The Purpose of Prophecy

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The Purpose of Prophecy is to warn people.

But in the end, it is up to people to decide.

Some cases.[All the quotations are from the Blue Bible-KJV]

Paul was warned, just like Jesus, not to go to Jerusalem. Act 21:4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. Act 21:10 And as we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. Act 21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles. Act 21:12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Act 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus was warned also about dying. Mar 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. Mar 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. Mar 14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet [will] not I. Mar 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, [even] in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].

Both chose to go. Both died physical deaths.

The Christian Yahwist

The Man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), January 24, 2005

Answers

Prayer can stop death. The great majority only get 3 or less years when they ask for their life to be extended. Here is a case of someone who lived more than 3.

Hezekiah was told he was going to die. He prayed. He lived.

2Ki 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2Ki 20:2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Yahweh, saying, 2Ki 20:3 I beseech thee, Yahweh, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 2Ki 20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 2Ki 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith Yahweh, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of Yahweh. 2Ki 20:6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

The Christian Yahwist

The Man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), January 24, 2005.

Ahab was told by the Prophet Elijah about his evil ways. He repented. God Yahweh forgave him

1Ki 21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found [thee]: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of Yahweh. 1Ki 21:21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 1Ki 21:22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked [me] to anger, and made Israel to sin. 1Ki 21:23 And of Jezebel also spake Yahweh, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. 1Ki 21:24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. 1Ki 21:25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 1Ki 21:26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all [things] as did the Amorites, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. 1Ki 21:27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 1Ki 21:28 And the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 1Ki 21:29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: [but] in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Ahab was told by the prophet Micaiah he was going to die in battle. He still chose to go in battle in disguise. He was killed.

1Ki 22:15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king. 1Ki 22:16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but [that which is] true in the name of the LORD? 1Ki 22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 1Ki 22:18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? .... 1Ki 22:27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 1Ki 22:28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Yahweh hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. 1Ki 22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. 1Ki 22:30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 1Ki 22:31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. ..... 1Ki 22:34 And a [certain] man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. 1Ki 22:35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. 1Ki 22:36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. 1Ki 22:37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

Ahab could have chosen not to go. He did. His dinasty died.

The Christian Yahwist

The Man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), January 24, 2005.


Faith,

Yahweh's purpose for humanity is spelled out clearly here, :to turn from one's evil ways

Jer 36:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, [that] this word came unto Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, Jer 36:2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. Jer 36:3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. Jer 36:22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and [there was a fire] on the hearth burning before him. Jer 36:23 And it came to pass, [that] when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast [it] into the fire that [was] on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that [was] on the hearth. Jer 36:24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, [neither] the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. Jer 36:25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. Jer 36:26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but Yahweh hid them. Jer 36:27 Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Jer 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. Jer 36:29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith Yahweh; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? Jer 36:30 Therefore thus saith Yahweh of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. Jer 36:31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

Yahweh gives a chance to save ourselves.

Jer 21:8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Yahweh; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. Jer 21:9 He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

Prophecy is about people making choices. Yahweh lets people know what will happen to the. But in the end, one has freewill to make whatever choice we select. That is the true Meaning of Prophecy.

The Christian Yahwist

The Man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), January 24, 2005.

In a way, I agree Elpidio. What is prophecy but the word of God? It may not necessarily be about the future.

Sometimes God says, "If you do not do this, I will do this."

Other times He says, "I am doing this anyway, so do what is necessary to avoid the blow."

But in both cases, we are responsible for making a choice.

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), January 25, 2005.


But notice, Elpidio--

That nothing that is written will ever change. Prophecy is 100% accurate and not subject to change.

God knows the begining from the end, and His prophecy will include what is--without any possibility of change.

He would not give you a vision that was subject to mans' whim. His visions are about what is--not what could be. And the only purpose is to reveal Himself to us as being exactly who He says He is. Afterall, who else could possibly know the begining from the end with 100% accuracy besides God? No one.

Therefore, if your visions are subject to people changing minds--then they come from deceiving spirits who do not *know* the beginging from the end.

-- (faith01@myway.com), January 26, 2005.



faith, didn't yahweh send Jonah to Nineveh to tell the people he was going to destroy the city.

Why was Johnah angry? a)Because God Yahweh spared the city or

b)Because he had no shade from the plant?

Yahweh can change his mind, faith. That is the true meaning of prophecy.

The Christian Yahwist

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), January 27, 2005.


I don't think God changes his mind. But he allows us the chance to change ours. He presents us with two choices and their corresponding blessings/consequences as they apply.

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), January 27, 2005.

But Elpidio--it is done. It is recorded. God isn't going to change anything that isn't already changed...He knows the begining from the end and is not subject to us. Any change we might make tomorrow--He knew about long before He even created us. What is recorded in Scripture is to teach us about God's sovereignty--not His inability to predict anything because we might change our minds. And any time it appears He might have changed His mind--was all part of His knowledge before hand. God is not subject to us Elpidio--he knows everything in advance. Any vision he would give you should be 100 % accurate as it is in Scripture because He is God. This is how we can know He is God. Don't reduce Him to your own image. Your predictions are not coming from Him--this I am positive! He is never wrong--and you are.

-- (faith01@myway.com), January 28, 2005.

Jesus contemporaries used to say the same about him, faith, Luk 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Luk 11:15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

Luk 11:16 And others, tempting [him], sought of him a sign from heaven. ... Luk 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

Luk 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast [them] out? therefore shall they be your judges.

Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

They rejected Moses, Samuel,Isaiah...they persecuted Elijah, Jeremiah,John The baptist,....Jesus,Paul, Peter,...

Prophets are usually rejected in their own times.

The Christian Yahwist

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), January 28, 2005.


You don't see the point I am making, Elpidio. This is clear by the fact that you think showing these examples from Scripture.

Scripture was written to teach us about who God is. Nothing that is written is subject to change. No prophecy from God is subject to change.

Those prophets may have been rejected, Elpidio, but they were never wrong.

-- (faith01@myway.com), January 29, 2005.



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