In biblical terms, a "harbinger" refers to a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. The concept of a harbinger is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where signs and messengers often precede significant events or divine interventions. The term itself is not directly used in the Bible, but the idea is prevalent throughout the scriptures.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, harbingers often take the form of prophetic signs or individuals who announce forthcoming events. For example, the prophets served as harbingers of God's will, warning Israel of impending judgment or promising future restoration. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, among others, acted as harbingers by delivering God's messages to His people. Isaiah 40:3 speaks of a voice calling in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." This prophecy is a harbinger of the coming of the Lord and is later associated with John the Baptist in the New Testament.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, John the Baptist is a quintessential harbinger. He is described as the forerunner of Christ, preparing the way for the Messiah. In Matthew 3:1-3 , John the Baptist is depicted as preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." His role as a harbinger is to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament also speaks of signs that serve as harbingers of the end times. In Matthew 24:6-8 , Jesus describes wars, famines, and earthquakes as "the beginning of birth pains," signaling the approach of the end of the age. These events are harbingers of the second coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God's ultimate plan.

Symbolism and Interpretation

Harbingers in the Bible often carry a dual message of warning and hope. They serve as reminders of God's sovereignty and the certainty of His promises. The presence of a harbinger calls for a response, whether it be repentance, preparation, or faith. In this way, harbingers are not merely predictors of future events but are integral to the unfolding of God's redemptive history.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, harbingers underscore the importance of vigilance and readiness in the life of a believer. They remind Christians of the need to be attentive to God's signs and to live in a state of spiritual preparedness. The role of harbingers in the Bible also highlights God's mercy, as He often provides warnings before executing judgment, giving people the opportunity to repent and turn back to Him.

In summary, while the term "harbinger" may not appear explicitly in the biblical text, the concept is woven throughout the narrative, serving as a powerful reminder of God's active involvement in human history and His desire for His people to be prepared for what is to come.1. (n.) A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger; as warmer weather is a harbinger of the vacation season.

2. (n.) One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the English royal household who formerly preceded the court when traveling, to provide and prepare lodgings.

3. (v. t.) To usher in; to be a harbinger of.

The Harbinger
... Sermon II The Harbinger. The Harbinger Isaiah 40:3-5. The voice of him that
crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD ,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon ii the harbinger.htm

Jesus and his Forerunner.
... John had been waiting and watching for the Coming One, whose herald and
harbinger he was. One day he came and asked to be baptized. ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter iii jesus and his.htm

The Second Season
... The good duke answered, "Sir, be not troubled, and think not that I suffer from
want; for I send a harbinger before me, who makes ready my lodgings and takes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/ii the second season.htm

Preface
... Living Water. This is the only real harbinger of revival which I have
been able to detect anywhere on the religious horizon. It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/preface.htm

True Repentance a Thing Divine, Originated by God, and Subject to ...
... To Him John, as His harbinger, directed the repentance (which he preached), whose
province was the purging of men's minds, that whatever defilement inveterate ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter ii true repentance a thing.htm

Preface
... accompanies. Whether therefore it is the herald of one now present or the harbinger
of one who shall come immediately, the want is evident. ...
/.../lawlor/st bernard of clairvauxs life of st malachy of armagh/preface.htm

The Blossoming Desert.
... There were nineteen converts. This was the harbinger of brighter days. Even during
the troublous times of 1853 signs of awakening appeared. ...
/.../fagg/forty years in south china/vii the blossoming desert.htm

The Last Season
... death in your behalf, so that you have nothing to encounter but bodily pain, and
possibly not even that; if death will be to you the harbinger of heaven, why ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/xii the last season.htm

These Heretics Brand the Christians as Simple Persons the Charge ...
... The one even from the first has been the harbinger of divine peace; the other
from the beginning has been the despoiler of the divine image. ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter ii these heretics brand the.htm

Joel
... subsisted for the prophetic mind between the sorrows and disasters of the present
and the coming day of Jehovah: the one is the immediate harbinger of the other ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joel.htm

Harbinger (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger; as warmer weather is a harbinger
of the vacation season. ... 3. (vt) To usher in; to be a harbinger of. ...
/h/harbinger.htm - 7k

Usher (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To introduce or escort, as an usher, forerunner, or harbinger; to forerun; --
sometimes followed by in or forth; as, to usher in a stranger; to usher ...
/u/usher.htm - 7k

Forerunner (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A messenger sent before to give notice of the approach of others; a harbinger;
a sign foreshowing something; a prognostic; as, the forerunner of a fever ...
/f/forerunner.htm - 9k

Dove (27 Occurrences)
... 24). The dove was the harbinger of peace to Noah (Genesis 8:8, 10). It
is often mentioned as the emblem of purity (Psalm 68:13). ...
/d/dove.htm - 28k

Marshal (2 Occurrences)
... the like. 3. (n.) One who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide
entertainment; a harbinger; a pursuivant. 4. (n.) One ...
/m/marshal.htm - 9k

Announces (5 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good
tidings, that announceth peace, the harbinger of good tidings, that ...
/a/announces.htm - 7k

Almond (7 Occurrences)
... abundant blossom which appears before the leaves; In Palestine this is fully out
at the end of January or beginning of February; it is the harbinger of spring. ...
/a/almond.htm - 14k

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)
... of the divine judgment upon his sinful countrymen and upon the surrounding nations;
and he saw in the coming of the mysterious host the harbinger of the day of ...
/z/zephaniah.htm - 32k

Harassing (1 Occurrence)

/h/harassing.htm - 6k

Harbona (1 Occurrence)

/h/harbona.htm - 7k

Does The Harbinger really predict America's future? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about the End Times (All) | GotQuestions.org

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the midtribulational view of the rapture (midtribulationism)? | GotQuestions.org

Harbinger: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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