Publishing Prophecy

"The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it" (Psalm 68:11).

The Word of God has been received
From God's own gracious hand
And spread by those who have believed,
As God gave the command.

How rich our blessing is today
In this great company,
As we are chosen to convey
God's Word of prophecy!

How precious is the Word of God!
How urgent is the need
To spread its prophecies abroad
Wherever God will lead.

Lord, thank You for Your precious Word;
With evidence so sweet
In prophecies which we have heard
Now published as complete!

-----------------------------------------------
Note: Here are some examples of the Statistical Value of Prophecy which utterly eliminates "chance" fulfillment.

Prediction/Fulfillment/Probability Rating:

1. The birth of Christ in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah (Micah 5:2, Genesis 49:10/Matthew 2:1): 1 chance in 2,400

2. Christ would be preceded by a messenger turning the hearts of multitudes (Isaiah 40:3/Malachi 4:5,6/Matthew 3:1,2): 1 chance in 20

3. Christ would enter Jerusalem on a colt with the reception of multitudes rejoicing (Zechariah 9:9/Luke 19:35-37): 1 chance in 50

4. Christ would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9/Matthew 26:47,48): 1 chance in 10

5. The hands and feet of Christ would be pierced (Psalm 22:16/Luke 23:33): 1 chance in 100

6. Christ would be wounded, bruised, and scourged by his enemies (Isaiah 53:5/Matthew 27:26): 1 chance in 10

7. Christ would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12/Matthew 26:15). 1 chance in 50

8. Christ would be spit upon and abused by his tormentors (Isaiah 50:6/Matthew 26:67). 1 chance in 10

9. The betrayal money would be thrown in the temple and then given to buy a potter's field (Zechariah 11:13/Matthew 27:5-7). 1 chance in 200

10. Christ would be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7/Matthew 27:12-14): 1 chance in 100

11. Christ would be crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12/Matthew 27:38). 1 chance in 100

12. People would gamble for the garments of Christ (Psalm 22:18/John 19:23,24). 1 chance in 100

13. The side of Christ would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10/John 19:34). 1 chance in 100

14. None of the bones of Christ would be broken (Psalm 34:20/John 19:33). 1 chance in 20

15. The body of Christ would not decay (Psalm 16:10/Acts 2:31). 1 chance in 10,000

16. Christ would be buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:10/Matthew 27:57-60). 1 chance in 100

17. The actual time of Christ's advent and execution (69 x 7 years = 483 years after the rebuilding of Jerusalem) (Daniel 9:26,27/Matthew 2:2, John 12:23). 1 chance in 1,000

----------------------------------
Note that the above prophecies involve the element of the prerogative and reaction of others toward the Savior, eliminating the notion of "staging" a deliberate fulfillment by Christ.

The calculated probability producing the odds against the prophets "guessing right" are as follows:

2,400 x 20 x 50 x 10 x 100 x 10 x 50 10 x 200 x 100 x 100 x 100 x 100 x 100 x 20 x 10,000 x 100 x 1,000 = 1 in 4.8 X 10 to the 32nd power (i.e., 1 chance in 480 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion). That number is equal to enough tiny grains of sand to fill the entire Milky Way (100,000 light years of distance from rim to rim).

In view of the fact that there are MORE than 300 prophecies concerning the first coming of Christ fulfilled with 100% accuracy, the above prophecies are only limited to 17 because the numbers of statistical probability (i.e., impossibility) become so astronomical so as to be rendered incomprehensible. Further, there are thousands of prophecies referring to people, times, events, and places (apart from specific prophecies about Christ) that were fulfilled with perfect accuracy. The prophetic Scriptures have NEVER been wrong.

--------------------------------