THE PROPHECY PUZZLE

The prophecies in the Bible are just as clear and easily understood as any other revelation in God’s Word. They are probably the least understood simply because they are the most neglected. In the light of Bible prophecy we can know the future with absolute certainty, but without that knowledge we are left completely in the dark. Prophecy is a most essential key in understanding the other Scriptures and so important to understanding its Author, His program, the present times, and the future. The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit was especially given to teach us the things of Christ and things to come (John 16:12-15). One-fifth of the Bible content was prophetic at the time it was written. In the light of this fact it is reasonable to expect no less than one-fifth of the time expended in God’s Word should be devoted to the study of prophecy. On the CONTRARY, God’s people evidently give little or no time toward the prophetic Scriptures and show almost total ignorance of this vast body of revealed truth. The neglect is not only inexcusable but the correspondent loss to the glory of God and the maturity of His people is no less than tragic.

An examination of most of the supposedly comprehensive theological works reveals an almost total exclusion of prophecy except for a brief and misleading picture of the resurrection, the second coming, a general judgment, and the eternal state. In violence to the total message of God’s Word, prophecy along with other essential doctrines of the Bible is commonly shunned or omitted entirely from the theological studies of even many Bible colleges and seminaries which claim to be Bible centered. The natural outcome is that the Bible’s true message is not being proclaimed in its fullness. It is tragic indeed that our evangelistic leadership with some exception seems helplessly ignorant of God’s Word beyond the bare rudiments of the gospel and certain church ordinances. As a result there is a famine among God’s people. Most of the Bible still lies buried through ignorance of its major contents. Jesus expressed so fervently His desire that His people be fully fed and indeed this may be a true test of a pastor’s love for the Lord Jesus and His Word (John 21:15-27).

That prophecy is more difficult to understand than any other major doctrine of the Bible is a Satanic trick. By this same approach the deceiver has been able to stunt the spiritual growth of God’s people on every point of Bible doctrine. Thus most never really enter into God’s Word any deeper than the bare rudiments of the gospel. A true understanding even of this one precious doctrine cannot be fully comprehended or appreciated from God’s point of view apart from the remaining mountain of Scripture. Satan knows that he cannot rob the believer of the eternal life which God’s grace has provided through Jesus Christ. But Satan has played havoc with the spiritual growth of most Christian lives. Remaining as babes God’s children are left to flounder, constantly tossed to and fro in a sea of confusion by every passing wind of men’s doctrines. It is impossible to be near to God, to walk with Him and know Him, if we are not communicating with Him through His entire Word. The great truths of the Bible are not equivalent to any one doctrine no matter how foundational that one doctrine may be. Not until a believer has arrived at complete familiarity with the whole Bible and all of its doctrines is he fully equipped to walk intelligently with the Lord and to serve Him (John 17:17; 1 Cor. 3:1-2; 13:11; Heb. 5:11-6:2; 1 Pet. 2:2-3; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).