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The Main Focus of

Prophecy?

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To demonstrate that the Bible is from God.
To encourage God's people.
To provide instruction for hard times.

Purpose of Prophecy

The purpose of prophecy is not primarily to satisfy our curiosity about the future. There are three larger purposes.

When people think of the prophecies, they have visions of the future chiefly in mind. But the purpose of prophecy is not primarily to satisfy our curiosity about the future. There are three larger purposes:

To demonstrate that the Bible is from God. Since no one can know the future except God (Isa 46:9-10), fulfilled Bible prophecy proves that it is God who is speaking to us through the Bible and not merely human beings (Deut 18:21-22; John 13:18-19). Miracles, on the other hand, are not a safe sign that God is speaking because false prophets can often perform miracles (Matt 24:24).

To encourage God's people. The prophecies of the Bible encourage God's people in every age, letting them know that ultimate victory belongs to God; everything is going to turn out all right in the end (Dan 12:1-3; Rev 17:14).

To provide instruction for hard times. The prophecies of the Bible provide instructions to God's people in the last days, a time of great stress and confusion. Through these instructions, God's people come to understand what is happening to them and how to respond to it (Rev 1:3).

Prophecy is more than prediction, it teaches us that the same God who rules over the nations also wants to rule in the heart of every person on earth. Since events increasingly suggest that we are living near the end of earth's history, we can turn to prophecy to provide the answers and the encouragement that today's people need. The God who "changes times and seasons", who "sets up kings and deposes them," will give "wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning" (Dan 2:21).

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Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

Isaiah 46:9-10

Q1 - What kind of knowledge is unique to God?

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And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Deut. 18:21-22

Q2 - What do we learn when a prophecy does not come true?

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Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.

John 13:19

Q3 - What evidence did Jesus give that He was God's special messenger?

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For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

John 5:46

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And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 3:15

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In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Genesis 22:18

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that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

Galatians 3:14-16

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Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

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“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.“

Numbers 24:17

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“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Micah 5:2

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saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:2-3

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So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:5-6

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“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Revelations 22:16

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“He guards all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.”

Psalms 34:20

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Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

John 19:32-33

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Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Matthew 26:14-16

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And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”

Matthew 26:47-48

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Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

Matthew 26:49-50

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But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

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For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Cor 5:21

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But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:9

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For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;

Psalms 22:16

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But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.

John 19:34-36

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And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Rev 19:10