Loving the Scriptures February 2, 2026 Issue

Prophecy

In ancient Israel, prophets filled a vital role as messengers of God to His people. Beyond predicting future events, they called for repentance and faithfulness to God’s covenant. Word formulas such as “Thus saith the Lord” confirmed the divine origin of their warnings and promises.

Abraham, Moses, and Samuel were among the first biblical figures to receive and communicate God’s words. Dozens more were designated prophets throughout Hebrew history, including the most widely known—Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Their “forth-telling” (proclaiming God’s Word) continued through Malachi, at which point prophecy largely ceased for several centuries.

In the New Testament, prophecies are made by Zacharias, Simeon, Anna, and John the Baptist (see Luke 1:59–79, 2:25–38, and Mark 1:1–11). Christ Jesus is identified as a prophet several times (see John 6:14 and Acts 7:37, for instance). And the Master’s ministry is seen in light of Hebrew prophecy of a Messiah who would bring salvation to God’s children.