2 Peter 1:12-21, Introduction to the Prophets (3)

Basic questions for each book:

·       Who is the prophet?

·       When did he prophesy?

·       To whom did he prophesy?

·       What was the historical context of his ministry?

·       Overview or Outline of the prophecy?

·       What prophecies of the Messiah and His Kingdom did the prophet utter?

·       Note references to “the Name” and to the “Song of Moses.”  This last item is a personal interest of mine. 

o   The name of God that He uttered in Ex. 34:6-7 is in the words of the prophets (and the psalmists for that matter).  It was an encouragement to their faith in hard times, or as they prophesied of hard times to come.

o   And we have made it clear that we believe Deuteronomy 32, the song that Moses was to teach to the people of Israel, to be a preview of Israel’s history.  Thus, if the prophets are God’s spokesmen during that “history,” we would expect that they would be familiar with Moses’ song and would refer to the significant aspects of it that relate to their particular message.

There are several terms or phrases used in the prophets that need to be understood.  This includes “times of the Gentiles,” “the latter/last days.” “in that day” and “the Day of the Lord.”  We will briefly seek to consider these.

The “Times of the Gentiles”

·       Ezekiel 30:3: The future “day of the LORD” is equated with or part of “the time of the Gentiles.”

·       Luke 21:24: “The time that Jerusalem is trampled underfoot” continues until the “times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

·       Romans 11:25: In this context, great Gentile evangelism continues until the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”  What Paul is speaking of is the age of the Church.  We might expect that this occurs during the “times of the Gentiles.”

·       Rev. 11:2: This passage takes place in the tribulation period, and is still the “time of the Gentiles.”

·       Dan. 2,7: Daniel gives us the essence of the “times of the Gentiles.”  It is the time when Israel is in submission to Gentile governments.  In Dan. 2 (Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the great image) and Dan. 7 (Daniel’s dream of the same four Gentile world rulers) Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome are the Gentile empires.  The Roman version is revived in the last days.

·       Dan. 9:24-27: The 490 years of “Daniel’s 70 Weeks” are characterized by Gentile rule over Israel, but end with the establishment of Messiah on His throne in Zion.  Our understanding is that between week 489 and 490 there is a parenthetical time of undeclared length which involves the great evangelization of Gentiles and during which Israel is scattered among the Gentiles. 

The twin themes of the prophets involve the judgment of the nations and the restoration of Israel.  These both conclude in the establishment of the Messiah on David’s throne.