Introduction
Does God have a plan which includes the earth and the human race? If so, can man know it? And even more importantly, does God desire for His people to know it? Have you ever wondered if bible prophecy is really necessary to study or understand as a believer? I mean after all, Jesus Himself declared that “no man can know the time or the hour of His return,” so what would even be the point of studying biblical prophecy? Furthermore, you might be thinking about all of your current life issues that have you preoccupied and sometimes even overwhelmed, so why should you be concerned about what is going to happen in the future. Or maybe you’re in that camp that says that trying to understand prophecy is too difficult and to controversial, so you just avoid it altogether.
So, what is the answer? The answer is an emphatic, yes! God does have a plan, and that plan is clearly outlined in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. And He has made it clear that He desires for His people to not only be informed about His plans for the future, but He has also promised a blessing for those of us who reads and learns about His prophetic word. In Revelation 1:3 we read, “blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
Nevertheless, with all of the political, social, cultural, economic and international turmoil that is dominating the news, more and more people, believers and non-believers alike, are seeking to try and make sense of it all. With the Middle East sitting on a powder keg, the rise of radical Islamist, the world seemingly coalescing against Israel, world economies in disarray, governments strapped with trillions of dollars in national debt, thousands of Christians in other parts of the world are being executed just for being Christians, First Amendment religious liberties being challenged, the acceleration of natural disasters around the world, all of the technological advances at a rate that is difficult for any of us to keep up with, and most notably, the increasing proliferation of a radical anti-Christian and anti-biblical cultural worldview agenda, that’s being encouraged from the highest elements of Governments, to the media, the courts, the public school systems, the entertainment industry, Academia, and most alarming, has even been infiltrated into many Christian churches.
In short, we are seeing the radical secularization of society where traditional biblical family values are being redefined, and governments are advocating same sex marriage as normative. Who would have ever imagined that the day would come where those of us who advocate traditional biblical family definitions and values of marriage being the union of one man and one woman would be recognized as the “Radical extremist” of society who are “Purveyors of hate”?
And so, with all of the turmoil and dysfunctions of society and the world, many are becoming disillusioned, discouraged, confused and even desensitized to the moral and spiritual ramifications of the crises in the culture. While others are even losing hope of ever achieving their goals and dreams. All of this is beginning to cause more and more people to begin to contemplate the question, “What does it all mean”? Does the Bible have anything to teach us about what’s happening?
Ironically, Christians have been sitting on the answers to this question their entire Christian life. Sadly however, for a variety of reasons, all too often, believers have downplayed or minimized the need to place an emphasis on the study of Bible prophecy. And what’s even more unfortunate is the fact that although prophecy constitutes almost one-third of the Bible, its importance is often minimized and downplayed by some Christian leaders who dismiss prophecy as having no practical significance for believers today.
The average believer today is interested in hearing messages that can help them with their current life’s situation. They want to feel motivated about improving their finances, or “Knowing their identities in Christ”, or improving their relationships, and so on. In essence, many believers want to leave church on Sundays feeling good about themselves and emotionally charged to be able to “Get victory” in their current life circumstances. And while I would argue that these are absolutely relevant issues, because for example, it makes it much more difficult to grow and mature your personal relationship with Christ and your discernment in the Word of God, when you’re burden with excessive debt, or you're living in a dysfunctional family environment.
The problem, however, is that regardless of whether or not believers are discerning as it pertains to the parallels between current world events to the end time scriptures, these events are still yet unfolding unencumbered in an increasingly intense and accelerated rate. In other words, while believers are being more preoccupied by their personal situation, prophetic events are unfolding all around us that will at some point, whether we are discerning or not, have an impact on us all in one way or another. I would even argue further that the issues facing many believers on a personal level can be directly or indirectly attributed to the onslaught of secularization which happens to be one major end time indicator. Consider for example the words of Paul to Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:1-7 (KJV)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Truthfully, when you begin to isolate and analyze this warning from Paul and then compare these issues to what is actually occurring today, it would be difficult for any believer to at minimum, have their curiosity aroused. Sadly however, the study of Bible prophecy in today’s churches is the most maligned and neglected area of Bible study. Most churches never mention any prophecy-related subject material, and therefore most congregations are completely unaware and uninformed of its significance. The absence of prophecy study in modern churches is a staggering defeat for every individual Christian, and an incalculable “biblical-world-view and spiritual loss” within the Christian community.
Why Study Bible Prophecy?
One question that believers have frequently asked is, “With all that is going on in my life, why should I spend time studying Bible prophecy”? In part two of this study, I will examine some concepts and principles for how to study and understand biblical prophecy. However, here in part one of this study, I would like to help you to discover several important reasons why believers should be interested in the prophetic Scriptures, and why Pastors should spend time incorporating the study of Bible prophecy in their Sunday sermons or midweek Bible studies. I would like to start by suggesting eight basic reasons why believers should place more of an emphasis on studying and learning what the Bible has to say about the subject of prophecy:
1. Nearly a Third of the Bible is Prophecy. Some 31% of the Bible is prophecy. The Apostle Paul warned Christians, “Do not despise prophecies.” He even confirmed that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” and so that must also include the prophetic writings. And, even Jesus throughout the Gospels and Revelation, recited prophecies from the Old Testament and taught new ones. To top it all off, Jesus promised a blessing for those who read and obey the prophecies in the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:3).
2. There is an enormous amount of information that God has revealed to us in His Word regarding “End time events”. One amazingly little known fact, is that prophecy constitutes nearly one-third of the entire Bible. Consider the following particulars:
63 times in the Bible, the Lord is quoted using the phrase, “It shall come to pass”.
116 times in the Bible, the Lord is quoted using the phrase, “In that day”.
