I like to write books, and I want a significant element in the book to be a character who finds out they are the subject of a prophecy about the restoration of their nation, and that they will be the one to save the nation. Is this ok to write? I’ve heard mixed views on prophecy.
Whenever I write, I think about how pluggedin or movieguide will review it!
this could be fun. problem in my eyes is, those who already view the Bible as “just a book of stories” would then further put the Bible in line with your book- just a story. prophecy is definitely a Biblical concept that id be careful about using for book material, as i wouldnt want to dilute the truth of prophecy. but, those who love fiction way more than i do, may feel differently. sometimes i am seen as too rigid and cant just have fun lol. maybe theres truth to that about me. so take me with a huge grain of salt.
May I suggest that you research prophecy is?
Try reading Nehamiah and see how hard he had to work to motivate the Israelites.
If writing about prophecy, prophecy from what religion and why and how will that prophecy actually change a nation?
Hi! I was inspired by people like Kim Clement who aparently had prophecies about people and events (such as Trump, Erika Kirk, 9/11 and Iran) that came to pass. I believe he unexpectantly passed away in 2016.
There are two parts to prophecy:-
Fore telling, giving a message about the future.
Fore telling, proclaiming the word of God, preaching the gospel.
If you are thinking about how a nation is changed by prophecy then investigating how the ancient greeks use there mystic prophet or how fortune telling today influences people, but a better source would be to investigate hoe revival radicle changed societies.
Look at the 1904 welsh revival and how it spread around the world., look at the Ile of Lewis in the 1950s
May I suggest the book, Revival, by B.H. Edwards for simple reporting of the history of revival.
Nations are not changed, people are and that process is often not pretty.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with writing a fictoin on prophecy.
It’s fun to imagine how Christians 500 years from now will remember today’s apocalyptic hijinks. Here’s a short story on that theme! (h/t to Guy Fawkes Day)
Sinister Boo-Talk: A Fable
Every nation needs its festivals. Especially small nations, three miles in diameter, slowly revolving against the heavens.
On April 1, the Feast of All Fools, Northway Laager opened the doors between the ark segments for the Parade of the Useless Idiots. Johaan and Ayse waited with their ten children for the noise of the approaching festivities. In the distance, the ancient Janissary marching tune Ceddin Dedan stirred the blood. The parade drew closer. A brief pause while the musicians caught their breath, then the Unitarian hymn of military aggression echoed down the long halls. Another pause, then there they were, at the antispinward airlock. A marching band. A float, pulled by six young people wearing dunce caps. A team of acrobats. Another float. Harmonica ensemble. Float. Male chorus. Float.
One by one, a rogue’s gallery of scoundrels rolled past, receiving ritual jeers, and gifts for the community feast after the parade. No bread or wine – these demolishers of civilization had no part in the Table.
The first float bore an effigy of Haggard Haggee, in his tradition-cemented pose: bent over, pants around his knees, oversized buttocks gleaming a fluorescent red, rotating back and forth as he mooned the crowds on either side. An idiot grin on his face counterpointed his inarticulate grumbles, wails, and dirges. “Daddy, why is that strange man showing off his bare behind?” young Emir asked. “Hush. I’ll tell you after the parade,” Johaan answered.
The next float showcased Tugboat Hal. Florid complexion, bristling mustache, four wedding rings on his left hand, this effigy received old books from a rack on his left, stamped new titles on them, then deposited them into a vendor’s cart on his right, while a blizzard of holographed greenbacks swirled around him.
The Haymaker came through next. Timothy hay, of course. He sat awkwardly on a half-chair at a spinning wheel, converting straw into jingling gold coin, smiling, of course, even as his wheel emitted screams, moans, and desperate cries.
The final float bore the emblem of a turtle on a fencepost, and depicted a puppet seated on a black-clad puppeteer’s knee. The puppet wore a Confederate uniform with Union field cap. He jingled a bag of loot with one hand and a well-designed book with the other. Out of his mouth came an unending stream of inane blasphemy. “Rejoice, for the Lord hath decided to take a dive! To throw in the towel! The fight is fixed! The game is rigged! God has ordained the global triumph of evil! Let us hale Satan, the real god of this world!”
At this point, the crowd went wild, and howled the gravest insult this community possessed at the retreating parade: “Sinister boo-talk! Sinister boo-talk! Sinister boo-talk!” The parade passed through the spinward airlock, and the families went home to prepare for the evening feast. And to explain to their children who the effigies represented, and why their vile deeds were still held in loathing memory centuries later.
Should we not be more concerned with what the Scriptures actually say rather than chasing fictional prophecies?
J.
What’s wrong with writing a story?
The more familiar we are with the balanced fullness of Scripture truth, the more sensitive we will be to anything that’s out of step with it. To put that another way, we will keep away from characters like Kim Clement.
Each local church needs those who are gifted by God to build up others, who “prophesy…so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31).