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DUNKIRK-1940
not of a capricious play-it-by-ear
nature. Millennia ago, God-who
knows the end from the beginning
(Isa. 46:10)- set forth a definite
scheme of history, as revealed in
the ancient prophecies of the Bible.
At certain times, it has been neces–
sary for God to directly intervene
to influence events to conform with
the timetable of that overall master
plan.
In this regard, Víctor Hugo–
writing with unusual insight in bis
description of Napoleon's defeat at
Waterloo-declared,
"lt was time
for this vast man to fa!
l. . .. "
Fulfilled Prophecy
Few realize that the Bible is near–
ly one-third prophecy. Prophecy is
simply history told in advance.
James A. GarfieJd, 20th President
of the United States, put it suc–
cinctly: " History is but the
unrolled scroll of prophecy."
Centuries in advance of their
actual fulfillment, the inspired
prophecies of the Bible outlined a
definite, unmistakable progression
of world empires, beginning with
the Ba bylonian and continuing
through the s ubsequent Medo–
Pers ian , G reco-Macedon ian and
Roman empires and beyond.
Additional prophecies foretold tbe
fates of numerous other major cit–
ies and nations. In all cases, the
pages of history have confirmed
the unerring accuracy of these
prophecies.
The eighth chapter of Daniel–
written sorne 200 years before the
time of Alexander the Great-is a
remarkable illustrative example of
prophecy become bistory. In it,
Daniel describes a struggle-then
January 1982
NORMANDY-1944
two centuries distant- between
the Medo-Persian empi re and
Greece, predicting two great Gre–
cian victories (AJexande r 's
triumphs at lssus-333 B.C.–
and at Gaugamela-331 B.C.),
the final collapse of Persia, the
untimely death of Alexander , and
the division of bis kingdom among
bis four generals- all of which
later carne to pass exactly as fore–
told!
Moreover, Alexander himself–
at one of those rare, fateful
moments in history-may have
actually seen those very predictions
as he was in the process of fu lfilling
them! The first century A.D. Jew–
ish historian Josephus records in
bis
Antiquities of the Jews
(XI,
VIII, 5) that in 332 B.C. Alexan–
der the Great, on a campaign
through Palestine,
m~t
personally
witb J addua, the Jewish high
priest. "And when the book of
Daniel was shewed bim, wherein
Daniel declared that one of the
Greeks should destroy the empire
of the Persians, he [Alexander]
supposed that himself was the per–
son intended, and ... he was
glad."
Josephus also records that Cyrus
the Great- whose conquest of Bab–
ylon was foretold by the prophet
Jsaiah nearly 200 years before it
happened-may likewise bave read
the propbecy regarding bis role in
rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem
(Isa. 44:28).
Conference in Heaven
Interestingly, the Bible records an
example of an actual conference at
God's throne in heaven at which
was discussed the best manner of
infl uencing a crucial historical
~
event! Undoubtedly, simi lar confer-
~
ences have been held frequently
~
throughout history.
d
The question at hand
(1
Kings
~
22) was how to influence Ahab-
-~
the most wicked of all the kings of
i
ancient Israel- to go to battle "'
~
against the Syrians, a battle in
which he would surely be killed.
~
With a host of angels gathered {
arou nd him, God, according to
this account, asked for advice:
" 'Who shall persuade Ahab, that
he may go up and fall at Ramoth–
gilead?' And one sai_d on tbis
manner, and another said on that
manner. And there carne forth a
spi ri t and s tood before the Lord,
and said,
r
will persuade him. And
the Lord said unto him, Where–
with? And he said, I will go forth
and
1
will be a lying spi ri t in the
mouth of all bis prophets " (1
Kings 22:20-22). So God allowed
the evil angel to influence Ahab's
pagan prophets to falsely assure
Ahab that he would be victorious
in the war.
On the day of battle, however ,
tbe powerful Syrian army- as God
intended- easily defeated the !sra–
el ites. During the fighting, some–
one shot an arrow at random and it
struck King Ahab between the
joints of his armor (verse 34)–
similar to the account of Harold's
death at the fateful Battle of Hast–
ings sorne 2,000 years later.
The Bible a lso records other
supernatural circumstances used
frequently throughout history, such
as God's destroying the ships of
Tarshish with an east wind (Ps.
48:7) a nd His sending a great
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