Prophecy, fulfilment of OT

All divinely inspired prophecy achieves its purpose. Scripture records the fulfilment of many prophecies.

The principle that all prophecy achieves its purpose

Isaiah 55:10–11 See also Deuteronomy 18:22

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Fulfilment of prophecy concerning individuals in the OT

1 Kings 20:35–36 See also 1 Kings 8:15–21 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:4–11; 1 Kings 8:23–24 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:14–15; 1 Kings 13:21–22, 1 Kings 13:24–26, 1 Kings 14:12–13, 1 Kings 14:17–18; 2 Kings 1:6, 2 Kings 1:17, 2 Kings 7:1–2, 2 Kings 7:16–18, 2 Kings 22:15–20, 2 Kings 23:30

Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him. Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.

Fulfilment of prophecy concerning the nation of Israel

1 Kings 12:15 See also 1 Kings 11:29–39

So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

Fulfilment of prophecy concerning the royal house

1 Kings 15:29 See also 1 Kings 14:7–11, 1 Kings 16:1–7, 1 Kings 16:12, 1 Kings 21:20–29; 2 Kings 9:30–10:11, 2 Kings 10:30, 2 Kings 15:12

As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone who breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,

Fulfilment of prophecy concerning battles

1 Kings 20:13–21 See also 1 Kings 22:17, 1 Kings 22:35–38; 2 Kings 19:20–37

Fulfilment of prophecy concerning the Babylonian exile

The rise of the Babylonians

Habakkuk 1:6–11 See also 2 Chronicles 36:17

For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand. They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it. Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”

The fall of Jerusalem and exile of the population

2 Kings 20:17–18 See also 2 Kings 21:10–15, 2 Kings 24:2, 2 Kings 24:10–16

The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

The fate of King Zedekiah

Jeremiah 21:3–7 See also Jeremiah 32:3–5; Ezekiel 12:12–14; 2 Kings 25:1–7; Jeremiah 39:1–7

But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city. And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’ ‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

The length of captivity

Jeremiah 29:10 See also 2 Chronicles 36:21; Daniel 9:2

For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.

Fulfilment of prophecy concerning Jesus Christ

Luke 24:44 See also Luke 18:31; Acts 3:18

Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

Fulfilment of other prophecy

Acts 2:14–21 See also Joel 2:28–32; Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34, 1 Kings 13:1–3; 2 Kings 23:16–18; 1 Kings 17:14, 1 Kings 17:16; Matthew 2:17–18; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 3:1–3 parallels Mark 1:2–4, Luke 3:1–6; Isaiah 40:3

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Prophecies modified before fulfilment

1 Kings 21:20–26, 1 Kings 21:27–29; Isaiah 38:1 parallel 2 Kings 20:1Isaiah 38:4–5 parallel 2 Kings 20:4–6

When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.’ And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.” (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.