This generation is witness to the emergence of a radical new social movement known as transhumanism. Expressing an unshakable faith in the continued and rapid advancement of human technology, transhumanists look to the future with what can only be described as a religious fervor. Many of this movement’s adherents point to the singularity (an exponential increase in technological advancement so rapid the unaided human mind is unable to grasp its implications) as the climax of human civilization. Believing this event will usher in a new era for the human race in which limited mortals transcend their biological bodies and set out to conquer the universe, transhumanist anticipation of the singularity is comparable to Christian anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Ironically, the Bible points out that in the time just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the world will be characterized by unparalleled human arrogance. Led by the Antichrist, the human race will launch not only a spiritual rebellion against God, but an actual physical confrontation between itself and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul foresaw this conflict almost two thousand years ago:

“For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed–the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, NLT).

The Tower of Babel

To properly understand the origins of this rebellion, we must first examine the development of human civilization in the aftermath of the Flood. It is a time marked by another rebellion first chronicled in Genesis chapter 11, the story of the Tower of Babel:

“At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about construction projects. ‘Come,’ they said, ‘let’s make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies–a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.’

“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. ‘Look!’ he said. ‘If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and give them different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.’

“In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth” (Genesis 11:1-9, NLT).

In this story, God scatters the human race and confuses the people with different languages. His reason for doing so is to avoid the inevitable disaster wrought by global government and a common language. Why are these things a concern? Because if they continue unabated, in due time, “nothing will be impossible” for the human race. This is more than a flippant comment by God. It’s a prophecy of things to come.

It’s a prophecy of something so bad, God put a stop to it the moment He first saw it. God knew that, left to pursue its technological development, the human race would one day challenge Him. After all, what was the motive for building the Tower of Babel in the first place?

“Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies—a monument to our greatness!” (Genesis 11:4, NLT).

The human race set out to build a monument to its own greatness, exalting mankind above God and extending its tower far into Heaven with the sole intent of usurping God’s glory and authority. This innate human desire did not end with the Tower of Babel. It continues to this day, and soon it will result in one final attempt to usurp the authority of God.

The Great Lie

The motive for this great rebellion will be predicated on lies. The Bible predicts that deception will be rampant in the end times. And just as God hardened the heart of Pharaoh for putting faith in his own power, He will do the same to the inhabitants of the earth who will become drunk with their own power:

“So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies” (2 Thessalonians 2:11, NLT).

Paul makes it clear that these people will be deluded into believing “the lies.” But what exactly are the “lies” to which he refers? A cursory examination of the first book of the Bible reveals a quote from the originator of lies. In fact, it’s the very first lie referenced in the Bible:

“‘You won’t die!’ the serpent hissed. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil'” (Genesis 3:4-5, NLT).

These lies from the Garden of Eden are the same lies to which Paul refers. The same lies that brought sin into the world will be the same lies that spark the ultimate rebellion against God Almighty. Humanity will come full circle. In the last days, the same construction projects envisioned by the Tower of Babel architects will result in mankind achieving a level of technological sophistication so advanced that “nothing will be impossible for them.” The human race will come to believe the great lies of the serpent.

In his arrogance, man will believe he is:

1) Immortal

2) All-knowing

3) Just like God

Mankind will mimic the earth-shattering arrogance of Lucifer by freely joining in his rebellious attempt to usurp the throne of God, because, without Jesus Christ, fallen mankind’s ambition is the same as Lucifer’s. Centuries ago, Isaiah described this fallen being and his sinister motives:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High'” (Isaiah 14:12-14, NLT).

In the last days, this passage will be an accurate depiction not only of Satan, but of all mankind.

The Transhumanist Movement

The latest incarnation of man’s rebellion against God is the transhumanist movement. Many within the movement believe the singularity will lead to the emergence of “post-biological humans” who are able to shed their biological bodies and “upgrade their hardware.” Others believe that by downloading themselves into a network, they will effectively become “immortal.” True believers have modified their diets, exercise regimens, and entire lifestyle in an effort to increase the likelihood of living to witness human reversal of the aging process and eventual human “immortality.”

