Why Is It Important To Study Prophecy?
Presenting The Case
I recently participated in an online conference devoted to understanding the times we live in. Pickax CEO and Founder Jeff Dornik brought together a group of people with divergent interests with one thing in common - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a wide-ranging conversation encompassing many subjects, including Artificial Intelligence and the threats posed by government and corporate surveillance and tracking. Jeff asked me to discuss the importance of studying prophecy, what the Bible says about the end times, and why many churches avoid discussing eschatology. These questions could easily consume an entire presentation separately, but I only had 25 minutes to touch on the many answers to these simple realities.
I’m known for being exhaustively concise. I know that description might sound confusing. It is my way of saying that I walk through subjects slowly, taking the time necessary to lay out the context before drawing any applications. When discussing the subject of Bible prophecy, this is especially important. However, during this online conference, I was able to distill some important truths down to fit the time allowed. What follows is a summary of my answers to the questions mentioned above.
Why is it important to study Bible prophecy?
Payne’s Encyclopedia of Prophecy lists 1,817 prophecies across both Testaments. The breakdown is 1,239 in the Hebrew Scriptures and 578 in the Apostolic Scriptures. This means the New Testament contains approximately 27% of the Bible’s prophetic Scriptures. Thus, we should study prophecy because it represents a large portion of the Bible.
We should study prophecy because it clearly represents both the significance and the integrity of the Bible. One example of many is that when we see how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies concerning His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, we can have faith in the prophecies concerning His return.
Prophecy also provides a guideline for evaluating the teachings of others. If it is in conflict with what the Bible says, we can reject that teaching as false. This is especially important in a day when so-called prophets are everywhere.
We should also give heed to the prophecies of the Scriptures because they prepare us for the end times. We should not be surprised by what develops across the world. The intrigue and conspiracies of the globalists in our day were foretold long ago.
All of this together means that we are assured in the Lord that things are not falling apart; they are falling into place.
Finally, and in the case of the book of Revelation, we are told that hearing and heeding the words of the prophecies will bring us blessings from the Lord.
Studying Prophecy Explains The Mass Psychosis And Evil Among Some Christians
2 Peter 3:1-13 (written approximately 65 AD - ~35 years after the church was born on Pentecost) identifies one issue - flesh overriding the Holy Spirit.
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
This passage describes those people who deride, mock, and ridicule prophecy. This includes those who claim that all prophetic events of importance have already occurred. Some Christians believe we are living in the millennial reign of Jesus right now. Others believe we are in Satan’s little season. These views have no biblical support, no matter how loud their advocates protest. Many Christians will be ashamed one day when their skepticism is revealed to be a lack of trust in the certainty of the Scriptures.
We find two passages of significance that explain the mocking and unbelief today. The first one is found in Daniel.
Seal Up The information About The Latter Days - Daniel 12:1-4, 8-9
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.
We are told that the knowledge Daniel could not write about will one day be revealed. We are in the days of revealing right now. We are living in days when knowledge has increased exponentially. Information is the new currency of power. Knowledge translates into control. As I survey the Christian landscape, it seems that only those who believe in the Bible’s prophetic teachings are speaking up and warning the body of Christ that danger is upon us. Those who reject the prophetic Scriptures have left the wall and are no longer watchmen. Those who mock and denigrate those speaking up are in grave danger of judgment, loss of eternal rewards, and of kingdom assignments in the eternal state. They do not seem to be troubled by this prospect.
This day of revealing was prophesied by the Lord Jesus to John.
Reveal The information About The Latter Times – Revelation 1:1-4
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
The entire book of Revelation is a key to knowing and explaining current events. It is not a recapitulation of events that have already transpired. It is not a story of good overcoming evil. It is THE revelation of Jesus Christ to His servant John about what things will transpire in the latter days. Revelation 1:19 gives us the concise outline.
Therefore, write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
Notice that first, John was instructed to write the things he had seen. What was that? What he saw was the resurrected and exulted Christ, the Lamb of God. That comprises chapter one. Second, John was told to write the things that are. What were those things? Those were the churches of Revelation 2-3. Jesus describes those churches in a letter to each one. The letters had application to each church in that day. In those seven letters, Jesus gave a positive affirmation (except Laodicea), a corrective exhortation (except Philadelphia), an eternal motivation, and a partial revelation of Himself. This is information that Christians today need to know because each church letter serves as instruction for the church today and has application to today. Finally, John was instructed to write the things that will take place after these things. Those things comprise Revelation 4-22. In one verse, Jesus gives us an outline of the entire book. The words of Revelation 1:3 are an appropriate reminder of the importance of the prophetic Scriptures.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
The time is near indeed. It is here.
One final subject that shows the importance of the prophetic Scriptures is the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Did you know Jesus spoke a prophecy about them and it? John 16:1-4 reveals that there would come a day when persecution was seen by some as serving God.
The day has arrived in which Christians persecuting Jews and the nation of Israel believe they are serving God – John 16:1-4
1 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Brothers and sisters, please stop listening to anyone who says prophecy doesn’t matter. Stop following, liking, and sharing false teachings and teachers. The house they are building will one day suffer catastrophic destruction. Don’t become part of that judgment. The Bible is clear, and it is sufficient for every need we have. The Holy Spirit will give you wisdom in all these matters by simply asking for it (James 1:5).
Pastor Mike
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