{"id":206,"date":"2016-12-29T18:15:54","date_gmt":"2016-12-29T23:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/?page_id=206"},"modified":"2026-05-11T18:18:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T22:18:22","slug":"article-3-why-study-the-subject-of-prophecy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/articles\/article-3-why-study-the-subject-of-prophecy\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Study the Subject of Prophecy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Why Study the Subject of Prophecy?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Article 3<\/em><\/p>

By Steven J. Hogan<\/p>

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It is imperative that we study the subject of prophecy, but why? Why is it so vitally important that we study it at this time, in these days? Let me give you a number of reasons why we should study prophecy:

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1. The subject of prophecy is God\u2019s Word<\/strong>. Every subject in God\u2019s Word is inspired and important, and so too is this subject of prophecy, of eschatology. Might we show ourselves approved to God, as workmen who do not need to be ashamed, but who accurately handle prophetic truth, who understand what it says, and then teach it rightly.

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2. There is much said in God\u2019s Word on the subject of prophecy.<\/strong> We may have 5 verses on baptism, 10 verses on communion, and we would all agree that these are important subjects for the church, but there are literally thousands of verses on end-times’ prophecy. This enormous number of verses about the future of the church should help us to see the great importance of this subject, and motivate us to study it and learn it. In fact, there are over 100 verses specifically on the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Micah, Zechariah, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Romans 11, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, Revelation, etc.

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3. There is a great amount of prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled. <\/strong>When we talk about prophecy, we understand that there is fulfilled and unfulfilled prophecy, that which was fulfilled in the past, and that which is still to be fulfilled in the future. Now that we are closing in on the end of this age, we need to see that there is a lot of prophecy yet to be fulfilled on this earth. Should we not be excited to understand what God says in His Word about the coming days and years, about what is to soon take place on this earth, what is to be our future, and more likely, the future of our children and grandchildren? Zechariah, Simeon and Annas’ examples speak loudly to us, for they were excitedly looking forward to the fulfillment of Old Testament predictions about Christ, the promised Messiah. They were actually witnesses of Christ\u2019s 1st<\/sup> coming. Might God sovereignly work it out so that we witness Christ\u2019s 2nd<\/sup> coming, and then are raptured from this earth. Luke 1:67-79, Luke 2:25-32, Luke 2:36-38

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4. The subject of prophecy is now more relevant than at any other time in history. <\/strong>Since the Jews are back in their land, the land of Israel, we know we are living in the end-times and that the return of Christ is drawing near. Therefore, it is most critical to study and understand what God\u2019s Word says about the end-times and the return of Christ. Should we not want to know what God says about the end times and the coming of Christ? Should we not want to know what may take place in our lifetime? Please understand that it relates not just to you, but to your family, your friends, your church, and to the gospel of Christ and the glory of God. Matthew 24:3-44, Luke 21:5-36, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 6-7

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5. God has told us certain things about the future that He wants us to know<\/strong>. God has not told us everything that is going to happen with regards to the end-times and Christ’s return, but only certain things, and it is these things which are in God’s word. Should we not want to know these things that God wants us to know? Might we then study these sections of Scripture that speak about Christ’s 2nd coming so that we can find out what our heavenly Father wants us to know. \u00a0Might we take Jesus’ words to heart, \u201cBe on your guard, I have told you everything ahead of time.\u201d<\/em> Mark 13:23

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6. So\u00a0you don\u2019t fall into error<\/strong>. There is so much error on this subject of prophecy, and we need to know what is true so we can recognize and refute what is false. That\u2019s why Paul spent so much time on this subject when writing to the Thessalonians, for there were false teachers, their errors and with that, deception, with the result that the church was confused and unsettled. Do you not see in this day and age that the devil is working hard and doing all he can to lead us astray? As Christians we should not want our families, friends and our church to be deceived, and especially as the day of Christ draws nearer. Might we clearly understand prophetic truth so we can be encouraged, and so we can speak out against the false teachers and counter their errors. Matthew 24:4, Titus 1:9

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7. Because Christ loves you and wants to see you and wants you to be looking forward to His return.<\/strong> Jesus Christ is our Savior, Lord and King, our lover, friend and brother, and He can\u2019t wait to see us, and take us home to heaven to be with Him. Should we not be wanting to see Him? Of course, we should be excited about seeing Him, and therefore wanting to learn from His word as much as we can about the circumstances and events leading up to His coming. If we aren\u2019t excited about Christ\u2019s return, if we aren\u2019t longing for Him, and looking forward to seeing Him, then what are we excited about, what are we longing for? 1 Peter 1:10-12

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8. God wants you to know prophetic truths so you can share it with other Christians. <\/strong>Might we be good students, schooled in this subject so we can instruct and warn others about what is going to be taking place in these coming days. We are commanded to encourage one another as we see the day drawing near, but we can only do this as we ourselves know and understand prophetic truth as it is revealed to us in God\u2019s Word. Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:24-25

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9. God wants you to know the subject of prophecy so you can be at peace<\/strong>. In a world of confusion, calamity and conflict, in a world where things will get worse and worse before the return of Christ, God tells you, \u201cBe still and know that I am God\u201d.<\/em> Wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, economic distress, and persecution will all take place in the end-times. But knowing that they will come, that God is in control, that this is all part of God\u2019s plan, and that God will be exalted, will help us to trust Him, and to be at peace. Psalm 46, Matthew 24:4-8, Revelation 6:1-8

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10. So you can understand it. <\/strong>Many people don\u2019t study this subject of prophecy because they don\u2019t think they can understand it, that it is too confusing, that it is too hard to figure out, that there are too many opinions, or that it is too controversial. But why would God ever give us this subject if it was too hard and too confusing? Why would God ever give us this subject if we couldn\u2019t understand it? I am telling you, that God by His Holy Spirit, will enable us to understand this important end-time\u2019s subject. Pray to God, read and study prophetic truth, compare Scripture with Scripture, learn about it from other godly men, and read and study it some more, and you will understand it. Proverbs 2:1-10

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11. So you can know what God says about Christ\u2019s coming which will motivate you to share the gospel with the lost. <\/strong>All this truth about what is going to happen in the near future, about fiery judgments on earth and fiery judgments in hell, should encourage us to proclaim the gospel to the unsaved. The more we know the truth about the coming of Christ, the more we will want to warn the lost and tell them to repent of their sins and believe in Christ\u2019s death and resurrection before it\u2019s too late. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

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12. So you can know how you are to live in the end-times,<\/strong> in the time leading up to the return of Christ. God\u2019s Word gives many specific instructions to the believers in the church regarding the end-times and how we are to live, instructions about faith, hope, love, evangelism, prayer, fellowship, error, perseverance, suffering and holiness. Seven letters to seven churches are given to us in Revelation 2-3, and these are in the context of the greatest prophecy book in the entire Bible. They are, no doubt, needed and relevant for all Christians living in these end-times. Listen and take heed to what the Spirit tells the churches so you can know how to live, can be an overcomer, and can be ready for Christ\u2019s coming.

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13. So you can be pure, holy and godly<\/strong>. There are many challenges and temptations for the Christian, and even more so in the end-times. We don\u2019t want to be worldly Christians when Christ comes back. We need to know and understand end-times’ prophetic truth so we can be pure and holy, unstained by sin and the world, and useful to the Lord in faithfully doing His work on earth. 1 John 3:2, 2 Peter 3:9-14, Luke 21:34-36, Revelation 18

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14. The Old Testament prophets wrote about the end-times for the Christians of today. <\/strong>Yes, the prophets wanted to know the times and circumstances of Christ\u2019s coming, but it wasn\u2019t for them, it was and is for us. Isn\u2019t this encouraging? The prophets were really writing for us. Should we not then read what they wrote, knowing that it pertains to us and the days we now live? Even the angels long to look into these things, which means this is critically important. Therefore we should want to read, study and know it so we can clearly and completely tell others the truth about the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; and whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.”<\/em> Ezekiel 3:17, Daniel 12:4, 9; 1 Peter 1:10-12

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15. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. <\/strong>Much of what God says about the future is a warning to us about the upcoming difficulties, danger, distress, and about the devil\u2019s work in the end-times. God wants us to know what will be taking place so we can be ready, so we can do battle. A good coach knows the game plan of the opponent, and a good general knows the strategies of the enemy, their tactics and tendencies. Might we know the schemes of the devil and the plans of God so we can be prepared, so we can put on the full armor of God, so we can be ready to fight, so we can be overcomers and winners. Ephesians 6:10-13, Revelation 2:7

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16. God will bless those who take heed to His instructions on the end-times. <\/strong>I believe we all want to be blessed by God. Might we then read and understand what God says to us so we can know what to believe, take to heart what is written, and be doing what God wants us to be doing in the days before His Son\u2019s return. The more we know and do, the more we will be blessed and encouraged. Those who don\u2019t read, understand, and take heed will not be blessed in the way that God had planned for them. Revelation 1:3-4

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17. Because the consummation of God\u2019s plan, the fulfillment of much of prophecy, is the great goal of the church.<\/strong> God\u2019s plans for the church will soon be fulfilled, and this will occur at the coming of Christ. The glory of God and of Christ will be seen as God fulfills His plans for the church. If this is the great plan of God, the great goal of the church, then we should be excited about prophecy and be wanting to study the texts of God\u2019s Word that speak so much about it. Ephesians 1:9-11

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Indeed, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back soon.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cHeaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Matthew 24:25). In the middle of one of the greatest chapters on prophecy we are told that God’s prophetic word will be fulfilled.\u00a0Might we show our love to God by being diligent to study His word so we can know all He wants us to know about His Son\u2019s return, so we can be excited and prepared, and so we can be looking forward to seeing our Savior, and then being with Him forever and ever. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming back with power and great glory” <\/i>(Luke 21:27). “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.” <\/i>1 Thessalonians 5:9-10<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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