Bibliology Session 10-Fulfilled Prophecy Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Defending Inspiration
Prophecy in the Bible
Nature of Prophecy
Prophecy is an authoritative,
and accurate declaration of
events that have not yet
occurred at the time of the
announcement, history written
in advance.
Therefore, by its very nature,
prophecy is evidence of the
supernatural.
UNIQUE TO THE BIBLE.
Extent of Biblical Prophecy
It has been calculated by Barton Payne that nearly 1/3 of
the Bible is prophetic in nature, that is, 8,352 verses out of
31,124 total verses. Only 4 books in the Bible do not contain
any predictive material.
He notes that 1,817 total prophesies are contained in the
scripture, detailing 737 separate events. Several hundred of
these predictions have already been fulfilled.
Fulfilled prophecy is perhaps the greatest evidence
attesting to the supernatural nature of the Bible.
Purpose of Prophecy
1. To Demonstrate the God of the Bible as allknowing & all-powerful.
2. To Authenticate a God given message or a God
sent messenger (Deuteronomy 18).
3. To Broadcast to the world that the God of the
Bible is the only God to worship (Isaiah
45:20-23).
Examples from Last Week
1.Assyrian Captivity
2.Fall of Nineveh
5.The Wealth of Persia
3.Duration of the
6.Sequence of World
Babylonian Empire
4.Rise of Cyrus the
Great
Powers from Babylon to
Rome
Examples this Week
1.Conquests of Alexander the Great
2.The History of the Inter-testamental period.
3.Prophecies fulfilled in the 1st Coming of Christ.
Conquests of Alexander
Daniel 8:5-8, 18-21 describes both
the sequence of events, as well as
the speed of Alexander’s
conquests.
The text even details that the fall of
Persia to Alexander will occur in
three major conflicts. History
attests to this. Alexander’s three
stunning victories occurred at
Granicus River (May 334 B.C.),
Issus (Nov. of 333 B.C.), &
Gaugamela (Oct. 331 B.C.).
Conquests of Alexander
Ironically, it was the invasion of
Greece by Persia (Daniel 11:2),
which was the beginning of the
end for Persia.
This Persian invasion Under
Xerxes became the catalyst for a
Greek hatred of Persia.
Alexander, who was tutored by
the famous Aristotle, grew up with
a hatred of Persia and a desire to
conquer them, which he did!
Conquests of Alexander
Daniel 8:5 describes Alexander as the
he goat that comes “without touching
the ground.” The idea here is the
speed with which Alexander
conquered the known world.
Alexander took the throne at 20 years
old, and was the sole ruler of the
known world by 33.
The speed, extent, and grandeur of
Alexander’s conquests became the
standard for great generals in the
ancient world.
Conquests of Alexander
This “great horn,” as Daniel calls
him, was the envy of every great
general afterward.
History’s most stellar generals
such as Hannibal, Scipio
Africanus, or Julius Caesar are
all said to have revered
Alexander, and coveted his
conquests.
Conquests of Alexander
Zechariah 9 records Alexander’s
conquest of the Mediterranean Sea
Board conquering Tyre & Sidon (v. 2-4).
After seeing the fall of Tyre (Ezekiel 26),
most Philistine cities surrendered, but
Gaza resisted, and was destroyed (v. 5).
Yet verse 8 declares that “the oppressor”
will not pass through Jerusalem.
The Jewish historian Josephus recounts
how Alexander sent to Jerusalem and
requested tribute from them. Jerusalem
refused because of their subservience to
Persia.
As Alexander approached the city, the High Priest went out to
meet him. Alexander saluted the High Priest & showed respect
for the name YHWH, saying that he had seen all of this in a
dream. The High Priest Juddua then presented Alexander with
the prophecies of Daniel concerning Alexander’s conquests.
Similarly to Cyrus’ reaction a couple centuries before,
Alexander showed a tremendous amount of respect for the
Jews, and gave them great leniency. He not only spared the city
of Jerusalem from destruction, but also allowed them to
continue to observe their own laws and exempted them from
taxes during the Sabbatical year.
