Prophecy is one of the means by which God speaks to mankind. It is the unveiling of the divine mind to humanity in direct and specific ways. The prophetic spirit is the Spirit of God coming upon anointed men and women for the purpose of making known the mind of God, and helping God’s people understand the divine will and purpose. It is a special gift of God to his people, which is promised in abundance in the last days.
Matthew 23:34 Why, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you whip in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
The Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
The Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
There is also a divine warning concerning the preponderance of false prophets in the last days. We will do well to take heed to the warnings of Scripture concerning these wolves in sheep’s clothing, to avoid being devoured and deceived.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:23 But take you heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Because we live in an age where the prophetic gift is in abundance and where false prophets predominate, it is important to understand clearly the workings of this gift of the Spirit which has the greatest potential for abuse and corruption. Understanding the principles guiding the use of the prophetic gift will enhance its proper use and minimise misuse among those genuinely called and gifted into this sacred ministry. We shall examine relevant Scriptures in this study, in order to fully discern the operations of the prophetic gift.
Man has always sought to divine the future, understand the purpose of God for his life, as well as find answers to troubling questions of the present as well as the past. Heathens resort to consultations of mediums, soothsayers, prognosticators and other diabolic means to answer these questions. However, God warns against the patronage of men and women of the occult, with severe penalties for those who resort to satanism for inspiration.
Deuteronomy 18:9 When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
Deuteronomy 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deuteronomy 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you.
Deuteronomy 18:13 You shall be perfect with the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, which you shall possess, listened to observers of times, and to diviners: but as for you, the LORD your God has not suffered you so to do.
1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
1 Chronicles 10:14 And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
Rather than resort to mediums and familiar spirits, God has made provision through which to speak specifically to his children, in addition to the written word. He speaks through the prophetic ministry in making known his specific will and purpose to his people.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen;
Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.
Deuteronomy 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream.
Numbers 12:7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house.
Numbers 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
We shall examine in depth how the true prophetic gift works, for a clear understanding of the gift of prophecy is the greatest safeguard against deceit by false prophets. First, true prophecy is a gift of the Spirit, and God determines on whom he bestows this gift, and how it is operated.
Ephesians 4:8 Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Ephesians 4:14 That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
We see that God decides how he shares the gifts of the Spirit to men. He decides who will be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Who gets what gift in the body of Christ is entirely up to God to decide. It has nothing to do with human desire and scheming.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching;
Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
It is important to note that God deals to every child of his a measure of faith, and that we operate various gifts according to the grace that is given to us. We all get some gifts, some measure of faith and of grace. However, what we do not determine is the specific gift we get or the measure of faith or grace that comes with it. Who gets what and the measure of it, depends on the predeterminate counsel of God.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with.
1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1 Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him.
With respect to the prophetic gift, let us see how prophets were called and gifted in Scripture. This will help clarify the origin as well as the use of the gift.
Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
As we can see, a prophet is called and gifted from birth. One does not learn to be a prophet. Schools of prophecy we saw in Scripture were not to teach people on how to become prophets, but to train people already possessing the prophetic gift on how to use the gifts properly in the service of God.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Galatians 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.
So, as we can see, people are gifted and called into the prophetic ministry even before they were born. God determines who receives what gift, and he also supervises the use of the gift. The prophetic gift is controlled by the Holy Spirit, to ensure the gift is not abused or misused in ways that will bring dishonour to God. God determines how to reveal himself to prophets, and how to use them.
Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream.
Numbers 12:7 My servant Moses is so, who is faithful in all my house.
Numbers 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Now, let’s see how the prophetic gift operates. Let us examine relevant portions of Scripture to understand the dynamics of operation of this important gift that has been so corrupted in our day and time.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Let us note an important fact in prophecy: the prophet does not control the prophetic Spirit, rather, the prophet is under the control of the Spirit of prophecy, who is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit moves the prophet to speak, not the prophet commanding the Spirit to speak! The prophet is just an empty vessel on his own; the brain and intelligence that determines how this vessel is used is the Holy Spirit!
Ezekiel 33:7 So you, O son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Ezekiel 37:4 Again he said to me, Prophesy on these bones, and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Ezekiel 37:5 Thus said the Lord GOD to these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live:
Ezekiel 37:6 And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
A prophet hears the word from God and then faithfully delivers it. If he hears no word, he speaks no word. The true prophet is just a messenger of God, he is just God’s mouthpiece. He speaks only when he has been given a message to deliver. He prophesies only as he is commanded. He is not the originator of the message, neither does he have the capacity to do beyond what he has been asked to do. He cannot bless when God has cursed, neither can he curse what God has blessed!
Numbers 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Numbers 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he has blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
The prophet is just a messenger. He cannot initiate blessings or curses on his own. He cannot bless or curse outside the divine mandate. He is not the owner of the gift, nor is he the brain behind the gift! How I wish we can see that! The prophet is only a servant. He doesn’t count much. What counts is his Master, the intelligence blowing the trumpet, not the trumpet itself! If we understood that, we would not be worshipping servants! We would understand they are just men like us, appointed and sent forth by God, to show us more clearly the way of the Almighty!!
The Acts 14:11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
The Acts 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
The Acts 14:13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
The Acts 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
The Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Revelation 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
Revelation 22:9 Then said he to me, See you do it not: for I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
That’s it friends! A true prophet will deflect all glory back to God, and make the people see that he’s just a mere channel, just an unworthy servant! He directs people to the Almighty whose servant he is!
The true prophet seeks only to glorify God, the One who sent him. That’s the crux of his ministry: to do the will of God and bring all the honour he can muster from the people back to God. He points men upwards to God! Let’s see the example from the Supreme Prophet, Jesus Christ:
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 17:4 I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.
So, we see a true prophet is a messenger of God, sent with God’s message and given a specific work to do. His work is basically to deliver people from error and bring them to the saving knowledge of God, so that God may be glorified and the people blessed. Any prophet who deviates from this pattern is false and dangerous!
Now, let us look at the nature of prophecy. Prophecy can reveal what has been or what is present but hidden (forth-telling), or it can reveal what is to come (fore-telling). In both cases, the omniscient Holy Spirit who sees and knows all, before whom nothing is hidden, and who knows the end from the beginning, reveals to man what is hidden and beyond him, through a medium or an agent called a prophet. Let us see an example of each.
1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
1 Samuel 9:16 To morrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry is come to me.
1 Samuel 9:17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man whom I spoke to you of! this same shall reign over my people.
1 Samuel 9:18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer’s house is.
1 Samuel 9:19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me to the high place; for you shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.
1 Samuel 9:20 And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father’s house?
From the account above, Saul was looking for the lost asses of his father. Having searched for them for days in vain, he decided to consult a prophet. God revealed to the Prophet Samuel that the lost asses had been found, unknown to Saul who had been away from home for days. That’s how the prophetic gift can expose hidden secrets of the past or present. It is the omniscient and omnipresent Holy Spirit who made known to his servant what had happened.
From the same encounter between Saul and the Prophet Samuel, let us see an example of fore-telling of events that had not yet happened. Let us see the omniscient Holy Spirit at work in the ministry of his servants the prophets.
1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance?
1 Samuel 10:2 When you are departed from me to day, then you shall find two men by Rachel’s sepulcher in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, The asses which you went to seek are found: and, see, your father has left the care of the asses, and sorrows for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
1 Samuel 10:3 Then shall you go on forward from there, and you shall come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet you three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
1 Samuel 10:4 And they will salute you, and give you two loaves of bread; which you shall receive of their hands.
1 Samuel 10:5 After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when you are come thither to the city, that you shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
1 Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come on you, and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man.
1 Samuel 10:7 And let it be, when these signs are come to you, that you do as occasion serve you; for God is with you.
1 Samuel 10:8 And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shall you tarry, till I come to you, and show you what you shall do.
