This document discusses how God has used Israel and biblical prophecy to reveal his plans throughout history. It notes that Israel was chosen to be God's witnesses and that many prophets foretold events concerning Israel and Jesus. Specifically, the document focuses on how Daniel's prophecies provided an accurate timeline of future events and distinguished God from other religions by demonstrating his unique ability to foretell the future. It explores how Israel's failures led to exile but that God used this time of punishment to remind them of his power and prophecies through figures like Daniel.

1. 1/26/20
1
UNDERSTANDING AND
DISCERNING OUR
TIMES
THROUGH BIBLICAL PROPHECY PAST,
PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Mature in Christ Ministries
Israel
marks the
Times
• God’s message is to all of man-kind.Yet, He has
handpicked Israel for many key and essential roles in
His plan for redemption.
• Israel was His first group of people chosen to be His
Witnesses to the world.
• The Bible, His writtenWORD to man-kind was penned
by Israel.
• Most Importantly, God came to earth and was born in
human flesh in the bloodline of Israel.
• Lastly, and in the point of our discussion, God has used
Israel to mark the time of History and Prophecy. It has
been said that history is HIStory. Rightly seeing Jesus
as the central figure.This is true.Yet, His people, the
people of Israel and the land of Israel are the
guideposts given to all and for all to know and monitor.
Mature in Christ Ministries
The Focus is indeed on Israel!
NOT ONLY IS ISRAEL THE FOCUS OF BIBLICAL HISTORY, THEY ARE THE FOCUS
OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY!
Mature in Christ Ministries

2. 1/26/20
2
God has used many prophets to tell His story. All of them contribute to the
complete picture but none tell it in it’s entirety.We will explore and study many of
these writer’s including Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zachariah.Yet, God gave His man
Daniel the specific task of outlining the “when” of future events.
As we will see, Daniel is filled with key passages that provide the timeframe for key
events that God has given us to know. Others may give more detail about isolated
and important events that fills in the who and what, but without Daniel we would
not have the proper perspective of time that gives us the insight as to when.
Make no mistake.This is not generalized! God through Daniel has shown everyone
that HE is the one and true God of creation by providing accurate, specific, and
verifiable prophecies that can not be ignored or explained away as being “by
CHANCE!”
Mature in Christ Ministries
God has a
time - table
Isaiah 46:9 - 10
• 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.
Galatians 4:4
• But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the
law,To redeem them that were under the law, that we
might receive the adoption of sons.
Mature in Christ Ministries
Mature in Christ Ministries
God, Prophecy, and Israel
• God has given detailed and accurate prophecy as a means to
distinguish HIMSELF from all others.
• He challenged any and all other so-called gods (religions) to put forth
detailed and accurate prophecies to prove that they are His equal!
• God has called His people Israel to be His witness for this purpose.
They are His means and method through which to work to
accomplish His will and goal.

3. 1/26/20
3
Mature in Christ Ministries
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear
not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit
upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another
shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
Only One is God
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and
I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient
people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even
my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 44: 1 - 8
Why is
Prophecy
Focused on
Jesus and
on Israel?
• God wants man-kind to know His plan for man-kind! Jesus is the Redeemer.
• Jesus is the WORD that eventually dwelt among us.
• Too many only recognize Jesus, as the Word in the Gospels/New Testament.
• However, both the Old and New Testament is all about HIM!
• Israel was chosen to be His messenger and witness to the world.
• The Prophets provided foreknowledge of Jesus as a sign of GOD’s power and
proof that Jesus is the Christ (Jewish Messiah).
• Jesus has to return to finish His work. This is the focus of Prophecy
• God chose Israel as a people group, purposed to show the nations His path.
• Israel often failed to obey.
• In an effort to keep Israel on the right path, God sent Prophets to communicate
HIS message.
• The primary role of the Prophet was to CORRECT the people.
• Before they strayed, the Prophet gave the warnings.
• After they strayed, the Prophet spoke of the future punishment.
Mature in Christ Ministries
JESUS WAS
ALWAYS THE
CENTRAL
FIGURE
A few scriptures given to Israel in the OldTestament pointing to Jesus
See Prophecy : God’s PerfectWitness Session Five notes
Mature in Christ Ministries

4. 1/26/20
4
The Failures of
Israel’s
Leaders
• They neglected the people to serveTHEMSELVES
• They failed to teach
• They failed to protect
• They failed to warn
• They failed to guide
• They failed to correct
Priest
Pastors
Prophets
Ezekiel 22:23-31
& chapters 13 and 34
Mature in Christ Ministries
The Result!
Exile from
their
Promised
Land and
Captives in
Babylon!
• With God, punishment and discipline had a purpose.
Banishment not only showed how He was true to His
word in His warnings, it also provided the occassion
for Israel to ponder what they lost and why they lost
it.
• In addition, It let them know that God truly is in
CONTROL. He was able to display HIS power and
authority even over their captors, as we will see.
Spectacular wonders and miracles reminders of his
works in Egypt.
• God called His servant Daniel for an enormous task .
Daniel provided his people Israel and all of us that
followed a wealth of information regarding the
Messiah.
• Daniel’s faith was tremendous and serves as a
encouraging sample of how to stand courageously.
• He was blessed with great gifts, but most
importantly, he used his God-given gift obediently
and fearlessly.
Mature in Christ Ministries