Have you ever had someone point out an Old Testament prophecy that hasn’t been fulfilled in history as evidence of error in the scriptures? How do you answer them?

The obvious answer is that the final fulfillment is still to come and that God’s timeline isn’t the same as ours. In fact, God is eternal and exists outside of what we understand as time. He is able to reveal future events to His prophets in very detailed visions because, in God’s realm, it’s as if things have already taken place. God is not limited by the “past” or the “future.” He sees all of it at once with perfect clarity and understanding.

How do we know that God sees both our past and our future with present clarity?

Romans 3:23-26 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, begin justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

If God were “linear” like we are, all those who sinned and died from Adam until Christ would be lost. There would be no covering redemption of the perfect sacrifice. What Jesus did on the cross did happen in real human time; Jesus entered the earthly dimension He had created to accomplish salvation. But the effects of that sacrifice were already accomplished in the sovereign, eternal mind of God, long before Mary gave birth to Jesus.

If we believe that the sins of people past, present, and future are covered by the cross, then we must accept that God is eternal and that all His plans and prophecies will be fulfilled in His good time. Only an eternal God who exists outside of what we know as time and space could accomplish salvation for all generations that have ever lived.

Isaiah contains over one hundred prophecies that were specifically fulfilled in Jesus as the promised Messiah. So, he has a wonderful track record to give us confidence that the many other prophecies in his book and in other prophetic scriptures will also come to be, just as God said.

The destruction of wicked nations that Isaiah warns about will ultimately be fulfilled at the end of the age. Isaiah 25-26 are hopeful chapters, speaking to those who have put their faith in God.

Isaiah 25:1 – O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Isaiah recognized that God had already proven faithful. He built his life on the sure knowledge that everything God promised would happen. It’s amazing how his prophecies line up with what Jesus did, as well as what John saw in Revelation concerning the end of the age.

Isaiah saw that “The Lord will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain” (25:6) … John saw the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).

Isaiah saw that “He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces” (25:8) … John saw the new heavens and earth, where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death” (Revelation 21:4).

Isaiah saw the Day of the Lord approaching; “Come, my people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course. For behold the Lord is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity” (26:20-21). … Paul saw that the day of the Lord will not overtake the sons of light (followers of Jesus), for God has not destined us for wrath, but those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

Do you believe God’s promise to forgive your sins when you repent and believe, trusting what Christ did for us through His death, burial and resurrection? Then you must believe the rest of God’s promises too. Judgment is coming for the nations who persist in wicked rebellion against God. Just because it hasn’t happened in our view of time, doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

Isaiah 14:24,27 – The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand. … For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

Isaiah 26:3-4 – The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.