PROPHECY (spoOrela, a foretelling, or the power of foretelling) in its popular acceptation is a foretelling, or a thing foretold. In classical Greek, prophetes (rpos*rns) corresponds with the Latin rates, which indeed may be regarded as the same word without the pre position. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew nenualt, (to bubble forth) implies something of inspiration ; but in Numbers xii. 6, there is a difference made between /doses, with whom God spake "mouth to mouth," and other prophets, with whom he spoke " in a dream." In Exodus vii. I, Aaron is directed to be the " prophet " of Moses, or, as is explained in Exodus iv. 16, his interpreter, or to "be to him as a mouth." St. Paul uses prophetes (Tit. i. 12), which is rendered " prophet" in the authorised version, but " poet " by Tyndale ; and probably Epimenides is meant. S. Chrysostom (' Horn. in 1 Cor.') says that prophetes is the same as hermeneutes (Zpanvetrrs), an inter preter; and Festus says that the chief priests of the temples and interpreters of the oracles were by the ancients called prophets.
Under ORACLE it is observed that there were current in ancient Greece numerous se-called prophecies, but they were dark and ambiguous. This is not the case with the prophecies recorded in the Bible. Some of these were extant in books written long before the events took place to which they refer, such as the prophecy concerning Abraham's posterity, their extraordinary increase, their sufferings in Egypt four hundred years, their sojourning in the wilderness, and their possessing at length the land of Canaan. The numerous prophecies in the Old Testament pertaining to the Messiah, with their accomplish ment recorded in the New Testament, and the prophecies of Jesus and his Apostles, are so familiar to the minds of all, that they need net be specified. The prophecies of the Old and New Testament, which have been long fulfilled, afford altogether an amount of evidence which, if really understood, it seems impossible to resist, in proof of tho Bible being a revelation from God. •
The prophecies of the Old and New Testament are understood by all believers in scriptural prophecy to be predictions of future events pronounced by persons who, on the occasion of delivering such pre dictions, were directed and governed by the Deity. The first thing to establish in the examination of these prophecies is the genuineness of the books in which they are contained. The question is, whether the prophecies in the form in which we have them, were delivered before the events to which it is alleged that they refer. This is purely a matter of historical criticism, and in no respect differs in the manner of carrying en the investigation, from an inquiry of a like kind as to any other book. The next inquiry is to compare the alleged prophecy with the events of which it is alleged that it was a prediction. This, though apparently the easier part of the inquiry, is one wherein much difference of opinion may exist. Some of the prophecies are clear and precise in their terms ; and when the former part of the inquiry has had a satisfactory result, no unprejudiced person can doubt that the prophecies do refer to certain definite events. Some of the prophecies are in their terms vague and general ; and others refer to events which, it is admitted, have net yet been accomplished. So far as it is admitted that any prophecy has not been accomplished, se far it must be admitted that prophecy fails in being substantiated by the only evidence that can establish its truth. It is then on those events which all believers allege to be events accomplished, in conformity to genuine predictions, that the proof of prophecy depends. The method of investigation is that which has been already mentioned, and every man should come to it with an unprejudiced mind.