What Is Biblical Prophecy?

Scripture contains a wealth of insight regarding prophecy—a divine message that transcends time. In Hebrew, the word prophet means one who is called or appointed by God as His spokesperson. Biblical prophecy serves several sacred purposes:

• To reveal God’s will and purposes to His people (see Amos 3:7).
• To warn of spiritual and temporal dangers (see Ezekiel 33:7–9).
• To teach God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:18–21).
• And above all, to testify of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

Prophecy can come in various forms—Spirit-inspired counsel, divine instruction, warnings about present circumstances, or revelations about future events. While some biblical prophecies foretell what is to come, many consist of Spirit-inspired guidance for people living at the time of their delivery. When a prophet speaks, his message may include foretelling, or he may simply give inspired words of instruction or warning. However, the primary role of a prophet is to be a special witness of Jesus Christ. In all cases, his words carry divine weight and authority, for “he that receiveth my servants receiveth me” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:36).

From a Christian perspective, one of the most significant roles of the Old Testament prophets was to declare the coming of the Messiah. Through revelation from God, these ancient servants bore witness of the Savior’s birth, life, ministry, atoning sacrifice, and Resurrection centuries before these events came to pass. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the teachings of the prophets all point to “Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Christianity has therefore read the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of the mission, ministry, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul often drew on these prophetic writings in his preaching, helping early believers see how the ancient covenant pointed forward to the Redeemer. President Russell M. Nelson taught that “Prophets testify of Jesus Christ—of His divinity and of His earthly mission and ministry” (“Sustaining the Prophets,” October 2014 general conference). This has been true from the days of Adam to our own.

A messianic prophecy is a revelation contained in the law, prophets, and scriptural writings of the Old Testament. These prophecies are believed by Christians to point toward the Messiah’s birth, life, ministry, atoning sacrifice, death, and Resurrection. Together these writings articulate God’s divine plan for the redemption and eternal destiny of His children. What follows are a few important examples, including the Old Testament passages in which they appear and the New Testament verses cited as their fulfillment:

• The Messiah would be born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14 → Matthew 1:22–23
• He would be born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 → Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7
• He would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey: Zechariah 9:9 → Matthew 21:4–5
• He would be betrayed by a friend: Psalm 41:9 → John 13:18, 26–27
• He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver: Zechariah 11:12 → Matthew 26:15; 27:9–10
• He would stand silent before His accusers: Isaiah 53:7 → Matthew 27:12–14
• He would be beaten, mocked, and spat upon: Isaiah 50:6 → Matthew 26:67; 27:30
• He would be crucified alongside the unrighteous: Isaiah 53:12 → Matthew 27:38
• When crucified, none of His bones would be broken: Psalm 34:20; Exodus 12:46 → John 19:33–36
• He would be buried among the rich: Isaiah 53:9 → Matthew 27:57–60
• He would rise from the dead: Psalm 16:10; Hosea 6:2 → Acts 2:25–32; Matthew 28
• He would ascend into heaven: Psalm 68:18 → Acts 1:9; Ephesians 4:8

These are only a few of the more than 300 messianic prophecies that point to the life, mission, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. What makes these prophecies so compelling is not merely their number or precision—it is the spiritual witness they invite. These scriptures were written by men moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and they are confirmed by that same Spirit to each sincere seeker who reads them prayerfully. As Paul taught, “The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). The fulfillment of these ancient prophecies in the life of Jesus Christ has moved countless people to faith—not by scholarly argument alone, but by the quiet, powerful testimony of the Holy Ghost.

Biblical prophecies offer a divine gift, empowering believers with knowledge about God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ and deepening their faith in Him. Biblical prophecy matters for God’s people in profound ways.

For those living at the time a prophet delivers God-given counsel, prophecy warns of dangers and calls them back to covenant faithfulness. For those of us living centuries—or even millennia—later, the words of ancient prophets about our day can warn us of present dangers and help us understand our place in God’s eternal plan.

But above all, the primary purpose of prophecy is not merely to reveal the future—it is to testify of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. As John recorded, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Every true prophet in every age bore witness of the Savior. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles affirmed that the apostles and prophets are “special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world [Doctrine and Covenants 107:23]” (“Hold Fast to the Words of the Prophets [Brigham Young University devotional, March 4, 2007], speeches.byu.edu). This testimony has the power to change hearts, deepen conversion, and invite the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband testified: “We live in that time prophesied; we are the people charged with ushering in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ” (“Fulfillment of Prophecy,” April 2020 general conference). Understanding biblical prophecy is therefore not an academic exercise—it is a spiritual one, designed to build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and motivate righteous living.

