptures. It may be premised that the burden of the prophets Obadiah, Jonah, and Nahum has special reference to Edom and to Nineveh, that is, to peoples that were always hostile to Israel. There is but little whereby to fix precisely the dates of Joel and Habakkuk. Of the remainder, Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah are anterior to the captivity of the ten tribes. The visions of Isaiah, however, have reference to Judah and Jerusalem. It appears probable, whatever may be the reason, that the testimony commonly known as "the prophets" began in the time of Jeroboam 2 king of Israel, Uzziah being his contemporary in Judah. The introduction of prophetic scripture indicated that the ordinary relations of the people with God had broken down, Lo-ammi being prophetically written upon them.
Others follow closely, as Micah, who prophesies concerning Samaria and Jerusalem, though no personal reference is made to a king of Israel; and, either before or contemporary with the captivity of Judah, Jeremiah and Zephaniah. The prophets Ezekiel and Daniel speak from the land of Chaldea, when all present hope was over for both Israel and Judah, and the times of the Gentiles had set in. After the return from the captivity we have Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The testimony of the prophets extended thus over a period of from three to four hundred years.
The approximate dates of each of the prophets may be seen in the tables of chronology under KINGS.
The Books of Isaiah and Jeremiah are remarkable, the former as being the most comprehensive of the prophecies, taking up almost in order the various moral questions involved in God's dealings with Israel, and giving what may be described as a general prophetic framework; and the latter as bringing out, in a peculiarly touching way, the feelings induced by the Spirit of Christ in regard of God's people when, there being no remedy, the end was come.
Two remarks of great importance as regards prophecy may be made: first, that no prophecy carries its own interpretation: each has to be understood in its place and relation to the whole system of prophecy. Secondly, that the scope of all prophecy takes us on to the day of the Lord; the judgement of the nations and of the wicked in Israel; the establishment of the kingdom; and the reunion of Israel and Judah under the Lord their righteousness. This is the great end of God's ways on earth. This recovery and blessing by God of His ancient people, in their Messiah, may be said to be a golden thread running through all the prophets. It was ever before God, and shines out everywhere.
It is of the greatest importance, both for the right understanding of these scriptures, and for a true appreciation of what Christianity is, to see that the church has no place in the prophets. In the church there is neither Jew nor Gentile, and the prophets recognise both, while carefully maintaining the distinction between them. Prophecy treats of the earth and of the government of God and its issue: the Christian belongs to heaven, and he will reign with Christ in the kingdom. In the A.V. of the O.T. the headings of many of the chapters are misleading: the church often spoken of in them is never found in the text; Christ is there, and the manifestation of God; and the scriptures which develop His ways, and speak of the sufferings and the glories of the One to whom the Christian is united, are of deep interest to him, though he himself may not be immediately spoken of.
Some Christians, though they know and enjoy certain portions of prophecy., without seeing its reference strictly to the remnant of Israel, fail to study the prophets. Not a few deem the study to be unprofitable
See Verses Found in Dictionary
He will have dominion from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
His name will endure forever. His name will continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and call him blessed.
Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle matters between many people. They will beat (hammer) their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other, and they will not learn war anymore.
The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the well-fed animal together. A little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze. Their young will lie down together. And the lion will eat straw like the ox. read more. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra. The weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in my entire holy mountain. This is because the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah just as the waters cover the sea.
Then it will happen in that day that Jehovah will again recover the second time with his hand the remnant of his people. They will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the outcast ones of Israel. He will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. read more. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart. Those who harass Judah will be destroyed. Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west. Together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will possess Edom and Moab, and the sons of Ammon will be subject to them.
Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation. You have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold. Therefore you will plant pleasant plants and set out foreign (imported) (unusual) seedlings. In that day you will make your plant grow. In the morning you will make your seed flourish; but the harvest will be a heap of ruins in the day of grief and desperate sorrow.
On this mountain Jehovah of Hosts will make a feast of rich food for all peoples, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear of dregs. On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations. read more. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. He will take away the disgrace of His people from the earth. Jehovah has spoken!
Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said: We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge. We have hidden under falsehood! read more. Therefore this is what The Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. It is a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily. I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled. Your agreement with the grave will not stand when the overflowing scourge passes through. Then you will be trampled down by it.
This is what Jehovah says: Heaven is my throne. Earth is my footstool. Where can you people build a house or resting place for me? I have made all these things. That is why all these things have come into being, declares Jehovah. I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry for their sins and who tremble at my word. read more. Whoever kills a bull is like someone who kills a person. Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog's neck. Whoever offers a grain sacrifice is like someone who offers pig's blood. Whoever burns incense is like someone who worships an idol. People have certainly chosen their own ways, and they delight in detestable things.
You watched while a stone was cut out without hands. It struck the statue upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. The iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broke in pieces together. It became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors. The wind carried them away and no place was found for them. The stone that struck the statue became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, since iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things. It is iron that crushes all these. It will break in pieces and crush. The feet and toes you saw, part of potters' clay, and part of iron will be a divided kingdom. It will have the strength of iron. However, you saw the iron mixed with clay. read more. As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong, and partly broken. The iron mixed with clay will mingle with the seed of men. But they will not adhere to one another. For iron does not stick to clay. In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Its sovereignty will not be entrusted to another people. It will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it will stand forever! You saw a stone cut out of the mountain without hands. It broke the iron, brass, clay, silver, and the gold to pieces. The great God made known to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is certain, and the interpretation of it is sure.
