In simple term, bible prophecy is the study of foretold events and happenings long before they ever occurred. The Almighty God of the bible is the author who inspired His servants (notably His prophets) to pen these prophecies way in advance to educate and warn His people. Those who heed these prophecies and warnings, and take the appropriate actions and precautions were, are and will be better off than those who failed to do so.
I will list briefly some of the main reasons why we need to understand bible prophecy. There are at least three main reasons as follows:
1) The Lord Jesus said so in Matthew 4:4, when He answered the Devil when tempted to partake food to satisfy His physical hunger, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God".
Man is commanded to live by the WORD OF GOD and this includes all the prophecies and commandments given by God through the writings of the Old Testament prophets, the four Gospels of the New Testament, the epistles of the Apostles and the Book of Revelation. The last book of the bible - Revelation - was written by the Apostle John based on the visions given him by the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the island of Patmos. The book of Revelation, together with other prophectic books particularly Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, is crucial to the study and understanding of the whole tapestry of God's plan as we move nearer towards the closing of the church age.
2) In this present time and age, where false teachings surrounding the imminent return of Christ abound and often went into overdrive, a clear and proper understanding of bible prophecy is paramount to ward off deception. 1Timothy 4:1-2 read, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron."
A major problem facing many Christians today is ignorance of the Word of God. Hosea 4:6a warns, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The Lord Jesus admonishes, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Clearly, it behooves us to learn and understand the times and events unfolding before us in the light of biblical prophetic cautions and warnings. Failing which, we could end up in the wrong end of the deep!
3) A third reason for understanding bible prophecy is to help guide us (for Christian believers) in praying for the fulfillment of bible prophecies yet to materialise. Some one-third of the whole bible is prophecy and many had been fulfilled to the dot - like the first advent of the Messiah Jesus Christs and the restoration (partial) of Israelites to their land of Israel in 1948 - many prophecies remain to be fulfilled in the future.
The role of the Christian believer is to watch for the signs of the times and to pray for the consummation of this church age. To adopt a cavalier attitude towards bible prophecy is to show dishonor to God. In like manner, to doubt the fulfillment of bible prophecy is tantamount to deny the Word of God. Only by obedience to observe all that the Lord has commanded the church to do will we obtain the whole counsel of God. In Matthew 26:41 Jesus told the one of His disciples Peter, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation."
In working this blog, I am reminded of the verses in Ezekiel 33: 5-7, " He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me."
It is a solemn warning no doubt, but one that we would do well to take seriously. Lest we be found wanting and ashamed at His Second Coming (1 John 2:28).
About the author - Adrian Fah is the author of The Mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Rapture
We are often bombarded with news of doomsday scenario in the newspapers and television media footage of diaster and war. All these are the 'birth-pangs' of much more to come in 'these last days'. The Lord Jesus spelt all these out when He told His disciples of the signs to watch in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24.
Events unfolding before our eyes, like the frequent earthquakes, famines and military conflicts in different parts of the world testified to these biblical truths. When these truths are shared, most people who are not directly affected by these events are unwilling to believe what the scripture says. And even if they do, many do not see these happenings occurring in their lifetime.
The bible is unequivocal about the coming event in the prophetic timeline - the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ - in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 : "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
What is this Rapture? It is a catching away of born again Christian believers who have their spirit saved from eternal condemnation. Those believers who are already dead - biblically known as asleep in the Lord - will rise first to be followed by those who are alive at the time when the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the clouds. Both groups of born again believers will be 'caught up' in the air to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in their redeemed natural bodies in heaven. The redeemed natural body will be like the sinless body of Adam and Eve before the Fall at the Garden of Eden. It will also be like the sinless body of Jesus when he walked the earth, tempted in all ways but yet without sin.
How can one be part of this group of 'called out' people to be rescued from the calamities that will befall planet earth during the times of the seveen year tribulation? The answer is simply by believing on the saving grace of the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an act of faith which is available to all who believe, regardless of skin color, nationalities and status in life. The Word of God specifically states that the saving grace is by faith and is a free gift to all who believes (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
For further details, please click here: The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Events unfolding before our eyes, like the frequent earthquakes, famines and military conflicts in different parts of the world testified to these biblical truths. When these truths are shared, most people who are not directly affected by these events are unwilling to believe what the scripture says. And even if they do, many do not see these happenings occurring in their lifetime.
The bible is unequivocal about the coming event in the prophetic timeline - the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ - in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 : "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
What is this Rapture? It is a catching away of born again Christian believers who have their spirit saved from eternal condemnation. Those believers who are already dead - biblically known as asleep in the Lord - will rise first to be followed by those who are alive at the time when the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the clouds. Both groups of born again believers will be 'caught up' in the air to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in their redeemed natural bodies in heaven. The redeemed natural body will be like the sinless body of Adam and Eve before the Fall at the Garden of Eden. It will also be like the sinless body of Jesus when he walked the earth, tempted in all ways but yet without sin.
How can one be part of this group of 'called out' people to be rescued from the calamities that will befall planet earth during the times of the seveen year tribulation? The answer is simply by believing on the saving grace of the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an act of faith which is available to all who believe, regardless of skin color, nationalities and status in life. The Word of God specifically states that the saving grace is by faith and is a free gift to all who believes (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
For further details, please click here: The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
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