Simple Bible Answers - A web site to further understand the Word of God.
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Simple Bible Answers - A web site to further understand the Word of God.
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Points of consideration on prophesy, and the study there of.
First a note on prophesy. Prophesy works on a number of levels. The easiest to see is the simple surface layer where it is used as a “heads up” or warning. Here it can be used as a time line, lets you know how far we are down the road, and like street signs it also can warn us of impending danger, rest stops, junctions, etc.. The world try's to duplicate this form of prophesy, from the man with the sign reading “the worlds going to end”, to the countless number of charlatans on TV, and in the check out rags at the local Wal-mart. The test for these imposters is rather easy, it's the same test that God set forth from the beginning, 100 percent accuracy. They must be 100 percent correct, not 99.99 percent, but flawless. Anything less isn’t from God. Death by stoning was the punishment for anything less then a bull’s-eye. If we held these people to these standards, we’d have a lot more self space at the checkout. Another level is that it is the stamp of God. Only God can tell the end from the beginning. When prophesy is fulfilled it gives the Word of God his signature. Of all the books, text, video, and such on prophesy that has been recorded in the last 6000 years or so, only the Bible stands the test, and only His Word can be trusted. No matter who says it, how much respect you have for him/her, one must always take the Berea approach and test everything in the light of the Scriptures. In the study of prophesy a key element is to employ “hermeneutics”. Simply it is the idea of letting the Bible intrepid it’s self. God gave us his Word not to confuse us, but among many other reasons, to have understanding. What isn’t clear the Holy Spirit gives us insight and comprehension of. So lets say you have studied the Bible for the better part of your life. At your ready you have the Bible in English, Koine Greek, and Hebrew. You are armed with your exhaustive Strong’s concordance, your best Bible dictionaries, on your speed dial you have the numbers for 5 of your most respected teachers. You have fasted, and prayed for God’s wisdom, and the help of the Holy Spirit. You wish to do all this with a sincere desire to fulfill what you know in your heart is God’s calling for you, to teach and spread his word. At this time you are ready to understand all of God’s prophesies right….sorry, no. No matter how pure your heart, how much study you’ve done, how close you are to God, some prophesy just can’t be understood (at this time). All the information is at your fingertips and as soon as it’s fulfilled you will slap your forehead and think “how could I have missed that, it’s so simple”. The reason for that is prophesy is veiled much of the time from us. We just aren’t allowed to understand it. When we do understand it, that knowledge comes from God in the form of the Holy Spirit. Every true Christian understands Jesus is the Son of God, and himself God. We read all the Old Testament prophesies and wonder how could Israel have missed it so badly. What were they thinking, it was right there in black and white (so to speak), in the scrolls, He was the living fulfillment of the Word, Jesus is the Word. Yet take that knowledge, all the historic proof you can muster, and lay it out in front of most of our Jewish brothers and they will just say “I don’t see it”. Are they just dumb, DNA challenged, or is it a secrete conspiracy to drive the Christians nuts? No, they are still veiled from the truth till their time arrives. We wouldn’t understand it any better, if not for just one fact, the Holy Spirit allows us to. God gives us understanding, don’t ever think it has anything to do with your IQ or common sense. If not for God allowing and/or giving insight to us, we would be just as much in the dark. Prophesy is one of the most interesting areas to study, but a area that can lead many astray. Don’t read too much into signs and predictions. Make sure your trying to find the truth and not some new flavor of interpretation. I’ve read books that I wonder if they were smoking something when they were writing them. Don’t believe it just because someone has a book, or website (including this one), check out everything with the Bible. If you have doubts, study more and pray, pray, pray. If your still not sure then let it go for a while, it might not be a valid line of thought your following, or God doesn’t wish for you to know at this moment. Maybe its something’s He doesn’t want anyone to know till it happens, sometimes they're just signs to look for, so you’ll be ready. Also there are those who get so wrapped up in the study that they lose sight of why God has given the information to them. Of who God gives much, He expects much. If your just harboring the info for yourself, God won’t be as generous. We have things to harbor information, there’re called books. As you learn you need to use that knowledge in your walk, and for God's service. There was a saying “being so heavenly minded that your of no earthly good”, don't give the world reason to think that. Pass on what you know, at least in action, word, or deed. As the song goes, don’t