The end
If there were no future, Paul writes, it would be foolish to believe in Christ. (1Kor 15,19)Prophecy is an essential and very encouraging part of the Christian faith. Biblical prophecy proclaims extraordinarily hopeful things to us. We can draw great strength and courage from it if we focus on its core messages, not on details that can be debated.
The purpose of prophecy
Prophecy is not an end in itself - it articulates a higher truth. Namely that God reconciles mankind with himself, God; that he forgives us the sins; that he makes us again friends of God. This reality proclaims prophecy.
Prophecy exists not only to predict events but to refer to God. She tells us who God is, what He is, what He does and what He expects of us. Prophecy calls on man to achieve reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Many specific prophecies were fulfilled in Old Testament times, and we still await the fulfillment of others. But at the heart of all prophecy lies something else entirely: redemption—the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. Prophecy shows us that God is the ruler of history. (Dan 4,14)It strengthens our faith in Christ (Joh 14,29)...and gives us hope for the future (1st
4,13-18).
Moses and the prophets wrote about Christ, among other things, that he would be killed and resurrected (Lk 24,27 u. 46). They also foretold events after Jesus' resurrection, such as the preaching of the gospel (v. 47).
Prophecy points us to salvation in Christ. If we don't understand this, all prophecy is useless to us. Only through Christ can we enter the kingdom that will have no end.Dan 7,13-14 and 27).
The Bible proclaims the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment; it proclaims eternal punishments and rewards. In doing so, it shows humanity that salvation is necessary, and at the same time, that salvation will surely come. Prophecy tells us that God will hold us accountable (Jud 14-15), that he wants us to be redeemed (2Pt 3,9)...and that he has already redeemed us. (1Joh 2,1-2)She assures us that all evil will be defeated, that all injustice and suffering will come to an end. (1Kor 15,25; Offb 21,4).
Prophecy strengthens the believer: it tells him that his efforts are not in vain. We will be saved from persecution, we will be justified and rewarded. Prophecy reminds us of God's love and faithfulness and helps us to remain faithful to him. (2Pt 3,10-15; 1Joh 3,2-3)By reminding us that all material treasures are fleeting, prophecy urges us to cherish the unseen things of God and our eternal relationship with Him.
Zechariah refers to the prophecy as a call to repentance. (Sach 1,3-4)God warns of punishment but expects repentance. As exemplified in the story of Jonah, God is willing to retract his pronouncements if people turn to him. The purpose of prophecy is to turn us to God, who holds a wonderful future in store for us; not to satisfy our thrill of uncovering "secrets."
Basic requirement: Caution
How to understand Bible prophecy? Only with great caution. Well-meaning prophecy "fans" have discredited the gospel with false prophecies and misguided dogmatism. Because of such misuse of prophecy, some people mock the Bible, even scoff at Christ Himself. The list of failed predictions should be a sober warning that personal beliefs still do not guarantee truth. Since false predictions can weaken faith, we must exercise caution.
We shouldn't need sensational predictions to seriously strive for spiritual growth and a Christian way of life. Knowing times and other details (even if they turn out to be correct) is no guarantee of salvation. For us, the focus should be on Christ, not on the pros and cons, whether this or that world power is perhaps to be interpreted as the "beast".
Prophecy means that we put too little emphasis on the gospel. Man must repent and believe in Christ, whether Christ's return is imminent or not, whether there will be a millennium or not, whether America is addressed in Bible prophecy or not.
Why is prophecy so difficult to interpret? Perhaps the most important reason is that she so often speaks in allegories. The original readers may have known what was meant by the symbols; since we live in a different culture and time, the interpretation is much more problematic for us.
An example of symbolic language: the 18th psalm. In poetic form he describes how God saves David from his enemies (verse 1). David uses various symbols for this: escape from the realm of the dead (4-6), earthquake (8), signs in the sky (10-14), even a rescue from distress at sea (16-17). These things did not actually happen, but are used symbolically and poetically in a figurative sense in order to make certain facts clear, in order to make them "visible". This is also how prophecy works.
Jesaja 40,3-4 He speaks of mountains being lowered and roads being leveled – this is not meant literally. Lukas 3,4-6 This shows that this prophecy was fulfilled by John the Baptist. Mountains and roads were not the point at all.
Joel 3,1-2 He foretells that God's Spirit will be poured out "on all flesh"; according to Peter, this was already fulfilled with a few dozen people on the day of Pentecost. (Apg 2,16-17)The dreams and visions that Joel prophesied are described in minute detail, even down to the physical level. But Peter doesn't demand a meticulously accurate fulfillment of the external signs—and neither should we. When dealing with symbolic language, we shouldn't expect a literal occurrence of every single detail of the prophecy.
These facts influence the way people interpret Bible prophecy. One reader may prefer a literal interpretation, the other a transfigured one, and it may be impossible to prove which one is correct. This forces us to focus on the overall picture, not the details. We look through milk glass, not through a magnifying glass.
There are no Christian consensus in several important areas of prophecy. Thus z. For example, on the topics of Rapture, Great Tribulation, Millennium, Intermediate State and Hell quite different views. The individual opinion is not so important here.
Although they are part of the divine plan and important to God, it is not essential that we get all the right answers here - especially not when sowing discord between us and dissenters. Our attitude is more important than the dogmatism in individual points. Maybe we can compare the prophecy with a journey. We do not need to know exactly where our goal is, in what way and at what speed we get there. What we need above all is trust in our "guide", Jesus Christ. He is the only one who knows the way, and without him we are going astray. Let's stick to him - he takes care of the details.
Under these omens and reservations we now want to look at some basic Christian doctrines that deal with the future.
The return of Christ
The big key event that determines our teachings about the future is the second coming of Christ. That he will come back, there is almost complete unity.
Jesus announced to his disciples that he would “come again”. (Joh 14,3)At the same time, he warns the disciples against wasting their time on date calculations. (Mt 24,36)He criticizes people who believe the time is near. (Mt 25,1-13), but also those who believe in a long delay (Mt 24,45-51)Moral: We must always be prepared, we must always be ready, that is our responsibility.
Angels announced to the disciples: Just as surely as Jesus ascended to heaven, he will also return. (Apg 1,11)He will “reveal himself ... from heaven with the angels of his power in flames of fire.” (2Th 1,7-8)Paul calls it the “manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Tit 2,13)Peter also speaks of "Jesus Christ being revealed" (1Pt 1,7; see also verse 13), likewise John (1Joh 2,28)Similarly, in the Epistle to the Hebrews: Jesus will appear “a second time” “to those who are waiting for him, for salvation” (9:28).
There is talk of a loudly resounding "command", of the "voice of the archangel", the "trumpet of God" (1Th 4,16)The second coming will become clear, visible and audible, unmistakable.
Two further events will accompany it: the resurrection and the judgment. Paul writes that the dead will rise in Christ when the Lord comes, and that at the same time the living believers will be caught up into the air to meet the descending Lord. (1Th 4,16-17)“For the trumpet will sound,” writes Paul, “and the dead will rise imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1Kor 15,52). We will undergo a transformation – becoming “glorious”, powerful, incorruptible, immortal and spiritual (vv. 42-44).
Matthew 24:31 seems to describe this from a different perspective: “And he [Christ] will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” In the parable of the weeds, Jesus says that at the end of the age he will “send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all those who cause people to rebel and all who do wrong.” (Mt 13,40-41)“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will repay everyone according to what they have done.” (Mt 16,27)The parable of the faithful servant relates to the Lord's return. (Mt 24,45-51)...and in the parable of the talents entrusted to him (Mt 25,14-30)...including the court.
When the Lord comes, Paul writes, he will “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will disclose the motives of the heart, so that each one will receive his praise from God.” (1Kor 4,5)Of course, God already knows every person, and in that sense, the judgment has already taken place long before Christ's return. But then it will be "made public" for the first time and proclaimed before everyone's ears. The fact that we are given new life and that we are rewarded is an immense encouragement. At the end of the "Resurrection Chapter," Paul exclaims: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you, always giving yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1Kor 15,57-58).
