Harmony of Prophecy
lesson #01

WHAT PROPHECY IS, ITS' SYMBOLS & LANGUAGE
SOME OF ITS' HISTORY

II Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

I. What is Prophecy?
A general statement about some inevitable or probable coming event is NOT prophecy. God's prophets always spoke of specific, detailed or even improbable events and gave details; i.e. time, circumstances, causes, results, people to be involved, etc.
Man's desire to pull aside the veil of the future has led him into many strange, even bizarre practices. We are all familiar with the crystal ball gazers and palm readers and astrologers of today. the Bible speaks of others;

1.Astrologers- star gazers.
Isa.47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

2. 7 kinds of fortune tellers.
Deut.18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

3. God tells how to recognize a false prophet and what our attitude toward him should be.
Deut.18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

4.Prophecy is the foretelling of the future with absolute certainty.
Hab.2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Matt.24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

II. Some Examples of the Earliest Prophecies.
A. Gen.3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the first prophecy of the Bible and it sets the theme for the entire Scripture. The entire book of Revelation is an enlargement upon one part of this prophecy.

B. While the prophecies of Enoch are not recorded, we do have an inspired record of one on them.
Jude 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

C. God prophesied to Noah of a coming flood.
Gen.6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

D. Abel is referred to as a prophet, though we do not have his prophecies recorded for our use.
Luke 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
We do know the theme of his Prophecies though.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

III. The Language and Symbols of Prophecy
The symbols and language of prophecy are consistent throughout the Bible.
A. A TREE indicates a man of great strength
B. A MOUNTAIN or a HILL speaks of a government or kingdom.
C. A SEA pictures a multitude of people.
D. A HORSE represents strength or military power.
E. A SWORD presents the idea of judgment or retribution.
F. A DAY can represent any period of time, i.e. 'the Day of the Lord'
G. A WEEK can speak of any series of 7 periods of time.

Next week: The sure word of Prophecy