The “More Sure Word of Prophecy”
1. What does the prophet say of God? “He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” Dan. 2:22. 2. Through whom does God reveal His purposes? “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. 3. To whom does the revelation belong? “Those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut. 29:29. NOTE.— A prophet is “one who speaks as the inspired representative of a divine being; one who delivers the divine messages, or interprets the divine will.”—“Standard Dictionary.” Prophecy, according to the same authority, is (1) “a prediction made under divine influence and protection; more loosely, any prediction or foretelling; (2) discourse delivered under divine inspiration or direction; something uttered by a teacher as the representative of God and for God.” The inspiration pertains rather to the words, the writing, than to the person. It is not the prophet, but the prophecy, that is inspired—God-breathed. Prediction of future events is therefore one of its great offices. It also reveals present conditions as God sees them and the duty of His people in view of these conditions and of their relation to Him. 4. What does the apostle call this revelation of the future and of present duty? “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.” 2 Peter 1:19. 5. “More sure” than what? What is the comparison? “More sure” than the evidences of the senses, seeing and hearing combined. See verses 16 to 18. NOTE.— The apostle declares that the making known of Christ’s second coming was not a “cunningly devised fable;” for God revealed what it meant in the vision of the transfiguration of Christ on the holy mount; and that glory they SAW, and God’s voice they HEARD, while they were with Him there. See Matt. 17:1-8. But more than this visible, audible evidence is God’s “more sure word of prophecy.” 6. In what shall we do well? “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed.” 2 Peter 1:19. 7. What is it designed to be for the children of God, and for how long? “Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19. NOTE.— The time of sin in this world is known as the night, in contradistinction to the glorious reign of Christ to come, known as the day. The morning, or breaking of that day, is the rising of the Sun of righteousness, the giving of His last message, the outpouring of His Spirit, the ripening of the harvest, preparatory to the second coming of the Master. To that coming day belong His children of light, and until that day dawns and He comes into life and heart and experience of His people such as has never been known before, God’s prophecy lights their way. See Rom. 13:11, 13; 1 Thess. 5:1-8. 8. What does Daniel say of one of his prophecies? “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” “He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.” Dan. 2:28, 29. 9. Did the prophets themselves always understand the things revealed? “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Dan. 12:8. 10. What reply was made to him? “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.” Dan. 12:9, 4. 11. What would then occur? “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4. NOTE.— That is, many would seek out God’s truth, searching the Scriptures, giving “sedulous attention to these things,” and knowledge of the prophecies, and especially of those prophecies having to do with our Lord’s priesthood, the work of the Judgment and His last message, should be increased. 12. What therefore are the prophets represented as doing? “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what [time], or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11. 13. What was revealed to them? “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:12. 14. What may we then conclude? “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4. See also 1 Cor. 10:11. 15. What was Jehovah acknowledged to be because of His power to reveal? “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets.” Dan. 2:47. 16. What does God declare Himself to be? “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me.” Isa. 46:9. 17. What evidence is set forth in support of this claim? “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.” Isa. 46:10. 18. What does Jesus say of one of His noted prophecies? “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35. Examples of Bible Prophecies
“And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other.” Deut. 28:64. “Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations.” Verse 37. “The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Num. 23:9. NOTE.— What predictions are these of over three thousand years ago concerning one of the smallest nations? Go where one will, to every nation on the face of the earth, and the Jew has been there before him; and still he is, seemingly without reason, a proverb and a byword. Seeking political favors, all that he has found are exceptions which prove the rule, and create greater astonishment. He does not become a part of any people. Other great ancient nations have utterly perished, the Hebrews remain. No wonder that when the infidel king, Frederick the Great, asked the court chaplain for an evidence that God’s word is true, he replied laconically, “Sire, the Jews.” 20. What prophecy was uttered against Egypt in the day of her greatness and pride, now literally fulfilled? “It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.” Eze. 29:15. 21. What is said of her idolatrous worship? and of her rulers? “Thus saith the Lord God; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt.” Eze. 30:13. NOTE.— These are not all of God’s predictions concerning Egypt uttered when she was a mighty nation, a rival to Babylon. How completely have they been fulfilled! She has been a base, down-trodden land for centuries. No nation does her homage. Once the most idolatrous of lands, her idols have been abolished. And for centuries no native Egyptian has ruled over her. 22. What prophecy was uttered against Tyre when she was the merchant city of the earth? “And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the Lord have spoken it.” Eze. 26:14. NOTE.— Ancient Tyre was situated on an island, and in those days was almost impregnable. Nebuchadnezzar at first conquered her after a siege of thirteen years. Alexander captured the city after a siege of several months. By a mole he converted the island into a peninsula. Old Tyre was utterly obliterated, till its exact site is a matter of dispute. For centuries fishermen have spread their nets where once the proud city stood. 23. In view of the importance of prophecy, what admonition should we heed?9 24. What should we do regarding claimed prophecies? “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thess. 5:21. 25. By what test are we to try the prophets? “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20. 26. What is the result of rejecting the prophecies of God’s word? “And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling-place: but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” 2 Chron. 36:15, 16. 27. What blessing is pronounced upon those who heed His prophetic word? “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Rev. 1:3. 28. What then is our duty and privilege? “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chron. 20:20.