The last days
To pique interest, teachers of prophecy often ask, "Are we living in the last days?" The correct answer is "Yes"—and it has been true for 2000 years. Peter quotes a prophecy about the last days and applies it to his own time. (Apg 2,16-17), likewise the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebr 1,2)The last days have been lasting much longer than some people believe. Jesus triumphed over the enemy and ushered in a new age.
For millennia, war and hardship are plaguing humanity. Will it get worse? Probably. After that it could get better, and then worse again. Or it will be better for some people, for others at the same time worse. Throughout history, the "misery index" has been pacing up and down, and it will continue to do so.
For some Christians, however, things could apparently "not be bad enough." They almost thirsted for the great tribulation, described as the most terrible time of distress the world would ever experience. (Mt 24,21)They are fascinated by the Antichrist, the "beast," the "man of sin," and other enemies of God. They routinely see every terrible event as a sign that Christ will soon return.
It is true that Jesus predicted a time of terrible tribulation. (Mt 24,21)But most of what he predicted was fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Jesus warns his disciples about things they would later experience themselves; for example, that it would become necessary for the people of Judea to flee to the mountains (v. 16).
Jesus predicted constant times of hardship until his return. “In this world you will have tribulation,” he said.Joh 16,33(Menge translation). Many of his disciples sacrificed their lives for their faith in Jesus. Trials are part of the Christian life; God does not protect us from all our problems. (Apg 14,22; 2Tim 3,12; 1Pt 4,12)Even back in apostolic times, antichrists were at work (1Joh 2,18. u. 22; 2Joh 7).
Is a great tribulation predicted for the future? Many Christians believe that, and maybe they are right. But millions of Christians around the world are already persecuting today. Many are killed. For each of them, the distress can not get any worse than it already is. For two millennia terrible times have come over the Christians again and again. Maybe even the great tribulation lasts much longer than many people think.
Our Christian duties remain the same, whether the tribulation is near or far, or whether it has already begun. Speculation about the future does not help us become more Christ-like, and when used as a lever to force people to repent, it is badly abused. Who speculates about the distress, uses his time badly.
The millennium
Offenbarung 20 It speaks of a thousand-year reign of Christ and the saints. Some Christians understand this literally as a thousand-year kingdom that Christ will establish at his return. Other Christians see the "thousand years" symbolically, as a symbol of Christ's reign in the Church before his return.
The number one thousand can certainly be used symbolically in the Bible. (5Mo 7,9; Ps 50,10)And there is absolutely no evidence that it must be taken literally in Revelation. Revelation is written in an extraordinarily vivid style. No other book of the Bible speaks of a temporary kingdom to be established at Christ's second coming. Verses such as Daniel 2,44On the contrary, they even suggest that the empire will last forever, without any crisis 1000 years later.
If there is a thousand-year reign after Christ's return, then the wicked will be resurrected and judged a thousand years after the righteous. (Offb 20,5)However, Jesus' parables do not suggest such a temporal gap. (Mt 25,31-46; Joh 5,28-29)The millennium is not part of Christ's gospel. Paul writes that the righteous and the wicked will be resurrected on the same day. (2Th 1,6-10).
Many more individual questions on this topic could be discussed, but that is not necessary here. References to scripture can be found for each of the cited views. Whatever one may believe regarding the Millennium, one thing is certain: at some point, the Offenbarung 20 The aforementioned period is coming to an end, and a new heaven and a new earth will follow, eternal, glorious, greater, better, and longer than the millennium. Therefore, when we think of the wonderful world of tomorrow, we might prefer to focus on the eternal, perfect realm, not on a temporary phase. We have an eternity to look forward to!
An eternity of joy
What will eternity be like? We only know fragments of it. (1Kor 13,9; 1Joh 3,2)Because all our words and thoughts are based on the world today. David puts it this way: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps 16,11)The best part of eternity will be living with God; being like Him; seeing Him as He truly is; knowing and understanding Him better. (1Joh 3,2)This is our ultimate goal and God-given purpose, and this will satisfy us and give us joy, eternally.
And in 10.000 years, with aeons ahead of us, we'll look back on our lives today and smile at the worries we had, and marvel at how quickly God was doing His work when we were mortal. It was only the beginning, and there will be no end.
by Michael Morrison
