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Introduction

One of the most admired gifts of Spirit besides healing is prophecy. No other gift deals with the most fundamental desire of human existence on earth—to know the future. The future is one of the biggest uncertainties in human life and everything in life, from one's health and marriage to happiness, is predicated on it. No technological innovation has been able to eliminate the uncertainty factor of future events. To deal with this concern, man has turned to all forms of superstition to divine the future.

Prophecy implies that there is something or someone— the gods— that has knowledge of the future (Isa. 46:9-10). It means that all events are foreknown and preplanned as in movie scripts and plays. Simply put, Yahweh Elohim, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, has set prophecy up as a means whereby mankind can seek the spirit for answers.

Now the following points will be discussed in this discourse:

• What is prophecy?

• What causes it to exist?

• How does it operate within man?

• What is its purpose?

• Have all cultures and races of mankind experienced prophecy in one form or another?

• What methods are used to prophesy?

What is the definition of prophecy?

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines prophecy as follows: “prediction of the future under the influence of divine guidance; act or practice of a prophet; any prediction; something prophesied or predicted; specif., the divinely inspired utterance or utterances of a prophet; a book of prophecies;”

The Greek word for prophecy according to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is “prophetes”- (#4396) and it is defined as follows. “1) in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things; 2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation.”

What other words exist for prophecy?

Now there are other words for prophecy that convey the same meaning, but are on a lower level because most are not accompanied by a vision or revelation. However the highest order of the four are precognition and premonition.

• Precognition — The supposed perception of an event, condition, etc., before it occurs, especially by extrasensory powers. [Note: Visions or dreams usually accompany precognition.]

• Premonition — a warning in advance; a forewarning; a feeling that something, esp. something bad, will happen; foreboding; presentiment[ Usually no visions accomplies a premontion just a strong feeling].

• Predicting — To say in advance (what one believes will happen); foretell (a future event or events).

• Forecasting — [Archaic] to foresee to estimate or calculate in advance; predict or seek to predict (weather, business conditions, etc.) to serve as a prediction or prophecy of. Usually forecasting is based on man's intellect and analysis, and not on the divine.

Does prophecy exist in other cultures?

The Bible is one of the best models, paradigms, or records for examining prophecy. It traces Israel’s prophets over a period of 1500 years. These seers foretold the coming of the Yahshua the Messiah and world events, such as the coming of great world empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and the Roman Empire.

Prophecy is generally viewed only in terms of the Bible. Although the Bible is the best record of prophecy, it is not the only record. Many Christians do not realize that Elohim gave prophecies to other cultures. This can be seen clearly with the Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon (Dn. 2nd chp.) and the wise men from the east that came to Jerusalem to worship the king of Israel (Mt. 2nd Chapter, See "Who Were the Magi?" in the "Did U Know...?" section of the November/December 1996 "PLIM REPORT").

What is the psychological purpose of prophecy?

A Swiss physician, Paracelsus (1493-1541), considered the father of modern medicine, stated the following in his book Why These Beings Appear to Us. “Everything God creates manifest itself to us sooner or later. Some times God confronts him with the Devil and the spirit in order to convince him of their existence (p. 13). Passport to Magonia by Jacques Vallee (© 1969, 1993 Contemporary Books).”

Prophecy is simply a means of Yahweh Elohim proving not only His existence to mankind, but that events in history are foreknown and predestined.

Now Elohim confirms this to Israel by the prophet Isaiah. He wrote the following:

“Remember the former things of old: for I am Elohim (God), and there is none else; I am Elohim (God), and there is none like me, 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 (Isa. 46:9-10):”

How have men used prophecy?

Throughout history governments and kingdoms of men have used prophecy as a tool for control, inspiration, and propaganda. R. J. Stewart in his book, The Elements of Prophecy (p. 25) , stated the following about propaganda. “It is interesting to note, however, that prophecy gradually becomes suppressed or trivialized as politics gains power, particularly that pure prophecy of true spiritual utterance, which is often revolutionary and alarming to any status quo.”

Erika Cheetham in her book, The Prophecies of Nostradamus, wrote how Hitler recognized himself in Nostradamus' prophecies. “But Hitler recognized himself in these quatrains by the mid 1930s and Goebells made great propaganda out of them in the pre-war party years (p. 82).”

