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     Man has a deep longing to know what is ahead of him – his future.  Nothing intrigues mankind more than the mysterious, especially prophecy of the future.  Unfortunately a person can be right in only one prediction and then be declared prophetic.  Seems to me if a so-called prophet is accurate only some of the time, his successes are either happenstance or his prophecy could be predicted based on the logical outcome of existing circumstances.
     Biblical prophecy is a sharp contrast to so-called modern day prophets. Interestingly, under the covenant God made with ancient Israel, prophets were tested for accuracy.  “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.  That prophet has spoken presumptuously.  Do not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22).  A true prophet was either 100% accurate all of the time or else he was speaking of his own will and thus not worth consideration.
     Many folks not knowing the true nature of genuine prophecy appeal to 16th century Nostradamus as a great prophet, however his predictions are so general that through time any number of events or people would appear to be the fulfillment.  Real prophecy is specific and readily seen as prophecy when it is fulfilled.  For example, what if, in 1850, someone prophesied that “George Bush would free Iraq from Saddam Hussein’s tyranny?”  First, in 1850, Iraq was not a nation, because that piece of earth was part of the Ottoman empire.  Second, who had heard of George Bush or Saddam Hussein in 1850?  What are the chances of just these four items of the prophecy coming true?  Highly improbable!
     Yet in 700 BC Isaiah, the prophet to Judah, who had been foretelling Judah’s captivity in the near future, also prophesied that Cyrus would release them from slavery “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’” (Isaiah 44:28) (see also Isaiah 45:1, 3-4, 13).  Just twenty years before, the Assyrians failed to capture Judah and enslave them as they did the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  Was it possible that Judah would fall and be exiled to another country?  Was it possible that the temple would be destroyed, then rebuilt?  Who was Cyrus?  Certainly not a Hebrew?  Only descendants of Judah could be king of Israel’s Southern Kingdom.  Would Cyrus would be a foreign deliverer?
     Babylon conquered Assyria in 612 BC and, shortly thereafter, took Judah into captivity (606-586 BC), removing the people from the land, leaving the Jews with the impression that the end of their nation had come. Regarding Judah’s captivity, Jeremiah prophesied that the land would be desolate for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:9-12).  That Jeremiah’s prophecy was recognized as originating from God is seen in Daniel’s prayer at the time the 70 years of captivity had been fulfilled during the year Persia under Darius had conquered Babylon (Daniel 9:1-3, 17-19) (539 BC).  A year or so later Cyrus, the Persian king, released the Jews to return to Judah – fully 160 years after the prophecy was given by Isaiah (Ezra 1:1-4) and 70 years after Jeremiah’s prophecy.
     How did Isaiah know Cyrus by name?  How did he know Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed?  How did he know the Jews would be removed from the land?  How did Jeremiah know the captivity would be only 70 years?  It can only be explained that Isaiah and Jeremiah received the prophecies from God – by inspiration.

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