IS CORONAVIRUS A DIVINE JUDGMENT OR A CALL TO FAITH? - No matter if this is a natural plague or one sent by God, whether it is a call to believer or sinner, it reminds us why we are here and what our priorities should be - thus, it is truly a lifesaver for those who will believe - Many are wondering if the current pandemic is one of the ‘birth pains’ that presage the soon return of our Lord, where Jesus will be the final judge. The truth is, no one really knows if the current plague is a judgment from God on our unbelieving, immoral, materialistic, compromised world. No one can prove with absolute certainty that indeed coronavirus is a sign of the final judgment. But we do know this: sooner or later, the final judgment will come in its fullness. The average believer must ask for the gift of discernment as well as examine the prophet’s accuracy record. Such discernment is developed more accurately in those who have developed an intimate relationship with God. As in the Old Testament, many so-called prophets today do not have the gift of prophecy. The Bible indicates that they speak visions from their own “minds” and “imagination,” not from the mouth of the Lord. On rare occasions, disasters of one sort or another are God’s attempt to warn us that our time on this earth is but a vapor, a breath.

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Is Coronavirus a Divine Judgment or a Call to Faith?

No matter if this is a natural plague or one sent by God, whether it is a call to believer or sinner, it reminds us why we are here and what our priorities should be - thus, it is truly a lifesaver for those who will believe

Dr. David Kyle Foster

Author

From Exodus to Revelation it is clear that God does indeed send plagues and disasters upon the earth.

This begs the question: Is today’s coronavirus pandemic one of those plagues?

Let’s look at some scripture in both the Old Testament and New Testament regarding plagues:

“I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:14)

“The Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.” (Deuteronomy 28:59)

“A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:18)

“They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him.” (Revelation 16:9)

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18)

This historical certainty, and foreseen revelation, leads to even more questions.

Is Coronavirus a ‘Birth Pain’ before Judgment?

Many are also wondering if the current pandemic is one of the ‘birth pains’ that presage the soon return of our Lord, where Jesus will be the final judge.

Let’s look at some scripture regarding this as well:

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:6-8)

“This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” (Romans 2:16)

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead.” (2 Timothy 4:1)

We Don’t Know if the Time is Now

The truth is, no one really knows if the current plague is a judgment from God on our unbelieving, immoral, materialistic, compromised world.

No one can prove with absolute certainty that indeed coronavirus is a sign of the final judgment.

But we do know this: sooner or later, the final judgment will come in its fullness.

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

What About the Prophets?

If you believe, as I do, that the gifts of the Spirit given to the Church at Pentecost were meant to be active until Jesus’ return, then how are we to receive the modern prophetic pronouncements about the origin of the coronavirus that are at odds with each other?

Many prophets say it is a judgment from God, while others say that it isn’t.

So how is the average person supposed to know which prophecies are true?

In the Old Testament, the answer was easy. If a prophet prophesied falsely, that was a guarantee that he was not a true prophet.

Those self-appointed, so-called prophets either spoke out of rebellion against God and His will, or blindness caused by their sinfulness, imagination, presumption, or self-exaltation. The true gift, therefore, was made an infallible gift. (See Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

In the New Testament era, however, things are different.

Prophets today do not have a 100% batting average.

Their gift is one of many spiritual gifts that have been given the Church, all of which are given to fallible people and all of which are expressed imperfectly (see Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 13:9-12; 1 Corinthians 14:29-33; Acts 2:17-18).

Prophecy is now for everyone to whom the Holy Spirit deems to give it. And as with other spiritual gifts, the person having it is sometimes wrong.

Consequently, the average believer must ask for the gift of discernment as well as examine the prophet’s accuracy record.

Such discernment is developed more accurately in those who have developed an intimate relationship with God.

As in the Old Testament, many so-called prophets today do not have the gift of prophecy.

The Bible indicates that they speak visions from their own “minds” and “imagination,” not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16c; Ezekiel 13:2b).

Why the difference between OT and NT criteria?

Spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ are graces that allow believers to participate in the work of the Holy Spirit, or as Scripture says, “participate in the divine nature” and the work of Christ (2 Peter 1:4).

