In modern times, there would probably be many people who say: "Come on, this is a self-fulfilling prophecy!"
Reflecting on what I've read in the Bible, I have distinguished 2 types of prophecies.
1) An "ultimatum" (2 possibe outcomes of 2 possible behaviours, people have a choice to make).
2) An announcement of an irrefutable measure by God.
Ad 1) "ultimatum"
"If the people continue to sin, then gloomy events will happen" (If action 1, then effect A)
"If the people convert, then there will be safety and prosperity" (If action 2, then effect
.This is in a nutshell the common principle of the messages of prophets when addressing the whole nation.
If I summarize all those specific examples of what they predict in specific situations, this is what it comes down to. And it is exactly the same principle as is expressed in the Name of God, as mentioned in Exodus 34!
Prophecies which are like that, read a bit like an ultimatum, it comes in closer or more directly because they are specific about repercussions in specific situations. But even more, the Name of God represent a kind of "natural law" or a logical principle. A Name in the ancient time was used much like we nowadays would use a nickname. It reflects properties, characteristics, image. Because it does so, it can as well be longer than 1 or 2 words if it needs more words to make it understandable.
Like the irrefutable prophecies, the "ultimatum" or "Name of God" prophecy always comes true. If action 1 is done, then A is the effect. If action 2 is done, then B is the effect. Two possibilities are predicted in one prophecy. But how often does one expect 1 event and calls it falsified when 1 event does not happen? A prophecy which reminds people of a principle that always works (the Name of God) is not always a prediction of something irrefutable. It is people who expect that by generalizing the irrefutable together with the Name of God- or ultimatum-prophecies and labeling it the same, and that is "prophecy", period.
There is more "shading" or "gradation" in this term. As I hope to have demonstrated. Not from any prophecy one can expect that it is about 1 event. The "ultimatum" type of prophecy is about 2 possible courses of events. But it is still falsifiable. It links action 1 to effect A, and action 2 to effect B. And not action 1 to effect B or action 2 to effect A, which is a lie. Shall we then mean by prophecy a falsifiable statement, based upon a logical principle, and therefore very very very very very scientific? For those prophecies are about complex situations, while our scientists cannot even predict the place where a single leaf falling from a tree will touch the ground. They are still specific as to who will invade who, what time this or that will take or how events will unroll.
"ultimatum" type of prophecies are as unavoidable as irrefutible prophecies, there is an agreeable and an inagreeable possible outcome. 2 possible outcomes within a given principle, the Name of God. In the Name of God itself there is talk of human beings as well, we occur within the Name of God, and are part of it. There is left room for us to make decisions, but we are also very honestly warned about the do's and don'ts.
Examples of steering prophecies towards 1 possible true outcome is Jonah/Niniveh, king Josiah who postponed a repercussion to following generations, and Moses begging for mercy with an angry God when Israel had trespassed.
Ad 2) Prophecies about irrefutable events
The coming and return of the Messiah, the Judgement. This is a decision which is far above the human field of play. This might be a type of prophecy responding to the expectancy pattern of many, that one can lay back while receiving that prophecy, and lay back while watching it happen. And then say "the prophecy has come true". But people will influence it anyhow, they will influence the outcome of their own judgement by the Messiah. But it is irrefutable that the Messiah will come, of course, that's the larger framework.
Announcement of effects to people held very responsible, like King David and the Bathseba affair, or king Jerobeam whose child would die as his wife would enter the city.
Both 1) and 2) are self-fulfilling. This is something I can accept from believing that God knows exactly what He is doing, and for whom the supernatural is as normal as earthly life is for us. Prophets who talk about 2 possible behaviours with each their effect, are trying to move the people towards action 1 which will result in effect A while still speaking prophecies that will come true. In fact, Jonah was corrected as the only prophet I know of who was tempted to lay back and watch his prophecy come true, too many lives were at stake. Or wasn't he the only one? Prophecies are about us as well. It is us as well who influence their outcome and know about action 1 resulting in A or action 2 resulting in B, based on the bible.
Greets, Divinespark