WHY PROPHECY ? :
2Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed; useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that those of God are thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prophecies about future events and times are found throughout the Bible with estimates from 20 to 30 percent depending upon how a count is made. Further, often the prophecies at the time they were made were confusing at best or totally out of touch with reality at worst. One has to ask why God devotes so much of His holy word to prophetical statements about future events and times. What is His intent and how would our lives and faith be different if He was silent on these issues? A few clues to answering this question concern the effects such prophecies have on us during our faith journey in this world; consider four of these clues or markers:
1. To Prepare Us For What Will Happen Later. God alerts us on what is coming; we can be prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually so as not to be overwhelmed by circumstances.
2. Validates God as Truly Sovereign. He controls the outcomes and is never surprised. Rom 8:28 could never be true otherwise, as He could not guarantee that “all things work together for good….”
3. God is a God of Justice – Sin has Consequences. Prophetical statements often show us in vivid detail that sin has a penalty. Although God’s love is patient and longsuffering, He will not be mocked – the penalty will come due and will be paid.
4. We Are Promised Real Hope For the Future. In spite of how bleak and depressing the future may appear to us, we can be assured that God is still in control by His track record – prophecy fulfilled! Caution. Many are tempted to twist and distort prophecies to mesh with their desires and hoped for outcomes according to their preconceived ideas and wishful thoughts.
Remember: Is 55:8-9 My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Rom 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. Regardless of our circumstances, God is not asleep but is fully engaged.
Stand by – He is Coming Back