By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #336 ~
We live in a world where true churches teach the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins and rose again from the dead, and all who repent of their sins and believe that He died and rose again for them receive eternal life, are forgiven, are God’s children – and this is most important. But some of these churches don’t adequately and accurately teach about the end-times, Christ’s 2nd coming, and the kingdom ages. A pastor’s message is often lacking for it does not match the width and depth of God’s prophetic word, and therefore, is imbalanced, is not strong in hope. (2 Tim. 4:1-2). Not only that, errors are often taught or are allowed to be taught.
It’s not good, it’s not right for Christians to inadequately know or be mistaken about the incredible future God has in store for them. So why is there a lack of solid teaching on this essential subject? Why are believers uninformed? Why is there naivety, confusion, and a lack of interest? It’s the devil, the flesh, pride, unbelief, worldliness, and laziness, not diligently studying these significant portions of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17, 4:1-2). Christians, especially the pastors, ought to be excited and hungry to know the truth about Christ’s return to rapture the church, judge the sinners, and reign over this world.
Today I want to share some specific reasons why it’s necessary to teach these prophetic truths.
* Christ taught extensively on prophecy, and if He taught it, then we must teach what He taught, just what He taught, and what He commands us to teach. “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name… you will be hearing of wars… just as the light comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matt. 24:4-27, 28:19-20
* Prophecy consists of major doctrines and these must be taught. Being with Jesus Christ and being glorified are major doctrines. The millennial kingdom, reigning with Christ, and the future of the Jews are major doctrines. Eternal life, having a personal relationship with Christ for an infinite number of years, is also a major doctrine. “… we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17b, Heb. 12:22-24
* Thousands of prophecy verses in God’s word demand that it be taught. The sheer volume of unfulfilled prophecy found in Genesis, the law of Moses, the Psalms, the major and minor Prophets, the four gospels, Romans, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Peter, Revelation, and other books, makes it crystal clear that it’s a major, major subject in God’s word, and must be taught, is waiting to be taught, and needs to be understood and believed by the church. Luke 24:44
* Only by understanding prophecy can you see the big picture, can you have an eternal perspective, can you know the beginning from the end, can you see that the past and the present is leading to a God-glorious future. “I am God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end form the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:9b-10
* Prophecy needs to be taught because we live in the end-times. More than ever before, now is the time to teach on prophecy. God wants us to be knowledgeable, grown-up Christians at this time in history and have a clear understanding about what will be taking place in these last years leading up to Christ’s coming and the kingdom ages to follow. “These words are concealed and sealed up until the end time” (Dan. 12:9), and now in these end-times they are unsealed. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23; Eph. 1:20-21, 2:7
* Prophecy must be taught because the Old Testament talks extensively and primarily about the Jewish people and God’s eternal plans for them. And His purposes and promises for the Jews, His chosen people, have not and, I repeat, have not been changed or canceled. In these end-times and in the coming ages, God will surely carry out His plans for them with regards to their land, their King, and their salvation (Ezek. 37:21-23). “The Lord will be the King over all the earth.” Zech. 14:9
* Knowing prophetic truth about the Jews is necessary to knowing prophetic truth about the church. We now know that many Old Testament prophecies about the Jews include God’s plans for Christians, specifically those referring to the kingdom ages. Ps. 37:11, speaking of Jews, says, “the humble will inherit the earth”, and Matt. 5:5, speaking of Christians, states, “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.” These verses about Jews and Christians are related, and they refer to the earth during the millennial kingdom, a time when believers will “reign upon the earth.” Rev. 5:10
* Prophecy warns you about the calamitous last years of this church age, about lawlessness, birth pains, the Antichrist, great persecution, the most difficult time on earth for Christians – and God wants you to hear and heed His warnings so that you are not surprised or confused when there’s danger and great tribulation. You must be awake and alert, and understand what God wants you to know and do. “Let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” 1 Thess. 5:6
* Prophecy makes it clear that the Christian life is not boring, directionless, or meaningless. Prophecy helps you see where you are and where you are going in these end-times, and that you are always moving ahead and going in the path God planned for you. Knowing that your life is being directed by God and is making progress is invigorating and motivating for it helps you see that you are an integral part of His divine purpose on earth. Every day is a new day, an exciting day, one day closer to completing God’s plans, one day closer to home. “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus… I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14
* Prophecy needs to be understood so you can teach, warn, and encourage others, whether that’s your wife, children, grand-children, friends, those in the church, or those out in the street. “He… appointed a law in Israel which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children.” Ps. 78:5
* Prophecy must be taught because it tells you about the completion of your salvation. The gospel speaks of Christ’s death and resurrection which is the basis, the foundation of your salvation. And salvation is explained in 3 parts: justification (past – freed from the penalty of sin), sanctification (present – being freed from the power of sin), and glorification (future – freed from the presence of sin). A Christian’s salvation is continuing in the present and will be completed in the future, not at his death, but at Christ’s coming. Matt. 24:27, 31; 1 John 3:2-3
You can’t separate what God did in the past from what He will do in the future. God began His work in you and will finish His work in you. “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). God justified you and will glorify you. “These whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). God spiritually united you with Christ and will physically unite you with Christ. The gospel is foundational to the completion of your salvation, to being physically resurrected, to receiving a new body, one that is powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorious. 1 Cor. 15:20-23, 1 Thess. 4:15-17
* The book of Revelation, 22 chapters long, the last book in God’s word, focuses on prophecy, and must be understood. It’s not optional. You don’t skip the last chapter when you read a book, so why would you skip the final book in the Bible? Revelation is a needed book, one that ties everything together, that bridges the end of this church age to the coming kingdom age – and it must be clearly and rightly taught in conjunction with all of prophecy. It communicates God’s plans for believers, unbelievers, and the whole world, and you need to know it, believe it, and teach it. And by God’s illuminating Spirit, you can know what it says – it makes sense, it’s not too hard to understand. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place… 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.” Rev. 1:1, 3, John 14:26
It’s sad that many Christians know little about God’s plans for their future and therefore, aren’t looking forward to being with Jesus. In these end-times, let’s pray that God gives more and more Christians the desire to study this critically important subject. Let’s ask God to revolutionize the thinking and understanding of churches with regards to their hope, Christ’s coming, and the glorious years we will have with Him in heaven and on earth. “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9-10
P.S. I am encouraging all Christians, especially the leaders, to be teaching on prophecy. Now is the time to move full speed ahead in telling the church about the glorious future God has for us, most importantly being with Jesus our Lord. Here are two good posts that relate to this: “For Pastors and Preachers in the End-Times”, and “For Pastors, Preachers, and Teachers.”
