The Prophetical Books...Continued from page 1

The predictions of the restoration from the Babylonian captivity at the end of seventy years, must be distinguished from those of the restoration from the present world-wide dispersion. The context is always clear. The Palestinian Covenant Deuteronomy 28:1-30:9; is the mould of predictive prophecy in its larger sense--national disobedience, world-wide dispersion, repentance, the return of the Lord, the regathering of Israel and establishment of the kingdom, the conversion and blessing of Israel, and the judgment of Israel's oppressors.

The true division of the prophets is into pre-exilic, viz., in Judah: Isaiah, Jeremiah (extending into the exile), Joel, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. In Israel: Hosea, Amos, and Jonah. Exilic, Ezekiel and Daniel, both of Judah, but prophesying to the whole nation. Post-exilic, all of Judah: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The division into major and minor prophetic writings, based upon the mere bulk of the books, is unhistoric and non-chronological.

The keys which unlock the meaning of prophecy are: the two advents of Messiah, the advent to suffer (Genesis 3:15; Acts 1:9), and the advent to reign (Deuteronomy 30:3; Acts 1:9-11); the doctrine of the Remnant (Isaiah 10:20, refs), the doctrine of the day of the Lord ( 2:10-22; Revelation 19:11-21), and the doctrine of the Kingdom (O.T., (Genesis 1:26-28; ((See Scofield "Zechariah 12:8") ; N.T., ; Luke 1:31-33; (See Scofield "1 Corinthians 15:28"). note). The pivotal chapters, taking prophecy as a whole, are, Deuteronomy 28, 29, 30; Psalm 2; Daniel 2, 7.

The whole scope of prophecy must be taken into account in determining the meaning of any particular passage (2 Peter 1:20). Hence the importance of first mastering the great themes above indicated, which, in this edition of the Scriptures, may readily be done by tracing through the body of the prophetic writings the subjects mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The detail of the "time of the end," upon which all prophecy converges, will be more clearly understood if to those subjects the student adds the Beast (Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20), and Armageddon (Revelation 16:14; 19:17, (See Scofield "Revelation 19:17") ).

Chronological Order of the Prophets (According to Ussher)

   1. Prophets Before the Exile
         1. To Nineveh: Jonah, 862 B.C.
         2. To the 10 tribes "Israel": Amos, 787 B.C.; Hosea, 785-725 B.C.; Obadiah, 887 B.C.; Joel, 800 B.C.
         3. To Judah: Isaiah, 760-698 B.C.; Micah, 750-710 B.C.; Nahum, 713 B.C.; Habakkuk, 626 B.C.; Zephaniah, 630 B.C.
   2. Prophets During the Exile
         1. Ezekiel, 595-574 B.C.
         2. Daniel, 607-534 B.C.
   3. Prophets After the Exile
         1. Haggai, 520 B.C.
         2. Zechariah, 520-518 B.C.
         3. Malachi, 397 B.C.