Where a prophecy predicted an historical event, take note of any time-indicators in the text. On the basis of time-indicators, we might be able to assert that part of the prophecy at least has had its fulfilment.
But also be careful to notice whether other parts of the prophecy might just be about a theme rather than about a specific event in history. Or even if it's about a historical event, it might not be limited by any time-indicator. In that case we might be wise to refrain from asserting that the entire prophecy is now past history and that the prophecy no longer has any direct relevance to the present or future.
With some prophecies, it might be possible to have already-fulfilled prophecy and still-relevant prophecy in the same passage of prophecy. We have to be careful to allow the text to guide us.
It is possible to err on either side. It's possible to fail to see that part of a prophecy must have been fulfilled already. That is perhaps the more common mistake. And it's also possible to needlessly limit the relevance of an entire prophecy to a single event in history when the text itself might not necessitate that. Of the two mistakes this one might be the less common.
So when you feel you've come to understand the relevance of part of a prophecy, be careful not to state what you have come to understand in a way that might shut out something else that might also be true of the prophecy.
Some entire prophecies have already been fulfilled. Some prophecies are entirely unfulfilled as yet. Other prophecies may include both fulfilled and still-relevant statements.
For example, you may have come to understand that part of a prophecy has already had its fulfilment, nevertheless it might be true that another part of the same prophecy contains themes that are still relevant to the present or future.
Or, you may be drawing some relevance to your present or future out of a certain prophecy, and perhaps rightly so, nevertheless it might be true that part of the prophecy at last has already had its historical fulfilment.
Don't use what you understand to shut out what you don't understand; but also, anything you might not understand doesn't deny what you do understand.
"If a man thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it."
But also be careful to notice whether other parts of the prophecy might just be about a theme rather than about a specific event in history. Or even if it's about a historical event, it might not be limited by any time-indicator. In that case we might be wise to refrain from asserting that the entire prophecy is now past history and that the prophecy no longer has any direct relevance to the present or future.
With some prophecies, it might be possible to have already-fulfilled prophecy and still-relevant prophecy in the same passage of prophecy. We have to be careful to allow the text to guide us.
It is possible to err on either side. It's possible to fail to see that part of a prophecy must have been fulfilled already. That is perhaps the more common mistake. And it's also possible to needlessly limit the relevance of an entire prophecy to a single event in history when the text itself might not necessitate that. Of the two mistakes this one might be the less common.
So when you feel you've come to understand the relevance of part of a prophecy, be careful not to state what you have come to understand in a way that might shut out something else that might also be true of the prophecy.
Some entire prophecies have already been fulfilled. Some prophecies are entirely unfulfilled as yet. Other prophecies may include both fulfilled and still-relevant statements.
For example, you may have come to understand that part of a prophecy has already had its fulfilment, nevertheless it might be true that another part of the same prophecy contains themes that are still relevant to the present or future.
Or, you may be drawing some relevance to your present or future out of a certain prophecy, and perhaps rightly so, nevertheless it might be true that part of the prophecy at last has already had its historical fulfilment.
Don't use what you understand to shut out what you don't understand; but also, anything you might not understand doesn't deny what you do understand.
"If a man thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it."
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