"How strange that all these cities and nations have perished. No voice could be more eloquent than that of those ruined cities and desolate kingdoms, testifying how fearful a thing it is to fall under the displeasure of God, and how certainly he will execute all his threatening." Mark Hopkins (Evidence of Christianity.)

"Babylon, once a world center of power and glory, is now a pile of dust and broken walls...Daniel knew this wicked city, so did Abraham. Here proud Nebuchadnezzar built his palace--before he was humbled to eat grass with the wild asses. Here came Alexander the Great, to die. Here Belshazzar held that famous feast where ‘they drank from golden vessels, as the Book of Truth records,' when the Hand came and wrote on the wall. Now the trains for Aasra whistle past on the track in the foreground, but there seems little to stop for. The Bible prophesies of its utter ruin have all come true." (Article on the Ancient Cit of Babylon - National Geographic, Dec 1938)

The ___________ is In God’s ________   ________

Questions for the Heart and Spirit

1. Do you believe the prophecies of the Bible?  All of them?  If not, which would you eliminate?
2. Do you believe that many of the Old Testament Prophecies have been fulfilled?  Can you point out some that have been?  Find one that has not been.
3. Why are there Major and Minor prophets?  What is the difference?
4. What is the qualification for being a true Biblical Prophet?  Find scripture that supports your argument.  What happens to those who are not true prophets?

Questions for the Mind

1. Read:  Is 6:1-8; Jer 1:4-8; Ez 1:28-2:7; Dan 9:20-22

What was the defining characteristic of these four prophets?  How did they become prophets?  Who gave them their prophecies?  Were they men of God before they became prophets?

2.       Read:  Hag 1:1-2; Joel 1:1-3; Zech 1:1-4; Mal 1:1

How do these scriptures indicate these prophets were different than the four in question 1?  Does that make them minor prophets?  How did these prophets qualify to be prophets?

3.       Read:  Ex 3:1-10; Ex 6:1-4; Ex 10: 1-4; Ex 19:3-6

Was Moses a prophet? Which of these scriptures indicate that Moses would qualify as a prophet?  How does Moses differ from those prophets referenced in question 1 and 2?

4.       Read: Matt 1:22; 2:15,17,23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14; 13:35; 21:4 26:56

What do these verses have in common?   What do they tell you about the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah?  Why do you think Matthew refers to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies so many times?

5.       Read:  Ezekial 36:22-38  Do you think this is a prophecy of the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948?  What is contained in this scripture that would lead you to believe so?  Or not?  Read the surrounding context.  Now what do you think?

Application

§         Read the book of Haggai, then Ezra 4:22-6:16 for the fulfillment.