12. Miracles and Prophecies.

The miracles which accompany Revelation are proof of Divine Almightiness, and, because of that, witness to the truth of Revelation. Prophecies, being proof of Divine Omniscience, also witness to the truth of Revelation.

A genuine miracle can be examined from the ontological, psychological and teleological points of view. As an ontological phenomenon, a miracle is a phenomenon of the supernatural power of Divine Omnipotence in the facts of usual life. Psychologically, a miracle produces a soul-stunning sensation. As a teleological phenomenon, a miracle always has a definite aim, sense, and a deep moral meaning: revealing to people the nature of divine love and truth. Therefore, a genuine miracle is always the best and most graphic proof of the divinity of Revelation.

The Savior taught as one who had the authority to reveal the Truth to people. In order to prove His divine might and goodness, and also the might of those who had faith in God and love toward people, He occasionally performed miracles and demonstrated other spiritual phenomena. Sometimes these miracles carried an undoubted and exceptionally supernatural character such as the resurrection of the dead, healing at a distance by word alone, and subduing the storm also by word; sometimes they were combined with causes, such as the healing of a man born blind with the help of a mixture from spittle; and at other times, for their accomplishment, the personal effort of the man was necessary — mainly, in the manifestation of the power of faith, such as the walking upon the water of the Apostle Peter.

Of a singular aspect are miracles which represent in themselves fully natural phenomena, but which are performed in a strictly definite moment, as a result of which the wonder proves to be in the extraordinary coincidence of two phenomena, such as the Hebrews’ crossing of the Red Sea and the failure of Pharaoh’s army to do so, or the earthquake and the obscuration of the sun at the death of the Savior.

Not less of a notable proof of the truth of divine Revelation is prophecy. The prophet Isaiah attaches a decisive meaning to prophecies in the work of disclosing the truth of divine Revelation. Present your case, says he to the idolaters, let your gods approach and tell us what is to happen; let them tell us something before it happens, and we will consider it with our minds, and will find its result, or let them tell us the things that are coming hereafter. Tell us, what will happen in the future, and we will know that you are gods (Isaiah 41:21-23). In the New Testament, the Savior Himself pointed to His prophecies of the future as a sign of His divine dignity: Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he (John 13:19).

The exceptional and enormous meaning that was attached to the Old Testament prophecies by the Savior is seen from the message of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27). The power of proof of Revelation by prophecies was compared by the Savior to the resurrection of the dead: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:31).