Key Terms
Forth-Telling — When a prophet speaks God's word to their present audience — calling out sin, demanding repentance, proclaiming God's justice
Foretelling — When a prophet predicts future events — sometimes near future, sometimes far future
Apocalyptic Literature — A specific type of prophecy that uses vivid, symbolic imagery to reveal God's ultimate plan — like parts of Daniel and Revelation
Already/Not Yet — The idea that some prophecies have been partially fulfilled but await complete fulfillment — like the Kingdom of God
Key Concepts
- Prophets mostly preached to their own generation — not primarily about the distant future
- Symbolic language requires careful interpretation, not wooden literalism
- Some prophecies have near and far dimensions
Scripture Focus
Isaiah 7:14
Amos 5:21-24
Zechariah 9:9
Revelation 1:1-3
Learning Objectives
- Distinguish between forth-telling (preaching to the present) and foretelling (predicting the future) — and recognize that most prophecy is forth-telling
- Read prophetic symbolism carefully rather than forcing every image into a literal or modern interpretation
- Understand that some prophecies may have near and far dimensions — fulfilled partially in the prophet's time and more fully later
Resources
Download the companion handout for this lesson to review key terms and concepts offline.
Download Lesson Handout (PDF)