Prophecy
and our
Spiritual Heritage
Daniel 12:4 (NASB)
Daniel was told at least three different times to seal up the prophecies
that he was given concerning the “End of Days”. Here in Daniel 12:4, he is told that knowledge will increase; the implication
here is not just physical knowledge, but also spiritual knowledge; and as these increase, then so will our understanding of prophecy
in the Word of God.
Over 600 years later, the apostle John was given the continuation and explanation of the Book of Daniel;
known as the Revelation of Jesus and was told in Rev 22:10:
And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
(NASB)
In the Book of Nehemiah, we are told about the rebuilding
of the walls and how the nation of Israel began to re-examine their spiritual heritage that had been forgotten thru the long years
of captivity; and it occurred to me that this was one of the patterns of relationship between Christianity, the Church, and our Hebraic
foundations. The Church has lost it’s spiritual heritage, just as these Israelites in Nehemiah lost their ability to speak and
understand their own language; lost their understanding of their own spiritual heritage, we have lost our ability to speak the language
of the Spirit of God and discern the relationship we have with God’s chosen nation and people; We need to have the message translated
for us. We need to have our understanding enlightened by the power of the Holy Spirit
We will then see the patterns and relationships between the Church and the nation of Israel as told in the Word of God.
Far too many preachers and bible teachers have neglected the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets. Jesus himself said that in these {that is the Law and Prophets} the scholars would find Him, because they testify of Him. What they fail to realize, is that only through an understanding of the Old Testament, can they truly understand the New Testament and the Prophetic aspects of the New Testaments.
Over one-fourth
of the Bible is direct prophecy and in reality, almost 80% of the Word of God is prophetic in nature in addition to it’s direct application. All Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is profitable for doctrine, teaching, reproof, and direction.
So why study
Prophecy? There are incredible blessings associated with studying prophecy.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things
which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 (NASB)
We are Blessed for reading, hearing and doing the words of the prophecy of God’s Word. We have every reason to praise the Lord for His faithfulness and love.
Let not your hearts be troubled!
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
1Corinthians 4:5 (NASB)
Even though wrong seems to come out on top and right seems to get trampled
underfoot; when we study prophecy, we understand that man’s justice is not God’s justice. Reality is not what we see. Reality is God’s Word, God’s Law. God will have the last word both here and in eternity.
As we study end-time events and prophecy, we will understand more fully the mystery of history; we can better make sense of the suffering and injustice that goes on in the world as we begin to see that the root of all this is sin and the Satanic influences in world events in an effort to overthrow God’s plan. Through prophecy, we can see the justice of God prevailing in the end and rejoice knowing that our Lord God is Victorious!
THE STUDY OF PROPHECY
WILL LEAD YOU TO HOLINESS.
A glorious truth in God’s Word is revealed in:
1 John 3:2, 3 (NASB)
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will
be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He
is pure.
And 1Peter 1:13-16 (NASB)
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on
the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the
former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in allyour behavior; because it is written, “ YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
We should never take our eyes off of the ultimate truth of prophecy—the fact that Jesus Christ is coming!
This undeniable fact should
prompt the desire in our lives to serve God to the utmost; to repent and seek His Holiness for our lives in order to serve His Kingdom
in these “End of Days”.
THE STUDY OF PROPHECY
WILL LEAD YOU TO PROCLAIM THE STORY OF JESUS.
In Revelation 19, John was told: “Worship God! For the testimony
of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Every word of prophecy points to the return of Christ. Wrath and judgment
are coming to the earth. We must warn the people to flee the wrath to come. People need to be ready for His return.
The apostle Paul wrote:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according
to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men,
2 Corinthians 5:10, 11 (NASB)
If we get nothing else from studying prophecy, we must be motivated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus our Lord and Savior, the Gospel of Love; to a lost and dying world. We are commanded by God’s Word to be a witness to the world. God doesn’t want anyone to suffer the Wrath to come; God did not make Hell for man, but for Satan and his angels. God does not want anyone to go there, but the choice is ours to make. We either choose to serve God, or by default, we have chosen to serve Satan and thereby have chosen to suffer his fate.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. “He who believes in the Son has
eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:35-36 (NASB)
John 14:6 (NASB)
God
sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in our place that we might have eternal life through His sacrifice and victory. This is the
whole purpose of prophecy ~ to show us to Jesus!
