Understanding Prophecy
Revelation Revealed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsThe beginning of series on Revelation. Starting out with why we must understand prophecy.
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There's a man in yonder glory I have loved for many years,
He has cleared my guilty conscience and has banished all my fears.
He is coming in a moment in the twinkling of an eye,
And no time will be allotted for you to utter one good-bye.
No time to kiss the husband or embrace the loving wife,
If they are but united in the bonds of holy life.
Are you ready, Christian, ready, for shout and trump and voice?
Will His coming make you tremble or cause you to rejoice?
Are you walking, talking with Him daily, taking Him your care,
Do you live so close to heaven that a breath would waft you there?
Fairest of All, Herbert Lockyer
Today, we are starting a new series called “Revelation Revealed”. This will be a 7 part series. We are starting with understanding prophecy
Prophecy- history written or spoken in advance
Eschatology- Study of End Times or Last Things
Why should we study prophecy and the book of Revelation? Simple, the Lord tells us we are supposed to.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.
This is not a series to say that Jesus will come at a certain time or place. I am not saying that Jesus will come February 30, 2040. This is not that kind of series.
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone.
Notice no one knows the time, but God alone. Here Christ is saying, He doesn’t even know. Some scholars believe that the time will not be revealed until the seal of the scroll is opened by the Worthy Lamb in Revelation Chapter 5.
And it is things like this that cause most people to not study Revelation or prophecy. It can be confusing with it’s apocalyptic language and all the symbols and how it refers back to the other 65 books in the bible. Some do not study it out of fear.
Believe it or not, the early church did not have a problem understanding Revelation. They would have been familiar with this type of literature. They lived in a time that symbols filled their readings. They understood the deeper meaning behind it all.
Our difficulty comes in the fact that we do not communicate that way anymore. Well, I say that, but we use emojis to express our feelings when we text people. We are far removed from that historical and cultural time when Revelation was written.
For us to understand Revelation, we must understand the historical and cultural context this book was written in. We must not only see the implications that affect us now, but interpret as it was meant for the first readers.
Let’s start off with asking the main question
What Is Bible Prophecy?
Remember earlier we said that prophecy is history written or spoken in advance. The Lord said through Isaiah
Remember what happened long ago,
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like me.
I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: my plan will take place,
and I will do all my will.
I call a bird of prey from the east,
a man for my purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.
I have planned it; I will also do it.
The Lord determines history and brings it to pass. Considering this, it is not hard for Him to tell us what will happen in advance. There are many false religions and superstitions built upon clever tales, Christianity is built upon God’s revelation of Himself to mankind as found in the bible. Peter called biblical prophecy:
We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
It is well to note also that prophecy is not a matter of human interpretation of human events, it is God’s Word and we can trust in it. When the prophets spoke on God’s behalf, it was God’s prophetic Word, not mans.
Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Prophecy gives the Christian a glimpse into God’s plan for the future. There are hundreds of prophecies about the end of the church age and the second coming of Christ. As Faithful followers of Christ we should be learning, watching and waiting.
Why Should We Study and Understand Prophecy?
1. Reveals God’s plan for the church and man
For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
This is a prophetic promise given to the Israelites and it is also a prophetic promise that stretches to the church and the believer. We were created body, soul and spirit by a loving God who has a detailed plan for our future, which is revealed in the Bible. Not knowing that prophetic plan makes us vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy. We must study His Word.
The bible we have in our hands, was written by 40 different authors, in three different languages (Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic), spanning thousands of years, but yet it has a symbiosis that no other book has. A symbiosis that only a Divine touch could have created. Our men’s Sunday School teacher has told his class, You can not understand Revelation if you do not understand Genesis. He is absolutely right. Most may say it is confusing, connecting all the dots. It really isn’t. It takes time, patience and learning from others. I love learning from others. I will tell you just for this small series on Revelation, I am learning and using 10 different source materials.
Why? Cause it is so important that we know and understand what God wants to reveal to us.
Why Should We Study and Understand Prophecy?
2. Reveals God To Us
And the glory of the Lord will appear,
and all humanity together will see it,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
God makes himself known to us. Although most people suppress the knowledge of God in their sin, he has clearly communicated about himself us through the creation and through humans being made in the image of God. On top of this general revelation, God communicates about himself to particular people in special revelation, which includes the events of nature and history, through prophecy that are inspired by God and recorded for us in Scripture, and through His Son Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate image of God. In all of these different ways, God reveals himself as Lord, which is comprised of his control, presence, and authority over all things.
Why Should We Study and Understand Prophecy?
3. To Avoid Deception
For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Many teachers today are confusing Christians by stating the Scripture was never intended to be interpreted. They call for more a spiritualized or allegorized view of prophecy. This is false teaching. And as we get closer and closer to the second coming of Christ, there will be an increase in the number of false teachers. Our Lord prophesied that false christs and false prophets will appear near the end of the church age, some will even be able to great signs and miracles that will deceive even those who faithful. Do we still believe God is a God of miracles? Absolutely, but notice it is God, not man. The false messiahs will say “oh look at what I did.” and not point to the one who is the miracle worker.
The best way to avoid being deceived by the false teachers is to know the prophetic teachings in God’s Word.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Why Should We Study and Understand Prophecy?
4. It Gives Hope
As humans, we can absorb a lot of pressures in this world, but a lack of hope is not one of them. And unfortunately, this world is in short supply of hope. If you study history, it is a study of war and man’s cruelty to his fellow man. The world yearns for peace, but knows no peace. Mankind’s problems continue to worsen, leaving many without hope.
What is sad the worst days are not behind us, they are still ahead.
The Lord warned us about this.
For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again.
If you read this in context, it shows the horrors that await. But!!! This is no concern for the believer. For those who have given their life to Christ and studied the beautiful prophetic word of God.
I said earlier that many people don’t read Revelation because of fear. Do not fear Christian. The very gift of prophecy is to bring comfort, encouragement and strength.
On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
Church, Revelation is a love letter to the church and the believer. The prophecies in there is to bring you comfort, encouragement and strength. That is for the believer.
For those who don’t believe. For those who have not repented and called upon the name of Jesus Christ, the prophecies seen in Revelation (give examples) should scare the hell out of you. Out of the 1000 prophecies in bible, we have seen half already come to pass. And I will stand here and tell you the rest will too. God’s Word does not ever come back void.