Original November 21, 2021 Version here: “Is Prophecy Conditional?“

 

Is Prophecy Conditional? (Updated)

I had originally written this article and teaching some ten-fifteen years ago and decided to shorten it, as some have said that my writings are too long.

This one is condensed and is comprised primarily with what is important in understanding these aspects of biblical and personal prophecy.

Are there “conditions” set upon prophecy, in order for the word to come to pass, or to happen according to what is stated within it?

Below are a few examples of conditions.

“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what The LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die you will not recover. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to The LORD, “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of The LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and tell Hezekiah, “This is what The LORD, the god of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.” Isaiah 38:1-6.

Note: Hezekiah was added fifteen years to his life because he came to The LORD in sincerity of heart, and sought The LORD with all of his heart. The first word that Isaiah gave to him was conditional upon Hezekiah’s heart condition before The LORD.

Also, the account of the prophet Jonah:

“The word of The LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah 1:1-2.

“Then the word of The LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah 3:1-2.

“By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” Jonah 3:7-9.

There certainly are prophecies that are “set in stone” and will happen as God has declared them.

However, prophecies spoken or written, to individuals or groups, are conditional based upon the person or groups actions.

One of the reasons that prophecy is conditional is that it is meant to build-up the person’s Faith in God and in those who speak for Him.

People who do not realize that prophecy is conditional, may have their faith shaken if a particular prophecy does not come to pass, or if they see a prophecy in the Bible that did not come to pass.

Those operating under this premise might then declare that Jonah was a false prophet, because his message to Nineveh didn’t happen according to how the prophecy was given.

But we know that Jonah was a true prophet of God.

If a particular prophecy is not fulfilled, we should examine the prophecy and the situation to see if the reason that it was not fulfilled had to do with a shift in the situation.

Are there examples of prophecies where they are not conditional?

We need to look and see. I do know that when personal words are addressed to individuals, and say such things as, “Child, you will be a woman of wisdom, and many people will seek you out, and come to you, because of your great learning, and willingness to help them.”

Obviously, this person would need to continue in prayer, and doing those things that would contribute to a life of wisdom and learning.

If they stopped doing these things, then they wouldn’t be a person of wisdom!

What of the many prophecies of Christ dying on a cross, and being mocked, and his garments being given away as stated in Isaiah?

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:2-6.

This was being prophesied about 700 years before the birth of Christ. He needed to die on a cross for this to happen, he needed to carry out the plan that God had laid out for him to do in his ministry, and the plans which led up to his death on a cross.

The prophecies of Christ were not “conditional, because he was obedient to the Father, and fulfilled the law and the prophets. (Matthew 3:15, 4:14, 5:17-18)

There are many prophetic messages lately which speak of “the coming judgment” upon this nation, and upon our world.

God has been warning us again and again, and has stayed his hand for the time being.

However, I believe, as many others do, that judgment has perhaps already come, and now is being manifested as we see it unfolding throughout the globe.

Perhaps the severity of some of this can still prevent this from happening to us as a nation, and a people.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

And, I would further say, that if we as a people would do these things, then God would not do the things he has prophesied that He would do upon our nation.

Then the prophetic word becomes “conditional” upon us, turning from our sins, and going in another direction.

If we continue in our present course, then the inevitable becomes true, and the word comes to pass as prophesied.

ALL that is written in God’s word must be fulfilled. The remaining parts of the book of Revelation, and some of Daniel, are not conditional, because again, they speak of God’s appointed times and seasons.

Again, though, man has a choice where he fits into this plan, and his actions will help fulfill a destiny of either being with Him forever, or without him in darkness.

” And He has made from one [a]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek The LORD, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ” Acts 17:26-27.

God has stated in His word that “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

“As long as the earth endures, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:21-22.

This I believe, is an undeniable oath from God, and a promise!

“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”” Genesis 9:12-17.

So, there are promises and oaths which God has stated in His word which will happen no matter what we might do.

However, we can change what might be said prophetically (for us), when we turn from our evil ways, humble ourselves and pray, and turn again to Him.

May we be found in “safe habitations,” and not be counted with those who in their disobedience, will find their destinies fulfilled in the prophecies spoken now about the coming judgment, and in His Word about what is going to come to pass.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to The LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?
Stephen is a full-time Artist of original architectural, landscape, portrait, still-life and spiritual oil paintings, available at StephenHansonArtist.com

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