The concept of prediction in the Bible often refers to the foretelling of future events through divine revelation. This is primarily seen in the form of prophecy, where God communicates His plans and purposes through chosen individuals known as prophets. Predictions in the Bible serve to reveal God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

Old Testament Predictions

1. Messianic Prophecies: One of the most significant aspects of biblical prediction is the foretelling of the coming Messiah. The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For instance, Isaiah 7:14 predicts the virgin birth: "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." Similarly, Micah 5:2 foretells the birthplace of the Messiah: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you 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."

2. Judgment and Restoration: The prophets also predicted the judgment of Israel and surrounding nations due to their disobedience and idolatry. For example, Jeremiah 25:11-12 predicts the Babylonian captivity: "This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. But when the seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the LORD, and I will make it a perpetual desolation."

3. Restoration and Hope: Alongside predictions of judgment, the prophets also spoke of restoration and hope. Ezekiel 36:24-28 predicts the restoration of Israel: "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all the countries, and bring you back into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols."

New Testament Predictions

1. The Coming of the Holy Spirit: Jesus predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower His followers. In John 14:16-17, He says, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you."

2. The Destruction of the Temple: Jesus also predicted the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which occurred in AD 70. In Matthew 24:2, He states, "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."

3. The Second Coming: The New Testament contains predictions about the return of Christ. In Matthew 24:30, Jesus describes His return: "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory."

Role of Prophets

Prophets were the primary instruments through which God communicated His predictions. They were called to deliver messages that often included warnings, calls to repentance, and assurances of God's future actions. The accuracy of their predictions served as a testament to their divine calling and the truth of God's word.

Purpose of Predictions

Predictions in the Bible serve multiple purposes. They demonstrate God's omniscience and control over history, affirm His covenant promises, and provide hope and encouragement to His people. They also serve as a call to faithfulness and obedience, reminding believers of the certainty of God's plans and the importance of aligning with His will.(imp. & p. p.) of Predict.4303. promarturomai -- to say beforehand
... 1:11). Word Origin from pro and marturomai Definition to say beforehand
NASB Word Usage predicted (1). testify beforehand. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4303.htm - 7k

In the Bliss of Old Predicted,
... In the bliss of old predicted,. tr., John Brownlie 8,7,8,7,7,7. ... (Stichera Idiomela).
I. In the bliss of old predicted,. Heaven and earth to-day rejoice; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/in the bliss of old.htm

That it was Before Predicted that the World Would Hold us in ...
... That it was before predicted that the world would hold us in abhorrence, and that
it would stir up persecutions against us, and that no new thing is happening ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/11 that it was before.htm

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
... CHAPTER XIII. COVENANTING PREDICTED IN PROPHECY. ... The assurance that a fact of
Covenanting is predicted is a substantial argument for its lawfulness. ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xiii covenanting predicted in.htm

The Crucifixion Predicted.
... Chapter XLI."The crucifixion predicted. And again, in another prophecy,
the Spirit of prophecy, through the same David, intimated ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xli the crucifixion predicted.htm

The Coming of Christ was Predicted by the Prophets; and was ...
... The Oration of the emperor constantine, which he addressed "to the assembly of the
saints." Chapter XVI."The Coming of Christ was predicted by the Prophets ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xvi the coming of christ.htm

Of the Predicted Rejection of Idols.
... the harmony of the gospels.Book I. Chapter XXVIII."Of the Predicted
Rejection of Idols. 43. It cannot be questioned that what ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxviii of the predicted rejection.htm

His Humiliation Predicted.
... Chapter L."His humiliation predicted. But that, having become man for our
sakes, He endured to suffer and to be dishonoured, and ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter l his humiliation predicted.htm

Christ Predicted by Moses.
... Chapter XXXII."Christ predicted by Moses. Moses then, who was the first
of the prophets, spoke in these very words: "The sceptre ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xxxii christ predicted by moses.htm

Faustus Denies that the Prophets Predicted Christ. Augustin Proves ...
... Book XII. Faustus denies that the prophets predicted Christ. Augustin proves
such prediction from the New Testament, and expounds ...
/.../faustus denies that the prophets.htm

What Things are Predicted by Isaiah Concerning Christ and the ...
... Book XVIII. Chapter 29."What Things are Predicted by Isaiah Concerning
Christ and the Church. The prophecy of Isaiah is not in ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 29 what things are predicted.htm

Predicted (10 Occurrences)
...Predicted (10 Occurrences). John 18:32 They said this that the words might be fulfilled
in which Jesus predicted the kind of death He was to die. (WEY). ...
/p/predicted.htm - 9k

Jezreel (37 Occurrences)
... (3.) A symbolical name given by Hosea to his oldest son (Hosea 1:4), in token of
a great slaughter predicted by him, like that which had formerly taken place ...
/j/jezreel.htm - 27k

Jonah (30 Occurrences)
... hepher. He was a prophet of Israel, and predicted the restoration of the
ancient boundaries (2 Kings 14:25-27) of the kingdom. He ...
/j/jonah.htm - 35k

Famine (99 Occurrences)
... 17, etc.). A famine was predicted by Agabus (Acts 11:28). Josephus makes
mention of the famine which occurred AD 45. Helena, queen ...
/f/famine.htm - 49k

Predicting (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 1:11 searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which
was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the ...
/p/predicting.htm - 7k

Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)
... making was the 4th year of Jehoiakim, in which, in the battle of Carchemish, the
Chaldeans gained the upper hand in Hither Asia, as Jeremiah had predicted (46:1 ...
/j/jeremiah.htm - 75k

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)
... in fact he says of Hezekiah: "Himself I shut up like a bird in a cage in Jerusalem
his royal city"), seems referred to in Isaiah 1:7-9 and predicted in Isaiah 6 ...
/h/hezekiah.htm - 72k

Temple (614 Occurrences)
... 2:3). The glory here predicted is spiritual glory and not material splendour.
"Christ himself, present bodily in the temple on Mount ...
/t/temple.htm - 101k

Miracle (15 Occurrences)
... Jericho, though it may well have been produced by some natural force such as an
earthquake, bears the character of a miracle because it was predicted, and was ...
/m/miracle.htm - 44k

Simon (75 Occurrences)
... His Lord and Master had predicted a violent death for him (John 21:18, 19),
which it is thought came to pass by crucifixion under Nero. ...
/s/simon.htm - 91k

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