You are here

I Have a Question: Many times in prophecy, the present and past tenses are used, even though the prophecy refers to a future event. Can you explain the use of verb tenses in prophecy?

TitleI Have a Question: Many times in prophecy, the present and past tenses are used, even though the prophecy refers to a future event. Can you explain the use of verb tenses in prophecy?
Publication TypeMagazine Article
Year of Publication1988
AuthorsRicks, Stephen D.
MagazineEnsign
Volume18
Issue Number8
Pagination27-28
Date PublishedAugust 1988
KeywordsAbinadi (Prophet); King Noah; Prophecy; Prophetic Present
Abstract

Explains that future events are so vivid in a prophet’s mind that they are described as if they had already occurred; Abinadi’s defense to King Noah in Mosiah 16 is a particularly good example.

URLhttps://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/08/i-have-a-question/can-you-explain-the-use-of-verb-tenses-in-prophecy?lang=eng