There are many questions asked in scripture, including different types (i.e. direct, rhetorical, etc.). For the purposes of this passage, I examined questions asked in the books of the Major and Minor prophets, as well as those that are found in the “books of Wisdom” (i.e. Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes). Overall, these questions appear to fall into the following categories: demonstrating God’s sovereignty; lamenting; warning of pending judgment; and demonstrating God’s deliverance of his people.
I then selected specific questions that are asked in a prophetic context and yield answers and content that is useful for our purposes in understanding prophetic events to come. These questions, along with their answers, generally support, and in some cases add new understanding to prophetic themes that I have been regularly addressing on this site. In this current passage scriptural question-answer content is organized into the following categories:
- Kingdom-related
- “Called for service”- Battling against the Chaldeans
- “Called for service”- Messenger duty
- God’s deliverance
Selected questions in each of these areas and their associated prophetic insights are discussed below. Many of these questions are asked directly by God to or through the particular prophet who is writing according to God’s Word.
(Note: many answers to these questions point to just a few servants in the last days, including ‘Jacob’ and ‘David’ who I have addressed on this site. I attempt to provide the named servant according to scripture, but the reader should consider in their own minds the possibility of some of these solely or jointly applying to Jesus Christ himself. Of course, we are told that all scripture ultimately speaks of him).
Kingdom-related
For our purposes, kingdom-related questions are those that are prophetically related to God’s Kingdom, especially the coming Millennial Kingdom people and its structure, including Jerusalem and God’s “holy hill.” I address these as follows.
Question: Lord- who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? (Ps. 15:1, King David)
Answer in context: King David was one who often pondered God’s Kingdom and eternal royal throne. We know King David’s deep faith, righteousness and resistance to corruption as a king. Here, he was not only alluding to himself but also in prophetic terms (possibly to Millennial Prince ‘David’). David answered his own question as follows:
He whose walk is blameless and does what is righteous, who speaks truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts… (Ps. 15:2-4)
Question: Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? (Ps. 24:3, King David)
Answer in context: This is a question similar to the one above. In prophetic terms, David foresaw vindication for a future generation of those who seek the Lord. His answer was similar to that given for the first question above, yet more concise; that is, one who is righteous. He answered specifically:
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. (Ps. 24:4)
Question: …and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord? (Jer. 30:21, God)
Answer in context: This question was posed in the last days context of an Israel that finds itself lost in corruption, abandoned by its allies, and in the absence of God. In the coming time of “Jacob’s Trouble” and an “incurable wound” as a result of the anti-Christ Chaldean adversary (“foreigners”), they will accuse, enslave, and plunder modern-day Israel. God addressed his own question through Jeremiah as follows:
Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will rise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me. (Jer. 30:21)
This “leader” is likely again referring to Millennial Prince ‘David’ who is mentioned earlier in this same chapter in the book of Jeremiah.
“Called for service”- Battling against the anti-Christ Chaldeans
Prophetic questions in this category, asked mostly by God himself, point directly to his end times servants who battle directly against the anti-Christ Chaldeans. Thus, you will recognize that the short answer, or main figure addressed, for each of these questions is very likely end times ‘Jacob’ or ‘David.’
Question: Can a man break iron- iron from the north- or bronze? (Jer. 15:12, God)
Answer in context: This is prophetically referring to a man who has been “born” (Jer. 15:10), and with whom the “whole land strives and contends.” He is a righteous servant, albeit one who must still call to God for repentance. He will be heavily persecuted at the hands of the anti-Christ Chaldeans. Jeremiah’s words describe how this man sits alone, enslaved, in “unending pain,” and filled with indignation. God responded:
Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and distress. (Jer. 15:11)
Many times in his Word, God promised victory and deliverance for last days ‘Jacob’ over his enemy.
Question: The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: ‘Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?‘ (Is. 33:14, God)
Answer in context: This is a vision of last days Judah (country of) Israel amidst destruction as a result of anti-Christ Chaldean “traitors” and “betrayers” within who plunder like “locusts” and destroy God’s land and people-at large. The quick answer to this question as to who can stand is simply:
This is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress… (Is. 33:16)
This again sounds like ‘Jacob’ who is directly referred to as a “fire” in his battle or else Millennial Prince ‘David.’ This servant is additionally described in this same line of scripture as:
He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil. (Is. 33:15)
Question(s): Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? (Is. 41:2, God); Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in the time to come?…Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? (Is. 42:23, God)
Answer in context: Our sovereign God himself brought ‘Jacob’ into service. We have seen in prior passages that end times ‘Jacob’ is a redeemer and an instrument to convey Jesus’ Truth and Light in the last days in the midst of a massive amount of sin, darkness and corruption. God promised ‘Jacob’:
…You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you… (Is. 41:9-10)
In the last days God gives ‘Jacob’ power to “turn kings to dust” and to “thresh the mountains and crush them.” This is referring to ‘Jacob’s battle against the anti-Christ Chaldeans.
“Called for service”- Messenger duty
Here, we will see that God’s servants like ‘Jacob’ and ‘David’ are also called to communicate like prophets or messengers to God’s people. They will speak truth and give serious warnings. The Prophet Isaiah, in his own commission and prophetic vision as given by God, offered to be a messenger for his corrupt, evil-minded people. High priests, chosen by God, such as the prophetic figure “Joshua” (described through Zechariah) in the old scripture are also natural candidates.
