Should Christians Study Prophecy:

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspect of Christianity is that Christians are to believe according to “faith.” While this is not entirely untrue, the common interpretation of faith is generally misunderstood.

Many believe the word “faith,” as used within the context of the Bible, means to believe without reason or proof. To have faith in God is generally assumed to mean: To believe God exists. However, this is not the true definition of the word “faith.”

The word faith found in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word: pistis. Pistis more accurately means: trust, confidence, or assurance. Pistis does not imply belief without reason.

Therefore, as Christians we are to believe, not according to blind faith, but according to reason:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

1 Peter 3:15

To accomplish this task, we are given many outlets. The most impressive and persuasive means to prove the Christian faith is by demonstrating the prophetic accuracy of the Bible.

Why Should Christians study prophecy:

The importance of studying the Bible is made clear in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Within this story, Jesus recalls the death of two men: a rich man who “lived in luxury every day,” and Lazarus who “longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.”

When these two men died, Lazarus was carried to paradise, while the rich man descended into Hades where “he was in torment.” The rich man begged Abraham, whom he saw in paradise, for help. However Abraham assured the rich man he would receive no help and would exist in agony forever. The rich man then begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to appear to his brothers so that they may avoid the “place of torment.”

Abraham then replies with: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

We as Christians have an obligation to study prophecy so we may convince our non-Christians friends of the divine inspiration of the Bible. Demonstrating the prophetic accuracy of the Bible is not difficult and very persuasive.

Included below is an example of a fulfilled prophecy. While there are hundreds of such prophecies, including them all in one article would be impractical.

Examples of a fulfilled prophecy:

Isaiah 53 – Written in approximately 700 B.C.

Because this passage is often accused of being changed by the Christian church, we have used a translation from the Qumran Scrolls (or Dead Sea Scrolls): an original copy of Isaiah dating to before the life of Christ. Also important, the community which used the scrolls was never influenced by the Christian Church.

1) Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2) For he grew up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of a dry ground; he had no form and he had no majesty that we should look at him, and had no attractiveness that we should desire him.
3) He was despised and rejected by others, and a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering; and like one from whom people hide their faces and we despised him, and we did not value him.
4) Surely he has borne our suffering, and carried our sorrows; yet we considered him stricken, and struck down by God, and afflicted.
5) But he was wounded for your transgressions, and he was crushed for our iniquities, and the punishment that made us whole was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.
6) All we like sheep has gone astray; we have turned, each of us, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7) He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8) From detention and judgment he was taken away – and who can even think about his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living, he was stricken for the transgressions of my people.
9) Then they made his grave with the wicked, and with rich people his tomb – although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10) Yet the LORD was willing to crush him, and he made him suffer. Although you make his soul an offering for sin, and he will prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will triumph in his hand.
11) Out of the suffering of his soul he will see light, and find satisfaction. And though his knowledge his servant, the righteous one, will make many righteous, and he will bear their iniquities.
12) Therefore will I allot him a portion with the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong; because he poured out his life to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for their transgressions.

- The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible

Breaking down Isaiah 53:

For the sake of easy comparison we will use the NIV translation of Isaiah 53 in this breakdown. – Feel free to compare the NIV translation to the Qumran Translation.

Isaiah 53:3-4

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:39

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, Save yourself? Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

Isaiah 53:5-6

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Fulfillment: John 6:51

I am the living bread that came down from heaven . If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12-14

When he was accused by the chief priest and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor.

Isaiah 53:9

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:57

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean lined cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27:38

Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Fulfillment: Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Prophecies such as this are invaluable when demonstrating the divine inspiration of the Bible. It is the obligation of all Christians to study these prophecies so we may be equipped to defend our faith.