[By Ron Halbrook, adapted from Evidences for God and His Creation]

2 Pet. 1:20-21

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• Introduction1. 2 Pet. 1:20-21 Fulfilled prophecies prove the Bible’s divine origin & inspiration

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

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• Introduction2. Many frauds exposed by false failed prophecies!

William Miller: Lord return 1843, then 1844 Joseph Smith (1832): City of Zion & temple built soon in Independence, MO (D&C 84:2) Jehovah’s Witnesses predict Christ return 1914

3. The Bible is the only book of precise prophecies fulfilled to the letter—it alone is God’s Word!

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy A. Predictive Prophecy Foretells the Future

Isa. 46:9-10 Only God tells the end from the beginning (i.e., accurately predicts)

Isa. 46:9-10 Only God tells the end from the beginning (i.e., accurately predicts) 9 Remember the former things of old:

for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy B. True Predictive Prophecy Must Meet Criteria

Prophecy must be made prior to event Prophecy & fulfillment must correspond exactly (not using generic vague terms) Prophecy must be beyond man’s ability to know (we can see weather signs, business trends, etc.)

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy B. True Predictive Prophecy Must Meet Criteria

Prophecy cannot cause its own fulfillment (predict, then manipulate events to give appearance of fulfilled prophecy)

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy B. True Predictive Prophecy Must Meet Criteria

Deut. 18:22 Prophets cannot make mistakes

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy C. Pagan Prophecies Filled with Historical & Geographical Mistakes

Pagan prophets read “signs” in the stars, animal organs, path of arrows, flames, etc.

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy D. Modern Prophecies Filled with Errors

Nastradamus (1503-66) made thousands of cryptic prophecies

Horoscopes: notoriously generic, vague

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I. Criteria of True Prophecy D. Modern Prophecies Filled with Errors

Jeane Dixon (1904-97) predicted WW III 1958, Russia would 1st put a man on the moon, said in 1956 a president will "be assassinated or die in office” (no name, time frame, etc.)

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled A. Prophecies of Tyre & Sidon Fulfilled

Phoenician cities

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled A. Prophecies of Tyre & Sidon Fulfilled

Isa. 23:15 Nebuchednezzar took mainland Tyre 572 B.C. (not island fortress), held it 70 years

15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled A. Prophecies of Tyre & Sidon Fulfilled

Ezek. 26:4-5, 14 Alexander the Great built causeway with stones of Tyre, took island fortress 332 B.C.; never rebuilt

Ezek. 26:4-5, 14 Alexander the Great built causeway with stones of Tyre, took island fortress 332 B.C.; never rebuilt

4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. 5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.

14 And I will make thee like the top of a rock:

thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon;

thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

14 And I will make thee like the top of a rock:

thou shalt be a place to spread nets

upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.Original city thrown into the sea,

Worldwide commercial power vanished forever

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled A. Prophecies of Tyre & Sidon Fulfilled

Ezek. 28:22-23 Sidon was judged, but God did not say she never will be rebuilt

Ezek. 28:22-23 Sidon was judged, but God did not say she never will be rebuilt

22 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. 23 For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled B. Proud Nineveh Reduced to Pasture Land

Zeph. 2:13-15 Beasts will inhabit Nineveh

Zeph. 2:13-15 Beasts will inhabit Nineveh 13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. 14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled C. Babylon: From Glory to Total Desolation

Isa. 13:19-22 Destroyed never to be rebuilt

C. Babylon: From Glory to Total Desolation Isa. 13:19-22 Destroyed never to be rebuilt Glory: world empire, hanging gardens Desolation: fell to Medes 539 B.C.,

inhabited by wild beasts, never rebuilt

Isa. 13:19-22 Destroyed never to be rebuilt 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. 22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

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II. Bible Prophecies Fulfilled D. Damascus & Sidon Destroyed But Revived, Tyre & Babylon Never Rebuilt

Coincidence? Jn. 10:35 Bible prophecies fulfilled to the letter: “the scripture cannot be broken”!

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III. All Prophecies Concerning Christ Fulfilled A. Over 300 Old Testament Prophecies of Christ

2 Pet. 1:19-20 Each fulfillment made the light of truth brighter!

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

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III. All Prophecies Concerning Christ Fulfilled A. Over 300 Old Testament Prophecies of Christ

Mic. 5:2 Precise details about his birth confirm his claims

2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

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III. All Prophecies Concerning Christ Fulfilled A. Over 300 Old Testament Prophecies of Christ

Isa. 53:6 Precise details about his death throughout Isa. 53 confirm his claims

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isa. 53:6 Precise details about his death throughout Isa. 53 confirm his claims

Vs. 2 Root out of dry ground(royal lineage of David)

Matt. 1:1

Vs. 2 No form nor comeliness(humble origins & demeanor)

Lk. 2:7, 39; 9:58

Vs. 3 Despised and rejected Jn. 1:10-11Vv. 4-6 Suffered for our transgressions Matt. 26:28Vs. 7 Suffered silently, willingly Mk. 15:3-5

Vv. 8-9 Innocent, executed as criminal Matt. 27:24, 38Vs. 9 Buried with rich (honorable) Matt. 27:57-60

Vv. 10-12 Died as perfect sacrifice for sin Heb. 10:11-14

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• Invitation1. 2 Pet. 1:20-21 Fulfilled prophecies prove the Bible’s divine origin & inspiration

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

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• Invitation2. Many frauds exposed by false failed prophecies!

William Miller: Lord return 1843, then 1844 Joseph Smith (1832): City of Zion & temple built soon in Independence, MO (D&C 84:2) Jehovah’s Witnesses predict Christ return 1914

3. The Bible is the only book of precise prophecies fulfilled to the letter—it alone is God’s Word!

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• Invitation4. Bible promises of Christ’s return, Judgment Day,

& heaven & hell are true! Jn. 5:28-29 A great day coming!

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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• Invitation4. Bible promises of Christ’s return, Judgment Day,

& heaven & hell are true! Acts 22:16 Come to Christ without delay!

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

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• Invitation4. Bible promises of Christ’s return, Judgment Day,

& heaven & hell are true! 1 Jn. 1:9 Backsliding saints may come!

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.