1 Samuel 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
1 Samuel 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came on him, and he prophesied among them.
1 Samuel 10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
1 Samuel 10:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
1 Samuel 10:13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
1 Samuel 10:14 And Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, Where went you? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
Again, we see the Holy Spirit, who knows the future, revealing a glimpse of the immediate future through his prophet to Saul, the first king of Israel. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning. God knows the end from the beginning, and can reveal specific aspects of the future to his children. This is the fore-telling part of the prophetic ministry.
The Acts 15:18 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isaiah 46:10 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.
In his written Word, God has outlined the origin and future of mankind and of our present world, showing in details the end of the righteous in glory with him, as well as the end of the wicked in eternal destruction. These are clearly depicted in the written Word, the Bible, which was written by men upon whom the prophetic Spirit came: that’s how they could write about events that occured thousands of years before they were born, as well as events that will be fulfilled thousands of years after their death.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.
In the Church, the prophetic gift has the main function of edification, exhortation and comfort, through divinely inspired forth-telling and fore-telling.
1 Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Nothing significant happens in the land without a forewarning to God’s people through the prophetic ministry. God, foreseeing danger coming, warns his children and makes a way of escape for them.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
The Acts 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch.
The Acts 11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
The Acts 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers which dwelled in Judaea:
The Acts 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Now, let us consider the various types of prophecy available. Using the conditions that must be met before a prophecy is fulfilled, prophecies can be classified as either conditional or unconditional. A conditional prophecy is contingent on the fulfilment of attached conditions. Once the determining conditions are met, the blessings prophesied will be experienced. Conditional prophecies usually concern the issues of blessings and curses. Let us consider some examples of conditional prophecies in Scripture, for a clearer understanding of the subject.
Exodus 15:26 And said, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you, which I have brought on the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you.
1 Samuel 12:14 If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God:
1 Samuel 12:15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Zechariah 6:9 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Zechariah 6:10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come you the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
Zechariah 6:11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
Zechariah 6:12 And speak to him, saying, Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Zechariah 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Zechariah 6:14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
Zechariah 6:15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
From the above cited scripture, a conditional prophecy may or may not come to pass, depending on whether the required conditions were met or not. The fulfilment of such prophecies or declaration of blessings lies both with the person(s) to whom the prophecy was given, as well as with God. Once the target of prophecy meets the conditions, God will unfailingly fulfill his promise and release the blessings. For a conditional prophecy, the conditions to be fulfilled are always contained within the prophecy itself, and are clearly understood by all.
An unconditional prophecy on the other hand does not depend on any act of obedience from man. Its fulfilment does not require any human contributions whatsoever. Even when the targets of such prophecy do not believe it and even doubt or scorn it, it will still come to pass. Its coming to pass is entirely up to God. Let us look at some examples of unconditional prophecies from scriptures to buttress this point.
2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear you the word of the LORD; Thus said the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2 Kings 7:2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof.
2 Kings 7:16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 7:17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people stepped on him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
2 Kings 7:18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
2 Kings 7:19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof.
2 Kings 7:20 And so it fell out to him: for the people stepped on him in the gate, and he died.
Luke 1:11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Luke 1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Luke 1:14 And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to you, and to show you these glad tidings.
Luke 1:20 And, behold, you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you believe not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
From these examples of unconditional prophecies, we see no conditions attached to the prophecies. Unbelief and doubts of some did not prevent the prophecies from being fulfilled, even if the doubters suffered for their unbelief. Whether you doubt an unconditional prophecy or refuse to pray for it to come to pass, it must come to pass, simply because it’s God’s perfect will which must be accomplished in its season. No one therefore should be blamed for the failure of an unconditional prophecy other the prophet who gave it: his prophecy didn’t come from God, otherwise it would have come to pass!
Watch out for the concluding part of this teaching on this blog tomorrow!
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