In Search of Trustworthy Predictions

SOON after the Macedonian king who came to be known as Alexander the Great ascended the throne in 336 B.C.E., he visited the oracle of Delphi, in central Greece. His ambitious plans for the future were nothing less than to conquer much of the world of that time. But he desired divine assurance that his tremendous undertaking would succeed. According to legend, on the day he happened to visit Delphi, it was not permissible to consult the oracle. Not wanting to leave without an answer, Alexander insisted, forcing the priestess to give a prediction. She cried out in frustration: “Oh, child, you are invincible!” The young king took that as a favorable omen​—one promising a victorious military campaign.

However, Alexander would have been much better informed about the outcome of his campaign if he had examined prophecies found in the Bible book of Daniel. With remarkable accuracy, they foretold his speedy conquests. Tradition has it that Alexander eventually got an opportunity to see what Daniel had recorded about him. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, when the Macedonian king entered Jerusalem, he was shown Daniel’s prophecy​—presumably chapter 8 of that book. (Daniel 8:5-8, 20, 21) Reportedly, because of this, the city was spared by Alexander’s destructive armies.

An Inherent Human Need

King or commoner, ancient or modern​—man has felt the need for trustworthy predictions regarding the future. As intelligent creatures, we humans study the past, are aware of the present, and are especially interested in the future. A Chinese proverb aptly says: “He who could foresee affairs three days in advance would be rich for thousands of years.”

Throughout the ages, millions have attempted to peer into the future by consulting what they perceived as being divine. Take the ancient Greeks as an example. They had scores of sacred oracles, such as those of Delphi, Delos, and Dodona, where they would go to inquire of their gods with regard to political or military developments as well as such private affairs as travel, marriage, and children. Not just kings and military leaders but entire tribes and city-states sought guidance from the spirit realm through these oracles.

According to one professor, there is now a “sudden proliferation of organizations devoted to the study of the future.” Yet, many prefer to ignore the only accurate source of prophecy​—the Bible. They pointedly dismiss any possibility that Bible prophecies contain the very information they are seeking. Some scholars go so far as to equate Bible prophecy with the predictions given by ancient oracles. And modern-day skeptics are usually biased against Bible prophecy.

We invite you to check the record for yourself. What does a careful comparison of Bible predictions and human oracles reveal? Can you trust Bible prophecy more than ancient oracles? And can you reliably build your life around Bible prophecies?

Why You Can Trust Bible Prophecy

KING PYRRHUS of Epirus in northwestern Greece was engaged in a long-term conflict with the Roman Empire. Desperately desiring a clue regarding its outcome, he went to consult the oracle of Delphi. But the answer he received could be understood in either of the following two ways: (1) “I say that thou son of Æacus canst conquer the Romans. Thou shalt go, thou shalt return, never shalt thou perish in war.” (2) “I say that the Romans can conquer thee, son of Æacus. Thou shalt go, thou shalt never return, thou shalt perish in war.” He chose to understand the oracle in the former way and therefore waged war against Rome. Pyrrhus was utterly defeated.

Such cases made ancient oracles notorious for being vague and enigmatic. But what about Bible prophecy? Some critics maintain that the prophecies found in the Bible are no better than the oracles. These critics speculate that Biblical predictions were merely shrewd foretelling of future events by very clever and keenly perceptive individuals, usually of the priestly class. Supposedly, just by experience or through their special connections, these men foresaw the natural development of certain situations. By comparing the various characteristics of Bible prophecies with those of oracles, we will be better equipped to draw proper conclusions.

Points of Contrast

The trademark of oracles was their ambiguity. At Delphi, for example, the answers provided were uttered in unintelligible sounds. This made it necessary for priests to interpret them and create verses capable of opposite interpretations. A classic example of this is the answer given to Croesus, king of Lydia. When he consulted the oracle, he was told: “If Croesus crosses the Halys, he will destroy a mighty empire.” Actually, the “mighty empire” destroyed was his own! When Croesus crossed the river Halys to invade Cappadocia, he met defeat at the hands of Cyrus the Persian.

In sharp contrast with pagan oracles, Bible prophecies are noted for their accuracy and clarity. A case in point is the prophecy regarding the fall of Babylon, which is recorded in the Bible book of Isaiah. Some 200 years before this event took place, the prophet Isaiah predicted in a detailed and accurate way the overthrow of Babylon by Medo-Persia. The prophecy disclosed that the conqueror would bear the name Cyrus, and it revealed the very strategy of drying up a moatlike river defense and entering a fortified city through open gates. All of this was accurately fulfilled. (Isaiah 44:27–45:2) It was also correctly prophesied that Babylon would eventually be totally uninhabited.​—Isaiah 13:17-22.

