My friends,Prophecies are one aspect of Lord JESUS CHRIST,that fascinate many.God gives Grace to HIS people by giving the gift of Prophesy and some transforming them as Prophets.But sometimes we see many Prophecies not coming to pass as said in due time while some come true during the latter times/years/seasons.My friends some people say that the True Prophesy always comes to pass.But is it really so?Do Prophecies fail?What does the scriptures say and teach?Let us see some aspects about Prophecies that why they fail?
First of all 1 Corinthians 13:8 says
Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.(Amplified)
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.(KJV).
So as we read in the above verse from both the translations,it clearly states that Prophecies shall fail.
Love never fails but Prophecy can.
So what are the conditions that cause Prophecies to fail?
1)Lying Prophesy-1 Kings 22:21-23-
Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”
Yes if judgment is declared by the Lord,The Lord can send a lying spirit for those who are selfish and have itching ears.Those who don’t love the Truth.
2)False Prophets and false Preachers-Jeremiah 23:11-32 and Ezekiel 13
The false Prophets who speak vain visions,who Prophecy to gain others or to gain from others,who mislead people,who try to please the people.The Book of Ezekiel also speaks about such Prophets.Lord warns against those who mislead others.Kindly read the above chapter and you will get more insight.People in order to influence others sometimes tend to Prophesy,also for name,fame and gain.They profess to see the visions that actually they do not see but assume.Innocent people who do are not in depth of the Word easily fall into the trap.Thus says the LORD has become a common saying among the believers in the body of CHRIST.Even what they themselves logically think,they easily proclaim the name of the Lord that it is the Lord who told them.Bible clearly says that we should not take the name of the Lord in vain.It means the fear of The Lord is missing.We must revere the name of the Lord.
3)Disobedience-1 Samuel 15 :10-23-King Saul disobeyed God and if we read in verse 23rd,it says that disobedience is as the sin of divination(witchcraft).1 Samuel 16:1,13-God rejects Saul as King and tells Prophet Samuel to Anoint David as the King. Similarly when we read Hebrews 4:6 says that Israelite’s even after receiving the promise from God Almighty to reach the land of Canaan,couldn’t make it because of disobedience.Obedience is a must for Prophesy to operate.
4)Despising Prophecies–1 Thessalonians 5:20-
‘Do not despise prophecies’-Yes sometimes people don’t recognize the True Prophecy and instead start judging others.Bible says do not despise Prophecies.Just Pray over it.Wait on the Lord.Seek the Lord on your own.Rather than defaming and blaming the one who gives the Prophecy,take that Prophetical word into the presence of the Lord.May be we don’t understand then,but later Lord may correct us in HIS mercy.
5)Timing of Prophesy-Habakkuk 2:2-3
Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
Yes my friend,the timing is the key.We think and assume that all Prophecies should be accomplished according to our timing.But God’s Kairos timing is the key.Prophet Isaiah proclaimed the coming of the Lord’s Birth and Crucifixion about 600-700 years before the Birth of JESUS our Lord actually took place.But when John The Baptist proclaimed the ist coming of our Lord JESUS,it was immediate fulfillment of Prophecy.So we must pray and discern the times.Same way the second coming of the Lord has been proclaimed over the years by the people,but the Bible clearly states the signs that are bound to happen before the Rapture and the end times.
6)Repentance–Jonah 3:4
And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
Yes the Lord clearly told the timing to Jonah that within 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed but the history tells us that after people Repented and lamented,God’s compassion moved and the judgment was withheld for that generation and Nineveh was spared for next 100 years.40 days were postponed to 100 years.My friends nobody can stop God from postponing the Judgment and HIS decision.GOD is Love.HIS Love and Compassion can force HIM to change every decision.But people when they Repent,it really can move the hand of God.Same thing happened when Isaiah prophesied for king Hezekiah.
7)Lack of Prayer-There are so many instances when Prayer causes the fulfillment of Prophecy.Luke 2:36-40 says-
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord,and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.(NKJV)
This widow of 84 years Prayed and Prophesied about the coming of the Lord.My friends Prayer is like license for God to intervene in earthly matters.Prophet Daniel prayed and He got the answer after 21 days.
Revelation 22:17 says–
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Yes The apostle John clearly tells the Bride of Christ to pray for the coming of the Lord.It is the Prayer of the saints that will fulfill all the end times Prophesy and the coming of the Lord.
8)Murmuring and grumbling-The book of Hebrews is clear about the negative importance of grumbling and murmuring that Israel.They could not enter the Promised land because of this reason too.Many times we speak against the Anointed of the Lord and the Lord HIMSELF and are not grateful to God for what HE does in our life.
The above are the few points about the conditions that can delay the fulfillment of Prophecy.