Question: Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? (Is. 6:8, God)
Answer in context: God’s people in Isaiah’s day had hearts that were sinful and were far from him. God was preparing their land for destruction and for them to be taken into captivity. After Isaiah’s own sins were atoned for by the angels as an answer to his prayer, when he was called he answered God, “Here am I, send me!” God instructed Isaiah to make the people’s hearts “calloused,” to make their “ears dull,” and to “close their eyes.”
This is very likely a picture for a repeating end times scenario given what we know about all end times prophetic scripture. There will be Isaiah-like end times watchmen and messenger(s) during these last days when people’s hearts are hardened (i.e. “heartless”) or are “without natural affection.” In this time, due to God’s discipline and worldwide destruction only a stump of holy seed will be left, just as it was in the land of Judah in Isaiah’s day.
Question(s): What man is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the Lord and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross? (Jer. 9:12, God)
Answer in context: God asks this question through the Prophet Jeremiah in the midst of a people who were deep in corruption and sin, particularly lying, deception and adultery. They deceived others and were deceived themselves. This is a clear picture of both the end times country of Israel and the larger worldwide “house of Israel” given their allegiance to world Babylon’s Chaldeans. God observed:
You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me. (Jer. 9:6)
Given the context, the only man who can be the one to answer these questions is someone who identifies, understands and battles with the anti-Christ Chaldeans, and who has discernment to understand their tactics and the “mystery of iniquity.” Again, end times ‘Jacob’ and ‘David’ both fit these qualifications.
Question: See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way for me…But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? (Mal. 3:1-2, God)
Answer in context: Here, God is explaining coming judgment in the last days and that his messenger will be like a “refiner’s fire” or as a “launderer’s soap” who will refine the Levites and then will pave the way for God’s judgment. In this case, God is speaking to Judah (country of Israel) and its corrupt priests who are desecrating the sanctuary. He forewarns of a messenger who will purify and refine them.
Several last days watchmen will warn of Jesus’ soon-coming judgment and return. According to scripture (Mk. 1:1-9), John the Baptist fulfilled a similar role when he came but there is also likely to be another “type” of John the Baptist in the end times. “Joshua,” the high priest discussed through the Prophet Zechariah is a good candidate as a result of his role in purifying the Levites. Of course, Jesus (Yeshua, Joshua) is the highest of all priests and King of Kings and will administer final, decisive judgment in the Day of the Lord.
God’s deliverance
God offers deliverance for his people in the midst of their last days troubles. He maintains his position of acceptance and forgiveness of his people in the midst of their transgressions, calling for them to turn back to him. He continuously reminds them of his sovereignty and his presence so that they will have faith. This is represented by the following question: Who are you that you fear mortal men…that you forget the Lord your maker? (Is. 51:12).
The following questions-and-answers are related to God’s (offers for) deliverance of his people.
Question: Where is your mother’s certificate for divorce, with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? (Is. 50:1, God)
Answer in context: God was asking this question to a sinful, rebellious Israel. He was making the point that because of their sinful behavior they were taken captive and as a result they have turned away from him. In making his point again, he further asked, “When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to ransom you?…” (Is. 50:2). His people lacked knowledge, understanding, and were devoid of faith. God did not turn away- his people did.
Question: Woe to shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves. Should not shepherds take care of the flock? (Ez. 34:2)
Answer in context: This is part of Ezekiel’s last days vision and has implications for (the country of) Israel’s leaders as well as those in other nations. God says that he will judge “between one sheep and another” and “between rams and goats,” with the latter implying that he will look at those of power and influence and detect who are oppressive leaders. At the hands of these leaders who rule “harshly and brutally” it is clear that God’s sheep will be plundered, enslaved and oppressed in the last days. As a result, God foretells us that his sheep will end up “wandering” and scattered.
Jesus came for Israel’s lost sheep. God’s solution to the question at hand is deliverance for Jesus Christ believers, and as we know God foretold, “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd” (Ez. 34:23). This is the Millennial Kingdom Prince ‘David’ who will serve the King, Jesus Christ.
Question: Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. (Hos. 14:9, God)
Answer in context: The worldwide house of Israel in the last days will realize that they cannot be saved by human hands and human-created gods. In particular, they cannot be saved by “Assyria” nor “Egypt,” which are merely arms of world Babylon’s Kingdom that appear to provide a solution to the problems that they have created themselves.
The house of Israel here is too weighed down and is trapped by its own sin. God says that he will answer both ‘Israel’ and ‘Ephraim’ in the time of their need and will restore them.
God answers the question above himself, implying that it is one who is righteous and turns away from the imprisoning adversary who can discern. He responded:
The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. (Hos. 14:9)
This contrasts God’s Kingdom’s remnant with the last days worldly kingdom population who bow down and are controlled by the oppressive, enslaving anti-Christ Chaldeans who hold them hostage in their transgressions.
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Many of God’s prophetic questions and their respective answers given through his prophets in scripture serve to highlight God’s absolute sovereignty. In an end times scenario where anti-Christ Chaldean attempts at establishing Babylon’s new world order will fail, God will still establish his servants, his message and ultimately his Kingdom. This will happen exactly according to his plan that was set from before man’s creation. I discuss the path back to the Lord’s Kingdom in the end times in my books, Biblical End Times, Volumes 1 and 2.
Grace & Peace,
Lion’s Lair (LL)
Lion's Lair 
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