The difference between predictions and prophesy?

Jude verses 14-16

What is the difference between predictions and prophesy?  A prediction can be a statement about future events; for example, I believe the USA’s printing of money and the current disregard for cutting government growth will bring about inflation.  Now that is not prophecy, it came from my mind and not from the Spirit of God.  If it happens and I believe it will, it’s based on facts from history of other nations who did the same foolishness.  But prophecy is a divine prediction, the apostle Peter stated this very clearly in 2 Peter 1:19-21, “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus gave many divine predictions about his death, in Mark 8:31, “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”  Jesus foretells his departure in John 7:33&34, “Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.  You will seek me and you will not find me.  Where I am you cannot come.”  But hundreds of years before Jesus took on flesh and stepped out of being worshipped in heaven, we find the Holy Spirit talking to the prophet Isaiah, about the sign of Immanuel, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”  (Isaiah 7:14)  And what about the prophet Micah, a native of Moresheth, in Judah, who gave this insight to his call and authority; “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8)  This prophet had this to say hundreds of years before it came about; “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, who origin is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2)

 My desire was to give insight into the difference between divine prediction and the thoughts of men.  When it comes to Jude verses 14-16, we are talking of a very special man, Enoch the seventh from Adam, who prophesied, saying,  “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.” Jude is saying that it was these false teachers Enoch was talking about.  You may not be aware that Enoch walked with God and God took him, and he and Elijah were the only two men who never experienced physical death.  So you and I would be very wise to pay attention to the words of Enoch, and all others who God’s Spirit breathed on with knowledge that guides us to “Truth,” and Jesus Christ is “Truth.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice