The future

150 prophetieNothing sells as well as prophecies. It's true. A church or ministry can have a stupid theology, a weird head, and nonsensical strict rules, but they have some world maps, a pair of scissors, and a stack of newspapers, along with a preacher who can reasonably well express himself, then it seems, people will send you bucketfuls of money. People are afraid of the unknown and they do not know the future. So it seems that any old street vendor who comes along, claiming that he knows the future, can muster a very nice following if he is smart enough to fake God's signature for his predictions by juggling scriptures like a circus artist ,

But one thing we need to be clear about if we are not to get caught up in intrusive prophets is this: Biblical prophecy is not about the future. It's about knowing Jesus Christ. If you want a good case for the prophecy addiction, turn your mind over only to the self-appointed messenger of God so that you can fill it with inventions about which particular despot is actually the "King of the South" or the "King of the." North, ”or“ the beast, ”or“ the false prophet ”, or the tenth“ horn ”. It will be great fun, very exciting, and almost as spiritually beneficial as playing Dungeons and Dragons for the rest of your life. Or you could take a lesson from the apostle Peter. He had some thoughts on prophecy - its origin, its value and its purpose. He knew what it was about. And he gave us this information in the 1. Peter continues.

“The prophets, who prophesied of the grace that was destined for you, searched and searched for this salvation, and searched to what and to what time the Spirit of Christ, who was in them and foreknowledged the sufferings, pointed that were to come upon Christ, and the glory after that. It was revealed to them that they should not serve themselves, but you, with what is now preached to you through those who preached the gospel to you through the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven."1. Petrus 1,10-12).

Now here is the "inside information" for us, straight from the mouth of Peter:

  • The Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, is the source of prophecy (Revelation 19,10 says the same).
  • The purpose of the prophecy was to predict the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • When you have heard the gospel, you have heard everything there is to know about prophecy.

And what did Peter expect from his readers who received this information? Simply this: "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and set your hope fully in the grace which is offered unto you in the revelation of Jesus Christ" (verse 13). Fixing our minds on grace means living out the "new birth" (v. 3) by faith as we "keep loving one another from a pure heart" (v. 22). Wait a moment, say. How about the Book of Revelation? Revelation foretells the future, doesn't it?

No. Not in the way the prophets think addicts. The image of the revelation about the future is simply that one day Jesus will return, and everyone who receives him with joy will share in his kingdom, and anyone who opposes him will be left empty-handed. The message of the Book of Revelation is a call never to give up in the service of our Lord, even if we are killed for it, because we are safe in His loving hands - regardless of what the seemingly never-ending parade of evil systems, governments and people would like to do something to someone.

Bible prophecy, including the book of Revelation, revolves around Jesus Christ - who he is, what he did and the simple fact that he will return. In the light of this truth—the truth of the gospel—prophecy includes a call to “holy conduct and godliness as we await the coming of the day of God” (2. Petrus 3,12). Misrepresentations of Bible prophecy only divert attention from its true message—of "the simplicity and integrity that is in Christ" (2. Corinthians 11,3) away. The prophecy addiction sells well, but the cure is free - a good dose of the unvarnished gospel.

by Michael Feazell