The Prophets of Israel Gathered in One SceneBible World
3:7Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
God in mercy does nothing without first revealing His secret purpose to His chosen prophets appointed to declare it, so that no judgment comes without prior warning and opportunity to turn from wrongdoing and receive approval rather than wrath. Before the Flood He made known through Noah His purpose to bring waters upon the earth, and the call to repent was sounded for 120 years. The secret revealed includes appointed times for future events, and students of Scripture can confidently expect to find the second coming of Christ clearly pointed out in the Scriptures of truth, just as the time of His coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His death, and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles were definitely pointed out beforehand. He makes future events clear to His prophets, including the rise and fall of kingdoms sometimes hundreds of years before they occur, and although rulers think they carry out their own plans, their actions unknowingly fulfill the prophetic word and serve His purposes. He does not hide His counsel but teaches His people His will so they are in the light all the time, and His words through His servants are to be received to govern the will and shape the life and then shared to warn others, for those given warning are responsible to pass it on and must not treat prophecy as a reason for complacency.
Warning Before Judgment
In great mercy nothing is done without first making the secret purpose known to chosen prophets who are appointed to declare it to the people, so that no judgment falls without prior warning by their mouth and opportunity to turn from evil ways and repent. Their warnings and reproofs give a chance to heed, to turn from wrongdoing, and to receive approval rather than face wrath. Needed knowledge is not withheld, for the longing implanted for what is better and the desire for truth are answered by revealing the condition of the world, its future, and the age in which men live, rather than leaving them without warning.
Before the Flood the purpose to bring a flood of waters upon the earth was first made known through Noah, and for a hundred and twenty years the warning to repent was sounded lest wrath be manifested in destruction. The message seemed an idle tale and was not believed, and from unbelief men passed to scorn and contempt and ridicule of it as highly improbable. There were mockery of the messenger, lightness toward his entreaties, accusation of presumption, and appeal to unvarying nature in the succession of the seasons, the rainless blue skies, and the dew-refreshed fields, while the preacher of righteousness was called a wild enthusiast and the people grew more eager in pleasure and in evil. Their unbelief did not hinder the predicted event, for though long forbearance was exercised and ample opportunity for repentance was given, at the appointed time judgment visited the rejecters of mercy.
Since past judgments never came without warning, the same pattern shows the world will be warned in time to prepare before the events yet to come, especially the day of the Lord and the coming of the Son of man.
Prophecy of Times and Kingdoms
The secret God reveals includes the appointed times for future events, for while secret things belong to God, the things revealed belong to His people and their children forever. Students of Scripture can therefore confidently expect to find the second coming of Christ, the most stupendous event in human history, clearly pointed out in the Scriptures of truth. The chronological prophetic periods that extend to that coming are as much a portion of the word of God as any other portion and are entitled to serious consideration as revealed truth.
The time of Christ's coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His death, and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles were definitely pointed out beforehand. It was the privilege of the Jewish people to understand these prophecies and to recognize their fulfillment in the mission of Jesus. Reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures brings blessing.
God makes future events clear to His prophets, including the rise and fall of kingdoms sometimes hundreds of years before they occur. Rulers may think they are carrying out their own plans, yet their actions unknowingly fulfill the prophetic word and serve His larger purposes. His knowledge of the present and future is complete, and as He revealed His purposes in the past so He continues to reveal them to His servants in the present age. Prophecy also encourages His people as they see their hopes nearing fulfillment.
Receiving and Sharing Light
God does not hide His counsel but teaches His people His will and mind, so that they are in the light all the time and take their position as those taught of God. He makes His secret purposes known to His chosen prophets, who are appointed to declare them to His people. His words and admonitions through His servants are to be received so that they can govern the will, purify the affections, and shape the life. Their warnings and reproofs give opportunity to heed the warning, to turn from wrongdoing, and to receive approval rather than wrath.
People may reject this light when it conflicts with their ideas and calls for repentance and change, and rejecting it leaves the mind to rely on its own judgment. Reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures brings His blessing. He reveals what is coming to His prophets so His people can share that light and warn others, and prophecy must not be treated as a reason for complacency, for those given warning are responsible to pass it on.
