Back to the Future, or a Prophecy from Eternity?
I found myself on an airplane, scanning through the movie list post-takeoff. Surprisingly, "Back to the Future," the original installment of the classic trilogy by Robert Zemeckis, caught my eye. Its presence intrigued me as I had been contemplating a rewatch, though whether it was a wish or knowledge, I'm uncertain. Nonetheless, there it was—an '80s movie on a 2018 flight. Even though there were some classics and oldies, it seemed quite like a coincidence, or was it?
The urge to revisit this film stemmed from a conversation with a close friend who highlighted a prophetic scene from the trilogy's third part. I'll delve into that if I get the chance to cover it.
As I immersed myself in this '80s classic, memories flooded back from my early encounters, likely in a theatre or on VHS. For the uninitiated, let me briefly outline the plot without spoilers.
A seemingly mad scientist, Dr. Brown (affectionately called Doc and portrayed by Christopher Lloyd), invents a time machine, embarking on adventures through time with his young friend, Marty McFly.
Even though I knew this movie would be quite prophetic, I was quite surprised when Doc explains to Marty how he ended up inventing this time machine.
“…I was standing on the edge of the toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head at the edge of the sink, and when I came to, I had a revelation - a vision - a picture in my head. A picture of THIS... It's taken me almost 30 years and my entire family fortune to realize the vision of that day.”
Did you catch what "Doc" said? Thirty years prior, he experienced a vision of a circuit, later named the Flux Capacitor, the very component that enables time travel.
Shortly after, Marty journeys back to 1955, a period preceding Dr. Brown's invention of the time machine. He informs the skeptical scientist that he will invent it thirty years hence. Initially disbelieving, Dr. Brown's skepticism wanes as Marty divulges the specifics of how and when the idea originated, compelling him to believe Marty's assertions and shows him the sketch of the vision.
Can you see what he actually did? He saw a vision, which he claims to be a revelation, he wrote and drew the vision down and made it plain, then he spent all his youth and money to fulfill the vision he had received. Later in the film, he expresses his gratitude to Marty with these words.
“You've really made a difference in my life – you’ve given me something to shoot for. Just
knowing that I'm gonna be around to see 1985... that I’ll succeed in this!”
Does this message ring a bell for you? It instantly brought to mind the essence of prophecy: to strengthen, encourage, and comfort. Someone who previously doubted himself, questioning the vision he had received, now finds great encouragement through confirmation and knowledge from the future that he will indeed fulfil this vision.
These instances were but glimpses of the movie's prophetic undertones. Watching it again during the flight, I marveled at how this 1985 creation wove prophetic threads from start to finish, serving as a wellspring of contemplation and spiritual inspiration. It brimmed with hidden messages, prompting thoughts about divine communication. While I'm unsure of Robert Zemeckis's spiritual inclinations or beliefs, it's evident that our world is receiving an influx of revelations and messages, urging us to grasp and pursue our visions. It’s time for us to receive and “run” with the vision!