Prophecy Proves God's Providence

Most people think that the purpose of prophecy is to foretell the future, to give advance warning, direction, or guidance – primarily, if not exclusively. I suppose I used to be in that camp. It escaped my attention how often the meaning of a prophecy was not even known until years later, or centuries later? In fact, some prophecies were not even recognized as prophetic until after the fulfillment came to pass.

So, a second purpose for prophecy, an unsung purpose, must be acknowledged. Prophecy proves God’s providence. God wants mankind to know, unequivocally, that what has come to pass is by His design, by His plan, not by chance or happenstance. By seeing His providence in the rearview mirror, so to speak, He makes it clear that He is sovereign. That His dominion will rule from beginning to end. That He is deserving of glory, honor and praise.

God said of Himself, through the prophet Isaiah, “Remember history. From the beginning I tell you what the end will be, letting you know what is going to happen. I will do exactly what I set out to do. If I said it, I will most certainly do it. Once I have planned it, it’s as good as done.” (Isa 46:8-11, paraphrased). 

Consider some examples. Joseph’s prophetic dream of eleven sheaths of grain all bowing down to his sheath (Gen 37:7) was fulfilled years later, in Egypt, when his brothers bowed down to him, and he promised to provide for them (Gen 50:20). The prophecy that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isa 7:14) was probably not even recognized as a messianic prophecy until after the virgin birth of Jesus (Mt 1:23). But it is a key prophetic proof of God’s providential plan of redemption. Then there was the oft-repeated prediction that Jesus told His disciples, that He would be killed and then rise again on the third day. They never understood the second half of that prophecy, not until after the resurrection. The miraculous fulfillment then became the cornerstone of their life’s mission. 

Prophecy finally finds meaning when history fulfills it and interprets it. Until that time the interpretation of the prophecy may remain latently unrecognizable, or it may be zealously misconstrued. In fact, many times God never meant for the prophecy to be understood until the time of its fulfillment. And speculation only misleads and deceives. That is so true of end-times prophecy. History is the best interpreter of prophecy. The unsung purpose of the prophecy, then, is to prove God’s sovereign hand in current, unfolding events which He long ago prophesied. 

I want to apply this principle to interpreting two prophecies about the last days, interpreting them not by speculation but rather, by historical fulfillment. The first prophecy is the little horn in Daniel 7:8, 11-12. Speculators suggest that the little horn points to the Antichrist, but that is so misleading. The first four beasts in the vision were empires. History confirms that, and identifies them. The fifth beast, the little horn, is also an empire, most certainly. The empire which God foretold would arise out of the ten horns of the Roman empire and defeat three of those horns to establish its own unique authority. That is an amazing prophecy of America, which could not be understood until its fulfillment. America arose as a “revived Roman Empire” across the sea, a melting pot of European immigrants. When time came for it to form into its own empire it defeated three of those “horns” – England, France, and Spain. That interpretation, in light of history, is almost undeniable, and it proves God’s providence in raising up America as the last great empire of the end of the age. But there is more to the story, more to the prophecy, yet to be fulfilled. That little horn empire, America, will be destroyed, utterly destroyed – not just brought to an end like the other four empires in the dream, but completely destroyed. And that will happen while Christians are still inhabitants of the empire, not after an early rapture. The providential plan of God included not only America’s rise to riches and power, but it also includes its final fate. 

A second prophecy to consider is the seven trumpets in Revelation 8-9. Prophecy speculators suggest that the seven trumpets are judgments of God that will occur during a seven-year tribulation. Once again, that is so misleading. The trumpets are prophesied as signs to warn mankind that the time of God’s judgment is drawing very near. Much like God warned the world in Noah’s day, for 120 years, that judgment was coming, He prophesied what the warning signs would be at the end of this age. Since the time that John wrote the Revelation mankind has been clueless to interpret or identify what those trumpet warnings might be. Not until they began to be fulfilled. Without going into detail, the descriptions of each trumpet and bowl (which occur concurrently, not consecutively) describe a specific event. Five of these have already occurred, beginning with World War 1, followed by World War 2, the nuclear age, climate change, and the Iraqi war of 1990. History confirms this interpretation, for those who have eyes to see. God’s providential plan for the last days has already begun to unfurl. We are now waiting for trumpet/bowl #6 to occur, which is easily identifiable as the battle of Armageddon. When history interprets prophecy, it always proves God’s providence. The ramifications of this interpretation are manifold, but consider just two. The trumpets are not going to occur during a seven-year Tribulation, they are already occurring. That pretty much blows up the hoax of a Tribulation period. Secondly, the rapture of the faithful, then, will take place when Jesus returns to defend Israel in the Battle of Armageddon, just prior to the 7^th trumpet and bowl. (“at the last trumpet”). 

History interprets prophecy, not speculators.  And fulfilled prophecy proves God’s provide