The time is now ~ Bob Coy

Out of Time

And do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am God-I alone! I am God, and there is no one else like me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.-Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLT)

Prophecy proves that the Bible is, in fact, God's Word to mankind. But how? How do we know that the Bible isn't just another human's take on the truth? In order to understand this better, we need to define our terms. First, when we speak of prophecy, we're talking about the foretelling of events. The word prophecy can also have the broader meaning of speaking forth God's will for His people (1 Corinthians 12:10). But for our purpose, we'll concentrate on predictive prophecies, or prophecies that deal with future events.

Second, we need to recognize that we, as human beings, are trapped in time. We can only experience life in the present tense. It's impossible for us to see and know the future with the same certainty as the present. This places a serious limitation on humanity but lends power to prophecy.

Finally, we must understand that God is not trapped in time like we are. He inhabits eternity according to Isaiah 57:15, which means He can look down from His vantage point and see our entire timeline-past, present, and future-all at once. Think through the implications of this. Because God has an eternal perspective, He can tell us in advance what will occur in our future. He has done this by providing us with prophecies.

Each prophecy in Scripture comes to us from the Eternal God, who inhabits a space outside of time and has the power to tell us what's going to happen before it actually does.

Discuss with your group what comes to your mind when you hear the word prophecy. What does the fulfillment of prophecy reveal to you about the power of God?

Dig into Isaiah 46:9–10. What does this passage of Scripture tell you about the character of God? What does this passage mean to you? How do these words help you gain proper perspective in your present circumstances?

Decide as a group to spend time celebrating God’s character by worshiping together. You may choose to attend a service together or have a time of worship in your small group. Enjoy a time of drawing close to the Heavenly Father and recognizing His divine attributes!