Health and well-being are a high growth
industry. This is especially true of ageing baby boomers (born between
1945-1965) who are spending billions of dollars to turn back the hands of the
clock. Exercise, diet, peaceful living, sound sleep, fresh air - these things
and more are offered to help improve the quality and longevity of life.
Amazingly, the Bible says very little about
these things, even though it is dedicated to give you abundant life. Secrets of
longevity are found in Scripture - but again, they have little to do with the
world’s recipe. Things like walking in wisdom, watching your tongue, honouring
parents, trusting God, are offered as pathways to a longer, happier,
qualitative life.
What is greatly overlooked is that God’s Word,
learned and applied, has remarkable transforming qualities. These apply to
individuals, communities, and nations. Very special in the realm of Scripture
is the vital topic of Bible prophecy. Once a wildly popular topic a few decades
ago, preaching and teaching on prophecy have been greatly reduced in the
contemporary church. The reasons for these vary: too much date-setting,
overreach in predictions, imbalanced and exaggeration interpretations, which
sell books but leave people alarmed and disturbed. The recent ‘blood red moon’
event causes a lot of excitement but also angst among those who were following
it. Postmodernism, with is shunning of absolute truth and therapeutic attitude
- wants to help people ‘feel good’ rather than be good - also rules out Bible
prophecy.
A mature age student once asked me ‘Does it
really matter if I learn Bible prophecy? I just want to plant churches and win
souls. Does it matter if there is a pre-trib. or post-trib. rapture, or if
Christ will rule on earth for a 1,000 years?
Good question. Here is the short answer: ‘Yes,
Bible prophecy matters.’ From 25 to 33% of Scripture is devoted to
prophecy. To say that it ‘does not matter’ means you kiss good-bye to a big
chunk of God’s Word.
Yet there is more. Better than diet, exercise,
or even fresh air, Bible prophecy is good for you - very good. Here’s how:
1. Bright light (II Peter 1:19): In this
increasingly darkened world, Bible prophecy is likened to a light that shines
in a dark place. Indeed, it would be fair to say that Bible prophecy is the
brightest light we have on this planet until Jesus, the light of the world,
returns (John 8:12).
2. Affirms Christ (Luke 24:44): There are
dozens of Old Testament prophecies about the first coming of Christ which were
fulfilled to the letter. When we see Christ in the prophecy, we have greater
proof of His Personhood and mission;
3. Insight to the future (John 16:13): It
is God’s will that His people have a ‘heads up’ to what the future holds. The
Holy Spirit and prophecy go hand-in-hand and when we learn prophecy, as
quickened by the Spirit, we have insight into ‘things to come;’
4. Incentive for evangelism (Matthew 24:14): If we truly understand the nature of prophecy and the last days, it
an motivate to share the gospel with others. It no longer becomes an option,
but an imperative.
5. Prosperity (II Chronicles 20:20): King
Jehoshaphat told the besieged people of Judah: ‘Believe in the LORD your
God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall
prosper.’ This divine prosperity is given because people are living in
harmony with God’s end-time purposes and they are blessed in the process.
6. Affirms Scripture (Matthew 26:54; Mark 14:49; John 10:35; 19:36): This was Christ’s greatest commitment - no matter what price, pain,
or poverty He experienced, above all else the Scripture must be fulfilled. This
fulfilment is what prophecy does so well - when you see these things come to
pass, it again proves the veracity of God’s Word;
7. Incentive for holiness (II Peter 3:10-13): When we know that the footsteps of the Messiah are at the door, we
will no longer be living in careless and carnal lifestyle. We will live in a
holy manner, without which no man shall see the LORD (Hebrews 12:14).
8. Comfort and edification (I Thessalonians 5:11): Some people think that Bible prophecy is designed to scare the
daylights out of people. The devil, mark of the beast, the false prophet, the
whore of Babylon - these things are enough to ruin anyone’s day. Yet, as we see
from the above, prophecy is actually given to build up and comfort believers.
It encourages, not discourages; enlightens, not darkens; it blesses, not
curses.
9. Blessing (Revelation 1:3): In addition
to comfort and edification, prophecy bestows blessing. In Revelation 1:3, it
gives you a written guarantee of blessing when you ‘read and heed’ this
prophecy … indeed, all prophecy.
When you consider the great benefits of Bible
prophecy, the sooner you can imbibe it, the better off you will be. Bible
prophecy is truly good for you.
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