From New Witnesses for God –

What is prophecy but history reversed? Nothing. Prophecy is a record of things before they take place. History is a record of them after they have occurred; and of the two prophecy is more to be trusted for its accuracy than history; for the reason that it has its source in the unerring inspiration of God; while history – except in the case of inspired historians – is colored by the favor or prejudice of the writer, depends for its exactness upon the point of view from which he looks upon events; and is likely to be marred in a thousand ways by the influence surrounding him – party considerations, national interest or prejudice; supposed influence upon present conditions and future prospects – all these things may interfere with history; but prophecy is free from such influences.

Historians are self constituted, or appointed by men; but prophets are chosen of God. Selected by divine wisdom, and illuminated by that spirit which shows things that are to come, prophets have revealed to them so much of the future as God would have men to know, and the inspired writers record it for the enlightenment or warning of mankind, without coloring or distortion so liable to mar the mark of the historian. Thus Moses recorded what the history of Israel would be on condition of their obedience of God; and what it would be if they were disobedient. Israel was disobedient and historians have exhausted their art in attempts to tell of their disobedience and suffering, but neither in vividness nor accuracy do the historians compare with the prophecy. So with the prophecy of Daniel in regard to the rise and succession of the great political powers that should dominate the earth, and the final triumph of the Kingdom of God. So with well nigh all of the prophecies.

– B.H. Roberts