Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the concept of "forecast" is not explicitly mentioned as it is understood in modern terms, such as weather predictions or economic projections. However, the Bible contains numerous instances of prophecy and divine revelation, which can be seen as a form of forecasting, where God reveals future events to His prophets and people.Prophecy as Divine Forecasting Prophecy in the Bible serves as a divine forecast, where God communicates His plans and purposes to humanity. The prophets of the Old Testament, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, were often given visions or messages about future events. These prophecies were not mere predictions based on human insight but were revelations from God Himself. For example, Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, saying, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus and Prophecy In the New Testament, Jesus Christ fulfills many Old Testament prophecies, and He Himself makes forecasts about future events. Jesus speaks of His own death and resurrection, as well as the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In Matthew 24, Jesus provides a detailed forecast of the end times, warning His disciples about false prophets, wars, and natural disasters. He says, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places" (Matthew 24:7). The Role of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers into all truth, including understanding future events. In John 16:13, Jesus promises, "However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come" . This guidance can be seen as a form of spiritual forecasting, where believers are led by the Spirit to discern God's will and future plans. Discernment and Wisdom While the Bible contains divine forecasts through prophecy, it also emphasizes the importance of discernment and wisdom in understanding these revelations. Believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom and guidance in interpreting prophetic messages. In James 1:5, it is written, "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" . Warnings Against False Forecasts The Bible also warns against false prophets and those who claim to forecast the future without divine authority. In Deuteronomy 18:20-22, God provides criteria for discerning true prophets from false ones, stating that if a prophet's prediction does not come to pass, it is not a message from the Lord. Jesus reiterates this warning in Matthew 24:24, saying, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible" . In summary, while the Bible does not use the term "forecast" in the modern sense, it contains numerous examples of divine prophecy and revelation, which serve as God's forecasts of future events. These prophecies are given through His chosen prophets and are fulfilled in accordance with His sovereign will. Believers are called to seek wisdom and discernment in understanding these divine messages, while being cautious of false forecasts that do not align with God's truth. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To predict; to project.2. (v. t.) To foresee; to calculate beforehand, so as to provide for. 3. (v. i.) To contrive or plan beforehand. 4. (n.) Previous contrivance or determination; predetermination. 5. (n.) Foresight of consequences, and provision against them; prevision; premeditation. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia FORECASTfor-kast'; (vb.) (chashabh): Strong's Hebrew 2803. chashab -- to think, account... think, regard, value, compute -- (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine ... /hebrew/2803.htm - 6k Library Whether Divination by the Stars is Unlawful? The Destroyers and the Restorer Prayer and Science In Our Last Chapter we Sought to Show that in Rev. . . A Rash Vow We Sure of To-Morrow? a New Year's Sermon A Clearing-Up Storm in the Realm George Borrow The Church and the Empire Introduction Thesaurus Forecast (2 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FORECAST. for-kast'; (vb.) (chashabh): To forecast is both to plan or scheme beforehand and to consider or see beforehand. ... /f/forecast.htm - 8k Witch (2 Occurrences) En-dor (3 Occurrences) Endor (3 Occurrences) Calculate (7 Occurrences) Astrology Offices (14 Occurrences) Names (133 Occurrences) Forethought (3 Occurrences) Fore-doomed (1 Occurrence) Resources What was the Great Disappointment? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is encouragement so important according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.org How can I stop being a people-pleaser? | GotQuestions.org Forecast: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Forecast (2 Occurrences)Daniel 11:24 Daniel 11:25 Subtopics Related Terms |
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