Extent of Alexander’s Conquests
Dan. 8:8 “The he goat waxed very great”
Inter-Testament Period
Daniel 8:8 foretold of the split of
Alexander’s kingdom into 4 realms. Then
Daniel 11 details what happens next.
135 separate prophetic statements are
given in Daniel 11, which detail for us the
so-called “silent centuries” between the
Old and New Testaments.
These details include both the major
conflicts, and even the minute court
intrigue of this fascinating period of
Biblical history.
Career of Antiochus III
One of my favorite episodes recorded here is the career
of Antiochus III of Syria 223-187 BC (Daniel 11:15-20).
Verses 15-16 describe his ascent and dominance over the
Ptolemaic kingdom of Egypt.
Verse 17 describes how in 197 BC Antiochus III made a
political alliance with Egypt by giving them his daughter
Cleopatra (not that Cleopatra, but same name). Yet his
daughter defected from her father and became loyal to
Egypt, and Egypt’s new ally, Rome.
Antiochus III Wars with Rome
Verse 18 describes how in 196 B.C. Antiochus III turned his sights
west “toward the isles,” being encouraged to face the growing
power of Rome, by a famous one-eyed general known as “the
scourge of Rome,” i.e. Hannibal of Carthage.
Antiochus goes to meet Rome, but is soundly defeated on three
occasions. The 15,000 talents of gold that Rome require as
payment stripped the Syrian kingdom of wealth.
So a “raiser of taxes” (Daniel 11:20) came to the Jews for more
money to pay Rome. This eventually led to the defiling of the
temple by Antiochus IV, and the subsequent Maccabean revolt.
Christ’s 1st Coming
Depending on the sources you
consult, the 1st Coming of
Christ fulfilled somewhere
around 300 separate
prophesies.
This staggering number of
prophecies, according to the
Apostle Peter, provides for us
more assurance as to the reality
of Christ, than any other thing.
Christ’s 1st Coming
Note that Jesus over and over
again appealed to the
Scriptures as an authority for
His claims.
John 5:39-47
Luke 24:44
Matt 26:56
Resource Recommendation
He has an excellent chapter on O.T. prophecies Christ fulfilled
in His 1st Coming, where he details 61 of the 333 prophecies.
Christ’s 1st Coming
1.His Lineage (dozens of
details)
5.His Presentation to the
Nation on a Donkey
2.Place of His Birth
6.The Manner of Death
3.The Miraculous Nature of
7.The Time & Place of
His Ministry
4.Both the Place and
Amount of Money for His
Betrayal
Death
8.The Manner of His Burial
9.His Ascension
Passover Plot?
H.J. Schonfield, in his book “The Passover Plot,” proposes that
Jesus was a messianic pretender who connived to “fulfill”
prophecy.
Others believe these fulfillments were “accidental.” Yet the
Christian Victory Publishing Company of Denver offered a
$1,000 reward for anyone who could find a person living or
dead, other than Jesus, who “accidentally fulfilled” half of the
Messianic prophecies. Needless to say, they kept their money.
Peter Stoner’s book “Science Speaks” makes famous the
following probability of accidentally fulfilling 8 prophecies.
What About Psychics?
The claim has been made that Psychics can be as accurate in
predicting the future as the Bible. So studies have been
conducted…
A study of “Psychic predictions” was conducted between
1975-1981, and showed that of 72 predictions, only 6 were fulfilled in
anyway. Two of these were vague, and two others were hardly
surprising - the U.S. and Russia would remain world powers, and
there would be no world wars.
The People’s Almanac (1976) did a study of the 25 top psychics.
Out of 72 predictions 66 were totally wrong. That is a 92% fail rate.
Practical Take Away?
STAND FIRMLY UPON
THE WORD OF GOD!!!
READ IT! BELIEVE IT!
LIVE IT! GIVE IT!