The Nature of Biblical Prophecy

Biblical prophecy in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is often characterized by vivid images of physical events, often containing violence and destruction.  It is the tendency of the contemporary Church to interpret these images in a literal manner.

In Luke's gospel, the writer interprets the arrival of John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that God would one day fill up valleys, make rough places smooth, and level mountains and hills.  The perception that John the Baptist fulfilled Isaiah's vision reveals a lot about how we should interpret biblical prophecy.  Most importantly, the physical events that Isaiah described were not fulfilled in a literal manner.  God did not literally fill up valleys and level mountains.  Instead, these physical events were metaphors for what God sought to accomplish through John the Baptist; to prepare people's hearts and minds for the arrival of Jesus.  The valleys and mountains were the impediments in people's souls and minds that needed to be removed through repentance so that God's Word might be revealed.

Let's consider this understanding of biblical prophecy when we interpret biblical texts that we believe speak of the future.  God's agenda remains the same.  God's intention is not to bring about violence and destruction, but to bring about salvation and redemption.  There is already enough violence and destruction in the world.  This is not God's plan or a reflection of God's intention for the world.  God's intention for the world was revealed in Jesus, who arrived to effect reconciliation between God and human beings.