Predictions

Speaking authoritatively of the future. Since God knows the future he is able to reveal it to people beforehand. Predictions, which are often but not necessarily contained in prophecies, should not be confused with promises or expressions of intention.

God's knowledge of the future

Genesis 41:15–16, Genesis 41:28 See also Genesis 18:17; Numbers 24:2–4; Isaiah 44:24–26

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

Impossible to predict the future apart from God

Ecclesiastes 8:7 See also Ecclesiastes 7:14; Isaiah 41:22–24

Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?

Jesus Christ predicted the future

Concerning his death and resurrection

Matthew 16:21 parallels Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22 See also Matthew 17:22–23 parallels Mark 9:31, Luke 9:44; Matthew 20:18–19 parallels Mark 10:33–34, Luke 18:31–33; John 2:19–21, John 12:32–33

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Concerning the donkey on which he would enter Jerusalem

Matthew 21:1–3 parallels Mark 11:1–3, Luke 19:29–31

The fall of Jerusalem

Matthew 24:1–2 parallels Mark 13:1–2, Luke 21:5–6; Matthew 24:15–25 parallels Mark 13:14–23, Luke 21:20–24

That Judas would betray him

Matthew 26:21–25 parallel Mark 14:18–20; Luke 22:21; John 13:21, John 13:26

That Peter would deny him

Matthew 26:34 parallels Mark 14:30, Luke 22:34 See also John 13:38

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Concerning the nature of Peter's death

John 21:18–19

The ability to interpret dreams and so predict the future

Genesis 40:9–13, Genesis 40:16–19, Genesis 41:28–32; Daniel 2:45, Daniel 8:26, Daniel 10:14

Predictions were made through OT prophets

1 Samuel 15:28, 1 Samuel 28:16–17; 1 Kings 11:29–32; Hebrews 3:5

Predictions made through some of the first Christians

Acts 11:27–28 See also Acts 21:10–11; Jude 1:17–18

In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. ( This happened under Claudius.)

False predictions

Jeremiah 28:8–17 See also Isaiah 47:13–15; Acts 16:16

The Messiah predicted

1 Peter 1:10–11 Most OT references to the coming of the kingdom of God and his Messiah are not, strictly speaking, predictions but promises made by God in which he expresses his intention to save his people through the Messiah. See also Acts 7:52

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.