Ray Kurzweil–inventor, author, and transhumanist–s considered one of the best in the world at accurately forecasting short-term and intermediate technological trends. In chapter 7 of his bestselling book,The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, he describes his view of the ultimate outcome of our technological advance:

“The matter and energy in our vicinity will become infused with the intelligence, knowledge, creativity, beauty, and emotional intelligence (the ability to love, for example) of our human-machine civilization. Our civilization will then expand outward, turning all the dumb matter and energy we encounter into sublimely intelligent–transcendent–matter and energy. So in a sense, we can say the Singularity will ultimately infuse the universe with spirit.”

According to Kurzweil, the universe will be infused with “spirit” as a result of the natural advancement of our human-machine civilization. This suggests that the universe is not already infused with “spirit,” and that if God exists, His designs are inferior to those who will be created by the predicted human-machine civilization.

In the next paragraph, he describes the advancement of the human-machine civilization as approaching the very conception of God. Ironically, he admits that the accelerating growth of evolution can never achieve the infinite character traits exclusive to God:

“Evolution moves toward greater complexity, greater elegance, greater knowledge, greater intelligence, greater beauty, greater creativity, and greater levels of subtle attributes such as love. In every monotheistic tradition God is likewise described as all of these qualities, only without any limitation: infinite knowledge, infinite intelligence, infinite beauty, infinite creativity, infinite love, and so on. Of course, even the accelerating growth of evolution never achieves an infinite level, but as it explodes exponentially it certainly moves rapidly in that direction. So evolution moves inexorably toward this conception of God, although never quite reaching this ideal. We can regard, therefore, the freeing of our thinking from the severe limitations of its biological form to be an essentially spiritual undertaking.”

The concluding sentence of this paragraph should send up red flags for every student of Bible prophecy. According to Kurzweil, as the human race moves forward, it will seek to free its thinking “from the severe limitations of its biological form.” The Bible reveals that one day mankind will gather its armies in an attempt to “break the chains of God and set themselves free from His bondage.” Psalms 2 describes this confrontation:

“Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry. ‘And free ourselves from this slavery.’ But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them” (Psalms 2:1-4, NLT).

Could this passage describe an attempt by post-biological humans to overthrow the rule of God? Could the chains that hold them in bondage be the “severe limitations of their biological form”? Remember, when this event occurs, Satan and his fallen angels are also inhabitants of the earth:

“Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time” (Revelation 12:12, NLT).

In his arrogance and desperation, Satan will advance the dark powers of the spiritual realm, aided by a fallen mankind with powers beyond our current limitations, in a last-ditch effort to defeat God. The technological advancements of the near future will provide mankind with unprecedented power, and the ambitious goals of the transhumanist movement are already in direct conflict with God Himself.

The following verse provides additional support for believing transhumanism will play a pivotal role in this final rebellion. In the New Testament, when Jesus describes the signs of His coming to the disciples, He makes an interesting statement in light of our times:

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22, KJV).

Throughout the centuries, this verse has been interpreted as meaning the Second Coming of Christ will arrive just in time to save the human race from itself, meaning human wars would threaten to cause the extinction of the human race. However, it might mean that “no flesh will be saved” because a nakedly ambitious human race will transform itself into a race of “post-biological humans” intent on reshaping the universe according to an alternative agenda.

Given the history of human rebellion against God, it would be unwise to discount this possibility.

The Great Rebellion

Just as Paul prophesied, human ambition will ultimately lead to a great rebellion against God. This rebellion will reach its zenith at Armageddon, an actual geographical location in modern-day Israel. The gathering of the world’s armies at Armageddon will not be (as some believe) a war of humans versus humans, but rather a literal, physical confrontation between rebellious mankind and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. In addition to Psalms 2, this battle is referenced multiple times in Scripture, and it’s clearly referenced twice in the book of Revelation:

“These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14, NLT).

“Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army” (Revelation 19:19, NLT).

The “one sitting on the horse” is identified as Jesus Christ. Literally interpreted, both of these passages state that the world will gather for battle against Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear about this; yet for countless generations, these passages have been interpreted as indicating a mere spiritual battle and not a literal, physical conflict. It’s not difficult to imagine why. The idea of mankind physically engaging God in battle seems so preposterous that these passages have given way to numerous symbolic interpretations over the years. Yet Scripture is clear. Remember what God Himself said about the human race that will ultimately fulfill His Tower of Babel prophecy–“Nothing will be impossible for them!”

In fact, the book of Daniel reveals that the Antichrist will manage to attack “the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings and stars to the ground and trampling them”:

“From one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and east and toward the glorious land of Israel. His power reached to the heavens where it attacked the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings and stars to the ground and trampling them. He even challenged the Commander of heaven’s armies by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple” (Daniel 8:9-11, NLT).

The power of the Antichrist and the human beings of his era will far exceed what our generation can currently imagine. As proof, Daniel describes a time when the Antichrist will engage Jesus Christ Himself in battle:

“He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power” (Daniel 8:25, NLT).

The human race, led by the Antichrist, will take on the Lord Himself in battle. Like the Tower of Babel generation, the arrogance of this final generation will extend all the way into the heavens, where the human race will attempt to usurp the glory and authority of God Himself. But just like the Tower of Babel generation, their efforts will end in utter failure.

Conclusion

The transhumanist agenda serves as a reminder of what the human race is without the blood of Jesus Christ–an enemy of God. A movement that views its ultimate purpose as bringing enlightenment to the universe sets itself up in direct opposition to God’s own purpose. This is the very definition of rebellion, and it’s the inevitable result of fallen mankind’s sinful nature.

Yet despite our sinful nature, God provided us with the free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept this gift. Those who accept it will experience peace and everlasting life, but those who reject it will become slaves to sin, and their ambition–ike Satan’s–will one day lead to an outright physical confrontation with God Himself. It’s a battle that God will win.

Is Bible prophecy really important? And if so, how important? And aren’t people who expend more than a passing moment examining Bible prophecy simply uneducated crackpots and lunatics yearning for the destruction of the world? These are just a few of the questions bombarding today’s Christians when it comes to the study of Bible prophecy.

That Bible prophecy is irrelevant to the gospel or a mere playground for the mentally unstable is a message we constantly receive from the media, pop culture, and many so-called church leaders. It’s unfortunate, because this false image of Bible prophecy has succeeded in turning many Christians away from the gospel. Although recent history is marked by an untold number of date-setters and false prophets claiming to speak for God, this is no reason to ignore Bible prophecy. Such people were never true Christians, but rather enemies of God in disguise.

So instead of relying on the words of ministers, priests, journalists, and other humans, let’s examine the primary source. Here’s what the Bible says about prophecy, as well as every verse of God’s Holy Word:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT).

The word “all” includes Bible prophecy, and that’s good, considering that more than 25 percent of the Bible is fulfilled or yet to be fulfilled prophecy. Why is so much of the Bible dedicated to prophecy? There are many reasons, but in the end, there is only one purpose: to direct the attention of the human race to Jesus Christ.

“For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10, NLT).

Previously fulfilled prophecies lend unprecedented credibility to the Bible’s claim to be the Word of God, and the Messianic prophecies fulfilled by the birth, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth authenticate His claim to be the one true Christ. In essence, Bible prophecy is the most powerful witness to the divinity of Christ. So don’t listen to those who claim that Bible prophecy distracts us from the true Christian mission. Quite the contrary, all Bible prophecy points to Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus Instructs Us

Despite its many detractors, the study of Bible prophecy is an essential aspect of proper Christian living. The Lord Himself expected His disciples to carefully examine the Word of God and to be prepared for His return:

“So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42, NLT).

