Understanding the New Testament and the End Times, Second Edition. Rob Dalrymple

A common popular assumption among many Christians is that one of the main objectives of prophecy relates to the “last generation”99—which is then assumed to be either our present generation or a near future one. From this point, the biblical interpreter then filters both contemporary events and the biblical text in such a way that reinforces these convictions. Furthermore, it is often asserted that the prophets used language in a “literal” fashion. Therefore, if a prophet says that “stars will fall from the sky,” then it is assumed that a literal event in which stars fall from the sky will take place. As we will see, the nature and purpose of prophecy was much more concerned with the prophets’ own present world. The prophets spoke to the people of their day in the language of their day.

      Understanding the Nature and Purpose of Prophecy

      To properly understand biblical prophecy we must first ask, what is the primary purpose of prophecy? To do this, we must also come to understand the language of the prophets. That is, how did they go about describing the things that they were prophesying? Did they use language in a woodenly literal manner or did they employ imagery? And, how might we know when they are using language literally or figuratively?

      We must also inquire as to the nature of prophecy and its fulfillment. That is, when prophecy is fulfilled does it tend to take on a more literal, one-to-one correspondence, or does the fulfillment occur in a manner that transcends the initial expectations? For this we have the advantage of the NT. The NT consistently cites the OT in terms of promise-fulfillment. So, as we examine the fulfillment of prophecy in the NT, we may observe the manner in which the prophesies of the OT are fulfilled. Then, we must determine whether or not this provides a pattern for our understanding of prophecy as a whole and what to expect in the future.

      Prophecy Had Meaning to Its Original Audience

      We must understand several factors with regard to the purpose of prophecy in general. First, and foremost, is that fact that all prophecy—in fact, all Scripture—had meaning to its original audience. In fact, we can go so far as to assert that the prophets were centrally concerned with the people whom they were addressing.100