Is Coronavirus God’s Wrath or Nature’s Fallen State?

Sometimes, disasters are simply the exigencies of nature, (which began when Adam & Eve sinned), expressing its own fallenness.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:22)

On rare occasions, disasters of one sort or another are God’s attempt to warn us that our time on this earth is but a vapor, a breath.

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:43b)

“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

“Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” (Psalm 144:4)

“Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath…” (Job 7:7a)

Our Eternal Fate Involves a Choice

So, what is our response to God's offer of eternal life (beyond this vapor) through Jesus Christ?

It is a choice we’re offered through trials and tribulations — that we ignore at our peril.

The truth is, all of us were born with a sinful nature.

“I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)

“Through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

God’s Holy Fire Consumes

The problem for us as sinful humans is this: God is holy. His holiness is a fierce fire that destroys anything that is not holy.

“Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)

“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?” (Isaiah 33:14)

As sinful people, we cannot live in the presence of His holy fire without being consumed.

Thus, for us to live in His presence, we must be made holy as He is holy. Unfortunately, our righteousness is as filthy rags.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 54:6)

What Is the Antidote to Our Unrighteousness?

God has mercifully given us the antidote to our sin.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

How does Jesus make unrighteous man righteous? Let’s follow the path through scripture:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

The Present Darkness of Pandemic Is a Warning Not a Question

So, is the current pandemic a judgment from God? In truth, this is an irrelevant question. The pandemic is a manifestation of our present darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

It is a warning, if you will, whether from fallen nature or from God Himself, that we must turn to the Lord to be saved before it is too late.

And as we’ve seen, too late for us may be today!

The most important question of all is: When we do go, where will we go? Where will we be spending eternity?

And as we’ve seen already, only the Bible has the answer to that one.

It is also a call to those of us who have already been saved by the blood of the Lamb: that the purpose of our lives (whether here or in heaven) is to pursue an intimate relationship with our Creator.

That is the purpose of life itself! Why not take that seriously as well, by spending regular, quality time with the Lord.

Whether Final or Not, Choose Christ

The final day of judgment will indeed come as a thief in the night when it will be too late to choose. In such a case, suffering becomes a warning and a hard mercy.

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” (Luke 12:20)

“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

No matter if this is a natural plague or one sent by God, whether it is a call to believer or sinner, it reminds us why we are here and what our priorities should be.

Thus, it is truly a lifesaver for those who will believe.

Dr. David Kyle Foster is the author of Transformed Into His Image and Love Hunger and is the founder/director of Pure Passion Media (www.PurePassion.us). His newest book is The Sexual Healing Reference Edition. You can listen to his twice-weekly podcast by going to: www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/purepassion.

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/coronavirus/is-coronavirus-a-divine-judgment-or-a-call-to-faith.html?utm_source=Jeeng

EXPLAINING PROPHECY - Judgment prophecies can be lifted, set aside if the parties affected repent and turnaround from their former course - on the other hand, if God has promised blessings but then that person or group disobeys him and does evil, he will not do what he had said he would do - then again, if one has repented, turned around, and a judgment prophecy has been lifted, it can be reinstated if that person or group returns to their former evil ways - Most understand the word “prophecy” to be another word for prediction. The Hebrew, navi and the Greek prophētēs (prophet), carry the meaning of one who is a proclaimer of God’s message and need not necessarily be foretelling of the future. He may very well be proclaiming a moral teaching, an expression of a divine command or judgment, but they also mean a foretelling of something to come. We will be considering the secondary meaning of prophecy, one who foretells the future, not the primary meaning, one who forth tells the will and purpose of God, i.e. a proclaimer. There are principles that both writer and reader were aware of, and did not need to be explained. We are far removed from their time and need to be introduced to these principles. If one turns back from their evil ways, endeavoring to obey God’s Word, he will not receive the condemnatory judgment that he deserves.

