17. Characteristics of true prophecy.

True  prophecies have some unique characteristics that helps us test and approve prophecies spoken by the Holy Spirit. ‘Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.’ – (2 Peter 1:20-21) The three characteristics are:

1. It is complementary: There are two aspects to  a prophecy that makes it complementary. The first aspect is WHAT WILL NOT HAPPEN and the second aspect is WHAT WILL HAPPEN. For instance, God told Abram, “This man WILL NOT be your heir, BUT a son coming from your own body WILL BE your heir.” –  (Genesis 15:4) In another instance,  the prophet Isaiah said to Ahaz king of Judah concerning the king of Aram and the king of Israel, who came to invade Judah: “It WILL NOT happen, it will not take place … But  the land of the two kings you dread WILL BE laid waste.” – (Isaiah 7:7-16) Both aspects of prophecy gives us a double stance or else it will be like standing on one foot and will soon lose balance. 

2. It is specific: Secondly, every prophecy has specific details! For instance, God said to Abraham, “Your wife Sarah will bear you a SON and you will  CALL HIM ISSAC.” – (Genesis 27:19) In the other instance, the prophet Isaiah said to Ahaz, king of Judah: “The VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE and give birth to A SON and will CALL HIM IMMANUEL. He will be EATING CURDS AND HONEY when he knows enough to REJECT THE WRONG AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT.” –  (Isaiah 7:14) 

3. It is time-bound: Thirdly, every prophecy is time-bound and not timeless! For instance, the Lord said to Abraham, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and they will be enslaved and mistreated FOUR HUNDRED YEARS …” – (Genesis 15:13) Later God told Abraham, “About THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, Sarah your wife will have a son.” –  (Genesis 18:10) And in the other instance,  the prophet Isaiah had said to Ahaz, king of Judah: “BEFORE THE BOY KNOWS ENOUGH (meaning before reaching the age of 12)  to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.” – (Isaiah 7:16) And in another instance, the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “When SEVENTY YEARS are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.” – (Jeremiah 29:10/ Daniel 9:2)

If you have been told what WILL NOT HAPPEN but have not been told WHAT WILL HAPPEN, nor given any specifics or a time frame, then that’s an incomplete prophecy! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the details. ‘Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good …’ – (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21) Amen.