Why are there prophecies?

477 prophecy There will probably always be someone claiming to be a prophet or believing they can calculate the date of Jesus' return. I recently saw a report about a rabbi who supposedly connected Nostradamus's predictions with the Torah. Another person predicted that Jesus's return would occur at Pentecost 2019. Many prophecy enthusiasts try to find a connection between current news and biblical prophecies. Karl Barth admonished people to remain firmly grounded in Scripture while striving to better understand the ever-changing modern world.

The purpose of the biblical script

Jesus taught that the purpose of Scripture is to reveal God - his character, purpose, and nature. The Bible accomplishes this purpose by pointing to Jesus, who is the full and definitive revelation of God. A Christ-centered reading of Scripture helps us to remain true to this purpose and helps us to avoid misinterpretation of the prophecies.

Jesus taught that he is the living center of all biblical revelation and that we should interpret all Scripture (including prophecies) from this center. Jesus sharply criticized the Pharisees for failing in this regard. Although they sought eternal life in Scripture, they did not recognize Jesus as the source of that life. (Joh 5,36-47)Ironically, their preconceived notions about Scripture blinded them to its fulfillment. Jesus showed how to interpret the Bible correctly by demonstrating how all Scripture points to him as its fulfillment (Luke 24:25-27; 44-47). The testimony of the apostles in the New Testament confirms this Christ-centered method of interpretation.

As the perfect image of the invisible God (Kol 1,15)Jesus reveals the nature of God through his interaction, which refers to the reciprocal influence of God and humanity. This is important to remember when reading the Old Testament. It is particularly relevant to prevent us from trying to apply the story of Daniel in the lions' den to a current situation in our world, such as voting for political office. Daniel's prophecies are not meant to tell us whom to vote for. Rather, the book of Daniel tells of a man who was blessed for his faithfulness to God. In this way, Daniel points to the faithful God who is always there for us.

But is the Bible important?

Many people question that such an old book as the Bible can still be relevant today. After all, the Bible says nothing about such modern things as cloning, modern medicine, and space. Modern science and technology raise questions and riddles that did not exist in biblical times. Yet, the Bible is of great importance in our time because it reminds us that our technological advances have not changed the human condition or God's good intentions and plans for humanity.

The Bible enables us to understand our role in God's plan, including the coming fullness of His kingdom. Scripture helps us recognize the meaning and purpose of our lives. It teaches us that our lives do not end in nothingness, but are leading to a great reunion where we will meet Jesus face to face. The Bible reveals that there is a purpose to life—we were created to be united and in fellowship with our triune God. The Bible also provides a guide to equipping us for this rich life. (2. Tim 3,16-17)She does this by constantly pointing us to Jesus, the one who gives us abundant life by granting us access to the Father. (Joh 5,39)...and sends us the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the Bible is reliable, with a distinctive, highly relevant goal. Nevertheless, she is rejected by many people. The French philosopher Voltaire said in 17. Century ago that the Bible would disappear in 100 years in the darkness of history. Well, he was wrong. The Guinness world records that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. To date, billions of copies have been sold and distributed through 5. It is both humorous and ironic that Voltaire's house in Geneva, Switzerland, was purchased by the Geneva Bible Society and served as the Bible distribution center. So much for the predictions!

The purpose of prophecies

Contrary to some, the purpose of the biblical prophecy is not to help us predict the future, but to help us recognize Jesus as Lord of history. The prophecies prepare the way for Jesus and point to him. Notice what the apostle Peter wrote about the calling of the prophets:

Concerning this salvation [as described in the preceding seven verses], the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that was to come to you, searched and sifted with the greatest care, trying to understand what time and circumstances the Spirit of Christ, who was in them, was indicating when he had previously testified about the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they should not serve themselves, but you, by the things that have now been preached to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. (1. Petr 1,10-12).

Peter says that the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) is the source of prophecies and that their purpose is to foretell the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He implies that if you have heard the message of the gospel, you have heard everything you need to know about prophecy. The apostle John wrote similarly about this: “But worship God, for the message of prophecy comes from the Spirit of God” (Offb 19,10b,).

Scripture is clear: "Jesus is the main theme of the prophecies." The biblical prophecies tell us who Jesus is, what he did and what he will do. Our focus is on Jesus and the life He gives us in communion with God. It's not geopolitical alliances, trade wars, or anyone predicting anything in good time. It is a great comfort to know that Jesus is both the foundation and the consummation of our faith. Our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.