How Bible History Becomes Prophecy

The Apostle Paul told the brethren in Corinth, one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire, that Old Testament examples were for the end time. The Corinthians had a lot of problems, just as God’s people do today, and Paul was doing all he could to help them.

Most of those examples Paul referred to are actually Bible prophecies for us in this end time. They are end-time prophetic warnings. So there is an urgency to this message.

Paul believed he was living in the end time just before a.d. 70, but what happened in a.d. 70 was only a type of what is coming to pass in this end time. The good news is, these warnings, and prophecies, lead directly to the return of Jesus Christ!

“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). In this passage, Paul discusses the mistakes made by ancient Israel, as recorded in the Old Testament. Clearly, he understood this Bible history to be end-time Bible prophecy!

This is one of the most fascinating concepts in the Bible: history becomes prophecy. History can be recorded in the form of prophecies for this end time. Frankly, I had not fully understood this until very recently. Only God can reveal the truth to us.

The Moffatt translation of the above verse makes the meaning plain: “It all happened to them by way of warning for others, and it was written down for the purpose of instructing us whose lot has been cast in the closing hours of the world.” Much of the Bible was recorded and preserved specifically for those of us alive during the final moments of man’s rule over man, just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

Paul was martyred just before the a.d. 70 holocaust in Jerusalem, a tiny type of the punishment coming upon the end-time nations of Israel—particularly America, Britain and the Jewish nation. (Request our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy for proof of the prophetic identities of these modern nations.) Back then, the Romans demolished Jerusalem. Soon, the Holy Roman Empire will afflict our people.

Over 90 percent of Bible prophecy is for today. These are critical warnings to us! “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (verse 12).

The Former Prophets

The former prophets section of the Bible is comprised of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. Former prophets—the emphasis is not on history, but prophecy. Scholars who say these books are just history are dangerously wrong. God sends prophets to prophesy! Their whole purpose is to declare God’s warning message. We must heed, or we will lose our spiritual lives.

Joshua led Israel to greatness and prosperity. After he died, everything changed. The nation chose a system of governance in which individuals had to seek out one of many judges for a decision on their problems. Some of those judges were corrupt, and the people became discouraged. Israel turned away from God, and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Judges is the bloodiest book in the Bible!

Samuel and Kings discuss the history of David and Solomon, under whom Israel became a huge regional power around 1000 b.c. The nation was secure and unified. But it degenerated into division after Solomon. That is a prophecy for today!

Bible history prophesies the fate of nations.

Politics and religion today have degenerated just like in ancient Israel. America, Britain and the Jewish nation have been mightily blessed, but they have forgotten those blessings. Who gave them so much wealth and wonderful vision from the Bible? God! The Jews received the scepter promise of a kingly line continuing from David all the way to the Second Coming. That throne still exists today! Those who come out of the world to help deliver this warning message will share the throne with Christ for all eternity! We will rule the Earth and the universe. What an overwhelming reward.

Samuel and Kings also show how God raised up small colleges under Samuel, Elijah and Elisha. Israel wasn’t too interested in God, so God’s colleges warned the people to turn back to Him. Our educational institution Herbert W. Armstrong College helps deliver the same warning today.

The former prophets are God-inspired history that becomes prophecy. Anyone who says this is only history is damaging and maybe even destroying people’s faith. We need to believe God and Bible history, which is 10,000 times better than secular history!

Why did King Saul fail while David succeeded? Because only David looked to God. He trusted and loved God, His way of life and His teachings. David was passionate about God, and God will reward him with rulership over all Israel in the near future!

If you live like Joshua and his followers, you will experience beautiful results. Joshua inspired the entire nation to obey every word of God, as spoken by Moses. But if you follow the way of Israel during the period of the judges, disaster awaits. We must learn from this history that becomes prophecy.

The writers of the former prophets were well-educated men who studied historical sources like The Book of the Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41), The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, and The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. The biblical book of Chronicles references books by three prophets: Nathan, Ahijah and Iddo (2 Chronicles 9:29). These sources also informed the former prophets writers, who kept building on past historical works and recording more astounding history that becomes prophecy. David created offices for preserving history (1 Chronicles 29:29). History was extremely valuable to Israel.

The authors of the former prophets were prophets who prophesied! These are books you can rely on, inspired by God Himself!

The Old Testament also contains the major prophets and the minor prophets. Practically the entire Old Testament was written by prophets! These servants of God wanted to keep the flame of David’s throne alive throughout history to the present day and beyond. (Request my free book The New Throne of David to learn where this throne is located today.)

You need to study my free book The Former Prophets. It is packed with truth about some of the mightiest lessons you’ll ever find in the Bible. Learn about King Jeroboam, who led 10 tribes away from Jerusalem and the throne of David, splitting the nation into the two rival brother nations of Israel and Judah. Jeroboam established a false religious system to strengthen his rule over Israel, setting up the least reputable Israelites as priests so he could manipulate them easily (1 Kings 12:27-31). He changed God’s holy days and laws to provide an attractive alternative and prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem (verses 32-33).

There’s an end-time type of Jeroboam today. Prophecy from Amos 7 and 2 Kings 14 is being fulfilled right now! Despite Jeroboam’s rebellion against the one true religion, God did use him anciently to save Israel temporarily. God has done the same thing through the end-time Jeroboam, temporarily saving America so the people have more time to hear God’s prophecies and repent! (Request my free booklet Great Again to learn more.)

Bible history becomes prophecy. What a fascinating concept! As the Apostle Paul said, we must learn from Bible history, or we will fall away from God.