UNDERSTANDING BIBLE PROPHECY Too often, Christians have been reluctant to study Bible prophecy because they fear it’s too complicated or controversial. But if God included literally hundreds of prophecies in the Bible, surely He did so for a reason! He wants us to know what the future holds. He wants us to recognize that He is fully in control, that Christ will rule the world someday, and that we have a wonderful eternity to look forward to. The more you as a Christian understand Bible prophecy, the more you will enjoy the confidence and security that comes from knowing that nothing will change the final outcome that has already been determined by God. 1. The Old Testament contains many prophecies that predict the first coming of Christ and the gift of salvation He would offer. According to 1 Peter 1:10, the Old Testament prophets studied their own writings in order to know more about the promised salvation. Though they believed and were personally saved from their sin by that faith (through the sacrifice God would provide in Christ), they could not fully understand what was involved in the life and death of Jesus Christ (cf. Numbers 24:17; Hebrews 11:13, 39, 40). 2. 1 Peter 1:12 tell us that The Old Testament prophets who wrote of the coming of salvation (vv. 10, 11) knew it was a future Savior who would come, and thus they were really writing for those who are on this side of the cross. The New Testament apostles and preachers of the gospel had the privilege of proclaiming that the prophecies written by the Old Testament prophets had come to pass (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2). 3. 1 Peter 1:12 also tell us that even the angels are amazed at what a wonderful salvation God has enacted on our behalf (Ephesians. 3:10). 4. The benefit that Revelation 1:3 states will be experienced by “those who hear the words of this prophecy” is that they will receive a blessing. This is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the one who listens to it being read and explained and then responds in obedience. 5. According to Titus 2:12, we are to live in the present age soberly, righteously, and godly.Salvation is transforming (2Co 5:17; Eph 2:8–10), and transformation (new birth) produces a new life in which the power of sin has been broken (Romans 6:4–14; Philippians 3:8, 9; Colossians 3:9, 10). 6. Titus 2:13 states that we are to be “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is a general reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ, including the resurrection (Romans 8:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58; Philippians 3:20, 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 John 3:2, 3) and the reign of the saints with Christ in glory. This will be our salvation from the presence of sin (2 Timothy 2:10). 7. This should better help us to appreciate the importance of Bible prophecy through spiritual wisdom in our daily living, understanding it through His Word, and sharing it with others. All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. ©2013 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:49:01 +0000
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