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Understanding Prophecy: A Biblical-Theological Approach
An authoritative guide to clearly understanding the place and meaning of prophecy in the Bible.
For thoughtful readers who are curious about biblical prophecy, this book will help them learn the place of prophecy in the message of the Bible and clear up the confusion that often surrounds reading these texts.
Studying biblical prophecy is about much more than predicting end-times events. Rather, a proper approach to prophecy acknowledges that the threads of prophecy crisscross throughout Genesis to Revelation, forming the fabric of canonical Scripture. This is why having a good grasp of the prophetic genre is essential for understanding the message of the entire Bible. Authors Alan Bandy and Benjamin Merkle not only offer thoughtful and careful explanations of individual biblical prophecies, but also give the reader the big picture of how all prophecy relates to and should be interpreted in light of Jesus Christ.
This book examines the nature, themes, purposes, and theology of biblical prophecy and provides a framework for how to interpret any passage in the context of the Bible as a whole. - See more at: http://www.kregel.com/biblical-studie...
For thoughtful readers who are curious about biblical prophecy, this book will help them learn the place of prophecy in the message of the Bible and clear up the confusion that often surrounds reading these texts.
Studying biblical prophecy is about much more than predicting end-times events. Rather, a proper approach to prophecy acknowledges that the threads of prophecy crisscross throughout Genesis to Revelation, forming the fabric of canonical Scripture. This is why having a good grasp of the prophetic genre is essential for understanding the message of the entire Bible. Authors Alan Bandy and Benjamin Merkle not only offer thoughtful and careful explanations of individual biblical prophecies, but also give the reader the big picture of how all prophecy relates to and should be interpreted in light of Jesus Christ.
This book examines the nature, themes, purposes, and theology of biblical prophecy and provides a framework for how to interpret any passage in the context of the Bible as a whole. - See more at: http://www.kregel.com/biblical-studie...
- GenresBiblical Studies
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 24, 2015
“The story of God’s plan for the creation and how that plan is consummated is prophetic from start to finish.”
When most people talk about Biblical prophecy they usually think of what is called predictive prophecy. That is, prophetic statements/utterances from the prophets (the mouthpieces of God) about future events, usually in the distant future; far removed from the original hearers of the prophecy. The line in the sand is not always clear as to what texts of Scripture fit this category, regardless of your eschatological position. But is predictive prophecy all we can talk about when it comes to prophecy?
Far from comprising the majority of prophetic texts, predictive prophecy of the far future is just one category of prophetic texts. In their new book, Understanding Prophecy: A Biblical-Theological Approach (Kregel, 2015), authors Alan S. Bandy and Benjamin L. Merkle seek to expand our understanding of what comprises Biblical prophecy and how we understand it in light of all of Scripture.
Defined as “divine communication”, prophecy “is in many respects the flesh and bones of biblical revelation.” (17) Traditionally prophecy has been understood in terms of foretelling (telling the future) and forthtelling (the proclamation of the Word of God). It is the latter understanding under which all of the Bible falls and which the former is only a part of. “A healthy and robust conception of prophecy must carefully navigate the complexity of prophecy” in both of these areas. Even the OT prophets did more than just tell the future on God’s behalf.
Seeing prophecy as “divine communication”, which defines all of the Bible, this book seeks “to give the reader a framework of how to interpret any passage in the context of the Bible.” (9) While not your standard hermeneutics textbook, this book aims at presenting, as the subtitle states, a biblical-theological framework for understanding prophecy. They answer the question, “How are the various aspects of Biblical prophecy to be understood in light of the whole Bible’s narrative?”
While the authors have different eschatological views (Bandy is historic premillennial and Merkle is amillennial), they have much in common that enables them to write this book together. There is much about this book that does not chart new ground. It covers the standard definitions of prophecy, the threefold categories of unconditional, conditional, and fulfilled prophecy, messianic prophecies, and the fulfillment of the future prophecies of the NT. These areas are standard fair when discussing prophecy.
