About Jesus  -  Steve Sweetman

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Why Study Prophecy

I've heard it said that those who study Biblical prophecy are too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good.  In other words, if you're thinking of the future, you're of little value in the present.  I suggest that those who understand the seriousness of end time events, including the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire , are of great value to Jesus.  The knowledge of these events motivates them to do the work Jesus has for them to do before it's too late.   

The Bible allots a huge chunk of its pages to prophecy.  That fact alone makes it important.  Israelis in the Old Testament didn't think it was important.  They ignored it and thus missed their Messiah when He came to them.  I wouldn't want that to happen to you. 

Many of those who oppose the study of prophecy will tell you that every generation throughout history has believed Jesus would return in their generation.  By saying this they suggest that the study of prophecy is futile.  Whatever happens will happen.  So don't concern yourself with the future.  My answer to that is this.  "So what!  What does that have to do with anything"?  The fact that every generation has looked forward to their beloved Lord's return is commendable.  I suggest we should be anticipating the return of Jesus along with all of the other generations.  Romans 8:18 to 21 tells us that even creation is eagerly anticipating Jesus' return.  If created things look forward to His return, shouldn't we? 

We all like a blessing from time to time.  Well, Revelation 1:3 tells us that if we take the book of Revelation to heart, we'll be blessed.  We forfeit this blessing by saying prophecy is too hard to figure out, so why try.  There are so many differing opinions, how can anyone know what's right.  This reasoning is both irrational and illogical.  Experts in every field of endeavor have differing opinions.  We don't expect them to shut down their research just because of these differences.  If we took this approach to life, none of us would have graduated from elementary school.  You don't give up on grade 1 math because you don't understand university math.  You start at the beginning.  You take one step at a time until full understanding comes.  

In Mark 13:33 Jesus commands us to watch and pray for the events that end this age.  He's telling us to pay attention to what's happening in the world around us.  Watch for the prophetic signs that point to the end.  Once we see these end time signs, we pray about them.  Of course, if you don't know the signs to watch for you'll miss them, and you certainly won't be praying about them.  

In John 16:33 Jesus foretold certain events
 that would shortly transpire in His life and in the lives of His followers.   Jesus admitted that His disciples didn't understand what He was predicting, but He predicted them anyway.  He did so for one specific reason.  Once His predictions came true, the disciples would recall His words and then they'd understand and react accordingly.  Jesus was giving them a heads up on the future so they could be prepared for that which would come their way.  This is why the Bible is full of prophetic predictions that we should know about.  Without the knowledge of the prophecies there is no recollection of them.  Without the recollection there is no understanding.  Without the understanding there is no appropriate response. Hosea 6:4 states that lack of such knowledge destroys God's people.  This lack of knowledge destroyed Israel in Old Testament days and it can destroy Christians today.        

I could probably scrape up a few more reasons why Biblical prophecy is important, but I'm sure you get my point.  Jesus forewarns us of many things that lie ahead.  If He has taken the time to tell us these things, we should take the time to listen to what He has said. 

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