Prophecy and history are the same thing looked at from different points of view. Prophecy is history not yet fulfilled; history is prophecy now fulfilled. The march of time means inevitably that less and less prophecy requires to be fulfilled. The purpose of God, conceived in eternity past, is daily enacted before our eyes. The things which the Scriptures long ago foretold are becoming realities which every man can see. 'History' is therefore the word which we give to that part of God's decree which has now become realized in this world. 'Prophecy' is that remainder of God's purpose which will be realized in its time.

The manner in which the Bible presents to us both history and prophecy is entirely different from the manner in which this unbelieving world presents it. The Bible makes it clear that the progress of events in this world is neither haphazard nor fortuitous but according to an eternal purpose. God, in other words, has a plan for this world which he is slowly but surely bringing to pass. A divine, yet unseen, hand is infallibly guiding all the affairs of men and nations. The sudden eruptions of war and calamity, the sudden collapse of governments and empires, are all events which God himself has purposed from eternity past and which he is making effectual in the course of time.

In the biblical view of life there is no place for fortuitous events, or events that have no cause. All events have a cause, and all events have a meaning. We may not yet understand why certain events take place and we may not yet be in a position to assign a reason for their occurrence. But we must never leave room in our thinking for meaningless events. Our proper attitude to all events is to recognize that they are of divine origin and contribute in one way or another towards the fulfilment of God's wise purpose.

Even the worst crimes committed by evil men are to be interpreted always as having their origin in God's plan and as contributing to its outworking. There is undoubted mystery in the way God's plan relates to criminal actions. But we must not interpret any events, even the worst events, as if they were somehow outside the sphere of God's control or purpose. To do so is latent atheism and will lead to a state of despair, and hopelessness.

Up to a point we can understand the relationship between God's plan and men's criminal actions. We correctly say that God 'permits' sinful actions. By that we mean that God allows evil men on occasion to commit atrociously evil actions but that he at the same time disapproves of the evil of these actions. In all such crimes we can see that God disapproves of the wicked motive but wills to permit the action for wise and good ends. There are numerous cases of this in history. The supreme example is the crucifixion of Christ. No crime could be greater; yet God had ordained the crucifixion in order to save the world. What men did, for evil, God meant for good. In all crimes, God disapproves the evil motives of men but permits their evil actions for a good reason.

A great many of the prophecies of God's Word are brought to their fulfilment by the evil actions of men. All unknown to sinful men, God has permitted their evil actions to be a part of his unseen plan to do good to the world. Thus, Pharoah's refusal to let Israel go out of Egypt was a major factor in God's plan to deliver his people from their long bondage and give them a land of their own, according to promise.

Part of our confusion arises, when we study this subject, from a failure to define what we mean by God's 'will'. We may ask the question: Was it God's will that Pharoah should harden his heart and refuse to let Israel go – at least, at first, until the ten plagues overwhelmed both him and all the Egyptians? The answer we give revolves round the precise sense in which we use the world 'will' here.

To clarify the sense in which we use the term 'will' of God, we must see that there are two senses in which God may be said to 'will' any event. There is a sense in which God wills only what is agreeable to his own holy nature. This is his will of approbation, or approval. God cannot will with approval any action which is in itself sinful.

On the other hand, we may use the same word 'will' of God in the sense of his secret purpose or decree. In this sense we may say that God 'wills' all events, even the very wickedest and worst. However when we say that God `wills' sinful events we mean that he permits, and indeed ordains, them in his purpose but does not by any means approve the sinfulness of them. For example, God 'willed' that Judas should betray Christ in that the event had been eternally decreed by God and was the subject of several Old Testament prophecies (see Psalms 41, 55, 109; Zechariah 11). But we in no sense here mean that God approved of Judas' treason.

The practical benefit of grasping this distinction in the use of the word 'will' in reference to God is that we must always take the Moral Law of the Bible as our rule of action. To obey the Moral Law is always pleasing to God. It is our clear rule of life. However, God's secret purpose mysteriously makes use of the sins of men, which, though in themselves hateful to God, are nevertheless wisely overruled by him for good. Secret things belong to God; but our duty is to do what he has revealed and commanded (Deut. 29:29).

One of the most impressive things about the Bible's presentation of history and prophecy is its deep seriousness. There is never a light­heartedness in the way the Bible looks back or else looks forward. History and prophecy are not light or trivial things but matters of great moment. When the Bible looks back in time it speaks with a voice of admonition: 'Remember the flood.' 'Remember Sodom and the fire that fell.' 'Remember what happened to Egypt at the Exodus.' 'Remember lessons from the days of the Judges – from the apostasy of Israel – from the pride of Babylon – from the haughtiness of Edom and the other pagan nations.' 'Remember the fall of the Jews at their rejection of the Messiah.'

This emphasis is found all through the Bible wherever it refers back to past events. The biblical view of history is not simply that history is academically interesting, or fascinating – but that it is fraught with lessons for us to learn from today. The reason for this is that behind history stands God himself. God's use of history is therefore magisterial. He uses it to teach us vitally important lessons for our lives today. God's presentation of history in the Bible should put us into a mood of serious recognition that it is a terrible thing to offend him by pride, by rebellion or by unbelief.

Similarly, the Bible's presentation of prophecy is always characterized by deep seriousness. Whatever divergent views we may have about prophecy, there is no dispute on one point: Bible prophecies are extremely serious things. Even a cursory reading of the Book of Revelation shows that it views future events in an awesomely grave light: trumpets blown by angels warn mankind; vials of wrath are poured out on this world; beastly figures of indescribable cruelty fight against God's people; a lake of fire at last receives the body and soul of every wicked man. In every sense, these prophecies are 'apocalyptic'. They are given to instil reverence for God, fear of offending him, and a profound sense of urgency in every one who reads this great final book of the Bible.

Not the least of the benefits which we have by reading and studying the Bible is that we gain a total view of all that is to happen in this world. The man who ignores his Bible sees at best only that part of the plan which lies in the past. He knows nothing of the great events still future, which form the theme of biblical prophecies. He cannot see the whole picture. But the believing and devout Bible student sees the entire picture – at least in outline.

The Bible-student sees all events in a framework which both satisfies his mind and quietens his fears. He sees that God is over all events, even the worst. He sees that whatever is happening now, whether it be wars or calamities, will issue some day in good to all those who love God. As the current of the river carries the boats downstream, so God's providence is carrying all events towards their goal, a goal which will spell everlasting blessing to those who are God's children. The blessings which are locked up for us in the prophecies will, by and by, be solid joys for us when the time to show them openly is come.

When the last trumpet sounds, all the prophecies will have become history and time will be no longer. Then God's purpose will have reached its zenith; God will be all in all to all his people, saved by Christ and sanctified by the Spirit.

Today we hear the noise of war and the alarm of battle. Our hearts bleed with sorrow for those who are afflicted. But we know from Scripture that all present events, like the wheels of a great clock, are moving towards the midnight cry: 'Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!'