Lesson 8: Books of Prophecy – Description 1

We will divide the books of Prophecy into two sections – the major prophets (longer books) and the minor prophets (shorter books). This lesson gives us an understanding of the Major Prophets:

Isaiah – prophesies concerning the coming Babylonian captivity for Judah, and the coming Messiah. This book contains some of the most incredible detailed prophecies in the Old Testament, including giving the name of the man who would release the people of Israel from their captivity in Babylon nearly 200 years in the future. It is also a book with many prophecies about Jesus with details most people who do not believe in Him have great difficulty believing it was written over 500 years before He was born in Bethlehem.

Jeremiah – prophesies of judgment on Judah, restoration of the future Messianic kingdom, and God spares and blesses His people only if the people repent. Jeremiah is also called the weeping prophet because of the many tears he shed over the fact that few people paid attention to his warnings.

Lamentations – God’s response to sin, but there is hope to be found in God’s compassion. This book, also written by Jeremiah, is a treasure for those who face hardship and persecution in their life. Jeremiah remained behind when so many people of his country were carried off to Babylon. But he was taken by his own people against his wishes when, against his prophecy from God, the people who remained in Israel fled to Egypt looking for safety.


Ezekiel – the glory of the Lord, His holiness and sovereignty. Ezekiel was a prophet in captivity in Babylon. He gave the people there God’s words of comfort and of warning in the early part of their captivity. His messages about God in His glory were reminders to the people that they had not listened to God’s warning, and God was not a God who would allow His words to go unheeded.

Daniel – God is in control over the affairs of rulers and nations. Daniel is considered the greatest prophet of things yet to come – along with the Apostle John who wrote The Revelation. Daniel must be read alongside the history books of the time from the overthrow of Babylon by the Persian Empire until the coming of Jesus. Again, this book gives so many details which were fulfilled in the smallest details that many unbelieving scholars do not accept it as a book of prophecy by one written hundreds of years later as a book of history. And for those things yet future to our own time, reading Daniel alongside Revelation may reveal details which explain each other.

*Challenge: read Daniel – what is the one characteristic of this man you would most like to mirror?