Conditionality of the Prophetic Voice
Not all biblical prophecies are conditional. How can one know that prophecy speaks about a possible future or a determined future? Is there a difference between classical and apocalyptic prophecies? What are the principles behind the conditionality of prophecy? I will suggest four principles that will attest to the conditionality of different prophecies.GOP 30.1
The First Principle
A prophecy or biblical statement is conditional when it contains an “if ” or “when” formula: “if you will listen, you will prosper, but if you will not, this will happen to you” (e.g., Lev. 26 and Deut. 28-30).GOP 30.2
The Second Principle
Every time a human response to the prophecy or prophetic message is anticipated, this prophecy is conditional! God sends a message with a specific purpose in mind, namely, to call people back to Himself (Joel 2:12-15). God does not want people to die as well-informed sinners.GOP 30.3
A. This is proved by Jonah’s “unconditional” sentence: “On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: ‘Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown’ ” (Jonah 3:4). This prophecy was conditional even though there was no “if” or “when” formula, and the sentence sounded perfectly clear. But it was conditional because a human response was anticipated, and the Ninevites responded to God’s call positively, so they were not destroyed. The very fact that Jonah was sent to them by God was already an act of His grace.GOP 30.4
This is in a perfect harmony with God’s explanation:GOP 30.5
If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it (Jer. 18:7-10, ESV).GOP 30.6
God’s word is sent to accomplish its mission: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). “ ‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’ ” (Jer. 23:29).GOP 30.7
B. Hezekiah’s illness: No condition was stated, yet it was conditional, as we learn from the context. “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover’ ” (2 Kings 20:1). This was an uncompromising straight statement, and Hezekiah sincerely prayed: “‘Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly” (verses 2, 3). God graciously reacted:GOP 31.1
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David’ ” (verses 4-6).GOP 31.2
C. Daniel’s advice to Nebuchadnezzar:GOP 31.3
This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue (Dan. 4:24-27).GOP 31.4
God gave Nebuchadnezzar one year of grace (see verses 29-33), but because of his arrogance and pride, the Lord humiliated him in order to bring him closer to Himself.GOP 31.5
At the end of seven years Nebuchadnezzar praised the most high God, because he realized that this God is the ultimate sovereign king:GOP 31.6
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble (verses 34-37).GOP 31.7
Conditionality is the nature of classical predictive prophecies (while apocalyptic prophecies are unconditional). Was the time of the first coming of Jesus conditional? No, because “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4, ESV; see also Dan. 9:24-27). The first coming of Jesus did not depend on human reaction!GOP 32.1
Is the second coming of Jesus conditional? The answer is no as to the event itself, but yes as to the time He will come. John mightily affirms: “And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, ‘There will be no more delay [chronos = period of time]!’ ” (Rev. 10:6). Pay close attention to the recognition that Revelation 10:6 does not use kairos, i.e., a specific point in time, but chronos, which points to the specific period of time. It means that after 1844 there is no longer a prophetic period of time! The second coming of Jesus Christ will come whether we are ready or not! “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).GOP 32.2
The Third Principle
The prophecy is conditional if the same or a later prophet/biblical author explains that the previous prophecy was conditional, because the situation had changed or people’s attitudes of stubbornness or indifference.GOP 32.3
For example, see how God spoke about Nebuchadnezzar’s attack on Tyre: “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army’ ” (Eze. 26:7; see also verses 8-11). God predicts to Nebuchadnezzar a splendid plunder:GOP 32.4
They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea. I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more. I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord (verses 12-14).GOP 32.5
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years (from 586/585 to 573/572 B.C.). However, Nebuchadnezzar never fully conquered Tyre! A new interpretation is given in Ezekiel 29, where God promises to give him Egypt as his spoil instead of Tyre:GOP 33.1
Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army” (Eze. 29:18, 19).GOP 33.2
The Fourth Principle
Prophecy is conditional when it is stated in the setting of a covenant. A covenant contains the element of conditionality. Fitting examples of such covenant conditional prophecies are those in relation to the restoration of Israel, like creation of the New Jerusalem in the setting of the new heavens and the new earth (Isa. 65:17-25); the Gog and Magog prophecy (Eze. 38; 39); rebuilding of the Ezekiel’s Temple (Eze. 40-48); and the establishment of God’s kingdom according to Zechariah 14.GOP 33.3