5. A further characteristic of prophecy wa.s its power of prediction. The apologetic use of pro- phecy in the past no doubt led to a too exclusive consideration of this aspect of the prophetic books ; and the Church has gained much by regarding the prophets as men inspired by Jehovali with special moral messages to the age in which they lived. But it is not less one-sided so to over-emphasize this aspect of their work as to exclude their un- doubted predictive powers. The writings of the Hebrew i^rophets are saturated witli prediction. They foresee and announce as much of the secret purposes of Jehovah a.s was needful for His people to know. And the power of Jehovah to reveal to them the future raises Him, in the eyes of Israel, at once above the heathen gods, and proves to them that He is the true God (Is 4r-'--« 42« 43^-i=* 44a5ff. 483-7) >y,'Q doubt their predictions usually announced the general results rather than detailed accounts of Jehovah's future dealings ; nevertheless their predictions were clear unveilings of coming events. So that it may be said that a teacher without the power of foretelling would be no prophet (Dt 18-'"--), for the prophet ha.s ' his face to the future,' and can see more or less clearly, by the inspiration granted to him, the results that God's love and righteousness are about to accomplish.
Now, full of prediction as are the writings of the prophets, the sayings of Jesus are even more so. With clear vision He was able to follow throughout future time the workings of the principle^He taught, and was able to state as a matter of certain know- ledge that their adoption would be universal. With an unparalleled insight He disclosed to the world the mysteries of eternitj-. He drew back the curtain not onl}- from coming events of time, but with equal certainty from the hidden secrets of the invisible world. Hades, heaven, hell are all open to Him. And with a calm boldness, found only with absolute certaintj-. He tells us of Dives and Lazarus (Lk 16'^), of the many stripes and the few (Lk 12*"), and of the principles upon which the Final Judgment will be carried out (:Mt 25-"').
If the Hebrew prophets received at times illumination which revealed to them glimpses of coming events, Jesus was at all times able to reveaf hidden things of the future with as much certainty as He could speak of the things clearlj' seen in tiie present.
In addition to the predictions of general^xenls. there is also found, but less frequently, among the Hebrew prophets, the power of foretelling particular events to individuals. Thus Micaiah foretells the death of Ahab (1 K 2-2), and Jeremiah the death of Hananiah (Jer •2S1'';. Here also Jesus surpasses them. With a certainty and clearness far beyond theirs. He was able to announce particular coming events to His disciples. Follow- ing the Gospel narrative, we find that the treachery of Judas was oiien to Him for long (.In 6'W.). The fall of Peter and his final uiartvrdom, and the prolonged life of John, were all equally clear (Lk22:il. J n 2118. ->2).
Allied to His knowledge of the future of indi\'iduals was His
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unerring insight into character. This gift was partially granted to the prophets, and may in a measure account for their pre- dictions. It may have been insight into character that enabled Jlicaiah to predict the coming cowardice of Zedekiah (1 K 22-5), and it certainly seems to have been this that gave Elisha power to read the future of Hazael (2 K 8'2). Similarly, only in an infinitely greater degree, Jesus read the inner depths of those around Him. At once He saw the guilelessness of Nathanael (Jn l^'') and the strength of Peter (v.^-), and was able to read the thoughts of Simon the Pharisee while Simon was misreading His (Lk 739- 40). The records of His life show repeated instances that exemplify the statement of John, ' He knew all men . . . he knew what was in man ' (Jn 2'--'- 25).
6. As a final mark of His fulfilment of the prophetic office, His fate must be mentioned. In His own Person He gathered together every insult and cruelty that had been shown in the past to the messengers of God. And if it seem.s strange that Israel, which more than all other nations had spiritual instincts, should have habitually rejected those sent to them with the very message they above all should have received, and if it be stranger still that they should have crucified the Messiah whom they so passionately desired, it must be remembered that mankind at all times has been unable to receive, Avith patience, rebukes that shattered its self-conceit and truth that attacked its vested interests. New light ever discloses ignorance, reveals the inadequacy of much that is thought perfect, and shows the sinfulness of much that is looked upon as innocent. And thus it follows that the fuller the new light, the greater the hatred and opposition its bearer will liave to endure at the hands of those who fail to recognize its truth. If, then, the preaching of Isaiah raised the gibes of the drunkards of Ephraim, and if the unwelcome predictions of Jeremiah led to bitterest persecution, is it any wonder that the clear light of the revelation of Jesus infuriated ' the blind Pharisee,' and ended in His cruel mockings and death ?