What makes this book stand out (perhaps more so from most books on prophecy) is its theological bent. Since neither of the authors are Dispensational premillennial (thus they do not believe in a future 7 year tribulation), their understanding of what constitutes as a biblical-theological approach is different than what a Dispensational premillennialist approach would be. This is not a book that Dispensational premillennialist would use to support their views; though reading it might change or, at least, sharpen their eschatological minds.
This is a book that has a distinct view of the eschatological nature of prophecy, Jesus as the center and fulfillment of prophecy, the nature and future of the land promises to Israel, typology, etc. All of these pre-understandings shape how the authors tackle the traditional topics on prophecy; namely, who constitutes Israel, does ethnic Israel have a future, and relationship between Jesus and the land promises given to ethnic Israel.
As an historic premillennialist myself, I found myself loving much of the book while thinking some of it went to far. Each reader will have a different experience. One of the areas of contention I had is the significance the authors place on the first coming, death, and resurrection of Jesus within redemptive history as it relates to prophecy. A few quotes will suffice to show this.
A gospel-centered hermeneutic filters all prophecy through the lens of the resurrected Christ. This biblical-theological perspective sees Christ as the center of redemptive history, the pinnacle of divine revelation, and the fulfillment of the broad sweep of biblical prophecy. (29)
Many who read the Old Testament tend to read certain prophecies (especially Old Testament promises concerning the restoration of ethnic Israel) as being fulfilled not in the first coming of Christ, but only in his second coming. It is our contention that this is a flawed way of reading such prophecies. (82)
But if we interpret the many Old Testament restoration prophecies regarding the nation of Israel literalistically, then we are forced to say that such prophecies do not find their fulfillment in God’s greatest work. Instead, the first coming of Christ becomes ignored and all attention shifts to Christ’s second coming and the millennial kingdom. (119)
Affirming that the restored people of Israel will rebuild the temple, reinstate the priesthood, and restore animal sacrifices, seems to minimize the complete and perfect work of Christ. His death and resurrection is the focal point of God’s great work in redemptive history. To go back to the shadows and image of the Old Testament is to neglect the centrality of Christ’s finished work on the cross. (123)
To be clear, I can sympathize with a number of statements in here and certainly, the necessity of upholding the centrality of the death and resurrection of Christ. However, there seems to be a conflation between the first and second coming of Christ in what they are intended to do, signify, and what is to happen afterwards. While some may ask Christ to do too much at His second coming, it seems the authors have done the opposite with His first.
Christ’s first coming does signify the beginning of the fulfillment of many OT prophecies concerning the end of the age as well as actually completely fulfilling others. However, it does not completely fulfill ALL OT prophecies concerning the end of the age. This is ok because it was not intended to and to say so does not equate to the minimization of its significance. Christ’s first coming is the beginning of the end and His second coming will bring it to its end. They both play a role in redemptive history. We cannot talk about the first coming, death, and resurrection of Christ such that His second coming is nothing more than a period at the end of a sentence. Christ’s second coming will complete what His first began.
While the above represents what is perhaps a major critique, it should not distract from the good use that this book has. Astute readers will be able to gain much from this book even while disagreeing with some of its theological foundations and conclusions. Some of the best books to read on various subjects have part with which readers may strongly disagree. This is one of those.
I received this book for free from Kregel for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
When most people talk about Biblical prophecy they usually think of what is called predictive prophecy. That is, prophetic statements/utterances from the prophets (the mouthpieces of God) about future events, usually in the distant future; far removed from the original hearers of the prophecy. The line in the sand is not always clear as to what texts of Scripture fit this category, regardless of your eschatological position. But is predictive prophecy all we can talk about when it comes to prophecy?
Far from comprising the majority of prophetic texts, predictive prophecy of the far future is just one category of prophetic texts. In their new book, Understanding Prophecy: A Biblical-Theological Approach (Kregel, 2015), authors Alan S. Bandy and Benjamin L. Merkle seek to expand our understanding of what comprises Biblical prophecy and how we understand it in light of all of Scripture.
Defined as “divine communication”, prophecy “is in many respects the flesh and bones of biblical revelation.” (17) Traditionally prophecy has been understood in terms of foretelling (telling the future) and forthtelling (the proclamation of the Word of God). It is the latter understanding under which all of the Bible falls and which the former is only a part of. “A healthy and robust conception of prophecy must carefully navigate the complexity of prophecy” in both of these areas. Even the OT prophets did more than just tell the future on God’s behalf.
