Prophecy Center
What is the Message?

What do you know about self-fulfilling prophecy?

Wikipedia defines it as

a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.

Also,
In other words, a prophecy declared as truth when it is actually false may sufficiently influence people, either through fear or logical confusion, so that their reactions ultimately fulfill the once-false prophecy.

So, my question is this. What are the chances that the book of Revelations is going to come true, but only because all of the Christian believers believe it to be true and thus will react accordingly?

Public Comments

1. I wouldn't worry about monsters leaping out of the oceans, crowned or not.

2. it isn't just christians... it has been foretold for thousands of years. december 21st 2012, 11:11 am. and in my opinion it was a warning to mankind as a whole and it will become a self-fulfilled prophesy because we aren't doing anything to change it.

3. This could be as basic as, "I am going to fail this test." (followed by a lack of studying, and a gratification of self-fulfilled prophecy). When it gets to the level of religion or mythology the magnitude is much greater, often involving things beyond our control (ie. things of nature).

Since you mentioned a Biblical context, the Bible has a specific pattern of:
1. Prophecy or false prophecy (including a definite verdict of real or phony)
2. Generally negative responses to true prophets and enthusiastic responses to fakes (generally speaking of course).
3. Fulfillment of prophecy, or not as the case may be (the proof is in the pudding).

Perhaps the most obvious case is the multitude of prophecies preceding the birth of Jesus Christ: the virgin Mary, the star appearing, the function and existence of John who would prepare the way, the life, death and resurrection, etc. If you believe the Biblical accounts, than obviously these prophets spoke truth. If you don't, that's a whole other question.

The Bible warns against false prophets, "prophets that make my people err" (Micah 3:5). Christ says in Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing."

We are also told, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants, the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

The trick is discernment. Generally, we can judge based on Christ's heeding, "by their fruits ye shall know them." We are also taught to pray and seek understanding from God: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5).

All questions have answers.--true and false. The answer you get will depend upon the source you go to. If you believe in God, He would be the one to ask. I would recommend a combination of study and prayer to get an answer. God certainly knows whether or not He showed John the things written about in the book of Revelations.

For an easier answer, practically speaking, Revelations contains things that are a bit out of range for superstitious men to pull off on their own (plagues, huge natural disasters,two men being resurrected after lying dead for three days in the streets of Jerusalem, Satan being bound while Christ reigns, the dead standing before God to be judged, the Earth "passing away" and becoming a "new earth," etc.) Christian believers simply can't pull something this big off as a fallacy. It's either true or it isn't. Some day it will be obvious to all (following that Biblical pattern).

Until then, it's up to us as individuals to decide whether or not it is important to know the answer to your question--whether it's real or a hoax. What is more important to us as individuals: REAL TRUTH, or something we feel comfortable with, something that fits what we WANT to believe? Good luck answering that question for yourself.