Let’s first define what Biblical prophecy is in the context of this writing:
I am primarily speaking about times in the Bible that instruct us on future events that will occur (or have occurred) that create repeated patterns or anticipated future events.
For example, the rapture (anticipated future event) or the crucifixion and resurrection which have already happened but that have future times that will happen in a similar and patterned way like the two witnesses in Revelation chapter 11.
So why is Bible prophecy important? It seems so hard to grasp, everyone has a different idea of what’s going on, figuring something that seems like it should be simple like whether or not there is a rapture turns into a giant, chaotic mess. People very knowledgeable about the bible declare confidently that their interpretation is correct and nothing else is possible (and that’s before we speak about the false prophets…). So why would you go anywhere near this?
Well the answer is, while this is all very intense, and puts you to the test just being around it, I don’t think that completely avoiding it is God’s will for us. Every word of God is important for you to live (salvation):
Deut 8:3
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know;
that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
2 Tim 3:15-17
2 Timothy 3:14-16
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Everything is important. So let’s look at a demonstration of how prophecy is instructed from Genesis to Revelation.
Gen 26:5
“because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept [SHAMAR] My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
It’s the same word here:
Gen 2:15 -Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it [SHAMAR].
שָׁמַר – Shamar – to guard – H8104 (link to definition)
And Jesus (יהושוע) says the same thing (in a book of prophecy):
Rev 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast [guard], and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch [guard], I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Rev 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep [guard] those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Ok so maybe I’ve convinced you you need to be aware, careful, guarding, watchful… But is that prophecy? Let’s look at what God says is the reason for prophecy.
Isa 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Eccl 3:14
I know that, whatsoever God doeth,
it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it,
nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it,
that men should fear before him.
God is in control, control of everything! He’s outside of time itself, and He wants you to know this, He wants you to have zero doubts in your mind because it begins the process of building your faith.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
So what I’m hoping you see is that God is bringing you to the point where you really respect Him. Like you aren’t just doing things out of habit but you’re really paying attention to Him, what He’s doing, what His plan is and very importantly, how He speaks.
And prophecy is a big part of that, being able to see God really does know what is going to happen before it does, that the events unfolding in the world today were patterned all the way back to the beginning of creation. He is a living God, He’s not hands off or not interested in what’s going even if it may not seem to you that He’s acting directly these days.
It’s very powerful for your fear of God, to see for example the war in Gaza seems to be following the pattern of Israel vs. the Amalekites back in Moses’ days.
Deut 25:17-18
Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
Eccl 1:9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Is your understanding of this going to be exact? Probably not, at least not at first. And prophecy isn’t written like the 10 Commandments, it’s written in a different way (on the surface). And I do understand that frustrates people, I get the sense that a lot of people want God to tell them what they need to do so they can get on with it.
But that’s actually the point, when I read the 10 Commandments in Hebrew, it’s not actually different than how prophecy is written (and in fact it has very significant and important prophecy inside it).
Prophecy is in fact (in my opinion) some of the more clear invitations to dig deeper into your Bible. And when you begin to do that, you will start to see how God is speaking in a more sophisticated way across your entire Bible. And that God is asking you to step up and try and dig it those seemingly small details.
Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
I mean there’s a 7-headed dragon dragon in the book of Revelation, are we expecting to see an in-the-flesh mythical dragon in the end times? No… But then so what is God saying? Why is it there?
2 Thess 2:11-12
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
If you remember back to our original instruction, to SHAMAR, to guard, to be watchful. God is telling you to plainly, He is going to test you, He wants to know if you really love the Truth or if you’re not in for something else. It’s intense! I know but He’s being fair, He’s giving you warning, letting you know ahead of time and giving you the tools to succeed.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
What is Truth but the Word of God? Who is Jesus (יהושוע) the Messiah, your Salvation. And sometimes, He speaks about 7-headed dragons (Rev 12), throwing mountains with your faith (Mark 11:23), how Babylon the beast kills Babylon the harlot (Rev 17) and God forsaking Jesus (יהושוע in Matthew 27:46) as well as a huge variety of other hard to understand things .
God is calling you to get to know Him better. We have to get to know Him on His terms, through the Bible. Use your Bible to answer your questions about why God is doing these things, we search for these things because we love God, we may not understand it immediately, but you can trust Him, He’s not trying to waste your time. He really meant it when He said that man shall live by every word out of the mouth of God.
It’s not an exaggeration, it’s a test of your belief, aka your faith. God asks for your dedication, and He hides many important things behind these mysteries.
And I can testify to you, I think studying prophecy saved both my worldly life and my eternal life. I genuinely do not believe it’s an exaggeration to say that. I believe it’s an integral part of getting to know who God is, and it shows you techniques you need to analyze what your Bible says correctly.
Things like how stories are often broken out into multiple parts and core Biblical ideas are used and built all over your Bible:
Isaiah 28:10-11
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
How God speaks uses concretely perceivable pictures to help you understand HIs mysteries:
Revelation 3:12a
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:
Is God going to make you into an immovable pillar as a reward? I’m guessing probably not, but in Hebrew the word for pillar, faith, steadfast and mother all overlap letting you know all these words (through their perceivable actions) are essentially, the same.
And that is really just the beginning, that’s before we talk about all the things that require Hebrew or Greek to access. This is not to discourage you! But to encourage you to seek after God with your whole heart, he has given us this amazing task and He is there to help you, by His Holy Spirit, access His ways, His manner of speaking.
Deut 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And I want to be very clear when we talk about the deeper things of the Bible, you are not lacking salvation because you don’t know something, or you can’t spend the time. You are saved by the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But this is not an excuse to not try, and if you try, because you love God, I think it is very likely you will get a lot further than you might realize. And this is the faith that does save you. That you believe God’s Word is important, to make sacrifices to try and learn more about it.
And I’m not saying you have to drop everything you’re doing and focus on prophecy tomorrow (but I’m not saying you shouldn’t either!) but I can promise you, there is a lot of critically important information that we as the body of Jesus (יהושוע) need tucked away in there.
And if you’re like me, it just might save your life.
2 Peter 3:10a, 14
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.