God in mercy does nothing without first revealing His secret purpose to His chosen prophets appointed to declare it, so that no judgment comes without prior warning and opportunity to turn from wrongdoing and receive approval rather than wrath. Before the Flood He made known through Noah His purpose to bring waters upon the earth, and the call to repent was sounded for 120 years. The secret revealed includes appointed times for future events, and students of Scripture can confidently expect to find the second coming of Christ clearly pointed out in the Scriptures of truth, just as the time of His coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His death, and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles were definitely pointed out beforehand. He makes future events clear to His prophets, including the rise and fall of kingdoms sometimes hundreds of years before they occur, and although rulers think they carry out their own plans, their actions unknowingly fulfill the prophetic word and serve His purposes. He does not hide His counsel but teaches His people His will so they are in the light all the time, and His words through His servants are to be received to govern the will and shape the life and then shared to warn others, for those given warning are responsible to pass it on and must not treat prophecy as a reason for complacency.
Warning Before Judgment
In great mercy nothing is done without first making the secret purpose known to chosen prophets who are appointed to declare it to the people, so that no judgment falls without prior warning by their mouth and opportunity to turn from evil ways and repent. Their warnings and reproofs give a chance to heed, to turn from wrongdoing, and to receive approval rather than face wrath. Needed knowledge is not withheld, for the longing implanted for what is better and the desire for truth are answered by revealing the condition of the world, its future, and the age in which men live, rather than leaving them without warning.
Before the Flood the purpose to bring a flood of waters upon the earth was first made known through Noah, and for a hundred and twenty years the warning to repent was sounded lest wrath be manifested in destruction. The message seemed an idle tale and was not believed, and from unbelief men passed to scorn and contempt and ridicule of it as highly improbable. There were mockery of the messenger, lightness toward his entreaties, accusation of presumption, and appeal to unvarying nature in the succession of the seasons, the rainless blue skies, and the dew-refreshed fields, while the preacher of righteousness was called a wild enthusiast and the people grew more eager in pleasure and in evil. Their unbelief did not hinder the predicted event, for though long forbearance was exercised and ample opportunity for repentance was given, at the appointed time judgment visited the rejecters of mercy.
Since past judgments never came without warning, the same pattern shows the world will be warned in time to prepare before the events yet to come, especially the day of the Lord and the coming of the Son of man.
Prophecy of Times and Kingdoms
The secret God reveals includes the appointed times for future events, for while secret things belong to God, the things revealed belong to His people and their children forever. Students of Scripture can therefore confidently expect to find the second coming of Christ, the most stupendous event in human history, clearly pointed out in the Scriptures of truth. The chronological prophetic periods that extend to that coming are as much a portion of the word of God as any other portion and are entitled to serious consideration as revealed truth.
The time of Christ's coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His death, and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles were definitely pointed out beforehand. It was the privilege of the Jewish people to understand these prophecies and to recognize their fulfillment in the mission of Jesus. Reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures brings blessing.
God makes future events clear to His prophets, including the rise and fall of kingdoms sometimes hundreds of years before they occur. Rulers may think they are carrying out their own plans, yet their actions unknowingly fulfill the prophetic word and serve His larger purposes. His knowledge of the present and future is complete, and as He revealed His purposes in the past so He continues to reveal them to His servants in the present age. Prophecy also encourages His people as they see their hopes nearing fulfillment.
Receiving and Sharing Light
God does not hide His counsel but teaches His people His will and mind, so that they are in the light all the time and take their position as those taught of God. He makes His secret purposes known to His chosen prophets, who are appointed to declare them to His people. His words and admonitions through His servants are to be received so that they can govern the will, purify the affections, and shape the life. Their warnings and reproofs give opportunity to heed the warning, to turn from wrongdoing, and to receive approval rather than wrath.
People may reject this light when it conflicts with their ideas and calls for repentance and change, and rejecting it leaves the mind to rely on its own judgment. Reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures brings His blessing. He reveals what is coming to His prophets so His people can share that light and warn others, and prophecy must not be treated as a reason for complacency, for those given warning are responsible to pass it on.