Prediction Versus Prophecy

 

 

A great divide between these two

And I hope you can see,

A prediction is speculation

While prophecy is history.

 

Hey there, don’t fret yourself,

Give me a chance to explain,

The confusion surrounding these

Is enough to make one insane.

 

A prediction is just what it is:

A projection of the future,

It is premised upon a certain trend

And thus, it is conjecture.

 

Should conditions continue

There is a very good chance

But such as we know is speculation

However much advanced.

 

The weather is a case in point

Where predictions are rife

But we’re all aware of the inaccuracies-

For such is life.

 

The hurricane season is on us

And so are the usual predictions,

But between La Nina and the Sahara dust

We have uncertain calculations.

 

 

 

 

Predictions are man-made

And therefore, fraught with error

But it is still good that we be prepared

For any anticipated terror.

 

If it does not happen

Do not regret having been prepared

But be grateful and thankful

That the prediction failed.

 

Predictions are a staple

When it comes to everyday life,

Some of them are of positive outlook

And some anticipate strife.

 

Prophecy is different, though-

And is certainly not man-made,

It is divinely appointed

And can never fail.

 

Some prophecies are conditional

And were so indicated,

A careful study of the scriptures

Shows where this is stated.

 

 

However, unconditional prophecy

Is documented history

Revealed before it unfolded

By the I AM that I AM, the Almighty.

 

It is He that created time

And He inspired the holy scriptures

Such that, anything God says,

Must be fact and not conjecture.

 

700 years before the event

It was recorded Jesus had died,

Yes, it was stated in the past tense

And he was not yet crucified.

 

 

Go to Isaiah chapter 53

And there you’ll see the details,

Prophecy, unlike man-made predictions,

Can never ever fail.

 

Heaven and earth will pass

But the word of God forever stands,

Predictions, my friend are speculative

But prophecy is God’s plan.

 

False prophesies are predictions

Usually given by a man,

The number of women is increasing

As though by demand.

 

They label them as prophecies

Saying they had heard from God

But the unfulfilment of so many

Shows they are frauds.

 

They call themselves prophets

Some, even apostles,

And some even make their living

Off gullible people.

 

Beware of those prophets

That foretell rather tell forth,

The former has personal agendas

And in their prophecies boast.

 

These are the foretellers

Who declare they heard from God,

Having received extra-biblical info

Which they then spread abroad.

 

Their pass grade is 60%

And sometimes it can be lower,

One time they would have attracted

Many a stone-thrower.

 

Prophecy is not a prediction

But in fact, the word of the Lord,

And there is always 100% accuracy

When delivered by the prophet of God.

 

Note I used the definite article-

‘The’ prophet of God, I said,

These prophets are still speaking

Though each one is dead.

 

They are found in the scriptures:

Each and every one

And their words still ring true

Although they are gone.

 

Stewart Russell © May 30, 2023

 

Out of Nowhere

 

 

I am sure you’ve heard the phrase

Out of nowhere

But where did it come from

To be now here?

 

Everything had a beginning

And must have come from somewhere,

So too must have time

And not out of nowhere.

 

Hence, at some time presupposes

There must have been somewhere

Or else there is nowhere

That time can be now here.

 

I know this is mind-boggling,

I know that quite well

But do not brush it off just yet,

There is more to tell.

 

The question was asked:

Where did God come from

And when I heard the response

I thought it quite dumb.

 

However, I pondered it a bit

Only to discover it is true:

That God came from nowhere

And that, my mind blew!

 

 

Out of nowhere

Because before Him, nothing was,

Before Him nothing could have existed;

Not even time could.

 

No place, no time, no thing

Could have preceded The Almighty,

He is the originator

For all that we see.

 

The I AM THAT I AM:

The Always Existing ONE,

Not a caused being or element

But before creation’s dawn. 

He is synonymous with eternity:

A concept we cannot grasp

And to figure out nowhere

Is an impossible task.

 

Somethings we can only accept

What else can we do?

Why, we experience great difficulty

With things within view.

 

‘No time’ and ‘nowhere’

Are way out of our scope,

No reference point to begin with,

There is not a hope.

 

Grappling with the invisible

Is complex enough

Far less trying to wrap our minds around

More complicated stuff.

 

 

Next time you hear someone say,

“He came out of nowhere”

Just smile and to yourself say,

“Well, He’s now here.”

 

For there is only ONE

Who can come out of nowhere:

That is the I AM THAT I AM,

Thank God His Spirit is here!

 

Stewart Russell © June 10, 2022

 

The Only Wise God

 

 

Can you tell what I am thinking?

I know someone who can,

He even knows my future

And He never reads my palm.

 

Crystal balls are not His thing

And He never ever predicts

He doesn’t even prophesy

Yet He sees all from where he sits.

 

He knows when we are sincere

And whenever we pretend,

He knows what we will decide

And all that we intend.

 

What question he cannot answer?

There is actually none,

He alone can decide

How long each course will run.

 

Time’s clock has been set by Him

From its beginning to its end,

He knows every twist and turn

Every tunnel and every bend.

 

He is the ultimate Ruler

King of kings and Lord of lords,

He is one yet three

As substantiated by the Word

 

There’s much we do not understand

As expressed in His Word,

And often in our brilliance

We deem that Word absurd.

 

He alone orders the wind

And the boundaries of the sea,

No effort or struggle is required

Just a simple “Let it be”.

 

 

He transcends all of creation

It is all contained in Him,

Everything is for His purpose

Not our fancy or our whim.

 

We were created in His image

Though we often tend to forget

And the balance that He initiated

We constantly try to upset.

 

His ways are past finding out

His thoughts are not our thoughts,

He is from everlasting to everlasting

And He cannot be bought.

 

All in the earth are His

There is nothing that He needs,

He has provided it for our sustainment

Not to satisfy our greed.

 

 

He is the Lord God Jehovah

The I AM that I AM,

Revealed in Christ the Saviour

The Shepherd and yet the Lamb.

 

That he died for me is amazing

That he lives in me is comforting,

That he is coming for me is reassuring

That I am in him is enlightening.

 

It is my honour to know Him

It is my privilege to be called His own

His slave I may be but I am free

Free to enjoy true liberty.

 

 

What blessed freedom in Christ!

My Shepherd, Lamb and Sacrifice,

Nothing brought I but one sin-sick soul

Yet he washed me and made me whole.

 

All of Him and none of me

No credit can I take,

No merit in me, no merit at all

God did it all for Jesus’ sake.

 

And now I rest assured in Him

Until my earthly rest shall be,

Anticipating the glorious resurrection

When I shall live eternally.

 

Stewart Russell © April 2019