Topics Research¶

Question¶

Does the Bible claim genuine predictive prophecy? Examine every passage where God claims prophetic foreknowledge as evidence of His deity. Does the Bible's own argument for God's deity rest on predictive prophecy being genuine? If so, what does that mean for the preterist presupposition that genuine predictive prophecy doesn't occur?

Topics¶

PROPHECY¶

Nave's classifies prophecy material into several critical categories:

Inspired: ISA 28:22; LUK 1:70; 2TI 3:16; 2PE 1:21

Proof of God's foreknowledge: ISA 43:9 -- Nave's explicitly identifies this verse as proof of God's foreknowledge through prophecy.

Sure fulfillment: EZK 12:22-25,28; HAB 2:3; MAT 5:18; 24:35; ACT 13:27,29

OT Messianic passages quoted in NT: The PROPHECY entry contains a massive catalog of OT predictions cited as fulfilled in the NT. Key examples: - GEN 12:3; 18:18; 22:18 with ACT 3:25; GAL 3:8 - DEU 18:15,18 with ACT 3:22,23 - PSA 2:1,2 with ACT 4:25,26 - PSA 16:8-11 with ACT 2:25-28,31 - PSA 22:1 with MAT 27:46; MRK 15:34 - PSA 22:18 with MAT 27:35; JHN 19:24 - PSA 110:1 with MAT 22:44; ACT 2:34,35 - ISA 7:14 with MAT 1:23 - ISA 9:1,2 with MAT 4:15,16 - ISA 42:1-4 with MAT 12:17-21 - ISA 53:1 with JHN 12:38; ROM 10:16 - ISA 53:4 with MAT 8:17 - ISA 53:9 with 1PE 2:22 - ISA 53:12 with MRK 15:28; LUK 22:37 - MIC 5:2 with MAT 2:5,6; JHN 7:42 - ZEC 9:9 with MAT 21:4,5; JHN 12:14,15 - MAL 3:1 with MAT 11:10; MRK 1:2; LUK 7:27 - MAL 4:5,6 with MAT 11:13,14; MRK 9:11-13; LUK 1:16,17

Miscellaneous Fulfilled Prophecies: - Birth and zeal of Josiah: 1KI 13:2 → 2KI 23:1-20 (~300 years) - Rebuilding of Jericho: JOS 6:26 → 1KI 16:34 - Captivity of Jews: JER 25:11,12; 29:10,14; 32:3-5; DAN 9:2 → 2KI 25:1-8; EZR 1 - Outpouring of Holy Spirit: JOL 2:28,29 → ACT 2:1,6-21 - Rachel weeping: JER 31:15 → MAT 2:17,18

PROPHETS¶

Inspiration of: The PROPHETS entry provides an extensive catalog of prophetic inspiration, including AMO 3:7,8; 2PE 1:21; HEB 1:1; 1PE 1:10,11; REV 10:7. Key passages establishing prophetic inspiration as proceeding from God rather than human initiative.

False Prophets: The entry distinguishes true from false prophets (1KI 13:18; JER 23:25-27; DEU 13:1-3; DEU 18:20), confirming that Scripture has a clear test for genuine vs. false prophecy.

IDOLATRY (Folly of)¶

The IDOLATRY entry's "Folly of" section directly links the inability to predict with the folly of idol worship: - ISA 41:23,24,26-29 -- idols challenged to predict; they cannot - ISA 43:9 -- who among the nations/gods can declare? - ISA 44:9-20 -- satire on idol manufacture - ISA 45:20 -- idols cannot save; no knowledge - ISA 46:1,2,6,7 -- Bel and Nebo collapse; idols must be carried - ISA 47:12-15 -- Babylon's astrologers cannot save - JER 10:3-16 -- idols are "the work of errors" - HAB 2:18,19 -- "What profiteth the graven image?"

This classification confirms that the Bible itself treats inability to predict as a mark of false deity and ability to predict as a mark of true deity.

CYRUS¶

Issues decree for emancipation of Jews and rebuilding the temple: 2CH 36:22,23; EZR 1; 3:7; 4:3; 5:13,14; 6:3
Prophecies concerning: ISA 13:17-22; 21:2; 41:2; 44:28; 45:1-4,13; 46:11; 48:14,15

The CYRUS entry directly links the historical decree (fulfillment) with the prophetic texts (prediction), treating them as a single prediction-fulfillment sequence.

TYRE¶

Besieged by Nebuchadnezzar: EZK 26:7; 29:18
Prophecies relating to: PSA 45:12; 87:4; ISA 23; JER 25:22; 27:1-11; 47:4

BABYLON¶

Prophecies concerning: PSA 87:4; 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:4-26; 21:1-10; 46:1,2; 47; 48:14,20; JER 21:4-10; 25:12-14; 27:1-11; 50; 51; EZK 26; DAN 2:21-38; 5:25-29; HAB 1:5-11; ZEC 2:7-9
Prophetic denunciations against: PSA 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:21; 43:14-17; 47; JER 50; 51

BETHLEHEM¶

Called EPHRATAH: GEN 48:7; PSA 132:6; MIC 5:2
Birthplace of Jesus: MIC 5:2; MAT 2; LUK 2:4,15

PREDESTINATION¶

General scriptures include ISA 44:1,2,7 (linked to the trial speeches), JER 1:4,5, ACT 2:23 (crucifixion foreordained), EPH 1:4,5,9-11, 1PE 1:2,20 (Christ foreordained before the foundation of the world).

TESTIMONY (Religious)¶

ISA 43:10 -- "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD"
ISA 44:8 -- "ye are even my witnesses"
ISA 45:24 -- testimony to God's righteousness

God calls Israel as "witnesses" specifically in the context of the trial speeches where He demonstrates His predictive power against the idols. Israel's witness-role is tied to God's demonstrated ability to predict.

CONDESCENSION OF GOD (0.47): Lists ISA 41:21-24 -- God's courtroom challenge to the idols is classified under God's condescension in engaging with false claimants.
FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD: Cross-references to GOD, FOREKNOWLEDGE OF; GOD, WISDOM OF -- connecting predictive prophecy to divine omniscience.
REVELATION (0.42): Links to God's self-disclosure through supernatural means.