2898. The fact that the people of that Church possessed prophetical sayings which in the internal sense had reference to the Lord and His kingdom becomes clear not only from the places quoted above but also from the prophetical words spoken by Balaam, who came from Syria. His words that are recorded in Moses, in Numbers 23:7-10, 18-25; 24:3-10, 15-25, were dictated in a style similar to all the other prophetical sayings in the Word, and plainly foretell the Coming of the Lord in the following words,

I see Him, but not now; I behold Him but not near. A star will come out of Jacob, and a sceptre will rise up out of Israel, and crush the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of Sheth. Numbers 24:17.

These prophetical words are likewise called Utterances, for the same term is used to describe those prophetical words in Numbers 23:7, 18; 24:3, 15, 20.