(WND)—People like trying to predict the future. Millions still consult their horoscope every day. As New Year’s approaches, publications will be filled with predictions for 2025.
What’s amazing about human prophecies is how often they end up being incorrect.
Many years ago, at the beginning of a new year, I asked an adult Sunday school class attended by about 60 people or so to write down a prediction of something that would take place that particular year. I too wrote something down. At the end of the year, I then asked everyone to review what they had written down to see if any of them had predicted anything that actually happened. And there was no one who prophesied something that took place. No, not one. Including me.
Have you ever noticed how often the “experts” get it wrong? For example, consider these “prophecies” made by various people:
- “There is not the slightest indication that [nuclear] energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will.” – Dr. Albert Einstein, 1932
- “‘Gone with the Wind’ is going to be the biggest flop in Hollywood history. I’m just glad Clark Gable will be the one falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.” – Gary Cooper, 1938
- “I do not consider Hitler to be as bad as he is depicted. He is showing an ability that is amazing, and he seems to be gaining his victories without much bloodshed.” – Mahatma Gandhi, May 1940
- “You ain’t goin’ nowhere … son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.” – Jim Denny, manager of the Grand Old Opry, firing Elvis Presley after one performance, Sept. 25, 1954
But in contrast to all this, the Old Testament – which the Jews call the Hebrew Bible – contains many prophecies which Jesus Christ fulfilled. That includes promises that touch on the original Christmas. When you look at the Old Testament, we see different statements about the coming one who will be the Savior.
A holiday favorite is Handel’s “Messiah.” This beautiful concert, first performed in 1742, resonates with many hearers, and it has throughout the ages. The fascinating thing about “Messiah” is that all the lyrics are Scripture. They all point to Jesus as the Christ, meaning “The Anointed One” – ultimately the Messiah.
Joel Woodruff of the C.S. Lewis Institute says this about Handel’s “Messiah”: “The libretto includes 81 Bible verses from 14 different books of the Bible, with the most coming from the book of Isaiah (21 verses).” 46 verses come from the Old Testament, while 35 come from the New. The Old Testament was completed c. 400 BC. 21 of the prophecies about Jesus in “Messiah” come from Isaiah, which was written about 700 to 750 years before Jesus.
Former skeptical journalist (Chicago Tribune) turned pastor and professor, Lee Strobel, once gave an analogy to the detailed predictions of Christ’s suffering and crucifixion in Isaiah 53, written 700 years before the event: “That’s like my trying to predict how the Cubs will do in the year 2693.” (Lee Strobel, “Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry & Mary,” 1993, p. 36).
One source shows 350 Old Testament predictions about Christ, fulfilled in the New Testament.
Consider just a few examples this Christmas season:
- Writing about 700 B.C., Micah the prophet stated: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
- Luke 2 explains how God arranged the circumstances in the lives of Mary and Jesus’ step-father, Joseph, to get them to Bethlehem for the fulfillment of this prophesy.
- Writing also about 750-700 B.C., Isaiah, prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
- Isaiah also wrote, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The vast majority of the prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament focus on His death for our sins. If you have heard “Messiah,” perhaps you remember the stirring choral number, based on this verse, also from Isaiah: “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. And the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.”
There are several reasons I believe the Bible is the Word of God, and fulfilled prophecies is one of those. Only God knows the future. Only God could have written the Bible.
Christmas is a grand miracle. And to think, it was all foretold hundreds of years before it came to pass. Merry Christmas!
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.