The concept of foretelling in the Bible is closely associated with prophecy, where God reveals future events to His prophets. This divine communication serves various purposes, including warning, encouragement, and the demonstration of God's sovereignty over history. The Bible contains numerous instances where God foretells events, both near and distant, through His chosen messengers.

Old Testament Foretelling

In the Old Testament, foretelling is a significant aspect of the prophetic ministry. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel were often called to deliver messages about future events. For example, Isaiah foretold 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 pointed to the birth of Jesus Christ, fulfilled in the New Testament.

Jeremiah was tasked with foretelling the Babylonian exile, a period of judgment for the people of Judah due to their disobedience. In Jeremiah 25:11-12 , it is written, "This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it a perpetual desolation."

Daniel's prophecies include visions of future kingdoms and the end times. In Daniel 9:24-27 , the prophecy of the seventy weeks outlines a timeline for the coming of the Anointed One and the events leading to the end of the age.

New Testament Foretelling

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and also engages in foretelling. He predicts 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."

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

The apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, also engage in foretelling. The Book of Revelation, written by the Apostle John, is a prophetic vision of the end times, detailing events that will occur before the return of Christ. Revelation 1:1 introduces the book as "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass."

Purpose and Significance

Foretelling in the Bible serves to affirm God's omniscience and omnipotence. It reassures believers of His control over history and His faithfulness to His promises. Prophecies that have been fulfilled, such as those concerning the Messiah, strengthen the faith of believers and provide evidence of the divine inspiration of Scripture. Unfulfilled prophecies continue to be a source of hope and anticipation for the future, encouraging believers to live in readiness for the return of Christ.

Greeks Seek Jesus. He Foretells that He Shall Draw all Men unto ...
... CXII. Greeks Seek Jesus. He Foretells that He Shall Draw All Men Unto Him.
(in the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, ad30.) ^D John 12:20-50. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxii greeks seek jesus he.htm

Do You Look for Another? but Daniel Foretells the Exact Time. ...
... On the Incarnation of the Word. Section 39. Do you look for another? But
Daniel foretells the exact time. Objections to this removed. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 39 do you look.htm

Matt. xxiv. 1, 2
... and materials so costly, and variety of workmanship past utterance; He no longer
thenceforth talks to them of desolation merely, but foretells an entire ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxv matt xxiv 1.htm

It is Related that when Pilate Would Fain have Released Him all ...
... that when Pilate would fain have released Him all the people cried out, "Crucify
Him, Crucify Him!" This also the Prophet Jeremiah foretells, saying, in the ...
/.../22 it is related that.htm

Of the Prophecies of the Birth and Achievements of Christ.
... Begin we, therefore, to prove that the Birth of Christ was announced by prophets;
as Isaiah (eg,) foretells, "Hear ye, house of David; no petty contest have ye ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter ix of the prophecies of.htm

So for that Reason one Should, in Fact...
... So for that reason one should, in fact, fish well and diligently, just as the Lord
foretells and teaches, saying, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 40 so for that.htm

Free-Will in Men and Angels.
... But if the word of God foretells that some angels and men shall be certainly punished,
it did so because it foreknew that they would be unchangeably [wicked ...
/.../chapter cxli free-will in men and.htm

Now Let us Shew Briefly, if You Will, that These Things were ...
... gold and silver." But that thou mayest know more certainly Who this Lord is of Whom
these things are said, hear what the Prophet Daniel also foretells: "I saw ...
/.../34 now let us shew.htm

Matt. xviii. 7
... of the moral principle, nor as placing man's life under any absolute constraint
of circumstances, that He saith these things, but He foretells what would ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lix matt xviii 7.htm

Acts xxvi. 30-32
... and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive" (RV "were driven.")
(v.10-15.) Paul therefore advised them to remain, and he foretells what would come ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily liii acts xxvi 30-32.htm

Foretells (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Foretells (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 13:1 If
there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of ...
/f/foretells.htm - 6k

Foretell (4 Occurrences)

/f/foretell.htm - 9k

Premillennial
... It tells of Christ's going away, it describes the conduct of His servants and of
the citizens during His absence; it foretells His return and the reckoning ...
/p/premillennial.htm - 23k

Millennium
... It tells of Christ's going away, it describes the conduct of His servants and of
the citizens during His absence; it foretells His return and the reckoning ...
/m/millennium.htm - 24k

Joel (22 Occurrences)
... (4.) Finally, the prophet foretells portents and judgments as destined to fall on
the enemies of God (ch. 3, but in the Hebrew text 4). Jehovah is his God. ...
/j/joel.htm - 49k

Loss (90 Occurrences)
... that he (Jacob) suffered the loss of all animals of the flock torn by beasts); shekhol,
"bereavement" (Isaiah 47:8, where the prophet foretells the humiliation ...
/l/loss.htm - 37k

Gall (17 Occurrences)
... (3.) Gr. chole (Matthew 27:34), the LXX. translation of the Hebrew rosh
in Psalm 69; 21, which foretells our Lord's sufferings. ...
/g/gall.htm - 17k

Forethought (3 Occurrences)

/f/forethought.htm - 7k

Messenger (235 Occurrences)
... an office servant who bears messages. 2. (n.) One who, or that which,
foreshows, or foretells. 3. (n.) A hawser passed round the ...
/m/messenger.htm - 101k

Augur (1 Occurrence)
... quadrupeds, or unusual occurrences. 3. (n.) One who foretells events by omens;
a soothsayer; a diviner; a prophet. 4. (vi) To anticipate ...
/a/augur.htm - 7k

In what ways was Moses like Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Who is the Servant of the Lord in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Magnificat? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus