Easy Reading Edition

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Bible Prophecy Fulfilled
April 14-20

SABBATH—APRIL 14
READ FOR THIS WEEK’S STUDY: Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Daniel 2; Matthew
24:24; John 13:19.

MEMORY VERSE: “Remember what happened in the past. Think about what
took place long ago. I am God. There is no other God. I am God. There is no
one like me. Before something even happens, I announce [tell] how it will
end. In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come. I say,
‘My plan will succeed. I will do anything I want to do’ ” (Isaiah 46:9, 10, NIrV).

KEY THOUGHT: Bible prophecy remains a powerful tool in establishing our

faith.

EVERY YEAR PEOPLE TRY TO GET EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW DIFFERENT

STOCKS WILL DO. But, in the end, the experts can tell them everything about a
stock except one thing. The experts can not tell what that stock will do in the future.
But God knows the future. He has proved that to us, again and again, by some
of the prophecies in the Bible. Many of these prophecies were written well ahead
of the time of the foretold events.1 And time and again the events happened just
as God said in the prophecy. We know this, because we see the prophecy in the
Bible, and then we can see that the prophecy came true. “The Lord and King never
does anything without telling his servants the prophets about it” (Amos 3:7, NIrV).
We have seen that these past prophecies became fulfilled, so we can trust God
on the prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. For example, the greatest future
prophecy of all is the second coming of Jesus.
This week, we will take a look at some of the great prophecies in the Bible.
What can we learn from these prophecies? What is the principle2 behind proph-
ecy? How does prophecy help us learn to trust in the Bible as God’s Word?

1
events—things that happen.
2
principle—a basic rule.
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 Lesson 3 Bible Prophecy Fulfilled

SUNDAY—APRIL 15 strengthens our faith in God and the

Bible after the prophecy has been ful-
PROPHETIC LICENSE filled. The more we see fulfilled, the
(Matthew 24:24) more we believe that the Bible really
comes from God.
In Hebrew, the verb naba means “to There are different kinds of proph-
prophesy and to foretell.” Naba carries ecies. One kind deals with the proph-
the idea of someone pouring forth ecies about a coming Messiah, the
words eagerly or with inspiration. The Lord Jesus Christ. Other prophecies
noun nabi means a spokesperson, a deal with the future of the Israelites
prophet, a person authorized to speak and other nations. Other prophecies
for someone else (Exodus 6:28-30; deal with the end of the world and
Exodus 7:1). Another word used in the what will happen after the world ends.
Bible for someone with the prophetic
gift is seer. Seer is translated from two Think about the part that proph-
different Hebrew words, each mean- ecy has played in your walk with
ing “to see.” God has given prophets God. What lessons about prophecy
the ability to prophesy (foretell) about have you learned? What words of
things that common people might not advice or warning would you give
see. Prophets see what others might to a new Christian or to someone
not see. God calls them to speak studying prophecy for the first
those things with power. time?

What warning about prophets MONDAY—APRIL 16

does Jesus give in Matthew 24:24?
EARLY PROPHECIES
Jesus’ warning about false prophets (2 Chronicles 20:20)
comes with the idea that there are true
prophets. After all, if we were to refuse “Have faith in the Lord your God.
all prophets and their gift, we would He’ll [He will] take good care of you.
not need warnings about false Have faith in his prophets.Then you
prophets. will have success” (2 Chronicles
20:20, NIrV).
What principle (rule) about how
prophecy (future events before Even in the first book of the Bible
they happen) should work is made (Genesis), we see that prophecy
known in the following verses? plays an important part in the history
Matthew 24:32, 33; John 13:19. of God’s work with sinful people.

In these verses, Jesus shows us What do the following verses in

that prophecy is not just about being Genesis prophesy, or tell about the
able to tell the future. Prophecy also future?

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 Lesson 3 Bible Prophecy Fulfilled

Genesis 3:15___________________

______________________________

Genesis 6:13___________________

______________________________ (Pix #9)

Genesis 12:1-3_________________
God told Noah that a flood would wipe out
the earth.
______________________________

Genesis 15:13, 14_______________ trusted in God’s promises? How

can they help you learn to trust
______________________________ Him, too?

