THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY

WHY PROPHECY IS IMPORTANT

(SEE GOD’S PLAN UNFOLD)

Approximately 30% of the Bible is considered prophecy and this includes both fulfilled and unfulfilled prophecies.

• There are approximately 1,817 prophecies in the Bible.
• These prophecies are found in about 8,352 verses out of a total of 31,124 verses in the Bible.

This means that prophecy is a substantial part of the biblical text, emphasizing its importance in understanding the overall message of Scripture. At least one-half of all biblical predictions have already been fulfilled precisely as God had declared. Prophecy in the Bible can be divided into two broad groups: fulfilled and not yet fulfilled.

Isaiah 44:7: And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

Isaiah 46:10: Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Proverbs 19:21: There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

Psalm 33:11: The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Habakkuk 2:3:  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

YES, that there are some profound disagreements regarding interpretation of prophecy, BUT this is not a reason to ignore what God obviously deems important (some prophets gave their lives to proclaim these prophecies!). Even if we are not sure we are getting the exact numbers, nations or years correct, the importance is understanding that we are always (every day) moving forward on God’s timeline, which leads to one day the end of this world system—HALLELUJAH

HERE ARE I BELIEVE ARE SOME OF THE PITFALLS WE ENCOUNTER WHEN WE DISREGARD GOD’S REVEALED TIMELINE:

KINGDOM NOW

This is a very short synopsis of this theology: It sometimes is associated with Dominion Theology, and teaches that believers have a mandate to establish God’s kingdom on earth before Christ’s physical return. This view holds that the church is called to influence and even govern cultural spheres-such as government, education, media, and business-in order to bring society under the lordship of God.

This theology also is a proponent of Replacement Theology, which is the idea that the church has replaced Israel and that the fulfillment of the prophecies to Israel pertain to the church. HOWEVER,  the promises to Israel will be fulfilled in Israel, not in the church. God’s blessings to Israel are eternal, and they are without recall.

“Finally, the second coming of Christ will be when He, not men, defeats His enemies and puts all things under His feet. The description of the second coming in Revelation 19 is the description of a mighty warrior who comes to put all things to right, not of one who comes to an earth already cleaned up and ready for Him to rule. Verse 15 is clear: “And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations. And He will shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God.” If the earth has been “purged of all evil influences,” as the Kingdom Now-ers believe, why does Christ need a sharp sword to strike the nations, and why does the anger and wrath of God still exist against them?”  https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-now.html

TIKKUN OLAM

Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase meaning “repairing the world,” which refers to actions aimed at improving society and promoting social justice, particularly within the Jewish tradition. It encompasses both practical measures to enhance social order and a spiritual responsibility to work towards a better world. It actually very much resembles the above Kingdom Now theology!

Another pitfall is simply becoming too comfortable—becoming a friend of the world when the Messiah told us we are not of this world — John 17:16: They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. It is also very interesting that China in their “state-sanctioned churches” does not allow teaching on the return of Christ! Man just doesn’t want to relinquish control to the Creator!

I’d rather wait and watch expectantly for what only our Creator can create!

1 Corinthians 2:9-16: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

Isaiah 64:4:  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Isaiah 65:17-25:  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.