The concept of prediction in the Bible is closely associated with prophecy, where God reveals future events to His prophets. These predictions serve to demonstrate God's sovereignty, foreknowledge, and the unfolding of His divine plan. The Bible contains numerous instances where God communicates future events to His people, often through chosen individuals, to guide, warn, or encourage them.

Biblical Prophecy and Prediction

In the Old Testament, prophecy is a significant means by which God communicates His will and future plans. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel were given visions and messages about future events, both near and distant. For example, Isaiah predicted the coming of the Messiah, saying, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). This prophecy was fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah also made predictions about the future, including the Babylonian exile and the eventual return of the Israelites to their land. In Jeremiah 29:10, it is written, "For this is what the LORD says: 'When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place'" . This prediction was fulfilled when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem after the exile.

New Testament Predictions

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself made several predictions. He foretold His own death and resurrection, as seen in Matthew 16:21: "From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life" . This prediction was fulfilled through His crucifixion and resurrection.

Jesus also predicted the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred in AD 70. In Matthew 24:2, He said, "Do you see all these things? He replied. Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down" .

The Role of Prophets

Prophets in the Bible were often tasked with delivering God's messages, which included predictions of future events. These predictions were not merely forecasts but were declarations of God's will and purpose. The role of the prophet was to speak God's truth, often calling people to repentance and obedience.

In Deuteronomy 18:18-22, God outlines the role of a prophet: "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him" . The passage also provides criteria for discerning true prophets, emphasizing that their predictions must come to pass.

Purpose of Predictions

The purpose of predictions in the Bible is multifaceted. They serve to affirm God's omniscience and omnipotence, providing evidence of His control over history. Predictions also offer hope and encouragement to believers, assuring them of God's faithfulness and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.

Moreover, predictions often serve as a call to action, urging individuals and nations to align themselves with God's will. They are a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of faithfulness.

Conclusion

The Bible's predictions, whether concerning the coming of the Messiah, the fate of nations, or the end times, underscore the reliability and authority of Scripture. They reveal God's plan for humanity and His desire for a relationship with His creation, inviting all to trust in His promises and live according to His Word.1. (v. t.) To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.

2. (n.) A prediction.

4302. prolego -- to say beforehand, ie to predict
... to say beforehand, ie to predict. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prolego
Phonetic Spelling: (prol-eg'-o) Short Definition: I forewarn Definition: I tell ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4302.htm - 7k

4303. promarturomai -- to say beforehand
... to say beforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: promarturomai Phonetic
Spelling: (prom-ar-too'-rom-ahee) Short Definition: I predict Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4303.htm - 7k

4280. proereo -- foretell, say before.
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proereo Phonetic Spelling: (pro-er-eh'-o)
Short Definition: I say already, predict Definition: I say already, predict ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4280.htm - 6k

4277 -- forewarn, say before
forewarn, say before. Part of Speech: Verb Phonetic Spelling: (pro-ep'-o) Short
Definition: I say previously, predict Definition: I say previously, predict ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4277.htm - 6k

4293. prokataggello -- to announce beforehand
... prokataggello Phonetic Spelling: (prok-at-ang-ghel'-lo) Short Definition: I announce
beforehand, promise Definition: I announce beforehand, promise, predict. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4293.htm - 7k

5046. nagad -- to be conspicuous
... implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word
of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise ...
/hebrew/5046.htm - 6k

3045. yada -- to know
... your known (1), make yourself known (1), make known (14), notice (2), observe (2),
perceive (1), perceived (1), possibly know (1), predict (1), professional ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

But to Desire to Predict the Characters, the Acts...
... Book 2 Chapter 33. But to desire to predict the characters, the acts? 33.
But to desire to predict the characters, the acts, and ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 33 but to desire.htm

Did Christ Predict his Resurrection?
... CHAPTER VIII. THE RESURRECTION Section 294. Did Christ predict his Resurrection?
BEFORE describing the Resurrection, we must examine ...
/.../section 294 did christ predict.htm

The Folly of Observing the Stars in Order to Predict the Events of ...
... Book II. Chapter 22 ."The Folly of Observing the Stars in Order to Predict
the Events of a Life. 33. But to desire to predict ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 22 the folly of.htm

Passages from the Psalms of David which Predict the End of the ...
... Book XX. Chapter 24."Passages from the Psalms of David Which Predict the
End of the World and the Last Judgment. There are many ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 24 passages from the psalms.htm

The Success of the Apostles, and their Sufferings in the Cause of ...
... Then why does the Creator, if an adversary of Christ, not only predict that the
apostles should incur this suffering, but even express His displeasure [3407 ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xxii the success of the.htm

Proof against the Marcionites, that the Prophets Referred in all ...
... 3. But whence could the prophets have had power to predict the advent of the King,
and to preach beforehand that liberty which was bestowed by Him, and ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiv proof against the marcionites.htm

Distinction Between Prediction and Prophecy.
... For physicians predict certain things, having the pulse of the patient as matter
submitted to them; and some predict by means of having fowls, and some by ...
/.../the clementine homilies/chapter xi distinction between prediction and.htm

In what Manner the Mathematicians are Convicted of Professing a ...
... are involved in the time of conception, but those of other things be said to be
attached to the time of birth, they ought not to predict anything concerning ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 5 in what manner the.htm

Moral Depravity.
... His sixth argument is, that "We can predict with certainty, that in due time
it will act itself out." Answer:". Just as might be expected. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxiii moral depravity.htm

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of ...
... Jehovah bids the prophets of false faiths to successfully predict events lying in
the far distant future and their success or failure will show whether or not ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter five the fulfilled prophecies.htm

Predict (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as,
to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet. 2. (n.) A prediction. ...
/p/predict.htm - 7k

Predicted (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Predict. Multi-Version Concordance
Predicted (10 Occurrences). John 18:32 They said this ...
/p/predicted.htm - 9k

Augur (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To predict; to prognosticate; to foreshow;
to conjecture from signs or omens; 2. (n.) An official ...
/a/augur.htm - 7k

Plagues (28 Occurrences)
... In every instance these predictions were exactly fulfilled. In some instances careful
foresight might seem to supply in part this ability to predict. ...
/p/plagues.htm - 44k

Omen (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To divine or to foreshow by signs or portents; to have omens or premonitions
regarding; to predict; to augur; as, to omen ill of an enterprise. ...
/o/omen.htm - 8k

Observers (5 Occurrences)
... Let now the interpreters of the heavens, the observers of the stars, who predict
according to the new moons what shall come upon thee, stand up, and save thee. ...
/o/observers.htm - 7k

Weather (5 Occurrences)
... in the different seasons are less variable in Palestine than in colder countries,
but the precise weather for a given day is very hard to predict on account of ...
/w/weather.htm - 10k

Interpreters (3 Occurrences)
... Let now the interpreters of the heavens, the observers of the stars, who predict
according to the new moons what shall come upon thee, stand up, and save thee. ...
/i/interpreters.htm - 7k

Forecast (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To predict; to project. 2. (vt) To foresee;
to calculate beforehand, so as to provide for. 3. (vi ...
/f/forecast.htm - 8k

Foretell (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To predict; to prophesy; to foreshow. 2. (vi)
To utter predictions. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FORETELL; FORETOLD. ...
/f/foretell.htm - 9k

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