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Bible Prophecy

Why is bible prophecy so important? It is the progressive revealing of God’s redemption plan through His son Jesus Christ.

All prophecy testifies of Jesus. “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”—Revelation 19:10

All prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”—Mat 5:17

The Old Testament law was a shadow or pattern of good things to come. (Hebrews 10:1 & Colossians 2:17). These reveal the first and second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ministry of the Old Testament prophets spoke of the sufferings and the glories of Christ. “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”—1 Peter 1:11

THE VALUE OF BIBLE PROPHECY

Understanding Bible Prophecy will inspire holiness and vision to become like Jesus both in character and power; and makes you ready to stand before him with confidence at His return..

Understanding Bible Prophecy will inspire passion and urgency to fulfill God’s call and mandate to reconcile the world to Jesus.

Understanding Bible Prophecy brings comfort. The the knowledge of a sovereign God who intervenes on behalf of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

GOD’S PROGRESSIVE PLAN REVEALED

The Bible reveals God’s prophetic plan for the world. Here is a brief chronological outline of the Bible’s progressive and detailed revelation of the plan of God.

  1. The fall of Adam and the promise of redemption.
  2. The days of the Flood and the promise of redemption to Enoch & Noah.
  3. The covenant of promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob of a great people and a great land and a future Messiah to bless the nations of the world.
  4. The Law at Sinai given to Israel which foreshadows God’s redemption plan.
    • Moses the lawgiver, the Apostle of Faith, who is a picture of Christ the mediator
    • The priesthood, sacrifices, and temple illustrates Messiah’s work on the cross.
    • The Feasts which is an illustration of the work of Messiah. For example, Passover and the 1st coming of Messiah, Pentecost and the Church age, Tabernacles and the 2nd coming of Messiah complete God’s plan of redemption.
    • The Song of Moses reveals Israel’s future and coming restoration which will be a blessing for all nations.
  5. The Ministry of the Prophets from Elijah to John the Baptist.
    • The prophets spoke the sufferings and the glories of Messiah, which reveal two comings of Messiah to Israel!
    • All the words of the prophets hinged upon the promise to Abraham—a great people and a great land and a future Messiah to bless the nations of the world.
    • God continued to call Israel back to Himself that they would be a witness of YHWH to the Gentile world.
  6. The Gospels are a fulfillment of the Old Testament revealing Jesus’ prophetic ministry and work of redemption.
    • Jesus revealed who He was and gave a glimpse of His second coming at the mount of transfiguration.  (Elijah the prophet, Moses the law giver and Jesus the fulfillment of both the law, and the prophets).
    • Jesus reveals in the parables of Matthew 13 that the preaching of the Gospel would culminate in a global harvest and nothing would stop it but men would receive and value the Gospel even giving all they had to possess it.  The Gospel is likened to the power of seed to bring about harvest, the power of leaven to spread, and the value of great treasure being worthy of sacrifice.
    • The Olivet discourse is directed to Israel and not the Church, as it outlines the signs of His return and admonitions on how to endure the tribulation that is coming.  The mysteries of the church had not yet been disclosed.  The first mention of Jesus coming for the church is at the last supper in John’s Gospel (Ch 13-17)
  7. The book of Acts is the fulfillment of Pentecost which begins the season of Harvest from among the Gentiles and will conclude with the rebuilding of David’s tabernacle (Acts15). Then at the Feast of Trumpets the laborers would come in from the harvest of the field, then God brings about the redemption of Israel.
  8. Paul who essentially wrote the bulk of the New Testament was a steward of the Gospel mysteries. He explains the following…
    • The mystery of Christ in the believer the hope of glory
    • The mystery of the church as one new man—Jew and Gentile.
    • The mystery of the rapture and the judgment seat of Christ. All of Paul’s epistles to the churches with the exception of Galatians contain admonitions on how to live in light of Christ’s soon return.
    • The mystery of Israel’s national blindness until the full number of Gentiles are saved and then their promised restoration as the head of all nations. (Romans 9-11, note chapter 11, verse 25)