Thank you for the question on fulfilling prophecy, “Are their any prophecies that the Bible is fulfilling that we have actual proof of?”
The subject of prophecies is challenged or rejected by some scholars that prophecies were written after the event had already happened. For example modern scholars would date the Book of Daniel to 165 BCE, not in the 6th century BCE so that the vision already had happened. In other words, the writer of Daniel is writing as if events were to happen but it has already happened.
This leaves us with a question are there any prophecies that is happening that can’t be predated. I suggest the prophecies made by Jesus in Matthew 24 is is being fulfilled and will be fulfilled. The Bible citations are from the New International Version. For one’s consideration, here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
In the Greek text, the words, whole people, is literally, in all the inhabited earth, and the words, all nations, can be translated as to all people group. It was once thought that this prophecy can never be fulfilled or that Jesus didn’t mean literally to all the inhabitants of the world and people group. Today, that is literally being fulfilled with Wycliffe Translators translating the unwritten languages into written languages and Christians carrying that message of the Gospel to unreached people group. It is being fulfilled today and will be fulfilled as all major language groups have the Bible in their language and the translations is being worked on in minority language groups.
B. Matthew 24:30, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
When Jesus gave this prophecy, readers have wonder even challenge the idea that all the people or literally in the Greek, tribes, will see him. For centuries one questioned the notion that every people group can see Jesus descending to earth for there wasn’t television yet and certainly not the smartphones of today. It is more than possible that the whole world can see an event unfolding in real time or recorded for later reporting of an actual event. Will the event of Jesus returning be broadcasted throughout the whole world in all the continents and islands of the world? It is a news that can’t be ignored. This aspect of the world’s people hearing or seeing news as it unfolds is real today. It’s a matter of who will be on the news.
C. Matthew 24:15–21, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.”
Christians debate whether this prophecy has been fulfilled or will be fulfilled. When Daniel gave this prophecy, the Jews thought around 165 BCE that Antiochus Epiphanes or in 70CE with the Roman general Titus thought the prophecy was fulfilled. However the descriptions in Revelations 5–19 speaks of a future great distress that is to come not only on the Promised Land but of the whole world. Is the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple is a foreshadowing of a coming destruction upon Israel by the forces of the Antichrist? I believe so.
In order for the Abomination of Desolation to occur, there must be a Temple. For one’s consideration, one may want to read online about The Temple Institute. There are orthodox Jews who are seeking, even preparing to restore the Temple and the Temple furniture. This is only happening because the Jews are back in the Promised Land. Time will tell whether some compromise on the Temple Mount will be made for the rebuilding of the Temple.
D. Matthew 24:29, “’Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’”
Astronomers are postulating with theories how the universe or earth may change or end in billions of years. Will physicists and astronomer observe an abnormally in the universe that may cause our solar system and or sun change in some manner. Will there be some factor that will affect the physical universe and earth? Will there be stars or meteorites that will strike the earth so that the position of the earth is shifted so that the stars are no longer in its perceived position from earth? It is not inconceivable as some countries are prepare to divert a meteorite from hitting the earth.
SUMMARY: The Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24 is being fulfilled in our lifetime and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem will leave very few doubts about the End Times.
For more perspectives: