The concept of events being foretold is a significant theme throughout the Bible, where God reveals future events to His prophets and people. This divine foretelling serves to demonstrate God's sovereignty, omniscience, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The Bible contains numerous instances where events are foretold, ranging from the coming of the Messiah to the rise and fall of nations.

Prophetic Foretelling

Prophetic foretelling is a central aspect of the biblical narrative. Prophets in the Old Testament were often chosen by God to deliver messages concerning future events. These messages were not merely predictions but were declarations of God's will and purpose. For example, the prophet 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 was fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus Christ, as recorded in Matthew 1:22-23.

Messianic Prophecies

The foretelling of the Messiah is one of the most profound examples of prophecy in the Bible. The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies regarding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Micah 5:2, it is foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" . This prophecy was fulfilled as described in Matthew 2:1-6.

Foretelling of Nations and Events

The Bible also contains prophecies concerning the rise and fall of nations and significant historical events. The book of Daniel, for instance, includes visions that foretell the succession of empires, such as the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman empires. In Daniel 2:44, it is foretold that God's kingdom will ultimately triumph: "In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever" .

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament writers frequently reference Old Testament prophecies to demonstrate their fulfillment in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. For example, in Luke 4:17-21, Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah and declares that the prophecy is fulfilled in Him: "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor" .

The Role of Foretelling in the Early Church

In the early church, the gift of prophecy continued to play a role in guiding and edifying believers. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, speaks of the importance of prophecy within the church. In 1 Corinthians 14:3, he states, "But the one who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort" . This indicates that foretelling, while rooted in divine revelation, also served practical purposes in the life of the early Christian community.

Eschatological Foretelling

The Bible also contains eschatological prophecies, which concern the end times and the return of Christ. The book of Revelation is a primary source of such prophecies, offering visions of the final judgment and the establishment of a new heaven and earth. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus declares, "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done" . These prophecies provide hope and assurance to believers, affirming the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom.(imp. & p. p.) of Foretell.FORETELL; FORETOLD

for-tel', for-told': The King James Version occurrences of these words in the New Testament represent as many Greek terms, and are in each case rendered differently in Revised Version:

(1) Mark 13:23 (proeipon), the Revised Version (British and American) "told beforehand";

(2) Acts 3:24 (prokataggello), the Revised Version (British and American) simply "told";

(3) 2 Corinthians 13:2 (prolego), the Revised Version (British and American) "said beforehand," margin "plainly"; compare 1 Thessalonians 3:4.

The foretelling of future events is claimed in the Old Testament as a prerogative of Yahweh (Isaiah 41:22, 23; Isaiah 42:9, etc.; compare Deuteronomy 18:22).

See PROPHECY.

4275b. proeipon -- to say before
... of prolego Definition to say before NASB Word Usage foretold (2), forewarned (1),
previously said (1), said before (3), spoken beforehand (2), told...in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4275b.htm - 5k

The Betrayal Foretold at the Supper
... ILLUSTRATIONS: THE BETRAYAL FORETOLD AT THE SUPPER. When Jesus had thus said,
he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/the betrayal foretold at the.htm

The Birth of John Foretold. Chs. 1:5-25
... II. THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS. CHS. 1:5 TO 2:52 A. The Birth of John
Foretold. Chs. 1:5-25. 5 There was in the days of Herod ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/a the birth of john.htm

The Cross was Foretold in the Blessings of Joseph, and in the ...
... Chapter XCI."The cross was foretold in the blessings of Joseph, and in
the serpent that was lifted up. "And God by Moses shows ...
/.../chapter xci the cross was foretold.htm

Desolation of Jud??a Foretold.
... Chapter XLVII."Desolation of Jud??a foretold. That the land of the Jews, then, was
to be laid waste, hear what was said by the Spirit of prophecy. ...
/.../the first apology of justin/chapter xlvii desolation of judaea foretold.htm

How it was that God Foretold to Abraham that Israel Would have to ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXII. How it was that God foretold
to Abraham that Israel would have to drive out ten nations. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxii how it was.htm

How Bishop Aidan Foretold to Certain Seamen that a Storm Would ...
... BOOK III CHAP. XV. How Bishop Aidan foretold to certain seamen that a storm would
arise, and gave them some holy oil to calm it. [Between 642 and 645 AD.]. ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xv how bishop aidan.htm

How this Bishop Foretold that his Own Death was at Hand to the ...
... BOOK IV CHAP. XXIX. How this bishop foretold that his own death was at
hand to the anchorite Herebert. [687 AD]. HAVING spent two ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxix how this bishop.htm

That the one God was Foretold Even by the Prophets.
... the divine institutes book i. of the false worship of the gods. Chap.
IV."That the one god was foretold even by the prophets. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv that the one god.htm

Of the Priesthood of Jesus Foretold by the Prophets.
... the divine institutes. Book IV. Of True Wisdom and Religion. Chap.
XIV."Of the Priesthood of Jesus Foretold by the Prophets. From ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiv of the priesthood of.htm

Christ's Advent Foretold.
... Chapter XL."Christ's advent foretold. And hear how it was foretold
concerning those who published His doctrine and proclaimed ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xl christs advent foretold.htm

Foretold (18 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FORETELL; FORETOLD. ...Foretold (18 Occurrences).
Matthew 28:6 He is not here: He has come back to life, as He foretold. ...
/f/foretold.htm - 13k

Persecution (22 Occurrences)
... 50 Romans 8:35 2 Corinthians 12:10 2 Thessalonians 1:4 2 Timothy 3:11)): 1. Persecution
in Old Testament Times 2. Between the Testaments 3. Foretold by Christ 4 ...
/p/persecution.htm - 47k

Apostate (5 Occurrences)
... Paul was falsely accused of teaching the Jews apostasy from Moses (Acts 21:21);
he predicted the great apostasy from Christianity, foretold by Jesus (Matthew 24 ...
/a/apostate.htm - 14k

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)
... Paul was falsely accused of teaching the Jews apostasy from Moses (Acts 21:21);
he predicted the great apostasy from Christianity, foretold by Jesus (Matthew 24 ...
/a/apostasy.htm - 14k

John (154 Occurrences)
... of John was the subject of prophecy (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1). His
birth, which took place six months before that of Jesus, was foretold by an ...
/j/john.htm - 101k

Essenes
... he tells how Judas, an Essene teaching in the temple, when he saw Antigonus, declared
that he was proved a false prophet, as he had foretold that Antigonus was ...
/e/essenes.htm - 38k

Quotations
... passage is whether the Pentecostal outpouring was the climactic realization of the
promise: that is, the establishment of the era of blessing foretold by the ...
/q/quotations.htm - 40k

Nineveh (23 Occurrences)
... prophetic denunciations against this city. Its ruin and utter desolation
are foretold (Nahum 1:14; 3:19, etc.). Zephaniah also (2:13 ...
/n/nineveh.htm - 52k

Nadab (21 Occurrences)
... 31). With the assassination of Nadab the dynasty of Jeroboam was extirpated,
as foretold by the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 14). This ...
/n/nadab.htm - 16k

Urim (8 Occurrences)
... Through their use, the nature of which is a matter of conjecture, the divine will
was sought in national crises, and apparently the future foretold, guilt or ...
/u/urim.htm - 21k

What is the significance of the Medo-Persian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org

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Foretold: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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