He put so much of it in the
Bible.
Although prophecy constitutes a large part of the Bible,
its importance is constantly downplayed by those who
dismiss it as having no practical significance, that it can't be understood, or
by those who object to it on the grounds that it is a "fad" that takes people's
eyes off Jesus.
Ignoring the study of biblical
prophecy means ignoring the study of a large part of the Bible.
You cannot study Scripture without studying prophecy.
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Every fourth verse in the Scripture deals with prophecy. |
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The coming of the Lord is a truth of such importance that it is mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the NT (on an average of once every 25 verses). |
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The only subject mentioned more frequently than the second coming is the subject of salvation. |
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Paul mentioned the communion ordinance only twice in his 13 epistles and baptism only 13 times, but he mentions the return of our Lord 50 times! |
Studying Prophecy in the Light of Experience
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17]
Experience and history can aid in our study of prophecy. What we
learn from the historical accounts recorded in the Bible as well as the laws
and commandments put forth throughout Scripture can help us better understand
the prophetic parts of the Bible.
Historical accounts of the Bible can
shed some light on prophecy in that we can see God working through particular
circumstances to bring about future eventualities. Unlike any other book in the
world, the Bible contains hundreds of fulfilled prophecies pertaining to
cities, nations, empires, and individuals that can be verified in the
historical record. The literal fulfillment of these prophecies demonstrates the
accuracy of biblical prophecy, and it only makes sense that yet unfulfilled
prophecy to be equally accurate.
The First Coming of
Jesus Christ was Prophesied
It was prophecy that began the process
leading up to the very first Christmas, since it was an angel that appeared to
Mary to tell her that she was going to have a son. After Jesus was born, it was
angels who appeared to the shepherds in the fields, announcing the good news of
the coming of the Messiah. And an angel also came to the wise men that had
travelled to see the baby Jesus, warning them to go home by another route.
Angels have always been known in the Holy Bible as God’s messengers who
reside with God in heaven when they are not doing his bidding on earth.
Jesus Christ Is
Coming Again
The last book of the Bible (Revelation) describes
His return in graphic detail and the next to the last verse says, "Yes, I am
coming soon."
The Law of Cause
and Effect
We can better understand the prophetic scriptures as we
study the historical and wisdom parts of the Bible as well as the parts defined
as "Law". There are 759 statutes, laws and judgements in Scripture that outline
the cause and effect of many areas of our lives. Each of these precepts
describe an event or cause with a predictable result or effect. These laws were
true when God decreed them and they are true today, as they will be true in the
future.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. [Hebrews 13:8]
However, it seems that the more things change, the more they remain the same. While history can provide valuable education for those who pay attention to it, not everyone pays attention. I'm often amazed when reading the book of Jeremiah to see civilizations thriving as they follow God's law and suffering as they reject that law. Their's is a history like a yo-yo. These people, like us, have been provided by God valuable commandments for us to follow with predictable results. When they followed the law, they were blessed. When they rejected the law, they suffered.
In a sense, when you understand this cause and effect relationship
of God's Word, much of what we might consider prophecy is not really unknown.
Though we might not understand the specifics, we can understand the more
general principle and live by it. The Bible stands as a witness to the events
unfolding before our eyes. In order to better understand prophecy, we need only
to rest at the Savior's feet and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our heart
through His written word.
Sovereignty of God
Despite our best efforts to understand prophecy through the lens of
experience and history, God stands above everything we know and understand, and
only He has the power to bring prophecy to pass. While He may open our eyes to
see things, as he did with John in Patmos, the outcome is still under His
control. While we may be blessed to discern future events and may not always
see things clearly, we can know He is in control and the results are His. The
entirety of Scripture (history, law, and prophecy) is there to give us comfort
in the knowledge that He is in control and there is a plan.
While
we cannot know the ultimate details of God's plan and the specifics of future
events, we are not left totally clueless either. God has provided to us a
roadmap with statutes and laws to follow. He has promosed certain results for
those who follow his plan and consequences for those that don't. He has
demonstrated to us through history that He is faithful and there is order in
His way.
Wake Up!
In the wake of increasing violence, violent weather, natural
disasters, and other calamities befalling mankind, some might ask, "What does
it all mean?" Many of the signs of His soon return we are witnessing today are
designed to wake us from our slumber.
He is
trying to get our attention.
God does not pour out His wrath without
first warning us.
God wants us to know He will return. God's seeming delay in bringing about the consummation of all things is a result not of indifference but of patience in waiting for all who will come to repentance. God is giving us every chance to repent of our sin and return to Him. He is being patient with us because He wants everyone to come to repentance.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [2Peter 3:9]
The delay of Christ's return is also related to the preaching of the
gospel of the kingdom to the whole world. God wants everyone to hear the gospel
and does not desire anyone to perish eternally (1Tim. 2:4).
This does
not mean that all will be saved, for if a person rejects God's grace and
salvation, then he or she remains lost.
Spirit of Lawlessness
Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, man has declared his
independence from God and demanded his own way. You can see a clear pattern
throughout the historical accounts in the Bible of man rejecting God's way and
attempting to create his own reality. This pattern of
lawlessness, injustice, and increase of
wickedness dominates our society today and throughout history was found in
civilizations in the process of decline. It is a pattern evident in nations
that rejected God's Word as ultimate authority in their lives, rejected the
only Lawgiver and Judge (James 4:12), and is a pattern prevailing in many
Americans today.
Some have rejected God's laws concerning celebrating
His feasts, for example, saying it is meaningless in light of the end of the
Old Testament sacrificial system and the destruction of the Second Temple in
A.D. 70. For these and many others, they choose to practice the
10 planks of communism
rather than the 10 Commandments. This too, is a sign of His soon return!
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of
most will grow cold.
- [Matthew 24:12]
Emergence of the AntiChrist
The high level of apathy among the population and ignorance of Bible prophecy is paving the way for the Antichrist. It would appear he will easily deceive people who only want to hear what tickles their ears and feeds their selfish desires. We are witnessing events today that would appear to be setting up the antichrist new world order with hardly a whimper from most people.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. [2 Timothy 4:3-4]
