Psychics make predictions, but: 1. rarely more than 60% accurate 2. based on informed guesses Their messages are from Satan They do not call to repentance Bible prophecies are different

I Only God Can Prophecy

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Is.41:4, 22, God’s challenge to idols (1 K.18) Is.42:9, former prophesies produce trust (Jn.13:19) Is.44:6-7, former prophecies prove a point Is.44:26, the order

II Prophecy Is Not Mere Prediction

Dt.13:1-5. God allowed guesses 2 Th.2:10-12 Dt.18:18, 21-22 God's prophets are 100 % accurate; no room for error

III The Test Of Prophecy

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Must be beyond our ability to see Must be written before the event Must describe the event prophesied Language must be explicit, unequivocal Fulfillment must be clear

IV A Few Prophecies Fulfilled In Christ

1. Gn.3:15, the first promise – 1. Serpent 2. Woman 1a. Offspring 2a Offspring 3. Male “ But how do I know this?

” *Early Targums = Messianic *LXX broke rules of grammar to show masculine gender *Ga.4:4; Ro.16:20; Hb.2:14; Rv.12

2. Gn.49:8-10, narrowed to one tribe: Judah Scepter . Targum Pseudo Jonathanon (v.11): “ How noble is the King, Mes siah, who is going to rise from the house of Judah ” Shiloh = title of Messiah When He comes, authority will pass from Judah to Messiah. Ezk.21:26f. By AD 70, Judah had disappeared

3. 2 Sm.7, lineage of David

5, prophetic formula 11, house *not a dwelling place *a dynasty (royal family lineage) 12, kingdom (16, 19) *1000 B.C. Mt.1:1

4. Is.7:…14, virgin . 700 BC

1-6, son of Tabeel vs promises of God 10-12, Ahaz 13-14, sign for house of David Immanuel “ El in Isaiah is always a name of God …the prophet was ever strongly con scious of the antithesis between El and Adam, as ch.31:3 clearly shows” Mt.1:18-25, genealogy

5. Mic. 5:2, Bethlehem Ephratah Small village 5 m. south of Jerusalem Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth (Lk.2:26-27; 2:39) Mt.2:1-6, Jews knew the prophecy They didn’t realize Jesus fulfilled it

6. Is.40:3-4, messenger of Lord

7. Is.53, His death 20+ prophecies in 24 hour period 8. Is.16:10, His resurrection Ac.2:29-31…

Summary

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Prophecies were made hundreds of years before fulfillment Could not have been made by intelligent guesses or “signs of the times” Jesus could not manipulate them OT canon closed about 400 B.C