Genesis 18:10__________________ TUESDAY—APRIL 17

______________________________ THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL 2

(Daniel 2:41)
In looking back, it is easy for us to
see just how correctly these proph- What does the prophecy in
ecies were fulfilled. But put yourself in Daniel 2 teach us about God’s
Noah’s place. God told Noah He was power to foretell the future?
going to wipe out the earth by a flood
of water. Ellen White said that before World history proves that most of
that time there had never been any this amazing prophecy has been ful-
rain! (Read Patriarchs and Prophets, filled. Babylon’s golden kingdom ruled
pp. 96, 97.) Think about Abraham and the world from 605 B.C. to 539 B.C.
Sarah. Sarah would one day be the Babylon’s influence (power) spread
mother of their child when she was far and wide. Babylon became the rul-
too old to have children. This was ing power in the ancient3 Near East.
surely a great test of faith for Abraham Today the ruins of Babylon are lo-
and Sarah (Hebrews 11:7-11). cated in Iraq, 70 miles south of
Baghdad. The Bible prophesied about
What promises of God are you the fall of Babylon (Jeremiah 51:49,
waiting to come true? What les- 53) and clearly stated who was to
sons can you learn from past direct (lead) the battle against
examples of Bible characters who Babylon (Isaiah 45:1-4). Cyrus4 and
3
ancient—very old.
4
Cyrus—the king of Persia who conquered Babylon.

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his army were at the gates of Babylon us not to trust God on the last kingdom.
about 175 years after the prophecy
was given. Think about the prophecy in
The Medes and Persians ruled the Daniel 2. Daniel lived more than
world from 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. But 500 years before Christ. But he
then God said in Daniel 2:39, “ ‘Next, a described Europe as it is today!
third kingdom will rule even the whole How could Daniel have done this
earth. The bronze part of the statue without God’s power? Is your faith
stands for that kingdom’ ” (NIrV). Daniel weakening? Do you sometimes
8:21 clearly explained that Greece have trouble trusting in God? Go
was the third kingdom. Within a short back over this prophecy or other
time, the Greek armies, led by prophecies that have been ful-
Alexander the Great, conquered the filled. Ask God to use these
world. The Greeks carried bronze prophecies to build your faith.
shields and swords and wore bronze
breast plates and helmets. WEDNESDAY—APRIL 18
The Greek Empire was then con-
quered by the iron monarchy of Rome THE MESSIAH IN PROPHECY
in 168 B.C. It was another wonderful ful- (Isaiah 52:13–53:12)
fillment of the prophecy in Daniel 2.
Rome had the longest rule of any other Of all the prophecies in the Old
world power. For more than 500 years, Testament, the ones about Jesus’ first
Rome ruled from the British Isles to the coming are among the most powerful.
Arabian Gulf, from the North Sea to the There are about 60 Old Testament
Sahara Desert, and from the Atlantic prophecies about His first coming.
Ocean to the Euphrates River. One of the most powerful is in Isaiah.
But as Daniel said, “ ‘The kingdom
shall be divided’ ” (Daniel 2:41, NKJV).
So Rome was divided into independ-
ent kingdoms that later became the
nations of modern Europe. They were
the nations that would not “hold
together any more than iron mixes
with clay” (Daniel 2:43, NIrV). Today (Pix #10)
we are living in the time of the feet and
toes of the statue.
The next kingdom to come is the
final one, God’s eternal5 kingdom. “And the Lord [God] has placed on his
Daniel was right about all the other servant [Jesus] the sins of all of us”
kingdoms. How foolish it would be for (Isaiah 53:6, NIrV).

eternal—forever; without beginning or end; lasting forever.

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 Lesson 3 Bible Prophecy Fulfilled

How did Jesus fulfill the proph- and insulted Him (Psalm 22:6-8). He
ecy in Isaiah 52:13–53:12? also may have shown them His cruci-
fixion with sinners (Isaiah 5:12) and
Isaiah 52:13–53:12 is one of the His resurrection (Psalm 16:10).
most powerful examples of prophecy
in the Bible. It is full of prophetic con-
ditions that could not be arranged
ahead of time to cause fulfillment.
This prophecy continues to be power-
ful proof for the Christian faith.

Below are a few Old Testament (Pix #11)

prophecies about Jesus and their
New Testament fulfillment. What
can we learn from these about the
trustworthiness of the Bible?