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 Explaining Prophecy

Judgment prophecies can be lifted, set aside if the parties affected repent and turnaround from their former course - on the other hand, if God has promised blessings but then that person or group disobeys him and does evil, he will not do what he had said he would do - then again, if one has repented, turned around, and a judgment prophecy has been lifted, it can be reinstated if that person or group returns to their former evil ways 

Christian Publishing House

Most understand the word “prophecy” to be another word for prediction.

The Hebrew, navi and the Greek prophētēs (prophet), carry the meaning of one who is a proclaimer of God’s message and need not necessarily be foretelling of the future.

He may very well be proclaiming a moral teaching, an expression of a divine command or judgment, but they also mean a foretelling of something to come.

Below, we will be considering the secondary meaning of prophecy, one who foretells the future, not the primary meaning, one who forth tells the will and purpose of God, i.e. a proclaimer.

Just as it is true of all these genres, there are principles that both writer and reader were aware of, and did not need to be explained.

We, however, are far removed from their time and need to be introduced to these principles.

The Prophetic Judgment of Nineveh

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – “²⁰But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ ²¹And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— ²²when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

Jonah 3:4 – “⁴Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’”

Jonah 3:5 – “⁵And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.”

Jonah 3:10 – “¹⁰When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.”

Based on Deuteronomy 18:20-22, does Jonah 3:4-5 and 10 not prove that Jonah was a false prophet?

No, both Jonah and the Ninevites were aware of a principle that is often overlooked by the modern-day reader.

Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel give the answer, or the principle that that readers of that time would have understood about judgment prophecy.

Jeremiah explicitly explains the rule of judgment prophecies, when he writes, “If at any time I say that I am going to uproot, break down, or destroy any nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns from its evil, I will not do what I said I would.” - (Jeremiah 17:7-8, GNT)

The opposite is true as well,

Jeremiah 18:9-10 Good News Translation (GNT) – “⁹On the other hand, if I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom, ¹⁰but then that nation disobeys me and does evil, I will not do what I said I would.”

Yes, if one turns back from their evil ways, endeavoring to obey God’s Word, he will not receive the condemnatory judgment that he deserves.

That a repentant, evil person’s previous wicked deeds will not be held against them, God states,

Ezekiel 33:13-15 – “¹³Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. ¹⁴Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, ¹⁵if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”

Regardless of all that one has done throughout their life, it is their standing in God’s eyes at the time of the divine judgment, which God considers.

Therefore, God goes on to say through Ezekiel,

Ezekiel 33:14-16 – “¹⁴Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, ¹⁵if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ¹⁶None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.”

Supposed Unfulfilled Prophecy

In the days when Micah was prophesying, c. 777-717, the king, the heads of the Jerusalem government, the religious leaders, the priests, and some prophets, were deserving of nothing but death. 

All were guilty of causing the life of their fellow countrymen, all for the sake of greed. They were guilty of false worship, bribery, lies, and wicked behavior.

These leaders used false prophets, who were not true spokesmen of God. Therefore, the real prophet, Micah, shouted,

Micah 3:12 – “¹²Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.”

The destruction occurred in the late seventh-century B.C.E., just as it was prophesied. As we can see below, Micah 3:12 was quoted over a century later in Jeremiah 26:18.

Jeremiah 26:16-19 Updated American Standard Version (UASV) – “¹⁶Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, ‘This man is not worthy of death; for he hath spoken to us in the name of Jehovah our God.’ ¹⁷Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, ¹⁸Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying: ‘Thus says Jehovah of hosts,

“‘Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’

¹⁹ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear Jehovah and entreat the favor of Jehovah, and Jehovah changed his mind about the misfortune, which he had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against our own souls.”

Is this another unfulfilled prophecy? Did not Jeremiah himself say, “Jehovah changed his mind about the misfortune, which he had pronounced against them”?

Verse 19 of Jeremiah [chapter 26] indicates that Micah’s preaching may have been instrumental in the revival under King Hezekiah (see 2 Kings 18:1–6; 2 Chronicles 29–31).” (Barker and Bailey 2001, 82) The New American Commentary authors go on to say,

Lamentations describes the awful fulfillment of this prophecy (see Introduction, p. 30). It is ironic that those who thought they were the builders of Zion (verse 10) actually turned out to be, in a sense, its destroyers.