2304 times in the Bible, the Lord begins an action phrase with the words, “I will” and then proceeds to announce something that He would either immediately or ultimately bring to pass.
There was a tremendous amount of “expectation” of a coming Messiah based on the Old Testament prophets that led many to wonder if John the Baptist may be the one (Luke 3:15).
The last message that Christ ministered prior to His crucifixion dealt exclusively with the topic of future events (Mathew 24 & 25), and the first lesson that He taught after His resurrection was to show His disciples “everything in the law of Moses, the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Him” (Luke 24:44-48). And the last message that they heard as Christ was descending up into Heaven was Angels saying to the disciples that, “this same Jesus that you see go up into Heaven, will some day come back in like manner” (Acts 1:11).
3. Prophecy, particularly fulfilled prophecy, conclusively validates and authenticates the Bible as the absolute, indisputable, inerrant and infallible Word of God (Galatians 4:4-5). One remarkable illustration of this fact is that on the day of Christ’s crucifixion alone, thirty-three Old Testament prophecies were literally fulfilled on just that one day alone. And that doesn’t even include the fact that Romewas the dominant power at the time, which was predicted by the Prophet Daniel over 500 years earlier. For example: Judas betrayal of Christ (Psalms 41:9 – fulfilled in Mark 14:10), or the price of His betrayal of thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12 – fulfilled in Mathew 26:15). Only an all Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent Creator could so meticulously prerecord an outline of world history, and have that history unfold with such amazing precision. Furthermore, If the Bible contained a single false prophecy about past history, the Bible and God could be counted as forgery, and its content relative to future events would be utterly meaningless.
4. God admonishes us to study prophecy as part of the whole counsel of the Word of God: As I alluded to earlier, approximately twenty-five percent of Scripture is prophetic or predictive in nature. In addition, there are nearly one-third of the prophecies recording in the Bible that are still yet waiting future fulfillment. Consider for example, how God in, Revelation 1:3, admonishes John by telling him: 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”. Notice that God says that there is a “Blessing” for those who reads prophecy and then live their lives accordingly. So if God devoted so much space in His word dedicated to prophecy, and then said that believers would be blessed for reading prophecy and then ordering their lives accordingly, then it only stands to reason that the study of Bible prophecy is a topic that believers should be motivated to pursue.
5. Biblical prophecy is a powerful incentive for Christians to live Godly lives. In the New Testament, almost every time Christ’s return is mentioned, there is an appeal to live Godly. (See for example: 1 Thessalonians 5:4-10; 2 Peter 3:9-14; 1 John 2:28-29). Having a proper perspective of coming prophetic events and the return of Christ, will motivate us to live Godly lives as we “Look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwell” (2 Peter 3:12). When you begin to understand the things that God has planned for both the saved and the unsaved alike, it will compel us to live our lives as though Christ could return any day. Finally, fulfilled prophecy is a constant reminder of God’s awesome power, the glory of Jesus Christ, and the absolute certainty that promises yet unfulfilled will come to be. Titus 2:11-13 says, “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (Titus 2:11-13, NLT). If we acknowledge the prophecies of the Second Coming as well as the command of Jesus to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live godly lives.
6. Studying biblical prophecy provides purpose for our lives. As we read God’s Word concerning the future, we see that we are promised ultimate victory over the world, the flesh, the devil and death. Having an eternal perspective allows us to persevere through the trials of this life and stand firm until the end (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
7. The study of prophecy provides an anchor for our faith. Your faith will be revitalized as we see the fulfillment of prophecy in the past, as well as, how prophecy is being fulfilled in the present, and encourage us to believe that God will also fulfill His promises that are yet future.
8. Studying biblical prophecy is a very powerful tool for evangelism. One of the easiest and most natural methods for spreading the gospel is the sharing of Bible prophecy. In fact, in the early days of the church, sharing fulfilled Bible prophecy was the primary method for spreading the gospel. On the day of Pentecost, Peter gave a rousing speech in Jerusalem in which he cited fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies as clear proof that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah (Acts 2:14-42). This speech led to three thousand people devoting their lives to Jesus Christ. Later in the same book, we learn the story of Philip and the eunuch, in which Philip uses a fulfilled prophecy from the book of Isaiah to explain the gospel to an Ethiopian traveler (Acts 8:26-39). These are just two of many instances in which the early church emphasized Bible prophecy as a tool for evangelism.
9. The promise of eternal rewards. As if the above reasons weren’t enough, the Bible promises special eternal rewards for the victorious overcomer. When we read the letters to the seven churches in Asia, we notice one thing all seven letters had in common. Each one contained special words of encouragement for the “overcomers” and the promise of special wonderful rewards. Sometimes simply reflecting on these eternal promises can not only be tremendously comforting but can also have the residual benefit of greatly strengthening our faith as we reflect on the reassurance of eternal blessings as we face some of the difficult challenges of life.
In essence, it can be argued that prophecy is the essence of the gospel message. Almost every one of the promises Christians hold near and dear, whether they are promises already fulfilled in the crucifixion and resurrection or prophecies awaiting future fulfillment, are predicated on prophecy: The promise of heaven, the hope of salvation, and the joy of eternity with Christ. Each of these is a promise from God guaranteeing our future. And considering the fact that Jesus placed such a tremendous amount of emphasis on End Time events in His final days prior to His crucifixion (See: Mathew 24-25), should be a hint to all believers that that God desires for believers to be “Discerning” of the signs of the times.
So, in summary, to reject Bible prophecy means skipping almost a third of the Bible. The focus of prophecy is Jesus Christ. Fulfilled prophecies prove the Bible is truly God’s Word. Prophecy motivates Christians to holy living, to evangelism, and to have hope about the future. In part 2 of this study, I will explore this idea further.
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