Chapter 9


SCIENCE AND PROPHECY

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze


INTRODUCTION
         Often, science and spirituality do not agree. But, in fact, it is not that they do not agree: rather, it is the scientists who do usually dispute spiritual claims, because science has not developed to a stage where scientists would understand science as a part of spiritual science. Time is coming when the two shall be understood as one, and each as an extension of the other. Both are the two sides of the same coin.
         It is evident that scientists and spiritualists live in study and utilize nature, nature being first a spiritual creation of God and secondly a physical reality. It is only in the physical plane, that science seems to supersede spirituality. The higher plane, and indeed the entire universe of God are far more spiritual than physical. The physical science is like the tip of the ice-berg, while the immersed and greater ice-block represents the spiritual.
         There is nothing that can exist physically without first being a spiritual reality. The spiritual is the foundation of the physical. Herein is a clear demonstration of the superiority of the spiritual to the physical.
         The laws of science are simply man’s statements of the spiritual laws of the universe which constitute God’s will in creation. That the physical laws of science are spiritual is understood from active and sensitive spirit, though it is not tangible or visible.
         The above explanations are necessary because prophecy is mainly a spiritual reality and practice. A good understanding of ‘science and spirituality” will help very much in the understanding of “science and prophecy”.
         Below is a display of the difference between Science and Spirituality.
  1. Science accepts only by prove. Spirituality accepts by prove and Faith.
  2. Science can be demonstrated only by the seen. Spirituality can be demonstrated by both seen and unseen.
  3. Science is strictly limited by physical E.g. a basket cannot hold water; a man cannot fly to the sky. Spirituality is not limited by physical condition. E.g. a basket can hold water; a man can fly to the sky
  4. Science uses trial and error method, as well as knowledge and faith. Spirituality uses only knowledge and faith
  5. The ability of the scientist depends on his qualification. The ability of the spiritualist depends on the spirit of God.
  6. Science is dependent on the physical. Spirituality is dependent on both physical and spiritual.
  7. Scientific learning is possible, mainly through training. Spiritual learning is possible, even without education.
  8. Science is physical science. Spirituality is the universal science, which includes physical science.
  9. Science is the long and hard way. Spirituality is the short and easy way.
  10. Science cannot solve every problem. Spirituality can solve every problem.
  11. Science depends mainly on the years of study and experience. Spirituality is independent of years of study and experience; it depends entirely on the spirit of God.
  12. Science is limited by the physical conditions. Spirituality is unlimited by the physical conditions.
  13. Science is special prophecy (concerned with science only). Spirituality is generalized prophecy (not limited to any specific area).
         The differences clearly show the superiority of Spirituality and direct man to pay more attention to Spiritual Science.

SCIENCE IS BASED ON PROPHECY
         There are several prophetic mode adopted in science though they are not recognized as modes of prophecy. They include: guesswork, inference, calculations, forecasts, interpolation, trends, graphs, estimates and charts.
         Several examples show that prophecy is very common in science. For example, the scientist, through their calculations, foreknew about the planets, their movements and orbits long before the consonants visited the outer space. Galileo did not visit the sun before he knew that the sun was outside the earth. His assertion was rejected by the then Pope of the Christendom. One hundred years later another Pope acknowledged that Galileo was right.
         In Mathematics, estimates, trends and interpolations are used to predict future possibilities and realities. If for example, one tin can contains 2 blocks, scientists, through mathematical calculations are able to predict accurately that 100 tins shall contain 200 blocks. It is the accurate predictions of scientific calculations that make success of a production, determined by how well the manufactured piece corresponds to the deigned prototype.
         Astrologers are able to predict without failure, the phases of the moon, eclipses of the sun and moon. The coming of Helis’ Comet has been well predicted accurately, as confirmed by scientific observation and reality.
         Through Genetics, biologists are able to foretell correctly about the future offspring of the parents. They are able to foreknow the blood groups, skin colors, mannerisms, and possible health problems of the coming generation. Likewise, chemists were able to know the properties of some elements, by the periodic table and valence, long before those elements were discovered.
         Geographers, on their own side, use map - a prophetic chart. With the map, they are able to tell the positions, sizes and heights of the features of a place, without first visiting the place. This is why geography is of special importance in military and land-based operations.
         Economists, as social scientists, are able to foretell future market trends, possibilities and realities, as well as the demand and supply of goods, economic feasibilities of new ventures, etc. In fact, in every aspect of science, prophecy is adopted in one form or the other.
         And what is prophecy if it is not the telling of truth? Can it be otherwise? Since man is created in the image and likeness of Truth (God), who is prophetic in character.

SCIENTIFIC AND SPIRITUAL PROPHECY
         There is nothing like scientific prophecy as being different from spiritual prophecy. There is only one prophecy of which God is the Originator; and Truth, the basis. Scientific prophecy may be distinguished only because of the present stage of man’s development or evolution. Time shall come when the unity of the two shall be clearly understood and unquestionable. Nature is a comprehensive whole, being the vastness and essence of the universe.
         Fields of specializations are essentially relative, depending on interest, approach and parameters. If you start at one point, you eventually end up at another. It cannot be otherwise, as nature is a complete whole with separate parts.
         Similarities between scientific and spiritual prophecy indicate clearly, the unity or sameness of the two. The seeming differences are like the differences among ice block, water and vapor, which are essentially the same but at different states of matter.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SCIENTIFIC AND SPIRITUAL PROPHECY
  1. Each is based on Truth. Truth can be defined as God’s will in creation which express as natural laws and facts of life.
  2. Both are different phases of the same prophecy or different approaches and perspectives of the same reality.
  3. Proficiency in each is a measure of understanding, wisdom, and knowledgeablility.
  4. Both make the same predictions on a given issues; wherever it is possible to adopt the two.
  5. Both interpret nature using cause-effect relationship.