After this I saw more visions in the night. I saw a FOURTH BEAST terrible and powerful, and exceedingly strong! It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from the beasts that came before it. It had ten horns! I looked at the horns and another one, a little horn came. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man. It had a mouth that spoke great (domineering) (boastful) things. The three first horns were plucked up roots and all.
I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast that was different from the others. This beast was exceeding terrible. It had teeth made of iron. Its claws were made of copper. It devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped what was left with its feet. There were ten horns on its head. Three horns fell and another horn came up. The horn that had eyes and a mouth spoke great (domineering) (boastful) things. Its appearance was greater than the others. read more. I watched that same horn as it made war with the holy ones. It prevailed against (defeated) them. Then the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came that the holy ones possessed the kingdom. (Revelation 5:10; 20:4, 6) He said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on earth. It will be different from all other kingdoms. It will devour the entire earth. It will trample it down and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings that will arise out of this kingdom! Another will arise after them. He will be different from the former, and he will subdue three kings. He will speak words against the Most High (Supreme God) and wear down (afflict) (cause great distress) the holy ones of the Most High. He will think to change the times and law and will have control until a time and times and half a time. (Three and one-half years)
He will make a firm covenant with many for one week (time period of seven). In the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the offerings to cease. The one that makes desolate will come upon the wing of abominations. At the end that which is decreed will be poured out upon the one lying desolate.
He will make a firm covenant with many for one week (time period of seven). In the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the offerings to cease. The one that makes desolate will come upon the wing of abominations. At the end that which is decreed will be poured out upon the one lying desolate.
The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god. He will speak horrable (atrocious) things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the indignation is accomplished for that which is determined will be done. Neither will he honor the gods of his father's, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god for he will magnify himself above them all. read more. He will honor the god of military fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know. He will honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and expensive gifts. He will deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. Whoever acknowledges him will increase with glory. He will make them rulers over many, and will divide the land for a price.
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who have wisdom (insight) will shine like the brightness of the firmament. They turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.
Jehovah will be King over all the earth. Jehovah will be the only one and his name will be the only one in that day.
The sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of earth will mourn. They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The creation will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and is in pain together until now.
In this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come out of Zion and will remove ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins.
Behold, I show you a secret. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last reverberation of the trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Do not let anyone deceive you about this in any way. That day will not come unless apostasy (a falling away from truth) takes place first, and the man of lawlessness (sin), the man of destruction, is revealed. (2 Timothy 4:3) He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and declares (promotes) himself to be like God. (Ezekiel 28:2) read more. Do you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you? There is something that keeps this from happening now, and you know what it is. At the proper time, then, the wicked one will appear. The secret of evil (lawlessness) is even now at work. But there is one who restrains the evil till he is taken out of the way. Then the evil (lawless) one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will put him to death with the breath of his mouth, and destroy him by the manifestation (brightness) (advent) (revelation) of his coming. (Greek: parousia: presence, return, being near) The evil (lawless) one will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false signs and wonders. He will use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. So God dispatches the power of deceit (error) to work in them so that they are allowed to believe what is false. Then everyone who did not believe the truth, but was delighted with wickedness, will be condemned.
Know this also that in the last days perilous (dangerous) times will come. For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous (lovers of money), arrogant, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful (ungrateful), unholy, read more. unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Stay away from people like this! Among them are those who creep into houses and lead captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away with various lusts. They are constantly learning, and never able to grasp the knowledge of the truth. And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, rejected concerning the faith, they will make no progress; for their foolishness will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine. Having their ears tickled, they will accumulate teachers who follow after their own lusts. They will turn their ears away from the truth, and turn aside to myths (fiction).
Beloved, I diligently wrote you about our common salvation. I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. Certain men crept in unnoticed. They were appointed long ago for this condemnation. These ungodly men turned the grace of our God into loose conduct. They deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Woe to them! They went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the rebellious talk of Korah.
There was given me a reed like a measuring rod: and the angel stood, saying: Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship there. Do not measure the court outside the temple for it is given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.
One of the seven angels who had one of the seven bowls spoke to me. He said: Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. read more. So he carried me away in spirit to the wilderness. I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast. The beast was full of names of blasphemy. It had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet. She was adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand. It was full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. A name was written on her forehead, a mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth. I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the holy ones, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her I wondered greatly. The angel said: Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not. It will ascend out of the pit and go into destruction. They who dwell on the earth will wonder, those whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
There are seven kings: five have fallen, and one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes he must remain a short while. The beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth king, and is from the seven, and goes into destruction. read more. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But they receive power (authority) (influence) as kings for one hour with the beast. They are united in one purpose (single-minded), and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
The ten horns that you saw on the beast will hate the harlot, and will make her desolate and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and he who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns (diadems). He had a name written that no man knew, but himself. read more. He was clothed with a garment dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness and anger of Almighty God. He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice to all the fowls that fly in midheaven: Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God; that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of military commanders, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great. I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet that performed signs before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the one who sat on the horse. All the birds were filled with their flesh.
I saw an angel come down from heaven. He had the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent that is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. read more. He hurled him into the bottomless pit, and shut it and sealed it over him. He could not deceive the nations anymore till the thousand years ended. After that he must be let loose for a little while. I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I also saw the people who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image. They had not received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.] (Not found in older manuscripts.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall rule as kings with him for the thousand years. When the thousand years end, Satan will be let loose out of his prison. Satan will go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle. The number of these is as the sand of the sea (too great to count). They advanced over the broad plain of the earth, and encircled the camp of the holy ones, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven and devoured (consumed) them. The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are, and will be tormented day and night forever.