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Lesson 3 Of Series – To Fulfill the Old Testament Prophecies

In all Bible prophecy, there is:

  •  An immediate literal fulfillment that proves the inspiration of the prophet;
  • Then there is the general reference, or universal principle that is involved because God does not change, because He is no respecter of person, and because His Word is eternal;
  • Then there is the eschatological reference which involves the ultimate fulfillment.

Many years before this, God had spoken through Jeremiah, (chapter 25), to serve up the wine cup of wrath first to Jerusalem, then to all the nations of the earth. Some of these nations are called by name, while others are grouped in large headings, or, as in verse 26: “All the kings of the north, far and near…and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth.”

Note that the immediate fulfillment of judgment upon Jerusalem, as foretold by Jeremiah, was the destruction of the city followed by a captivity of seventy years. This was literally fulfilled in about 588 BC.

The General Reference or Universal Principle

After the nations are called by name, (Jeremiah 25), it is said: “…the king of Sheshach shall drink the cup of wrath after them,” (v. 26). Sheshach is a code name, or cipher, for symbolic Babylon; that is, any city that fills the same role as Babylon did in that day. For example, in Jeremiah’s time, Babylon had “served themselves” of God’s people: They had slain them, made them captives and had otherwise persecuted them. Babylon had worshiped and served idols and indulged in astrology and had infected Israel and Judah with this sin. The term Sheshach represents the pattern, symbol, or name, of all who do these sins, (the general reference or universal principle involved). So in Jeremiah’s prophecy the pattern was set by which the whole world would be judged. That is, the universal principle was declared and demonstrated. Verse 29 states:

“For lo I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.”

The Ultimate Fulfillment

The destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s day was the beginning of the pattern of God’s wrath poured out upon a people who have had the full revelation knowledge of Him and have turned from Him. By the time of Christ, it was Jerusalem that had moved into this role of symbolic or Mystery Babylon. She had served herself of God’s people, the Christians, (true Israel), and had worshiped idols of Mammon and of military power. She had even rejected and crucified the Christ, the Son of God. So it became morally imperative that God’s vengeance for His saints and His wrath against sin be fulfilled. The Book of Revelation declares that the time has come and it “must shortly come to pass.”

Next: Lesson 4: Tests Of A Prophet