A Closer Look at Prophecy

[CGMedley]

For several years there's been a proliferation of apocalyptic novels, films, and other end-time stories. However, Christians should always ask, "How does the literature square with the Bible?" This week the Adventist Review presents a series articles on prophecy and end-time events.

Making Sense of Bible Prophecy

http://www.adventistreview.org/2001-1513/story4-1.html

Here's a bird's eye view of the concepts and issues.

Prophecy 101

http://www.adventistreview.org/2001-1513/story4.html

Adventist pioneers were captured by the big picture that still captures us today.

Understanding the Book of Revelation

http://www.adventistreview.org/2003-1523/story5.html

Bible scholar Hans Larondelle offers three interpretive keys.

Unlocking the Prophecy Code

http://www.adventistreview.org/2005-1512/story6.html

An interview with evangelist Doug Batchelor

The Prophecy Protection

http://www.adventistreview.org/2000-02/story2.htm

Walter Scragg reminds us that we must know our own history and the Word.

Israel and Armageddon

http://www.adventistreview.org/2003-1518/story2.htm

Will God defend the Middle East during earth's last battle?

The Rapture--Is Anything Missing?

http://www.adventistreview.org/2001-1513/story5.html

An excerpt from the Left Behind Deception by Steve Wohlberg

End-time Delusions

http://www.adventistreview.org/2004-1518/story5.html

An Adventist pastor and a Christian publisher team up to answer the "Left Behind" claims.

[John317]

For several years there's been a proliferation of apocalyptic novels, films, and other end-time stories. However, Christians should always ask, "How does the literature square with the Bible?" This week the Adventist Review presents a series articles on prophecy and end-time events.

Making Sense of Bible Prophecy

http://www.adventistreview.org/2001-1513/story4-1.html

Here's a bird's eye view of the concepts and issues.

Thanks for posting these. I wouldn't have noticed them otherwise.

The following from this link is especially important for us to understand, because not understanding it leads to all kinds of false hopes and false interpretations of the prophecies:

"As we read the Old Testament, we run up against certain prophetic predictions that, especially in recent times, have led to questions. They have the form of eschatological prophecies—prophecies relating to 'the last things.' Did they find fulfillment? Or were the prophets mistaken?

The common element in these prophecies is that they begin with the prophet’s circumstances (commonly the Babylonian exile), then look beyond immediate events into the future. In that future, the prophets were shown what ancient Israel could have become. They saw God’s people returning to their glorified land. They saw Jerusalem as an exalted city—the world capital, in fact, into which people from all nations would stream, seeking a knowledge of the true God. The exaltation of this land and the entire world was to continue until it would become, in effect, a new earth.

These prophecies about ancient Israel were never literally fulfilled, however. Why? The humanistic answer is that the prophets were not really recipients of divine foreknowledge and had simply guessed wrong. A completely opposite answer, characteristic of some evangelical interpreters (known as dispensationalists), is that, since these prophecies were inspired by God, they must take place—in the literal, present country of Israel.

Seventh-day Adventists take a third approach—one in the middle of the first two. Like the evangelicals, we believe these 'failed' prophecies were given by God and are true. But we agree with the humanists that they will not be literally fulfilled in Israel.

How do we reconcile these two points of view? By considering these prophecies conditional. As Ellen G. White put it: 'The promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional.' Following her lead, we have placed these prophecies in the category of promises—promises of what could have been if God’s chosen people had cooperated fully with His plan for them. Unfortunately, they did not. We see the final frustration of God’s plan in the New Testament. Here God’s own people reject the Messiah: 'He came to his own home, and his own people received him not' (John 1:11, RSV). While these prophecies will yet be fulfilled in reference to spiritual Israel, the Christian church (Gal. 3:15-29), they no longer apply to a literal Israel in the Middle East."

[jasd]

>>They saw Jerusalem as an exalted city—the world capital, in fact, into which people from all nations would stream, seeking a knowledge of the true God.<<

Apparently, they were wrong on at least two counts, yes? One, they were incorrect in their interpretation of Writ or their understanding of same. Second, they seem to have misplaced the temporal factor in Writ.

>>...characteristic of some evangelical interpreters (known as dispensationalists), is that, since these prophecies were inspired by God, they must take place—in the literal, present country of Israel.<<

If your reference in the above is the State of Israel – then yes, they are patently incorrect/wrong. As far as

“these prophecies” are concerned – I don’t think Gd can be characterized as

that which listeth as the wind blows.

Per the literal, present “country of Israel” – I am of the opinion that that "country"/countries "of Israel" is/are where literal, present Israel/COI are presently gathered – chief of them is America. Further, I envision the throne of Britain together with the Stone of Scone being [shortly] forced to move to Montreal (surmising it is not Toronto or other some such city in Canada).

>>How do we reconcile these two points of view?<<

At times, quite the puzzle, yes? :-)

>>By considering these prophecies conditional.<<

The above expositional approach – rather than substantiating Gd: per,

Is 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [i am] God, and [there is] none like me, v10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

seems to smack of not so much the road more traveled or the road less traveled but – the road more or less traveled. It sounds as though

Gd lisps when He promises.

>>As Ellen G. White put it: 'The promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional.'<<

A bit of specificity might be called-for in this instance. In my humble opinion I submit that there are those ‘promises’ that are conditional and there are those that are unconditional. I think that should one seek to establish this or that promise of Gd as conditional

– the contextual presence of ‘if’ might serve as indicator.

>>...they no longer apply to a literal Israel in the Middle East."<<

Herein, we are in agreement: the Evangelicals (as well, most of Xtianity) are simply parroting one another re State of Israel – imho.

Prov 25:2 [it is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.