In His Sermon on the Mount, the Savior warned of “false prophets” who were ferocious wolves seeking to harm believers (Matthew 7:15). The Bible offers several tools for discerning false prophecy from true, Spirit-inspired revelation. Discerning the truth requires more than mere belief—it calls for careful spiritual discernment.

• Does the prophecy align with other things God has already revealed? (see Isaiah 8:20).
• Does the prophecy actually come to pass? (see Deuteronomy 18:21–22).
• Do the prophet’s words point people to God or away from Him? (see Jeremiah 23:13–17).
• Does the prophet live a life of holiness, producing “good fruits”? (see Matthew 7:16).
• Do the words of the prophet exalt Christ? (see 1 John 4:1–3).
• Does the Holy Spirit confirm the prophecy? (see 1 Corinthians 2:10–12).

Only a righteous person can receive the gift of prophecy by the Spirit—one of the spiritual gifts outlined by the Apostle Paul. Since true prophecy is consistent with past scripture, is always fulfilled, glorifies God and exalts Christ, and produces righteous fruit, it can be distinguished from false prophecy.

The ability to discern spiritual truth itself comes by the power of the Holy Ghost, as Paul taught: “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. … The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received … the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10–12). Prophecies from God always align with the Spirit’s witness.

False prophecies, by contrast, often flatter, contradict God’s revealed word, lead people into sin or idolatry, and fail to be fulfilled. God is the source of true prophecy, while false prophecy ultimately comes from the devil.

Many messianic prophecies speak about the Savior’s birth, life, and atoning sacrifice, as well as about the last days and His triumphal return. End-times prophecies carry a divine weight that shapes how believers understand their place in history. Here are a few of the best-known examples:

• “In the last days, … the mountain of the Lord’s house [often understood to be a symbol of His holy temple] shall be established in the top of the mountains, and … all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah 2:2).
• The gospel will be preached to all nations (see Matthew 24:14).
• There will be a great falling away from truth, and the anti-Christ will reveal himself, opposing all that is good or of God (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4).
• There will be wars, famines, and earthquakes—and people will grow cold toward each other (see Matthew 24:6–7, 12).
• There will be signs in the heavens, such as the sun being darkened, the moon not giving light, and the stars falling from heaven (see Matthew 24:29).
• People will “see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).
• “Every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him,” and evil people in all nations will mourn (Revelation 1:7).

Prophecy in the Bible is not a form of fortune-telling. Rather, it is the Spirit-directed communication of God‘s messages to His people. From Isaiah’s vision of the coming Messiah to John’s revelation of the end of the world, prophecy invites us to repent and fix our eyes on the Savior.

Around 400 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Malachi spoke of “the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). In the original Hebrew, both “great” and “dreadful” carry a sense of magnitude, weight, and cosmic consequence—this will be a day of overwhelming significance for all who live on earth. Those who have not heeded the Lord’s prophets and kept covenants with the Lord will face the full weight of justice. However, the Lord has also promised through His prophets that individuals who have obeyed His voice and heeded the prophets will be prepared for what is to come and will be promised ultimate joy and happiness.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, revelation continues through modern-day prophets and apostles, who hold the keys of God’s priesthood and are divinely appointed to declare that Jesus Christ lives and that His gospel has been restored to the earth.

President Dallin H. Oaks has reiterated the warning originally issued by President Russell M. Nelson: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” (“Coming Closer to Jesus Christ” [Brigham Young University devotional, Feb. 10, 2026], speeches.byu.edu). The prophetic voice has not gone silent—it continues to call and guide God’s children home.

God’s prophets who lived in the ancient Americas also spoke in former times. Their testimonies are recorded in the Book of Mormon. Like Isaiah and Malachi, they received visions and revelations about Jesus Christ, His life and ministry, and the events of the latter days.

The prophecies in the Bible and the Book of Mormon have been and will continue to be fulfilled according to the timing and will of God. President Russell M. Nelson has urged: “Now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ” (“The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” October 2024 general conference). In studying these prophecies, we find comfort, instruction, and spiritual power to live faithfully in these latter days—preparing ourselves and helping others to prepare for the glorious return of the Savior.

Glorious events lie in the future. As President Nelson testified, “The best is yet to come, my dear brothers and sisters, because the Savior is coming again!” (“The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again”). Biblical prophecy is not an ancient curiosity—it is a living witness, given by God through His servants, to invite all people to come unto Christ and be prepared for the day of His return.