THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF BIBLE PROPHECY Copyright by Guy Smith 2016 Fair use for educational and discussion purposes
All these things happened to them as examples as object lessons to us to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them in these last days as the world nears its end. 1 Corinthians 10:11 TLB
When one thinks of Bible prophecy the first thing, which usually comes to mind is that the Bible accurately predicts future events. What few people realize is that prediction is but one of four elements, which makes up Bible prophecy. These four elements are: WHAT WHO WHERE WHEN The first element of Bible prophecy is WHAT. WHAT FOREWARNING This is where Eloah forewarns individuals of an impending apocalyptic event. This is the prediction, which is the primary premise of Bible prophecy. The second element is WHO. WHO WORTHY TO ESCAPE The WHO are those individuals that Eloah deems worthy to escape the predicted apocalyptic event. Fortunately, Eloah did not abandon these individuals to their own devices. Rather He provided them with Divine Survival Instructions. Which brings us to the third element WHERE. WHERE THE PLACE-OF-REFUGE The WHERE element is where Eloah provides a divine place-of-refuge for those individuals that He deems worthy to escape the coming destruction.
The fourth element of Bible prophecy is WHEN. WHEN INSTRUCTIONS This is where Eloah instructs these worthy individuals as to when they must be in the divine place-of-refuge in order to physically survive the apocalyptic event. In this chapter, we are going to examine past fulfilled prophetic scriptures, in an effort to determine how these four elements affect us today. The classic example of past-fulfilled prophetic scripture is Noah and the Flood. WHAT NOAH IS FOREWARNED The story begins with Eloah forewarning Noah of the Extinction Level Event we know as The Flood. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. (Genesis 6:17 NIV) Which is WHAT information and the first element of Bible prophecy. WHO NOAH FOUND WORTHY The Bible further identifies Noah and his family as those individuals that Eloah deems worthy to escape the coming flood. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark you and your sons and your wife and your sons wives with you. (Genesis 6:18 KJV) Which is WHO information and the second element.
WHERE NOAH INSTRUCTED TO BUILD THE ARK After forewarning Noah of the impending flood, Eloah didn't abandon Noah and his family to fend for themselves. Rather He provided them with detailed instructions on how to build the ark. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. (Genesis 6:14-15 NIV) Which was the-place-of-refuge for Noah and the WHERE element. WHEN NOAH INSTRUCTED TO ENTER THE ARK With the construction completed, Eloah instructed Noah to enter the ark And YHWH said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1 KJVm) This is WHEN information, the fourth element of Bible prophecy and these are the four elements of Bible Prophecy concerning Noah. Another past example of a prophetic event, which contain these Four Elements is Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. WHAT LOT IS FOREWARNED In Lot's case, Eloah sends two angels to forewarn him of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of YHWH; and YHWH hath sent us to destroy it. (Genesis 19:13 KJVm) This is the WHAT information and the First element a Bible prophecy. WHO LOT FOUND WORTHY Many people are called. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. (Genesis 19:15) But in the end, only Lot and his two daughters are found worthy to escape. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:27 KJV) This is WHO information and the second element of Bible prophecy. WHERE THE MOUNTAINS AS A PLACE-OF-REFUGE As the story progresses, Lot is informed that he will have to flee for the safety of the mountains so as not to be annihilated with Sodom and Gomorrah...don t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away! (Genesis 19:17 NIV) This establishes the mountains as the-place-of-refuge concerning Lot, which is WHERE information and the third element of Bible Prophecy.
WHEN LOT INSTRUCTED TO FLEE At the last possible moment the angels lead Lot out of the city and instructed them to flee for their lives. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, Flee for your lives! Don t look back, and don t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away! (Genesis 19:17 NIV) This is WHEN information and these are the four elements of Bible prophecy concerning Lot. Which brings us to today. TODAY WE ARE FOREWARNED Within the prophetic scriptures, end time believers are provided with graphic descriptions of a future apocalypse.
And like Noah, we are being forewarned of a period called the Great Tribulation. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21 KJV) Which concludes with an Extinction Level Event And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22 KJV) These warnings are WHAT information and the first element of Bible prophecy. Which raises the question: In forewarning end time believers of the coming apocalypse, has Eloah abandoned us to fend for ourselves? Or has He provided us with Divine Survival Instructions, just as He provided survival instructions for Noah and Lot?