By John Henry, Th.D.
1. Prophecy Validates The Authority Of The Entire Word Of God:
The prophetic Scriptures prove the authority of the entire Word of God, showing it to be trustworthy, and of Divine origin. Take, for example, the prophecies concerning Christ's first coming. The Bible predicted the exact time of His birth (Daniel 9:24-25), the exact place of His birth (Micah 5:2), the fact of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), the details of His death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53), and the fact of His resurrection (Psalm 16:9-11). One mathematician his calculated the possibility of all the prophecies concerning Christ's first coming to pass by chance: the figure is 1 chance in 87 with 93 zeros behind it. God's Word is sure and true, and prophecy proves it.
2. Prophecy Reveals God's Power, Wisdom & Purpose:
We ought to study prophecy is because it reveals God's power, wisdom, and purpose. The Lord's power is especially seen in the prediction of Jesus Christ's resurrection. The Apostle Peter tells us that David, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, wrote of Christ's resurrection more than a thousand years before it actually, happened (see Acts 2:25-31; Psalm 16:9-11). God's power to predict, and then perform the resurrection of Christ from the dead verifies His claim to be able to raise all who put their trust in Christ from the dead. Jesus said:
"And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40; cf. Luke 20:35-38; John 11:25-26; Job 19:25-27; Daniel 12:13; II Corinthians 4:14; Hebrews 2:14-15)
"God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power." (I Corinthians 6:14; cf. Romans 10:9)
This is God's main plan and purpose: to raise those who trust in Him from the dead to live with Him for ever. And the wisdom of God is clearly seen in the fulfillment of prophetic plan.
3. Prophetic Studies Produces Holiness:
Another good reason to study the prophetic Scriptures is because it produces holiness.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto he coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousess. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (II Peter 3:10-14; cf. Philippians 3:7-12; Colossians 3:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 14:10-12; I John 1:9)
4. Prophetic Studies Comfort The Saved:
Prophetic studies comfort us and enable us to comfort others. God's Word tells us to "comfort one another" with words about the Rapture of believers to "be with the Lord" in heaven (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) One day Jesus will come in the clouds to catch up all believers, "and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:17) This is the "blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13) Jesus Himself comforts us with prophetic words of His second coming:
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)
The final end of prophecy, being with God for ever, is truly a comforting hope (I Corinthians 1:3-5, 15:51-58; Revelation 1:3, 21:3-7; II Timothy 4:8)
5. Prophetic Studies Help Us Get A Burden For The Lost:
Still another reason that we should study Bible prophecy is to get a burden for the lost. God tells us that there is a burning hell that all who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will go to. It is not the will of God for anyone to go to hell (I Timothy 2:3-4; II Peter 3:9) God's justice, however, will not allow sinful people into heaven (Revelation 21:27). Only those who have been redeemed form their sin "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (which enables them to have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life will be allowed entrance into the Holy city (I Peter 1:19; cf. Revelation 21:27). Because Christians know there is a burning hell, and that there is only one way to keep fro going there it gives us a sense of urgency to tell others how to be saved also (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men..." (II Corinthians 5:11; cf. Ezekiel 33:8-9: II Corinthians 5:10).
Believes are called to be "fishers of men," and "ambassadors for Christ" to a lost and dying world (Matthew 4:19; II Corinthians 5:20) There is only one main reason that God leaves saved people on this corrupt planet: to tell others how to be saved.
6. Prophetic Studies Help Us Discern The Signs Of The Times:
The study Bible prophecy helps us "discern the signs of the times." (Matthew 16:3) This is truly an exciting time in history to be alive. More Bible prophecy has been fulfilled in the past 100 years than in the 1,900 years prior to that combined. Among the prophecies being fulfilled now are:
* The reestablishment of the nation of Israel in the land that God promised them (Ezekiel 36:22-24, 38:8).
* The reestablishment of Jewish Temple worship (Daniel 9:27; II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
* The emerging One World Government headed up by the U.N. (Revelation 13:4-8).
* The Arab versus Israel conflict with the U.N. consistently siding with Islam against Israel (Psalm 83:1-8; Zachariah 12:1-3, 14:1-3)
* The peace movement (I Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 13:7).
* The emerging United States of Europe super power (Daniel 2:40-43, 7:19-20; Revelation 17:9-13).
* The line up of nations that are allied with Russia (Ezekiel 38:1-6).
* The increase in means of travel, and all kinds of technological and scientific know how (Daniel 12:4).
* The advent of computers and the emerging One World Economic System (Revelation 13:13-18).
* The increase In crime and wickedness (Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:5-8; II Timothy 3:1-4; II Peter 3:3-6; Romans 1:21-24).
* The increase in the false religions like the New Age movement, UFO cults, and Ecumenical Movement that is drawing all Christ perverting and rejecting religions together (I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5).
* The increase of false christs, wars, terrorism, anarchy, earthquakes, famines, pestilence, fearful sights, great signs from heaven (Luke 21:8-11; Matthew 24:4-8).
The Lord Jesus said this of that last item: "All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:8)
That word "sorrows" means birth pains, and as the birth pains of a woman become more frequent and intense as the time of delivery grows near, so also do all these signs become more frequent and intense as the return of Christ draws near.
The Lord further stated that "... when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28) All the above things are signs of our time, and they all point to the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36; I Thessalonians 5:1-6; I Peter 4:7)
We need to study our Bible prophecy and "watch" the signs of our exciting times, because Jesus is coming soon. We do not know the exact time, but we do know according to Bible prophecy that the Lord will be back very soon.
7. Prophetic Studies Are Commanded By God:
A main reason to study prophecy is because God has commanded it in his Word.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
The Bible is about 1/3 prophecy. There is no way in the world one can "rightly divide the Word" if he leaves out 1/3 of it. We need to study "all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27)
CONCLUSION
In the study of prophecy in is important to always keep in mind that we are to "... worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10).
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:19-21)
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." (1 Thessalonians 5:6-11)
Should we study prophecy? Absolutely?
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
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