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| Series Theme: Bible Study Approaches | |
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Title: 12. How to Study Prophecy (1)
A page that explains a variety of approaches to Studying the Bible
1. Introduction
On this page we start to look at the prophetic books in the Bible. Before we go on to the topic of doing a Bible Study on a particular prophecy in Scripture, we need to obtain an overall view of Prophecy as a whole in the Bible. This page will start you thinking about this.
2. General Classification i) Major & Minor The 17 prophetical books are usually classified according to their size as :
ii) According to Time a) During the time of Israel 's destruction by Assyria (6) - Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah b) During the time of Judah 's destruction by Babylon (7) - Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah c) During the time of the Restoration to their own land (3) - Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi iii) According to Direction of Message
iv) By Date Date given is approximate beginning of the prophet's ministry
3. The Message of the Prophets. It has been said that these prophetic messages from God can be seen in three ways:
a) A Message to their own time - applicable to current circumstances in their own time
b) A Message of predicted future events - the failure of God's chosen people and His dealing with them - the coming of the Messiah, His rejection & final glory - the glory of God's blessing on the church age - the second coming of the Messiah and the final age
c) A living Message for our own age - eternal principles of right and wrong
4. Prophecy in the New Testament In the NT the only book of prophecy is the Revelation to John, but look out for prophecy in both the Gospels and the epistles e.g. Mt 24 See also Lk 24:25-27 / 2 Pet 1:21 etc.
Christ a Fulfilment of Prophecy We should note in respect of such prophecy that although we might hot have aligned certain events with earlier OT verses, the NT writers frequently did under the inspiration of God. The following are just a few illustrations: a) Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2/ Mt 2:1,5) b) Exact details of his life 700 hundred years before he came (Isa 7:9,53 see esp. Isa 53 in the “Living Bible") c) Method of death described (Psa 22:16 ) centuries before the Romans introduced crucifixion (Zech 13:6 / In 19: 18 ) d) Two thieves crucified with him and then he was buried in a tomb reserved for the rich (Isa 53:9-12/ Mt 27:38,57-60) e) Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12 / Mt 26:15) f) Chief priests use the money to buy piece of land (Zech 11: 13 / Mt 27:7 g) Roman soldiers thrust a spear into his side, divide his garments and cast lots for his robe (Psa 22:18 / Zech 12:10 / Jn 19:37 / Mt 27:35 / In 19:23 ) h) In his last moments to be given vinegar to drink (Psa 69:21 / Mt 27:34)
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