In fact, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not recognizing the signs of the times, for the religious leaders of His day had full knowledge of the prophecies of the Messiah, yet they still chose not to believe in Him.

“One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus’ claims by asking him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven. He replied, ‘You know the saying, “Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.” You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can’t read the obvious signs of the times!'” (Matthew 16:1-3, NLT).

Jesus expected the people of His day to fully recognize and eagerly await the time of His first coming. As we patiently await His Second Coming, he holds our generation to the same standard of accountability.

There are many reasons for the Lord’s repeated command to study Bible prophecy, but three of the most significant are found below:

1) Authentication of the Bible

Bible prophecy offers the clearest indication that the Bible is the verifiable Word of God. Yet despite the millions of people who attend church and synagogue every week and the existence of countless books on the subject, most people are simply unaware of these prophecies. They feverishly search through the writings of Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, the Koran, and countless other “sacred texts” in hope of finding a profound truth or revelation concerning the future, only to be disappointed time and again.

Somehow, the most credible source of information on future events, the Bible, escapes notice. Yet the fulfilled prophecies of the Bible are backed by mountains of historical data, archaeological evidence, and the staggering mathematical probability of their occurrence merely being the result of chance. No other source of historical knowledge can make the same claims, and for good reason. No other source is the inspired Word of God.

“And do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am God—I alone! I am God, and there is no one else like me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isaiah 46:9-11, NLT).

The very definition of God includes His unique ability to see from the distant past to the distant future, from the beginning to the end. He alone can foresee world events with 100-percent accuracy centuries in advance. The apostle Peter testified to this fact:

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God” (2 Peter 1:20, NLT).

Unlike other sacred texts that claim divine origin, the Bible can point to its unprecedented track record in foreseeing future events. This is because the Bible is not the product of imaginative men, but rather the testimony of prophets who were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak from God. Fulfilled prophecy authenticates the Bible, proving it to be the Word of God. For this reason alone, Bible prophecy is worth every iota of our attention.

However, when it comes to spreading the Word of God, there is no greater tool of evangelism than Bible prophecy.

2) Assistance in Spreading the Gospel

One of the easiest and most natural methods for spreading the gospel is the sharing of Bible prophecy. In fact, in the early days of the church, sharing fulfilled Bible prophecy was the primary method for spreading the gospel. On the day of Pentecost, Peter gave a rousing speech in Jerusalem in which he cited fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies as clear proof that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah (Acts 2:14-42). This speech led to three thousand people devoting their lives to Jesus Christ. Later in the same book, we learn the story of Philip and the eunuch, in which Philip uses a fulfilled prophecy from the book of Isaiah to explain the gospel to an Ethiopian traveler (Acts 8:26-39). These are just two of many instances in which the early church emphasized Bible prophecy as a tool for evangelism.

In one of the New Testament books that bear his name, Peter underscores the important role of Bible prophecy:

“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, ‘This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him.’ We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain. Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place—until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:16-19, NLT).

In Peter’s words, Bible prophecy is “like a light shining in a dark place.” Bible prophecy provides us with confidence in the coming glory of Christ and the necessary hope to see us through the daily rigors of life until that day appears. Peter further proclaims his confidence in the words of the prophets, both fulfilled and unfulfilled, because he has witnessed firsthand the authenticity of the Scriptures.

Therefore, we should afford the utmost respect for the words of the prophets, and rejoice in the fact that we are able to understand their fulfillment in the life of Christ:

“This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen. They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen” (1 Peter 1:10-12, NLT).

The prophets yearned to know more about Bible prophecy, and the spirit of Christ was within them. Even the angels are eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. If this is true, then how can we say Bible prophecy is insignificant or of secondary importance?