Seeing prophecy as “divine communication”, which defines all of the Bible, this book seeks “to give the reader a framework of how to interpret any passage in the context of the Bible.” (9) While not your standard hermeneutics textbook, this book aims at presenting, as the subtitle states, a biblical-theological framework for understanding prophecy. They answer the question, “How are the various aspects of Biblical prophecy to be understood in light of the whole Bible’s narrative?”
While the authors have different eschatological views (Bandy is historic premillennial and Merkle is amillennial), they have much in common that enables them to write this book together. There is much about this book that does not chart new ground. It covers the standard definitions of prophecy, the threefold categories of unconditional, conditional, and fulfilled prophecy, messianic prophecies, and the fulfillment of the future prophecies of the NT. These areas are standard fair when discussing prophecy.
What makes this book stand out (perhaps more so from most books on prophecy) is its theological bent. Since neither of the authors are Dispensational premillennial (thus they do not believe in a future 7 year tribulation), their understanding of what constitutes as a biblical-theological approach is different than what a Dispensational premillennialist approach would be. This is not a book that Dispensational premillennialist would use to support their views; though reading it might change or, at least, sharpen their eschatological minds.
This is a book that has a distinct view of the eschatological nature of prophecy, Jesus as the center and fulfillment of prophecy, the nature and future of the land promises to Israel, typology, etc. All of these pre-understandings shape how the authors tackle the traditional topics on prophecy; namely, who constitutes Israel, does ethnic Israel have a future, and relationship between Jesus and the land promises given to ethnic Israel.
As an historic premillennialist myself, I found myself loving much of the book while thinking some of it went to far. Each reader will have a different experience. One of the areas of contention I had is the significance the authors place on the first coming, death, and resurrection of Jesus within redemptive history as it relates to prophecy. A few quotes will suffice to show this.
A gospel-centered hermeneutic filters all prophecy through the lens of the resurrected Christ. This biblical-theological perspective sees Christ as the center of redemptive history, the pinnacle of divine revelation, and the fulfillment of the broad sweep of biblical prophecy. (29)
Many who read the Old Testament tend to read certain prophecies (especially Old Testament promises concerning the restoration of ethnic Israel) as being fulfilled not in the first coming of Christ, but only in his second coming. It is our contention that this is a flawed way of reading such prophecies. (82)
But if we interpret the many Old Testament restoration prophecies regarding the nation of Israel literalistically, then we are forced to say that such prophecies do not find their fulfillment in God’s greatest work. Instead, the first coming of Christ becomes ignored and all attention shifts to Christ’s second coming and the millennial kingdom. (119)
Affirming that the restored people of Israel will rebuild the temple, reinstate the priesthood, and restore animal sacrifices, seems to minimize the complete and perfect work of Christ. His death and resurrection is the focal point of God’s great work in redemptive history. To go back to the shadows and image of the Old Testament is to neglect the centrality of Christ’s finished work on the cross. (123)
To be clear, I can sympathize with a number of statements in here and certainly, the necessity of upholding the centrality of the death and resurrection of Christ. However, there seems to be a conflation between the first and second coming of Christ in what they are intended to do, signify, and what is to happen afterwards. While some may ask Christ to do too much at His second coming, it seems the authors have done the opposite with His first.
Christ’s first coming does signify the beginning of the fulfillment of many OT prophecies concerning the end of the age as well as actually completely fulfilling others. However, it does not completely fulfill ALL OT prophecies concerning the end of the age. This is ok because it was not intended to and to say so does not equate to the minimization of its significance. Christ’s first coming is the beginning of the end and His second coming will bring it to its end. They both play a role in redemptive history. We cannot talk about the first coming, death, and resurrection of Christ such that His second coming is nothing more than a period at the end of a sentence. Christ’s second coming will complete what His first began.
While the above represents what is perhaps a major critique, it should not distract from the good use that this book has. Astute readers will be able to gain much from this book even while disagreeing with some of its theological foundations and conclusions. Some of the best books to read on various subjects have part with which readers may strongly disagree. This is one of those.