The Lord, because of their breach of covenant, used King Nebuchadnezzar’s Neo-Babylonian army to raze Jerusalem and its temple.

They were reduced to a “mound of ruins” (translating the Hb. word ʿîyyîn) similar to an archaeological tel and to Ai (see also comments on 1:6), foreshadowing the Roman destruction of A.D. 70.

Jerusalem became a place suitable only for wild animals. And the temple mount that thronged with worshipers became as deserted as when Abraham almost offered Isaac there on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2, 14). (Barker and Bailey 2001, 82)

Yes, there is no reason to view Micah’s words as an unfulfilled prophecy. What we have here is a following of the above rule, with a qualifying clause, so to speak.

As God said through Jeremiah, “If at any time I say that I am going to uproot, break down, or destroy any nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns from its evil, I will not do what I said I would.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

However, “if I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom, but then that nation disobeys me and does evil, I will not do what I said I would.”

In other words, the king, the governmental leaders and the priests heeded Micah’s warning, repented, and were forgiven for a time, with the judgment prophecy lifted.

However, they fell back into their former ways, even more grievously than before. Therefore, Micah’s prophecy was reinstated.

It is as Jeremiah said in 26:19, “But we are committing a great evil against our own souls.”

Therefore, Jeremiah was saying, Micah prophesied, the people repented, God forgave them, and now Micah’s words will be carried out, because of the current generation of God’s people ‘committing a great evil against their own souls.’

As we can see from the above, judgment prophecies are based on a continued wrong course by those receiving condemnation.

However, both the condemned and the one proclaiming the prophecy knew that the judgment would be lifted if they reversed course, and repented. 

This was even expressed by Jonah himself. “But, it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

And he prayed to Jehovah and said, “O Jehovah, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” (Jonah 4:1-2)

However, it is also true, if one goes in the opposite direction after having repented, returning to the sinful ways, the judgment will be reinstated.

Prophetic Language

The prophet is much like the poet, in that he is given a license to express himself in nonliteral language. Generally, he is working with images that are far more effective than words themselves.

Matthew 24:29-31 - The Coming of the Son of Man – “²⁹Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.³¹And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

The above cosmic terminology need not be taken literally. It is a part of their tool kit, which enables them to make it clear that God is acting in behalf of humans. (See Daniel 2:21; 4:17, 25, 34–35; 5:21)

The sun is not going to be darkened, the moon will not stop giving its light, the stars are not going to fall from the heavens, nor will the heavens be shaken.

What is being communicated here is that following the tribulation when God is going to judge humans, the righteous will receive life and the unrighteous will cut off from life. (verses 34-45)

While we do not take cosmic terminology literally, we do discover its meaning, and this is what we are to take literally.

Acts 2:14-21 - Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

“¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“’¹⁷And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; ¹⁸even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.¹⁹And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;²⁰the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. ²¹And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

In all occurrences, prophecy proclaimed in Bible times had meaning for the people who heard it; it served for their guidance as well as each generation up unto the time of its fulfillment.

Usually, it had some fulfillment in that time, in numerous instances being fulfilled during the days of that very generation.

In looking at Peters quote from Joel, it must be asked; did they see those cosmic events on Pentecost?

Yes, the cosmic terminology is expressing that God was acting on behalf of those first Christians.

A new era was being entered and God did pour out His Spirit, and sons and daughters did prophesy, both in proclaiming a message and in the foretelling of further events.

However, let us delve even deeper into prophecy and how they are to be interpreted. Before moving on, let us briefly offer what we have learned this far:

·     Judgment prophecies can be lifted, set aside if the parties affected repent and turnaround from their former course.

·    On the other hand, if God has promised blessings but then that person or group disobeys him and does evil, he will not do what he had said he would do.

·    Then again, if one has repented, turned around, and a judgment prophecy has been lifted, it can be reinstated if that person or group returns to their former evil ways.