Old Testament New Testament

Prophecy Fulfillment After His death and return to life, Jesus
told two of His followers what the
Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23 Scriptures said about Him.
Micah 5:2 Luke 2:4-7
Jesus fulfilled these prophecies.
Daniel 9:25 Luke 3:1-23 For this reason, you can receive
Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14 forgiveness from God right now, by
accepting His work for you. How
It is exciting to study how Jesus should salvation by faith change
points out prophecies about Himself your life? How has salvation by
and their fulfillment after His return to faith changed your life already?
life. Jesus told two disciples on the What other changes do you need
road to Emmaus, “ ‘Didn’t [did not] the to make?
Christ have to suffer these things and
then receive his glory?’ Jesus ex- THURSDAY—APRIL 19
plained to them what was said about
himself in all the Scriptures. He began THE SECOND COMING
with Moses and all the Prophets” (John 14:3)
(Luke 24:26, 27, NIrV). Jesus may
have talked to these disciples about Many of the prophecies about past
His birth (Isaiah 7:14) and ministry events have been fulfilled. They have
(work) (Isaiah 9:1, 2). He may have happened just as the Bible said they
shown that people refused to accept would happen. But these were all
Him (Isaiah 53:3), nailed His hands prophecies fulfilled in the past. The
and feet (Psalm 22:16), and mocked Bible also talks about prophecies that

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will happen soon. Among the most The Bible shows what the second
important of these are the prophecies coming of Christ will be like. The Bible
about Christ’s second coming. also describes the signs of His sec-
ond coming. Read the following
All the prophecies about Jesus’ prophecies about these signs. Then
first coming were fulfilled accord- mark an x by the ones that are being
ing to the Bible. So what does that fulfilled.
tell us about the prophecies of the
Second Coming? 1. Increase of knowledge
(Daniel 12:4)
Before leaving His disciples (follow- 2. False messiahs
ers), Jesus had promised them that (Matthew 24:4, 5)
His second coming would be sure. “ ‘If
I go and do that [prepare a place in 3. Wars and rumors of wars
heaven] I will come back. And I will (Matthew 24:6, 7)
take you to be with me. Then you will 4. Famine
also be where I am’ ” (John 14:3, (Matthew 24:7)
NIrV). Peter, one of Jesus’ closest dis- 5. Earthquakes
ciples, wrote, “But we are looking for- (Matthew 24:7)
ward to a new heaven and a new
earth. Godliness will make its home 6. Preaching of the gospel
there. All of this is in keeping with (Matthew 24:14)
God’s promise” (2 Peter 3:13, NIrV). 7. Spread of disease
(Luke 21:11)
8. Signs and wonders
(Luke 21:11)
9. People living in fear
(Luke 21:26)
10. Social problems
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)
(Pix #12)
11. Increase of skepticism6
(2 Peter 3:3, 4)

These 11 prophecies are correct

descriptions of our world today. But
they were written hundreds of years
Jesus promised He would come again and ago. That is even more proof that we
take us to heaven. can trust the Bible.

skepticism—doubting something; questioning things; not believing.

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If you thought that Jesus were an opportunity [chance] to show

coming back tomorrow, would you whether it would fulfill His purposes
be happy or fearful? What does for it. Prophecy has followed the rise
your answer tell you about your- and growth of the world’s great empires
self and your relationship to God? —Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and
Rome. The same thing happened to
FRIDAY—APRIL 20 each of them. Each of these, along with
less powerful nations, had its period
ADDITIONAL STUDY: Ellen G. [time] of test. Each failed. Its glory
White, “Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream,” faded. Its power died.”—Adapted from
pp. 491–502, in Prophets and Kings; Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings,
“The Bible Prophets Wrote for Our p. 535.
Time,” pp. 338, 339; “Can All Have the
Gift of Prophecy?” pp. 340, 341, in DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Selected Messages, book 3.

“It is Jesus’ voice that speaks

•
1 As a class, talk about the lesson in
general this week. What things stood
through early Bible leaders and out that perhaps have helped you
prophets, from the days of Adam to better understand how prophecy
the closing time of world history. works?
Christ is shown in the Old Testament
as clearly as He is shown in the New
Testament. It is the light from the Old
•
2 Prophecy provides a lot of reasons
to believe in the Bible. But why do you
Testament prophecies that brings out think many people still refuse to
the life of Christ and the teachings of believe the Bible? What could you do
the New Testament with clearness to help break down some of these
and beauty. Christ’s miracles are a “blocks”?
proof that He is God. But a stronger
proof that Jesus is God is found in
comparing7 the prophecies of the Old
•
3 There are many strange teachings
about prophecy. What can you, as a
Testament with the history of the New class, do to help new church mem-
Testament.”—Adapted from Ellen G. bers better understand Bible proph-
White, The Desire of Ages, p. 799. ecy and the principles behind these
“Every nation that God has allowed prophecies?
to have a place on the earth has had

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comparing—showing how things are the same.

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