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Supernatural
Biblical Guidance 10
When
the Holy Spirit Prophesies Your Future in the Past Tense
Part
One
by
Pastor John Hamel
"The thing that
hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which
shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes
1:9)
This
is an extremely profound statement concerning the ability of the all-knowing
God of Creation to reveal the future before it happens and to speak of the
future as if it had already come to pass.
Based
upon this principle we
will now study when supernatural prophecy declares the future in the past
tense.
It is possible for individuals, churches or geographic areas
to have a prophetic word spoken over them as if it was already fulfilled at
the time of it being spoken.
I find no less than four examples of
this in the Bible. We will look at each of them in order to better
understand how the Holy Spirit can prophesy your future in the past tense.
God
Prophesied Abraham's Future in the Past Tense
This first example
is found in the book of Genesis. When Abram was ninety-nine years old
the Lord appeared to him for the purpose of establishing an eternal
Covenant with his physical and spiritual descendants.
What is
interesting about the prophetic word spoken over Abram is that it was
spoken as if his future had already come to pass.
“And Abram fell on
his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant
is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many
nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy
name shall be Abraham; FOR A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE THEE.”
(Genesis 17:3-5)
God spoke to Abram
about his future as if it were in the now. When God determines to do
something in the future, it immediately becomes an established fact as far
as He is concerned and He can speak of it in the past or present tense if
He wants to. As a matter of fact, the Apostle Paul said that God has
developed quite a reputation for calling things that are not as though they
were. (Romans 4:17) God not only spoke of Abram’s future in the
present tense that day, He also changed his name from Abram to
Abraham. Abram means “Exalted Father.” Abraham means “Father of
a Multitude.” Every time someone used Abraham’s name from that day
on, they were verbally decreeing the fact
that God had already made him a father of many nations even though he was
childless at the time.
Christians who criticize
other Christians for being a “name it and claim it” or a “blab it and grab
it” just because they speak their faith
would be strongly advised to put a lid on it. They are criticizing an
eternal Kingdom principle set in motion by Almighty God Himself. A principle for which Jesus gave His very
life. They will not be shooting their mouths off
when it comes time to answer for it at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ.
(Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:9,10) The principle worked for Abraham
and it still works today, according to Jesus and the written Word of God.
(Mark 11:23; Proverbs 18:21)
God
Prophesied Cyrus' Future in the Past Tense
Another Scriptural
example of a prophetic word going forth over someone as if it had already
come to pass is Cyrus. The Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah
prophesied that Cyrus was already a defender of Israel over one hundred
and fifty years before he was even born. What is particularly unique
about Isaiah’s prophecy is that he actually spoke of Cyrus’ future in the
past tense before the man even lived. Let us look at Isaiah’s prophecy to gain a better
understanding of this.
“Keep silence
before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them
come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to
judgment. WHO RAISED UP THE RIGHTEOUS MAN from the east,
called him to his foot, GAVE THE NATIONS BEFORE HIM, and MADE HIM RULE OVER
KINGS? he GAVE THEM AS THE DUST TO HIS SWORD, and
as driven stubble to his bow. HE PURSUED THEM, AND PASSED SAFELY;
even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.” (Isaiah 41:1-3)
I will place in
quotes certain clauses from the above verses for you to clearly see how
Isaiah prophesied Cyrus’ future in the past tense over one hundred and
fifty years before he was born. The actual events occurred
approximately two hundred years after Isaiah’s prophecy.
Isaiah said that
God “raised up” Cyrus. God “gave” the
nations to him. God “made” him to rule over other kings. God
“gave” him his enemies as dust. Cyrus “pursued” his enemies and
“passed” them safely. This prophecy reads as if it were fulfilled at
the time it was being spoken. Isaiah’s vision of Cyrus was so clear
to him it seemed as if it had already happened.
A modern-day Prophet speaking over you could easily
have the same experience. The Prophet could see into your future so
clearly that to him it is as if it were happening now, causing him to speak
in the present or past tense. Isaiah did this more than once
concerning Cyrus.
“THAT SAITH OF
CYRUS, HE IS MY SHEPHERD, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to
Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall
be laid.” (Isaiah 44:28)
Here again, one
hundred and fifty years before Cyrus was even born, the Holy Spirit said,
in the present tense, “He IS my shepherd.” Approximately two hundred
years before Cyrus punished Israel’s enemies,
allowing the Jews to return to and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, his actions are
spoken of as if they had already occurred. (See 2Chronicles 36:22,23;
Ezra 1:1-8; 3:7; 4:3-5; 5:13-17; 6:3,14; Daniel 1:21; 6:28; 10:1.)
There are two other
examples of Cyrus’ future accomplishments being spoken of in the past
tense.
“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, WHOSE RIGHT
HAND I HAVE HOLDEN, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the
loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates
shall not be shut;” (Isaiah 45:1)
Here again, the
Holy Spirit said, “I have” held Cyrus’ hand two hundred years before He
actually helped Cyrus as Israel’s defender.
“I HAVE RAISED HIM
UP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, and I will direct all his
ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for
price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.”
(Isaiah 45:13)
Here the Holy
Spirit said “I have” raised Cyrus up to do a righteous work in liberating
the Jews, two hundred years before it actually occurred. Of course,
Isaiah’s reference to “righteousness” could only be a reference to Cyrus’
righteous work. Cyrus was not in position to have true righteousness (right standing with
God) imparted to him as a human being at that time because Christ had not
yet come to die for his sins. Christ had not yet exchanged humanity’s
sin for His righteousness. (2Corinthians 5:17-21)
God
Prophesied Babylon's Future Destruction in the Past Tense
The Holy Spirit
gave the Prophet Isaiah a vision of the
future destruction of Babylon that was so clear
to him, it was as if it had already
occurred. This is why he spoke of it in the past tense.
“Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I
HAVE SENT TO BABYLON, AND HAVE BROUGHT DOWN ALL THEIR NOBLES, AND THE
CHALDEANS, WHOSE CRY IS IN THE SHIPS.” (Isaiah 43:14)
Isaiah spoke in his
writing as if God had already done this but the actual fulfillment will not
be until a future date. (Revelation 16:19; 18:1-24)
There are those who
teach that Isaiah was referring to the time when Cyrus overtook Babylon, but this could
not be true for the following reasons. When Cyrus overtook Babylon there were no
armies (nobles and Chaldeans) destroyed by
God. When future Babylon is destroyed,
armies will be overtaken by fire, and many other means, at what is often
referred to as the Battle of Armageddon. Then and only then will nobles and Chaldeans be destroyed by God.
(Isaiah 43:17; Ezekiel 38:17-21; 2Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation
19)
When Cyrus overtook
Babylon, there was no cry that went up from
men in ships, but there will be when future Babylon is destroyed.
Merchant ships, military ships, cruise ships and private yachts laden with
people will witness this event. They will literally cry out in fear
as they watch the city of Babylon actually being
destroyed in only one hour’s time. This will be on a scale a hundred
thousand times greater than that which occurred in America on September 11, 2001.
Of course, God did
not cause those terrible events in New York City. Sin did that. But God will cause the events that will
occur in future Babylon. (Revelation
18:15-19)
Again, Isaiah spoke
of those future events as if they had already occurred. A modern-day
Prophet could possibly speak to you of future events as if they had already
occurred. Stay open.
We will continue
this study in our next lesson.
Be blessed … John
and Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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