Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Roy A. Welker (LDS) on the Nature of Prophecy

  

Prophecy is often conditional—prophecy does not cause events to take place, but the prophet is inspired to foresee the consequences of certain conditions. If people believe, and change, the future will shape up differently. (Roy A. Welker, Spiritual Values of the Old Testament: M Man-Gleaner Course of Study 1961-62 [Salt Lake City: L.D.S. Department of Education, 1961], 160)

 

Divine prophecy often has more meaning in it than meets the eye of the finite mind. This fact is evidenced by the various interpretations is so often arouses. Jesus upon occasion, had to explain some of His utterances which His disciples, for lack of understanding, and comprehension, could not interpret. Time, which man tries to utilize for his own advantage and apply to his immediate concern, is not always of such considerable moment to the prophet. His prophecy may require a brief or a remote period for its fulfillment—it may be partially fulfilled in one and completed in another era of time. When uttered under the inspiration of the Spirit of God it will find its true fulfillment no matter what the wisdom of man may indicate. (Roy A. Welker, Spiritual Values of the Old Testament: M Man-Gleaner Course of Study 1961-62 [Salt Lake City: L.D.S. Department of Education, 1961], 331)