God uses Bible-prophecy to encourage us in many ways, even if
it's already been fulfilled.
Like the prophecy spoken to Abraham that his wife Sarah would
give birth to a son according to the time of life. It was literally fulfilled
at the set time of which God had spoken to him. It goes without saying that the
prophecy won't be fulfilled in future, seeing Abraham and Sarah died some years
afterwards. But reading it still blesses hopeful couples of every generation.
Its fulfilment = once. But the blessing of reading it = multifaceted.
Many other prophecies in the Bible were equally specific
regarding when they were to be fulfilled. And they indeed were fulfilled within
the specified timeframe. For equally obvious reasons, they won't be fulfilled
in future. Nevertheless the blessing of reading about them is multifaceted.
The prophecy of the virgin birth. It's been fulfilled. It won't
be fulfilled in future. Nevertheless the fact that it has been fulfilled
continues to be a blessing to each generation.
When you re-read Bible-prophecies, taking careful note of their
intended timeframes, noting the way each prophecy is explained elsewhere in the
Bible, and noting if it's now been fulfilled - not mistaking fulfilled for
unfulfilled prophecy - it's amazing how this results in restoring some CLARITY
to the Gospel message. How it reveals the person of Jesus. Brings things back
into right focus. Makes the main thing the main thing again.
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