The Word of Promise 5
by Ivan Ho 22 July 2023
I believe there are two types of prophetic words from God.
One is revelation about future events which God foresees will happen, in other words foretelling. Things will happen exactly according to what God says, although the things that are predicted to happen may or may not be in the will of God.
For example, God speaks about what the devil will do in the last days. Is what the devil does according to God’s will? No, but God in his foreknowledge reveals what the enemy will do as a warning to us.
On the other hand, God prophesies about the first and second coming of Jesus multiple times. Jesus came to earth about 2000 years ago exactly according to God’s prophetic words, and Jesus will come back again according to what was spoken.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 1:9-11 KJV
It is the eternal will of God for Jesus to come back to rule and reign on earth.
In the same way, the sovereign will of God to Abraham was fulfilled according to what God has promised despite Abraham’s mistakes during his life.
And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also?
And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Genesis 18:10-14 KJV
In the set time, Issac was born according to God’s promise.
The fulfillment of God’s promises overides human errors and sins. Ultimately, the faith of Abraham and Sarah prevailed.
The first type of prophetic words are not dependent on individual actions, what the enemy does or doesn’t do. Things will happen exactly according to what God says in His foreknowledge.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isaiah 46:9-11 KJV
The second type of prophetic words is the revelation of God’s will or wisdom on things concerning the future. They reveal the mindset and will of God on things that are yet to happen. However, whether things will happen accordingly is dependent on individuals’ obedience and response to the spoken word of God.
If the hearer of the word receives and follows what God says, the will of God will be done in his or her life. On the other hand, if the hearer of God’s word disobeys what God says, the will of God won’t happen in his life.
For example, Jesus said to the blind man to do certain things so his eyes could be opened. The blind man obeyed and did likewise, and his eyes were opened according to the instruction of Jesus.
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
John 9:6-7 KJV
On the other hand, Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and to follow Him. The young man walked away so that the will of God’s wasn’t fulfilled in his life.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:21-22 KJV
Jesus did not pursue the young man and let him go, and continued with His journey with those who did follow Him. Jesus did not impose His will on people and it is up to individuals to follow Him.
Despite human disobedience and errors, God’s ultimate will and purposes for His kingdom always prevail!