·    Prophets have a license to use prophetic language, cosmic terminology that evidences that God is working or acting within humanity.

·    While we do not take cosmic terminology literally, we do discover its meaning, and this is what we are to take literally.

Interpreting Prophecy

If we are to understand and interpret prophecy correctly, we must first have a grasp of figurative language, types, and symbols.

We have already dealt with figurative language back in chapter 5, and typology is addressed throughout this book. In addition, the reader should carefully consider CHAPTER 24, New Testament Writers Use of the Old Testament.

We will follow the same interpretation process here that we would elsewhere, grammatical-historical interpretation, which attempts to ascertain what the author meant by the words that he used, which should have been understood by his original readers. (Stein 1994, 38-9)

It was the primary method of interpretation when higher criticism’s Historical-Critical Method was in its infancy back in the 19th century (Milton Terry), and remains the only method of interpretation for true conservative scholarship in the later 20th century into the 21st century.

Grammatical Aspect

When we speak of interpreting the Bible grammatically, we are referring to the process of seeking to determine its meaning by ascertaining four things:

(a) the meaning of words (lexicology),

(b) the form of words (morphology),

(c) the function of words (parts of speech), and

(d) the relationships of words (syntax).

In the meaning of words (lexicology), we are concerned with

(a) etymology- how words are derived and developed,

(b) usage how words are used by the same and other authors,

(c) synonyms and antonyms -how similar and opposite words are used, and

(d) context-how words are used in various contexts.

In discussing the form of words (morphology), we are looking at how words are structured and how that affects their meaning.

For example, the word eat means something different from ate, though the same letters are used.

The word part changes meaning when the letter “s” is added to it to make the word parts.

The function of words (parts of speech) considers what the various forms do.

These include attention to subjects, verbs, objects, nouns, and others, as will be discussed later.

The relationships of words (syntax) are the way words are related or put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. (Zuck 1991, 100-101)

Historical Aspect

By “historical” we mean the setting in which the prophet’s book was written and the circumstances involved in the writing. … taking into consideration the circumstances of the writings and the cultural environment.

We must keep in mind that even though many of the prophetic utterances were meant for the generation, in which they were spoken, or shortly thereafter.

Even if it is not the immediate generation, all prophetic utterances had some type of meaning to the prophet’s generation, be it hope in some future person or event, or the knowledge of a judgment that is coming or could come as a result of their behavior. 

For example, maybe the Israelites are under persecution and oppression by the surrounding nations, and the prophecy is for a protector that is to rise up, and set matters straight.

Even though they do not know, who the protector is, or the exact time of his appearance, they do know that God cannot lie, nor has he ever lied, and so, they can have hope and faith in his words.

Moreover, they would have also known that if they fell back into false worship, God could withdraw his prophetic message of a savior.

The context in which a given Scripture passage is written influences how that passage is to be understood.

Context includes several things:

·     the verse(s) immediately before and after a passage

·     the paragraph and book in which the verses occur

·     the dispensation in which it was written

·     the message of the entire Bible

·     the historical-cultural environment of that time when it was written. (Zuck 1991, 77)

We will end this chapter here. However, our next chapter, chapter 10, will walk the reader through a portion of a prophetic book.

We have chosen the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 66:1-14), which is a favorite of many, even viewed as the fifth Gospel, because it speaks of the coming Messiah so much.

Christian Publishing House was founded in January 2005. Our goal is to help Christians around the world, who are lacking the basic knowledge of the Bible’s teachings. Thus, they are unable to take advantage of the full happiness of partaking in joint worship with God. Christian Publishing House has the purpose, to help all Christians to increase and expand their understanding of God’s Word and to apply it more fully in their lives.

In the Bible, you can interact with a living God who wants a personal relationship with you. In addition, through the books of Christian Publishing House, you will learn how to engage His words like never before. Christian Publishing House creates the opportunity to grow in knowledge of “the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ” (John 17:3), through practical books that will help you grow in the faith, overcome the difficulties that Satan’s world will throw at you, and maintain your relationship with the one and only true God. You will learn to observe, understand, and apply the Bible to transform your life.

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