Isn’t it tragic that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ speak negatively about prophecy? Those who spend much time in the study of prophecy are often ridiculed for doing so. It is said that this time could be better spent witnessing to the lost. However, the wonder of studying prophecy is that it instills an even greater desire to witness to those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. Actually, the more one studies prophecy, the greater the urgency to tell the Good News of salvation in Christ.

Should a Christian have no interest in studying prophecy when it comprises roughly one third of God’s Word, the Bible? I’m sure they are influenced by those who have given prophecy a “bad name” in attempting to set dates for Christ’s return, and making predictions that “so-and-so” is the Antichrist. These people are false prophets and should never be given an audience, but society loves sensationalism. Society also loves to see those who claim to be speaking on behalf of God fall flat on their face.

If you are a Christian, you really need to be studying prophecy, if not for one reason. God expects you to. He didn’t place this much information about prophecy in the Bible for it to be ignored. Pastors especially, should be strong students of prophecy, and should be teaching it on a regular basis, not at the expense of everything else in God’s Word of course, but it needs to be taught. Sadly, very few pastors know enough about prophecy to teach it to their congregations in the first place.

We are in the last days of the Church age. The Church age is winding down and the signs are all around us. Daniel’s seventieth week, or the Tribulation period as it is commonly known, is just around the corner. Far, far too many Christians are going to be caught off guard when Jesus returns for His Church just prior to the Tribulation. Does that mean they won’t be included in the Rapture? Of course not, but think of the lost people they have failed to tell about Christ’s offer of salvation and His soon coming. How many of those will remain in their sin because they did not hear?

For those who say, “we need to be witnessing, and let prophecy take care of itself,” are you witnessing? I realize that Christians, who know nothing about prophecy, do witness. Unfortunately, there are many, many more who know nothing about prophecy, and still don’t witness. The whole point of this article is to emphasize that prophecy, especially today, brings out an urgency in the prophecy student to witness. If you are a legitimate student of prophecy, I simply do not see how you would have no interest in witnessing to the lost. To the contrary, your desire to witness would increase, simply because you know the time is short.

Something else to consider are those who study prophecy, but do not witness for Christ. Notice that I mentioned in the last paragraph the “legitimate” student of prophecy. Yes, there are those who want to study the fine points of prophecy, but aren’t interested in the message. Christ’s message has always been,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

All too often these folks just want to argue about what they think they know. That is not the right attitude to study prophecy, or anything else in God’s Word, for that matter.

Jesus Christ has made His message of salvation very clear. Even though this topic too has been tainted by false teachers, the Bible is clear on our need to be “born again” and how to be “born again.” One example, among many, would be,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Therefore, when the legitimate student of prophecy becomes alarmed for the need of people to be saved, and they will become alarmed, they must be clear on the doctrine of salvation as well.

When studying prophecy, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind would be the spiritual welfare of our family members. Then we start thinking about our neighbors and co-workers and others we know. I know I sound like a broken record, but the natural result of studying prophecy is growing in one’s desire to witness. It just happens that way. To study prophecy and not grow with a strong desire to witness is unnatural. It would almost be like seeing a tornado coming, but having no desire to warn others. The natural process wants to warn others of the approaching danger.

So for those of you who just want to argue over the fine points of prophecy, you need to get a life. Your heart isn’t right before God, and you need to get that settled first of all.

For those of you who want to ridicule legitimate prophecy students, you need to start studying the one third portion of God’s Word you have cut out and listen to what God has to say to you.

Grant Phillips

I was recently asked a question that went something like this: “The Old Testament saints didn’t know about Jesus Christ. Why do people say they will be raised from the dead and go to heaven?”

A big part of the problem is the statement that the Old Testament saints didn’t know about Jesus Christ. I don’t think they knew His name, but many people knew some of His titles, many people knew about Him and some (the saints who trusted in the coming Messiah and not the ritual of the Law) knew Him.

Before they were put out of the Garden of Eden, God revealed the Virgin Birth (Seed of Woman) to Adam and Eve (Gentiles). Before the Flood and before the beginning of Israel, God revealed the Second Coming to Enoch and he was raptured (Jude 1:14; Hebrews 11:5). Before the Flood and before the beginning of Israel, Noah was a man of faith that God talked to and warned of things to come (Hebrews 11:7). In fact, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8) and he became an heir of the righteousness which is by faith(Hebrews 11:7).

Noah’s faith along with that of Enoch, Abraham and Sarah are mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11. The writer said, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). They heard the promises of God, understood that those promises had a future fulfillment, were persuaded that they were real, embraced them, confessed them and died in faith.

Sarah conceived Isaac because she believed God is faithful and keeps His promises. Abraham was known for building altars and God appeared unto him many times (Genesis 12:7). Abraham offered up Isaac because he believed in the Resurrection of the dead (Hebrews 11:19).

Moses (a Jew) esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:25-26). Did you notice that Moses wasn’t afraid of Pharaoh because he valued the reproach of Christ? He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

As time passed, the list of prophecies grew and God revealed more to the Jews about their coming Messiah. The sacrifices and Feasts pointed to His death, burial, resurrection, second Coming, etc. (Leviticus 23). In the second Psalm, David asked why rulers take counsel against the Lord and his anointed (a word translated Messiah in Hebrew and Christ in the Greek). This and other prophecies (1 Chronicles 17:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5 for example) caused the Jews to start speaking of the coming “Moshiach ben David” (Messiah son of David). Daniel even prophesied the exact day of the triumphal entry ofMessiah the Prince and that Messiah would be cut off or crucified, but not for Himself (Daniel 9:25-26).

David talked about His crucifixion (Psalm 22) and Isaiah talked about His suffering and death as a lamb to the slaughter for our sins hundreds of years before it happened (Isaiah 53). Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, a term that referred to the coming of Messiah (Luke 2:25). “And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26). In fact, many Jews were expecting the coming of Christ and thought John the Baptist might be Him (Luke 3:15).

The Old Testament saints were people of faith who looked forward to the coming of Messiah just as the New Testament saints are people of faith who look back on the first coming of Messiah. Those mentioned in Hebrews 11 proved their faith by the way they lived. They developed a desire for a heavenly country and God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has even prepared a place for them (Hebrews 11:16). When Jesus was transfigured Moses and Elijah were with Him (Matthew 17:1-8). When He was raised from the dead many Old Testament saints (yes, the Holy Spirit called them saints; also see Isaiah 45:4 for elect) were raised with Him (Matthew 27:52-53).

These saints believed in a coming ruler that Micah said would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2). When the wise men asked Herod about the birth of the King of the Jews, he called in the religious leaders and demanded to know where Christ was to be born (Matthew 2:1-7). Many Jews were just looking for a political leader, but at least some believed the King of the Jews was also the Christ (some knew about Him and some knew Him).

Anyway, the Old Testament saints didn’t have to know Jesus’ name to believe in the Messiah, know that he would die for their sins, be under grace, die in faith, be heirs of God’s righteousness, be raised from the dead, go to heaven, etc. God even told Daniel that some would be raised to everlasting life (Daniel 12:1-2).

FYI: God Has Spoken (And We Know It) by Daymond Duck is available, (linked to my publisher @ https://www.raptureready.com/terry/book17.html). Books and a Kindle version are available at amazon.com. A Nook version is available at bn.com. Check out what it says about Syria, Russia, Iran, Egypt, natural disasters, the Two-State Solution, etc.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck