The Books of the Prophets
Isa 43:10-14 The LORD used Babylon to preserve Judah and Jerusalem so they could fulfill the mission God gave Israel. [Deu 4:1-9]
Acts 7:52 Israel was to “shew” the coming of the Just One to the Gentile nations. John 1:45; Luke 24:27
· Shewed: presented but not just by sight but also by speech and action. To proclaim or declare.
God has used His foreknowledge to direct His creation to the time when every creature will acknowledge that He is exalted as head above all. [Php 2:8-11]
Today many believe and teach that God is through with Israel. They teach that when they rejected and killed Jesus, the Son of God, God reject them and has replaced them with the church the body of Christ.
Paul completely proved this replacement theory to be false.
· Rom 11:1, 9:4 Why was Paul so sure that God had not cast away Israel for ever?
· He knew the promise of God?
Ø Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Ø Isa 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
· He knew the teachings within the books of the prophets.
Ø Isa 45:11 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Ø Micah4:6-7 (For ever is seen in 61 verses of the books of the prophets)
If you want to know about the future of Israel do not ask the world, ASK GOD! He has given us all that we need to know about Israel’s future in the books of the prophets. When God said in Isa 45:11 “command ye me” He was talking to Isaiah and those kings he was dealing with. God through the prophets told all we need to know about Israel.
If we say God tell me about the future of Israel the Holy Spirit will say, “I already have, READ THE BOOKS!”
Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
.
Example: Isaiah
· Chapters 1-38 history
· Chapter 39 prophesy of the 70 year captivity by Babylon
· Chapter 40-45 begins the promise of deliverance
· Chapters 65-66 leading up to the new heaves and new earth
If you want to study and understand the books of the prophets you must begin with the book of Isaiah.
Israel’s History - Israel’s Future
· Notice how the history and the future of Israel are linked
· Their history is often a foretelling of their future
· “That day” seen in 107 verses of the books of the prophets
· “Those days” in 16 verses of the books of the prophets (Joel 3:1)
· “Travail” seen in 13 verses – points the tribulation period
· “Time of” seen in 34 verses
· “Times” seen in 21 verses (15 in Daniel) (Eph 1:10)
Ø the time of their calamity (Ezek 35:50
Ø the time of . . . trouble
§ Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Ø 2K 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 2K 20:8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
The books of the prophets also foretell the future of the Gentile nations
· Gentiles 26 1n verses; Heathen in 76 verses
Ø Hag 2:22; Zech 1:15; Isa 2:1-4
· Jonah & Naham: Nineveh, Assyria
The purpose of the law, the purpose of the books of the prophets
Shew forth the coming of the Just One and the time when every knee will bow before the One sitting upon the throne of David and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father
**Through the books of the prophets God is showing that He will fulfill all His promises to Israel through the coming of the Just One.