Are Bible Prophecies Being Fulfilled In Our Day?

Are Bible Prophecies Being Fulfilled In Our Day?

Dear brother John:
As your time permits, please share your insights concerning Biblical prophecy. With the war in Israel and Lebanon, one hears about prophecies from Old Testament prophets like Daniel and Ezekiel. Of course, I know that people like Hal Linden are only false teachers. My question is, were not all the prophecies of the Old Testament fulfilled in Christ? I have believed for years that the only Biblical prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled is the second coming. Please share your thoughts when you have time.
-- In Christ, Jim

Dear Bro. Jim:
Bible prophecies are of several kinds:

There are prophecies regarding the seed of Abraham.
There are prophecies regarding the nation of Israel.
There are prophecies regarding individuals in Israel and even surrounding nations.
There are prophecies of gentile nations such as Babylon, Moabites, Egyptians, etc.
There prophecies of judgement both on individuals, nations, Israel
There are prophecies of Messiah
There are prophecies of Messiah's kingdom.
Prophecies of great wickedness before Christ comes (II Tim. 3:1-9).
Prophecies of apostasy within the church (I Tim. 4:1-4)
There are prophecies of Christ's return to raise the dead, judge the world, reward the righteous and punish the wicked.
In general we conclude that prophecies of the first five groups were all fulfilled. The prophecies about Christ, his birth, his ministry, his death, resurrection and ascension have been fulfilled. Prophecies of the coming of his kingdom (church) have been fulfilled. But the prophets predicted that his church would be an everlasting kingdom Dan. 2:44...and that is still being fulfilled. The prophecies predict that Christ would come a second time to raise the dead and judge the world. Those are yet to be fulfilled. It is my understanding that John in the Book of Revelation predicts that Christ will be triumphant over all his enemies (Rev.19:11-16). That is yet to be.

What we do not find in Scripture is the detailed prophecies of contemporary social, political and military events. Especially we have no specific prophecies about the state of Israel and her perpetual conflict with her Muslim neighbors. We have no predictions of when the end of the world will come and Christ will return. The proof of this is evident. Jesus said such was unknown (Matt. 24:36). In every generation since the death of the apostles there have been teachers who claimed they had discovered hidden truth and information in the prophecies and tried to match them with contemporary events. All have failed, including our present crop of "Bible Prophecy" experts. Hal Lindsey is one of the most glaring of the failed interpreters of prophecy. He is now in at least his third revisal of his book, The Late Great Planet Earth. Mark it well that what preachers claim to be "the fulfillment of ancient prophecy" in today's events are men and women will overactive imaginations and a minuscule amount of solid Bible knowledge.

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