hide your candle under a pail. Make sure you are using your heavenly mind for earthly good. Yes we aren't to be part of this world, but we are in it for a number of reasons. Just imagine being the best auto mechanic in the world, able to repair anything, and answer any question about them. What if with all that you don't own a drivers license, you'd never driven a vehicle in your life, and you never have left your garage. What good have you really done for anyone else. God will help with the learning but He wants you to put it into action. Yes prophesy is a great study but don’t forget to include the Gospel for those you meet, that aren’t saved. Telling people that their world is about to implode, but not showing them the exit, by way of Salvation, is of little help. They will either bury their heads in the sand, or handle it from what worldly resources they can. Without Jesus, and the Good News, nothing they employ will save them. Please be careful of the whacks when studying prophesy. Everyone, Godly or not, wants to know the future, but they tend to lean the way that best fits their preconceived ideas of how it will be, or should be. There is one church ( the 7th day advertisers or something) that I did some studying of (they are big in prophesy). Their take of the end times was so off, in so many areas, it wasn't funny. They have signs like mentor showers in Russia, and other events unknown to most people, as major events in their take on the return of Jesus. They take little known events and force them to fit. And again they refuse to believe Israel is a active member in God's plan. Believe me, when God is talking signs, He is talking signs! Ask the Egyptians at the bottom of the Red Sea if some of God’s signs are easy to over look. Many of the signs (mainly in the last seven years) are anything but demur. Even the subtle signs are going to be known worldwide, the world just won’t understand them. In fact many of the signs happening now, just aren’t seen for what they are, but many make the paper everyday. Why would God not give us full insight? Why are we still blind to some prophesy? Why can’t we know who the anti-Christ is ? Who, without question and in detail, are the nations or kings in the end? So many questions, yet many times no clear cut answers. When all is said and done we will once again slap our foreheads and think “how could we have missed it”? In the case of Revelations one of the reasons we may not be able to have full understanding, is that, satan doesn’t have any understanding of the Scriptures. Don’t kid yourself, he knows the Word of God better then any man alive. He can repeat any verse you’d like, in any language or version. He knows the words but lacks understanding of the meanings. He would like to know what’s going to happen, just as much as us, but for different reasons. He missed the crucifixion badly, it took him for a loop. And he would love to know the play by play of the end with dates, locations, and names. All satan has to do, too blow God's plan, is change it (as if he could), then God, either wouldn't be God, or at least not omnipotent (all powerful). Maybe he feels he could force God to renegotiate his sentence (don't ever try to force God to do anything, some have tried, all have failed). Either Gods Word is 100 percent correct, or all of it is subject to questioning. God isn't going to rewrite the game plan, for us, the world, or the devil. We are greatly blessed with the understanding that we have entrusted in us, our Jewish brothers are blessed with their, somewhat, limited understanding they have. The rest of the world is just as much in the dark as satan. The devil isn’t all powerful, or omnipresent and spends much of his time walking the halls of power, or accusing the flock, but you can bet on Sundays he has many of his minions in the pews. The best of teachers and pastors have, I believe, unwelcome visitors they have never seen. As the saying goes “knowledge is power” and man has proven all too many times, he can’t handle power, so some knowledge will be veiled. But rest assured that Gods plan is unfolding just as He designed. God hasn't lost control, God isn't looking down on us wondering "what am I going to do about that"? Mans vision is limited, God's is eternal, and the out come is already settled. God gives His kids insight to what's going to happen, but not if they don't ask, or look for it. It's all in the Bible for us, read it. The catch is you need to be part of the Family, and Salvation by way of the finished work of Jesus, is the method of adoption. Jesus has a room waiting for you, in fact He has enough rooms for everyone who has ever lived. Sad to say, at closing time, the "No vacancy" sign won't be lit. Most of the world (or church, small "c", check What is Church?) won't check in and a time will come in everyone's life when it will be to late. Put your reservation in now, don't wait, for Jesus is coming quickly and once that train has left the station, it's gone.
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Last modified: 12/15/07For a FREE downloadable KJV Bible click here. Opinions or questions: Mail@SimpleBibleAnswers.com
Re:22:18: For I testify unto every man
that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto
these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
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