Nostradamus prophecy was: "Beasts wild with hunger will cross the rivers, the greater part of the battlefield will be against (Hister) Hitler. He will drag the leader in a cage of iron, when the child of Germany observes no law (Century II: 24).” See also the burning of Stormberger prophecy by the Nazi during WW II (The Millennium Book of Prophecy, p. 337). During the inquisition, the Roman Catholics prevented the utterance of prophecies, for Catholics associated them with the devil and witchcraft.

What causes prophecy to work?

Now prophecy is one of the ways that the Holy Spirit reveals itself unto a man’s consciousness. In the tabernacle there was a cloud representing Yahweh that revealed itself to the high priest once a year.

Job said: “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding (Job 32:8).” The Apostle John also wrote: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship Elohim (God): for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10).”

Modern science has determined the physiological reaction of the physical body when one is having a dream or vision (Num. 12:6; Dn. 8:2; Joel 2:28-29; Job. 33:15) and trance (Num. 24:16; Acts 10:10). They realize that the person is in an altered state of consciousness, such as hypnotised, daydreaming, or in a hypnagogic state, that is different from the normal waking state. Medical science has determined that there are four states or levels (Beta, Alpha, Delta and Theta) based on brainwave (ECG) tests. According to Harper’s Encyclopedia of Mystical and Paranormal Experiences, science says that paranormal patterns occur in the “alpha and theta state” which has brain waves of 8 to 13 and 4 to 8 cycles per second respectively (p. 8-9). Now spirits also have been a source for prophecy.

Do Spirits know the future?

Mankind’s intercourse with non-physical entities has revealed future events. An angel appeared to Mary and told her she would give birth to the Savior Yahshua the Messiah (Luke 1:26-35). Angels have appeared to the patriarchs and prophets throughout Israel’s history and revealed prophecy (1 Kgs. 22:5-28: Dn. 10:13).

It should be noted that not only angels reveal future events, but also evil spirits and the souls of departed men. Evil spirits have foretold the future with the express purpose of undermining man’s faith in Elohim. Elohim warned Israel about prophecy that came to pass as the result of worshipping false gods (Deu. 13:1-13). The Devil appeared to the Messiah during his 40 days in the Wilderness and showed him all the future kingdoms of the world that he would acquire. Satan said that he would give them all to the Messiah if He would fall down and worship him (Matt. 4th Chapter). Also Samuel’s spirit or soul (1 Sam. 28:18-19) appeared to King Saul at a séance and revealed to him that he would die along with his sons in battle. Now the lowest form of prophecy was the use of physical objects to divine the future. (See "Israel's Tools of Prophecy" in the November/December 1996 issue.)

What physical instruments are used to divine prophecy?

Many objects, as well as heavenly bodies in the heavens, were used to foretell the future, as in astrology (Isa. 47:13). Other objects used during Biblical times were a liver (Heptroscopy-Ezk. 21:21), the ephod (the robe of the high priest), the two stones called Urim and Thummim that were in the high priest’s breastplate with the 12 stones (1 Sam. 28:6; 1 Sam. 30:7-8). Modern day objects used to divine include the Crystal Ball, the Great Pyramid of Giza (a timeline is laid out on the measurements of the passageways and chambers), and Tarot cards to list a few.

What are the forms of prophecy?

When Elohim gives prophecy to mankind that usually is spoken in a vision or dream, it comes in two forms. The first form of prophecy is literal or straightforward. The event occurs just the way it is seen or heard. When the angel Gabriel told Mary she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:26-35), she was indeed pregnant and fulfilled his words by giving birth to the Messiah (Matt. 1:18-20).

The second form of prophecy is symbolic and is usually given in abstract cryptic messagesas in the case of Daniel. When the prophecy is symbolic, it is generally given according to the cultural symbols of the individual receiving the prophecy. This is one of the reasons prophecy is so difficult to interpret for someone not of the culture or not familiar with of it.

What is the problem with interpreting prophecy?

Now that we understand that prophecy has two forms there is a science called hermeneutics that is the science of interpreting literature. The problem with the majority of Christians is that most use the literal interpretation of the scriptures.