3) Encouragement of Holy Living

In the end, dedicated study of Bible prophecy leads to holy living. Fulfilled prophecy is a constant reminder of God’s awesome power, the glory of Jesus Christ, and the absolute certainty that promises yet unfulfilled will come to be. This breeds a number of Christ-like characteristics in the life of a Christian, a fact attested to by Paul:

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (Titus 2:11-13, NLT).

If we acknowledge the prophecies of the Second Coming as well as the command of Jesus to stay awake and alert, we will be driven to live godly lives. Paul also emphasized this in his letter to the Romans:

“Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11, NLT).

Peter also recognized the power of prophecy to motivate Christians toward holy living, citing faith in the imminent return of Christ (unfulfilled prophecy) as reason for modifying behavior and living a life in harmony with God:

“So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. Obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-15 (NLT)

James underlined the important role of Bible prophecy in fostering patience in the life of Christ’s followers:

“Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near” (James 5:7-8, NLT).

Harboring the hope that Christ can return at any moment encourages patience in our daily lives.

In addition, Paul points out the importance of studying Bible prophecy in order to identify false prophets and recognize evil:

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, NLT).

If a Christian ignores Bible prophecy, he or she is ignoring a large portion of God’s Word. As a result, that person will be unable to adequately counter arguments and false doctrines put forth by false prophets and enemies of God. Like the people of Berea (Acts 17:11), we are encouraged to personally examine the Word of God and use it as the yardstick by which we measure truth. A Christian who lacks knowledge of Bible prophecy will be severely lacking in this area, and as a result, will be more susceptible to errant teachings.

Reward Awaits

As if the above reasons weren’t enough, the Bible promises special blessings to those who faithfully examine Bible prophecy. As an example, one of the most prophetic books in the Bible, Revelation, promises a special blessing to those who merely read it. Moreover, God further blesses those who listen to and take to heart what this book has to say:

“God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says. For the time is near when these things will happen” (Revelation 1:3, NLT).

Remember, the book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Despite what some think, it’s not the revelation of John, or the imaginative writings of a cave dweller. It is direct correspondence from Jesus to His followers, and although some of it is difficult to understand, it contains some of the most wonderful promises from God to man in the entire Bible. As Paul states:

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, NLT).

Paul knew the importance of Bible prophecy and the significant role it played in the daily life of a Christian. In fact, he earnestly looked forward to the day when he would be rewarded for his hope in an unfulfilled Bible prophecy–the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ:

“And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return” (2 Timothy 4:8, NLT).

This crown of righteousness is not just for Paul, but for all who “eagerly look forward to His glorious return,” providing those who receive it with an eternal reward. Still think Bible prophecy is unimportant?

Conclusion

Remember, the early church warned the last generation that unfulfilled prophecies would be a source of derision:

“First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire. This will be their argument: ‘Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created'” (2 Peter 3:3, NLT).

Our generation has done more to fulfill Peter’s prophecy than any generation before. Today, Bible prophecy and those who study it are mocked and ridiculed. And it’s not just the general population attempting to marginalize prophecy. In most cases, it’s prominent leaders of mainstream Christian denominations—ministers, priests, and community leaders of all types.

Such people attempt to justify their personal disdain for prophecy by relegating it to second-tier status behind salvation and evangelism. They say, why waste time studying Bible prophecy when it detracts from good works and spreading the gospel message? They fail to realize that prophecy is the essence of the gospel message.

Almost every one of the promises Christians hold near and dear are based on prophecy: The promise of heaven. The hope of salvation. The joy of eternity with Christ. Each of these is a promise from God guaranteeing our future. And what is a prophecy, if not a guaranteed future event? So don’t let the mockery of others discourage you from studying Bible prophecy.

Remember, Jesus Christ Himself was mocked and ridiculed by this world. If you want to follow Him, He says you must be willing to be mocked and ridiculed yourself. Bible prophecy is the message of Jesus, and as Christians, we must be willing to endure persecution for it:

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process? If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels'” (Luke 9:23-26, NLT).