I received this book for free from Kregel for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
June 28, 2020
Wow! What an exhaustive book on understanding Biblical prophecy.
February 28, 2023
Just read this in one sitting and I can say with confidence that I definitely have a migraine because of it. Regardless, I did learn a lot, but it has put me in a weird place mentally.
October 20, 2025
Merkle and Bandy do an excellent job of stressing the importance of Biblical Theology for understanding prophecy. Also, Merkle on Amillennialism is great.
December 8, 2025
good job. structure made it a clear and easy read which at this point of the year matters for a lot.
September 16, 2015
Understanding Prophecy by Alan Bandy and Benjamin Merkle is one of the best books on prophecy that I have read in a long time. I have to be honest, when I see a book on prophecy I get a little nervous. I brace myself for a few hundred pages of a system forced upon scriptural texts with blatant disregard for context. This usually takes one of two forms. The most common is a long list of incomplete passages interpreted through a grid of current events. The second form is characterized by a zealous rant about how we must transform the world so that Christ can return. I was relieved to see that neither Bandy (a historic premillennialist) nor Merkle (an amillennialist) attempt to systematize scripture in order to fit into a theological scheme. Instead, they are both wholeheartedly committed to the discipline of Biblical Theology.
The definitions of Biblical Theology vary but in a nutshell it is a way of interpreting scripture which gives greater weight to context than to systems. This is the approach that Bandy and Merkle took and the result is a way to understand prophecy which is refreshingly biblical and avoids the uncomfortable moments when a systematician is left with having to jump through hermeneutical hoops in order to save face and get from point A to point Z. What Bandy and Merkel have done is to demonstrate that a straight line is not only the shortest distance between two points, but also the most faithful route to understanding how those points harmonize theologically (sorry about the mixed metaphor).
Coming from two differing millennial views, the authors do not always agree on every point. To help the reader make sense of there differences they included useful appendices in which they both have an opportunity to argue for their respective positions. The focus of the appendices are the meaning of "All Israel will be saved" in Romans 11 and the meaning of the Millennium.
The book is structured in such a way that the authors first define biblical prophecy and then define what biblical theology is and how it relates to prophecy. Next they take you through different types and categories of prophecy before concluding with a short discussion on why prophecy matters at all.
This book was a joy to read and is one which I will not only return to from time to time, but will also recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to read prophecy in a responsible manner.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Academic (an imprint of Kregel Publishing) in exchange for an online review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
The definitions of Biblical Theology vary but in a nutshell it is a way of interpreting scripture which gives greater weight to context than to systems. This is the approach that Bandy and Merkle took and the result is a way to understand prophecy which is refreshingly biblical and avoids the uncomfortable moments when a systematician is left with having to jump through hermeneutical hoops in order to save face and get from point A to point Z. What Bandy and Merkel have done is to demonstrate that a straight line is not only the shortest distance between two points, but also the most faithful route to understanding how those points harmonize theologically (sorry about the mixed metaphor).
Coming from two differing millennial views, the authors do not always agree on every point. To help the reader make sense of there differences they included useful appendices in which they both have an opportunity to argue for their respective positions. The focus of the appendices are the meaning of "All Israel will be saved" in Romans 11 and the meaning of the Millennium.
The book is structured in such a way that the authors first define biblical prophecy and then define what biblical theology is and how it relates to prophecy. Next they take you through different types and categories of prophecy before concluding with a short discussion on why prophecy matters at all.
This book was a joy to read and is one which I will not only return to from time to time, but will also recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to read prophecy in a responsible manner.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Academic (an imprint of Kregel Publishing) in exchange for an online review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
September 16, 2015
Read just about all of this for one of my classes I'm taking. Thoroughly enjoyed Bandy and Merkle's approach to prophecy and even scripture as a whole. They outlined differing viewpoints throughout the book which made for an interesting but good read. Before reading this, I hadn't studied much about prophecy within Scripture, so this was a great read for me to become at least somewhat acquainted with it.
September 17, 2015
Very solid book for the lay person to begin a biblical understanding of prophecy. Well written, and Dr. Bandy's chapter on revelation was very insightful. Overall good stuff.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews