Back toward the Future: Hints for Interpreting Biblical Prophecy
Overview
Prophecy is one of the most rewarding topics for Bible study—once one manages to overcome the challenging subject matter and unfamiliar literary forms. In Back Toward the Future, Walter Kaiser provides interpretive methods that remove these obstacles. Kaiser shows readers how to discern conditional and unconditional prophecies, comprehend apocalyptic symbols, and understand future events in expressions of the past. He avoids speculative methods that find double meanings in prophetic statements, urging readers to embrace the prophet’s single-truth intention.
Top Highlights
“A second characteristic is the fact that false prophets are crowd pleasers” (Page 30)
“The so-called nonfulfilment of prophecies is to be explained on the basis of the threefold classification of biblical prophecy; that is, prophecy may be unconditionally fulfilled, conditionally fulfilled, or sequentially fulfilled. All three types are commonly used and are accompanied by indicators that aid the reader and interpreter in distinguishing between the three types of prophecies.” (Page 35)
“When can the reader and interpreter assume that they are dealing with a conditional prophecy? Some have suggested two helpful guidelines. A prophecy is conditional (1) if it refers to an event which is fairly proximate in time and space, and (2) if it is capable of being answered by some act of obedience or repentance on the part of the prophet’s contemporaries.” (Page 65)
“every prediction about the future is simultaneously a call for action” (Page 26)
“5. The gift of the Holy Spirit promised through the prophet Isaiah” (Page 100)
- Title: Back toward the Future: Hints for Interpreting Biblical Prophecy
- Author: Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2003
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible › Prophecies; Bible; Prophecies
- ISBNs: 9781592444489, 1592444482
- Resource ID: LLS:BACKFUTURE
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:01:19Z
Walter C. Kaiser (1933–) is an evangelical Old Testament scholar, writer, speaker, and educator. He earned degrees from Wheaton College and Brandeis University.
Kaiser taught Bible and archaeology at Wheaton College and taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in several capacities. He currently serves as the Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2006 retired as their President.
Kaiser has contributed to numerous publications like Journal for the Study of Old Testament and Westminster Theological Journal. He has also written over 30 books including Toward an Exegetical Theology and A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age through the Jewish Wars.