The language of prophecy is absolute as the quotation from Numbers indicates. This approach to prophecy is entirely consistent with God’s word in emphasizing that it is His will, His word that will be done. Prophecy has a force behind it and an absolute inevitability.
What has been promised will come to pass. Christ will return to earth; God’s kingdom will be established on earth; decay and death will eventually be abolished, “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isa. 2:4).
The certainty of the revealed will of God is its distinguishing characteristic. God has appointed a time for the fulfillment of His promises (Ex. 9:5; Hab. 2:3; Gen. 17:21; 21:2). Nevertheless another approach to the declaration of God’s purpose is possible that emphasizes the mercy of God.
“Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live”
King David was told by the prophet Nathan that the “son born to you will die” (II Sam. 12:14). David acknowledged that he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Uriah. Yet David understood God was merciful, he thus sought Him in prayer, fasting and tears.
The child did not live and when David realized this he was able to accept it. David’s servants were amazed at his change in attitude and how quickly he returned to his normal responsibilities.
“I know that you are a gracious and compassionate God”
The prophet Jonah understood that God was merciful. That was why he refused to go to Nineveh. He was afraid that the Ninevites would repent, and they did.
“Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 3:8-9).
Jonah was angry with God for sparing the Ninevites. He, too, confirmed what they had said: “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:2-3).
Implications for understanding prophecy
What are the implications for understanding prophecy based on these two examples? Were King David and the King of Nineveh correct in stating, “Who knows?” in relation to their belief that a merciful God may change His mind? A third example suggests that the answer is “Yes.”
Jesus’ anguish in the garden
If there were ever a man whose understanding of prophecy and God’s will could not be questioned, it was the Son of God. Jesus repeatedly, consistently and in great detail prophesied that he was going to Jerusalem to die and then be raised from the dead on the third day (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33).
Jesus knew that he would die and yet his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane is an indication of his understanding of the mercy of God and how this affected prophecy. Jesus both knew he had to die and also thought it might be possible that he would live. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:42-44).
This passage is remarkable because of the sequence of events. It cannot be understood that Jesus was expressing a purposeless request that he would not have to die, knowing the prayer was meaningless. The mercy of God was manifested in sending an angel from heaven to minister to him. It is after Jesus is strengthened by the angel that he is able to pray even more earnestly. His sweat then becomes as great drops of blood. Another gospel (Matt. 26:44) makes it clear that Jesus prayed on three separate occasions that he not have to die.
The inference is clear that prayer in general and this prayer in particular was pleasing to our Heavenly Father. It suggests how we are to respond to prophecy.
How should we respond to prophecy?
How does God intend that we should respond to prophecy? The three examples of David, the Ninevites and Jesus in the garden suggest that God does not expect us to simply respond unthinkingly to the inevitability of His will.
Prophecy is best understood as warning rather than a prediction. As a warning, it is to be heeded and when heeded the outcome might be different. “Who knows?” should be our attitude as it was for David and the Ninevites.
Altered prophecies
There are, however, times when we do know that the outcome will be altered. Daniel 4 is remarkable as it is the only portion of the Old Testament that was written by a Gentile king. Nebuchadnezzar recalls one of his dreams and Daniel’s interpretation of it. Daniel ends with a call to Nebuchadnezzar to repent: “Therefore, 0 king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue” (Dan. 4:27).
There is yet another example that makes it clear that God, in a sense, could be said to have changed His mind. The way God dealt with Cain is an example of the mercy of God. It is clear Cain was warned before he killed his brother. It is clear after he killed his brother, he is cursed in terms of being driven from the presence of God and made to become a wanderer in the earth. Cain then appeals to God.
“Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me” (Gen. 4:13-14).
Note God’s response to Cain’s petition. We might see Cain’s petition to be belated, feeble and insincere. The more we make Cain into an unrepentant knave, the more remarkable is the mercy of God. He said, “Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over. Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him” (Gen. 4:15).
If we only view prophecy as an expression of God’s justice and retribution we can’t explain His response to Cain. Why was not Cain slain for killing his brother, Abel? Why did God listen to Cain’s complaint that his punishment was greater than he could bear? Why did God protect Cain from death? The answer can only come from God’s mercy.
God’s response to our petitions
The examples that have been presented should help us come to a deeper understanding of prophecy. God accepts and expects us to respond to His prophetic word as a warning to be heeded. When we view prophecy as a warning, we begin to form a different perspective on scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation.
The first warning in scripture was given to Adam. He would surely die if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and the woman had this understanding until she was deceived by the serpent. God’s response to their sin was to invite them to confess. They did and God, rather than leaving death as the only option, cursed His entire creation but did so in the context of promising to send a savior. Adam then named the woman, “Eve” “because she would become the mother of all the living. The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Gen. 3:20-21).
The clothing of Adam and Eve with the skin of an animal was not necessary to provide them with warmth; it was a sign that their sins were forgiven and life was again possible based on their confession and Adam’s understanding of the promises of God.
Implications for approaching prophecy
This article has introduced another approach to prophecy based on an understanding of the mercy of God. How does this help in our understanding of latter-day prophecy?
Our emphasis should be more than just studying prophecy as an end in itself. As Jesus told John, “Blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). We may not immediately know how to take to heart the warning we have been given, but the clear emphasis is on our conduct.
Latter-day prophecies as contained in Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation are difficult to comprehend. There is, however, a latter-day prophecy in the gospels known as the Olivet prophecy (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). The context of this prophecy is a warning to the household of faith preceded and followed by parables. The Pharisees and Jesus’ disciples are the subjects of these parables. Jesus used the parables as an expression of love toward both groups. He cared enough to warn them, directing very harsh criticism to them and to us indirectly (Matt. 23:27; 25:5). The call to repentance and conversion went to both groups.
The primary suggestion then, for understanding latter-day prophecy, is to heed this call to repentance and conversion, especially by members of the household of faith!
We might protest that we understand His word and don’t need to heed warnings that don’t apply to us. But to whom does the warning about the ten virgins apply? They all became drowsy and fell asleep. A rereading, reflection and collective consideration of the mercy of God and the spirit of prophecy in general will help us take to heart biblical prophecy of the last days.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One