Lesson 1.2
GOD claims to be able to reveal the future. He says, “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9 GOD is able to declare “the end from the beginning.” Isaiah 46:9, 10 Therefore fulfilled prophecy becomes a mighty testimony to the inspiration of the Bible.
What did GOD predict concerning ancient Babylon?
“And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.”
What did the prophet say GOD would do to the great city of Nineveh?
“And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness…. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.”
Did GOD accurately predict the downfall of Egypt – will she be a world power again?
“It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.”
Egypt was at one time the leading nation of the world. It was the center of arts, sciences, and religion.
What was God’s prediction concerning ancient Tyre?
“And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water. And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.”
Tyre on the mainland was not rebuilt at that time but the island city continued past the Persian period. When Alexander
threatened Tyre, this island city refused to submit to Grecian control. So Alexander, using timber and debris from the old city of Tyre, built a causeway out to the island and fulfilled the prophecy of Ezekiel 26:12. His army marched over the causeway to the island and captured and destroyed the city. He killed the leaders and sold the remaining inhabitants into slavery. The city as rebuilt but was never quite as it had been before its fall. Later in A.D. 1291 it was almost completely destroyed by the Saracens. The present day village is partly on the northern part of the island and partly on the causeway, which has increased through the years to a width of almost half a mile. Some remains of the ancient buildings can still be seen in the water. There is still a fishing harbor on the north side of the island. The great nation of Ezekiel’s day is no more.
What did GOD predict about the nations of modern Europe?
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”
We are living in the last days of earth. We must take heed to the Bible counsel, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11. “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20, last part