Should we study Bible Prophecy?

Commentary By:  Gordon King

Many people believe that bible prophecy is misleading, and distracting from the truth of the message of God.  Many Christians do not study it, nor do they wish to even think about it.  But, did you know that between one-quarter to one-third of scripture is related to bible prophecy?  God gave us prophecy for a reason, if not then it wouldn’t have been written in the bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.“

Did you know that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy?

Revelation 19:10

‘And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” ‘

All prophecy is from God, through His Holy Spirit.  We are to heed prophecy as a light that shines in a dark place.  Heed means to take notice of and to pay careful attention to.  So we are to pay careful attention to bible prophecy.

2 Peter 1:19-21

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

 

But beware, there are false prophets and teachers among us, leading many upon their destructive path.  They shall blaspheme the truth.  We see this now, with date setters, and with false teachers twisting the truth and condemning those who spread the truth.  This is not from God, but from Satan.  Many shall appear as godly, however, they deny the power of God and God Himself.

2 Peter 2:1-2

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”

2 Peter 2:12-16

“But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, ¹³ and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. ¹⁵ They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.”

 

Bible prophecy has been around for thousands of years, and is around now.  Half of all bible prophecy has been fulfilled, yet half has yet to be fulfilled.  If the study of bible prophecy was not important, then Lot and his family would have been destroyed in Sodom.  Then Noah and his family would not have built the Ark and been saved, the human race would have ended (Jesus also tells us that in the end times the days will be “like in the days of Noah”).  The Ninevites would not have repented and God would have destroyed them all.  The Jews would not have been looking for Jesus to come as their Messiah.  Yet, all of these things were prophesied and have come to pass, as were many more prophecies. 

 

One of the most fulfilling of all prophecy concerning modern times is the reuniting of Israel as a nation in 1948.  This is a very clear sign that we close to the return of Christ.  Jesus made it very clear to us that we are to “watch” for the signs of the times and the closeness of His return.  He spoke of deception and being deceived, about wars and rumors of wars, about famines, pestilences, and earthquakes.

Matthew 24:4-8

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Matthew 24:42-44

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

 

The Lord specifically tells us to “watch”!  How can we watch if we do not know what to watch for?  This is one reason that He has given us prophecy, so that we will not be ignorant, so that we will know the times and the closeness of His return.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.“

1 Thessalonians 5:20

“Do not despise prophecies.“

 

Some of us are called by God to be watchmen on the wall, myself included.  We are to watch and warn others of the closeness of Christ’s return.  So that they too may be found ready and waiting.

Ezekiel 3:17

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me^“

Proverbs 8:34

“Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.”

Luke 12:37

“Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.“

The next verse tells us that believers who are unprepared and not looking for the return of Christ will be cut in two and his portion will be appointed to him with the unbelievers.  Just what does Jesus mean when He said that?  I don’t know for sure, but I do know that He wants us to be ready at all times.  I really don’t want to be one to find out what He means by that statement!

Luke 12:46

“The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”

So we can see that bible prophecy is important in order for us to know the closeness of Christs return.  We are commanded by Christ Himself to be watching.

 

Bible prophecy also gives us hope for the future.  It tells us what we can expect as followers of Jesus.  We know that Jesus will be coming back for us.  We shall rule and reign with Christ on earth for 1000 years.  We will have eternal life with God forever.  We will have no more tears, pain, or suffering.  He has prepared a place for us in His Father’s house.  There will be a river of the water of life and a tree of life bearing twelve different kinds of fruit, and the leaves of the tree shall be for the healing of nations.  There will be no more night, for the light of God will shine forever!

John 14:1-3

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Revelation 20:4

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Revelation 21:4

 ^“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:7

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.“

Revelation 22:1-5

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴ They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵ There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

Bible prophecy is important to study in order for us to know and discern the times, to be ready, to give us hope for the future.  It gives us encouragement and helps to build our faith.  The fulfillment of bible prophecy gives credence to the bible and to Christianity.  Bible prophecy also gives unbelievers and skeptics proof that what is written in scripture is true.  That fulfilled prophecy is proof of the bible and what it says, and that future unfulfilled prophecy will come to pass!

For those believers who think that bible prophecy is not important, or that it is a distraction from the rest of the bible, think again!  The birth of Jesus was foretold in bible prophecy, as was His death and resurrection.  If we didn’t know that Christ was coming back to get us, what hope would that give us living here in this world?  If we did not know about our future with God forever, what reassurance is that as a believer?!

God bless my friends!  Until next time…Maranatha!