How do Christians reconcile the failure of prophesies

[ThatRobGuy]

Typically, there's not much in the realm of reconciliation and it's more of the realm of moving the goalposts when one doesn't come to fruition.

e.g. - "Well, after further review, I think it'll be November of 2023 instead of November of 2020"

I've often wondered how people follow someone who's wrong 99% of the time, and gets 1% of things right by dumb luck and law of averages...but then I remember that the "Psychic Hotline" used to be a thing and there's two Tarot Card Reading shops in the city I live in, and people gleefully handed over money to them.

 

[Mike from NJ]

I've often wondered how people follow someone who's wrong 99% of the time, and gets 1% of things right by dumb luck and law of averages...but then I remember that the "Psychic Hotline" used to be a thing and there's two Tarot Card Reading shops in the city I live in, and people gleefully handed over money to them.

Apologies if you've already heard of him, but you reminded me of a psychic several decades ago named Criswell. He makes an appearance at the beginning of legendary Hollywood bomb Plean 9 From Outer Space. Anyway he had ALL sorts of ludicrous predictions about the future (in 1977 no rain will fall on the Earth for 10 months), but he did stumble on one correct albeit vague prediction: Something was going to happen to President Kennedy that would prevent him from running for reelection.

 

[Tuur]

Harold Camping?

Someone else, who's apparently dropped out of the new.

 

[Clare73]

According to the NY Times, the USA has seen a dramatic rise in evangelical preachers making prophesies, particularly concerning the political affairs of Trump and the republican party.

Prophesies are not new, of course, with doomsday prophesy groups, almost exclusively Christian, failing to see the world end on the predicted date.

In the last ten years, prophesies have emerged focussed on the the re-election of Donald Trump and the so called red wave which would see the Democrats swept from power. Now I am not from USA so couldn't care less about their politics. I'm more interested to know how those who believe prophesies, reconcile their faith in both their religion and their preacher, when the prophesy does not come to pass.

The prophecies haven't failed. . .their incorrect interpretations have failed.

 

[Mike from NJ]

The prophecies haven't failed. . .their incorrect interpretations have failed.

What good is a prophecy when its meaning isn't clear to the point where it can mean anything given enough spin?

 

[Clare73]

What good is a prophecy when its meaning isn't clear to the point where it can mean anything given enough spin?

Its fulfillment will make sense of it, proving it was from God.

 

[lismore]

Its fulfillment will make sense of it, and its fulfillment is proof it was from God.

How can the prophecy that Covid would disappear by Easter 2020 be fulfilled? It's still here 2.5 years on?

 

[Clare73]

How can the prophecy that Covid would disappear by Easter 2020 be fulfilled? It's still here 2.5 years on?

Is that in Scripture?

I'm talking about Biblical prophesies.

 

[lismore]

Is that in Scripture?

I'm talking about Biblical prophesies.

Hello Clare, I was talking about the OP:

In the last ten years, prophesies have emerged focussed on the the re-election of Donald Trump and the so called red wave which would see the Democrats swept from power. Now I am not from USA so couldn't care less about their politics. I'm more interested to know how those who believe prophesies, reconcile their faith in both their religion and their preacher, when the prophesy does not come to pass.

It's about all the prophecies that came out of the USA in the past few years and failed, not bible prophecies, those don't fail. God Bless

 

[Clare73]

Hello Clare, I was talking about the OP:


It's about all the prophecies that came out of the USA in the past few years and failed, not bible prophecies, those don't fail. God Bless

My mistake. . .I regard those as "claimed" prophecies.

 

[Margaret3110]

Actual Biblical prophets are less concerned with predicting events and more concerned with calling people to repentance.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Roger Stone is prophesied to save the United States.

 

[Tuur]

Roger Stone is prophesied to save the United States.

View attachment 324106

We will see.

 

[disciple Clint]

I wouldn’t degrade your god by comparing his messengers to a newspaper, but if you want to go right ahead.

Do not try to put words in my mouth by misinterpreting my post.

 

[disciple Clint]

Are you saying that the Evangelical prophecies they referred to were in fact true? eg that Donald Trump is now president and that the Republican party in the midterms have swept aside the Democratic party.....amongst many others including the many doomsday Christian groups

No, I am saying that I have very little trust in anything the NYT prints.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

According to the NY Times, the USA has seen a dramatic rise in evangelical preachers making prophesies, particularly concerning the political affairs of Trump and the republican party.

Prophesies are not new, of course, with doomsday prophesy groups, almost exclusively Christian, failing to see the world end on the predicted date.

In the last ten years, prophesies have emerged focussed on the the re-election of Donald Trump and the so called red wave which would see the Democrats swept from power. Now I am not from USA so couldn't care less about their politics. I'm more interested to know how those who believe prophesies, reconcile their faith in both their religion and their preacher, when the prophesy does not come to pass.

Christian Prophets Are on the Rise. What Happens When They’re Wrong? (Published 2021)

They are stars within one of the fastest-growing corners of American Christianity. Now, their movement is in crisis.

www.nytimes.com

I don't try to reconcile them. The scriptures say this would happen and what we should do when it does. So it is actually a confirmation. It is what we should expect.
NYTs and the OP know nothing about prophecies, what they mean, what they are for, or the fact that scriptures even say that "prophecies will fail..."
So this thread can simply be discounted due to the ignorance of those who are addressing it. Become educated on this topic, and then we can address it intelligently!

 

[Always in His Presence]

According to the NY Times, the USA has seen a dramatic rise in evangelical preachers making prophesies, particularly concerning the political affairs of Trump and the republican party.

Prophesies are not new, of course, with doomsday prophesy groups, almost exclusively Christian, failing to see the world end on the predicted date.

In the last ten years, prophesies have emerged focussed on the the re-election of Donald Trump and the so called red wave which would see the Democrats swept from power. Now I am not from USA so couldn't care less about their politics. I'm more interested to know how those who believe prophesies, reconcile their faith in both their religion and their preacher, when the prophesy does not come to pass.

There are two ways of handling it.

1. Make excuses
2. Admit you missed it and ask for forgiveness.

The difference between the two is the size of the ministers ego.

 

[Zoii]

The prophecies haven't failed. . .their incorrect interpretations have failed.

Its nothing to do with interpretation - what these so called Christian prophets state is categoric - and they did not come to pass.

 

[Clare73]

Its nothing to do with interpretation - what these so called Christian prophets state is categoric - and they did not come to pass.

Yes, I refer to those as "claimed" prophets and prophecies, as opposed to Biblical prophets and prophecies.

 

[lismore]

Its nothing to do with interpretation - what these so called Christian prophets state is categoric - and they did not come to pass.

True. False prophecies must fail so that they do not detract attention from true prophecies. Every word of God is flawless and will not return void, it will achieve the purpose it was sent for.

But I think one of the pressing issues in our day is that a speaker, having a proven track record of false prophecies, it doesn't seem to harm them any. 'Christians' still support false prophets financially and listen to more false prophecies, partaking in their wicked works. God Bless