August 10

Ezra 2:1-70
Psalm 94:12-23
Proverbs 19:26-27
Romans 4:1-25

The Elements of Prophecy
Because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.—Romans 4:21

Prophecy is a revelation of God to humankind. It will take place at exactly the right time: “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie” (Hab 2:3). The time for the fulfillment is fixed by God, and it will come to pass at the exact moment that God foreordains.

Yet another element is that of foretelling the future. Here again, some Bible teachers object to this and say that prophecy is forth-telling rather than foretelling. It is quite true, of course, that prophecy is a form of teaching and therefore contains an element of forth-telling (speaking out the truth), but the true nature of prophecy lies in the fact that it is predictive. God told Habakkuk things that would happen long before they came to pass.

The last element of prophecy is that it will be fulfilled: “Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets … For the vision is yet for the appointed time” (vv. 2-3). The events God foretells are certain to take place—and in God’s time. The revelation may seem to be delayed, but nothing can prevent or frustrate its fulfillment.

How does all this relate to the more practical aspects of daily Christian living? Let me put the answer in the form of two questions: Has God given you a word or promise that is yet to be fulfilled? And does the delay cause you to wonder whether or not He has forgotten His promise? Then take heart—there are trains on His line until 11:59. What God has promised, He will most certainly perform.