The straightforward or literal interpretation of the scriptures cannot be applied throughout the Bible for many scriptures are of a symbolic nature (Mic. 5:2; Isa. 9:6). A lamb represents the Messiah and a harlot represents Babylon (Isa. 47:9-11).

R. J. Stewart said the following about how cultural symbols are used to convey spiritual messages as in the case when the four beasts were shown to Daniel (Dan. 7:1-8) and four horsemen were shown to the Apostle John in the book of Revelation.

“If we examine the various prophetic texts that have been preserved, it is clear that in most cases, … the seer utters images and verses that partake of a mythic tradition, often highly conventionalized. Much of the apparent obscurity of early prophetic texts is nothing more nor less than the fact that modern readers, working at several linguistic removes and totally separated from the mystic tradition inherent within the text, cannot grasp items of cross reference or poetic convention that would have been commonplace to the speaker and his or her listeners or the author and readers of original material (p. 61-62).”

The Apostle Peter admonished the earlier assemblies that the scriptures are not the private interpretation of men, but writings of men moved by the Holy Spirit. (See Rules of Interpretation in Unger’s Bible New Dictionary)

How is prophecy fulfilled or materialized?

The second form of prophecy has three components. The first is the symbolical or cryptic language in which the prophecy is revealed. The second is its interpretation. The final part of prophecy is its physical fulfillment or manifestation. This is the hidden component.

For example, Joseph dreamed a dream whose fulfillment was unknown to everyone, even him. Joseph was one of Jacob's twelve sons that Jacob loved the most for he was born of Rachael, his favorite wife. Joseph dreamed that his father, mother, and eleven brothers were in the field picking up sheaves (Gn. 37th chp.). His sheaf arose above their sheaves and they all bowed to his. His father and his eleven brothers understood the interpretation of this dream and wondered if Joseph thought they should bow to him. The dream was fulfilled when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and became second in command of all Egypt.

Finally, it should be self-evident that prophecy has not ceased since the Apostle John’s vision. The discourse ended by examining many of the prophecies that are not in the Bible. They were taken from John Hogue's Millennium Book of Prophecy (HarperSanFrancisco, © 1994) and others books.

Conclusion

Simply put, prophecy has been an integral part of man’s existence just as the heart is an essential part of the physical body. Prophecy is a means whereby Spirit reveals itself to the human consciousness. Prophecy has continued after Pentecost in A.D. 33 and after John’s vision in A.D. 96.

There are documented prophecies from men and women who lived after Biblical times, such as Nostradamus, St. Malachi, Jules Vernes, Edgar Cayce, King Montezuma, Stromberger, Pope Pius X, Jean Dixon, as recorded in such books as Henry James Forman,'s, The Story of Prophecy (Farrar & Rinehart, © 1936) and John Hogue's book, Millennium Book of Prophecy (HarperSanFrancisco, © 1994). They prove that Spirit is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). It is also clear that more visions are needed to clarify the prophecies in Revelation.

References

Cheetham, Erkia, The Prophecies of Nostradamus (A Wideview/Perigee Book, © 1993)

Forman, Henry James, The Story of Prophecy (Farrar & Rinehart, © 1936)

Guiley, Rosemary Ellen, Harper's Encyclopedia of Mystical and Paranormal Experience (HarperCollins Publishers, © 1991)

Hogue, John, Millennium Book of Prophecy (HarperSanFrancisco, © 1994)

Mann A.T., Millennium Prophecies (Element Books, © 1992)

Roney-Dougal, Serena, Where Science and Magic Meet (Element Book, © 1991)

Scofield Reference Bible (Oxford University Press, © 1909)

Stewart, R.J., The Prophetic Vision of Merlin (Arkana, © 1986)

Stewart, R.J., The Elements of Prophecy (Elements Books, © 1990)

Unger, Merrill F., Unger's Bible New Dictionary (Moody Press, Chicago 1957, 1985)

Internet Articles

"Prophesies about the Papacy,"
http://marlowe.wimsey.com/~rshand/streams/scripts/malachy.html

"Text of the Secret," (http://www.worldlink.it/nonsiamosoli/3mess_i.htm

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