Consider, too, the explicit nature of this warning declared by the prophet Jonah: “Only forty days more, and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:4) There is no ambiguity here! The message was so dramatic and straightforward that the men of Nineveh immediately “began to put faith in God, and they proceeded to proclaim a fast and to put on sackcloth.” As a result of their repentance, Jehovah did not bring calamity upon the Ninevites at that time.​—Jonah 3:5-10.

Oracles were used as a means of political influence. Rulers and military leaders often cited the interpretation that they favored in order to promote their own personal interests and undertakings, thereby giving such a “divine cloak.” However, God’s prophetic messages were given without deference to personal considerations.

To illustrate: Jehovah’s prophet Nathan did not hold back from reproving erring King David. (2 Samuel 12:1-12) During the reign of Jeroboam II over the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, the prophets Hosea and Amos delivered stern criticism to the rebellious king and his supporters because of their apostasy and God-dishonoring conduct. (Hosea 5:1-7; Amos 2:6-8) Especially caustic was Jehovah’s warning to the king by the mouth of the prophet Amos: “I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with a sword.” (Amos 7:9) Jeroboam’s house was annihilated.​—1 Kings 15:25-30; 2 Chronicles 13:20.

Most of the time, oracles were given for a price. The one who paid more would receive the oracle he liked. Those consulting the oracles at Delphi paid dearly for worthless information, thereby filling the temple of Apollo and additional edifices with great treasures. In contrast, Bible prophecies and warnings were given without cost and with no partiality whatsoever. That was the case regardless of the position or wealth of the person to whom they were directed, for a true prophet could not be bribed. The prophet and judge Samuel could sincerely ask: “From whose hand have I accepted hush money that I should hide my eyes with it?”​—1 Samuel 12:3.

Since oracles were available only at specific places, an individual had to put forth considerable effort to travel there in order to receive them. For the average person, most of those places were extremely difficult to reach because they were situated in such locations as Dodona on Mount Tomarus in Epirus and Delphi in mountainous central Greece. Usually, only the rich and powerful were able to consult the gods at such oracles. Moreover, “the will of the gods” was revealed on only a few days during the year. In striking contrast, Jehovah God sent his prophetic messengers directly to the people in order to proclaim the prophecies that they needed to hear. During the Jews’ Babylonian exile, for instance, God had at least three prophets serving among his people​—Jeremiah in Jerusalem, Ezekiel with the exiles, and Daniel in the capital of the Babylonian Empire.​—Jeremiah 1:1, 2; Ezekiel 1:1; Daniel 2:48.

Oracles were generally given in private so that the one receiving them could exploit their interpretation to his own advantage. In contrast, Bible prophecies were often given in public so that all could hear the message and understand its implications. The prophet Jeremiah many times spoke publicly in Jerusalem, although he knew that his message was unpopular among the leaders and the inhabitants of the city.​—Jeremiah 7:1, 2.

Today, oracles are viewed as a part of ancient history. They have no practical value for people living in our critical times. No such oracles deal with our day or with our future. In notable contrast, Bible prophecies are part of “the word of God [which] is alive and exerts power.” (Hebrews 4:12) The already fulfilled prophecies of the Bible provide a pattern of Jehovah’s dealings with people and reveal vital features of his purposes and personality. Additionally, important Bible prophecies await fulfillment in the near future. Describing what lies ahead, the apostle Peter wrote: “There are new heavens [the heavenly Messianic Kingdom] and a new earth [a righteous human society] that we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”​—2 Peter 3:13.

This brief comparison of Bible prophecy and false religion’s oracles may well lead you to a conclusion similar to that expressed in the book entitled The Great Ideas: “So far as the foreknowledge of mortal men is concerned, the Hebrew prophets seem to be unique. Unlike pagan diviners or soothsayers, . . . they do not have to employ arts or devices for penetrating divine secrets. . . . For the most part, their prophetic speeches, unlike those of the oracles, seem to be unambiguous. At least the intention seems to be to reveal, not to conceal, God’s plan on such matters as He Himself wishes men to foresee the course of providence.”