Forewarning
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Definition:
Forewarning refers to the act of giving advance notice or caution about future events or potential dangers. In the biblical context, forewarning often involves divine communication through prophets, visions, or direct revelation from God, intended to prepare individuals or nations for forthcoming events or judgments.

Biblical Instances of Forewarning:

1. Noah and the Flood:
One of the earliest examples of forewarning in the Bible is found in the account of Noah. God forewarned Noah about the impending flood that would destroy all life on earth due to humanity's wickedness. Noah was instructed to build an ark to save his family and pairs of every living creature. This forewarning is detailed in Genesis 6:13-14 : "Then God said to Noah, 'I have decided to put an end to all living creatures, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Now behold, I will destroy them along with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.'"

2. Joseph and the Famine:
In Genesis 41, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams, which serve as a divine forewarning of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine in Egypt. Joseph advises Pharaoh to store surplus grain during the years of plenty to prepare for the coming scarcity. Genesis 41:28-30 states, "It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land."

3. Prophets and Israel:
Throughout the Old Testament, prophets frequently delivered forewarnings to the people of Israel and Judah regarding impending judgment due to their disobedience and idolatry. For instance, the prophet Jeremiah warned of the Babylonian exile as a consequence of the nation's sins. Jeremiah 25:8-9 declares, "Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Because you have not obeyed My words, behold, I will summon all the families of the north,' declares the LORD, 'and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land and against its residents and against all the surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and scorn, an everlasting desolation.'"

4. Jesus and the End Times:
In the New Testament, Jesus provides forewarnings about the end times and His second coming. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus describes signs of the end of the age and urges His followers to remain vigilant. Matthew 24:6-8 records, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These 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."

5. Revelation and the Final Judgment:
The Book of Revelation contains numerous forewarnings about the final judgment and the ultimate triumph of God over evil. Through visions given to the Apostle John, believers are forewarned of the trials and tribulations that will precede the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Revelation 1:1-3 introduces the book as a revelation from Jesus Christ, given to show His servants what must soon take place: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near."

Purpose of Forewarning:

Forewarnings in the Bible serve several purposes. They are intended to prompt repentance, encourage preparation, and strengthen faith. By providing advance notice of future events, God demonstrates His sovereignty and mercy, offering individuals and nations the opportunity to align themselves with His will and avoid impending judgment. Forewarnings also serve to reassure believers of God's ultimate plan and the certainty of His promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forewarn.
Library

Treatise iii. On the Lapsed.
... Elsewhere also a voice is heard from heaven, forewarning what is becoming for the
servants of God to do, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise iii on the lapsed.htm

Synopsis. --The Gradual Narrowing of the Miraculous Element in the ...
... The forewarning which God is said to have given the prophet Ahijah of the visit
that the queen was about to pay him in disguise[6] is now recognized as one of ...
/.../miracles and supernatural religion/i synopsis the gradual narrowing of.htm

That we must Press on and Persevere in Faith and virtue, and in ...
... shall abide in my word, ye shall be my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free." [3748] Moreover, forewarning us that ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/8 that we must press.htm

Here Some one Will Say, what Has this to do with Holy virginity...
... from the affection of the flesh, without which marriages of incontinent persons
cannot be, the Apostle neither wished to be silent, as forewarning what was true ...
/.../augustine/of holy virginity /section 21 here some one.htm

I Shall at once Go On, Then, to Exhibit the Peculiarities of the ...
... [132] We assemble to read our sacred writings, if any peculiarity of the
times makes either forewarning or reminiscence needful. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxxix i shall at.htm

I Relate all those Things on the Authority of Well-Informed ...
... flourishing churches in perpetual felicity. Footnotes: [1998] [Let us recall
our Lord's forewarning: Matthew 10:16 and Luke 10:3.]. ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap lii i relate all.htm

Epistle vi. To Rogatianus the Presbyter, and the Other Confessors. ...
... to God through whose conformity to discipline the name of God is declared with a
testimony of praise, as it is written, the Lord Himself forewarning and saying ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle vi to rogatianus the.htm

That Thy Resurrection Might be Believed among the Gainsayers, they ...
... If then prophets that had had forewarning of Elijah's ascension, doubted as it were
of his going up, how much more would impure men speak slander of the Son? ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn viii that thy resurrection.htm

Examples from the Old Testament, Balaam, Moses, and Hezekiah, to ...
... These therefore will be they whom He forewarns above not to be afraid of being only
killed; and this forewarning He offers, in order that He might subjoin a ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxviii examples from the old.htm

In the Mean Time, Affairs Having Been Well Settled in Egypt to ...
... Thus, he sent them home again, laden with corn, and presented with many gifts,
forewarning them that there were still five years of famine to come, and ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xii in the mean.htm

Thesaurus
Forewarning (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forewarn. Multi-Version
Concordance Forewarning (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 11:7 For ...
/f/forewarning.htm - 6k

Forewarned (15 Occurrences)

/f/forewarned.htm - 11k

Forfeit (12 Occurrences)

/f/forfeit.htm - 13k

Warning (30 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 11:7 For I earnestly forewarned your fathers in the day that I brought
them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, forewarning betimes and ...
/w/warning.htm - 15k

Warned (63 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 11:7 For I earnestly forewarned your fathers in the day that I brought
them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, forewarning betimes and ...
/w/warned.htm - 25k

Resources
What were common marriage customs in Bible times? | GotQuestions.org

Forewarning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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