We are living in the Bible end times for sure! And yet why is it that so many churches are not studying and preaching Bible prophecy? If you ask them if they believe that we are living in the very end times, they will say yes! So why isn't Bible prophecy being studied and preached? The answers I get back are varied, from "it's too complicated" to "I don't need to study it, all I need is Jesus". It's true that we all need Jesus, as He is the only way to salvation. But, God says that the book of Revelation is the "revelation of Jesus Christ". Is it not important to find out about Christ's revelation? I believe it is important.
Revelation 1:1 ...'The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.'
Christ is the centre of Bible Prophecy, and the books of Daniel and Revelation are really fascinating to study and are full of important messages for us living in the end times. We need to get passionate about Christ Jesus and passionate about the message He is trying to tell us through Bible prophecy.
'For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.' (Luke 8:17-18)
So many people are in the dark concerning bible prophecy and the end times, and a time has come that Amos prophesied about ... Amos 8:11 ...'Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.' ... There is certainly a famine in the Christian world today for hearing the TRUE Word of God. And what are people doing instead? ... 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ...'For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.' ... We have a Christian world that has turned away from the truth of God's Word and turned to nice and smooth easy sounding teachings and fables. The acceptance of these 'Left Behind' novels by Tim LaHaye is a perfect example of being turned to fables. These books are not the truth of God, and yet many Christians accept them as truth. The true Bible end time church of God must stand on the Rock of truth and not be swayed by every passing wind of teaching.
"Behold, saith the Lord God, I will send a famine .... of hearing the Word of the Lord" ..... "And they turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables."
For some reason, many professing Christians don't want to be challenged these days either. Perhaps this is a sign of the Bible end times we are living in. Christians are spiritually sleeping, like the parable of the virgins ... Matthew 25:5 ...'While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.' ... The professing Christian church is sleeping and needs to be woken up. The loud cry of Jesus' soon return needs to be proclaimed to the whole earth. But Christians today would rather hear easy sounding teachings, so that they can carry on with their worldly lives. Is the Christian faith an easy faith? I don't believe it is. I believe the Word of God in the Bible teaches quite the opposite, that true Christians would be tried and tested and persecuted for their faith.
John 15:20 ...'Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.'
Revelation 12:13 ...'And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (the church) which brought forth the man child.'
My words in brackets. For a great study on Revelation 12, see Revelation 12 - The Remnant.
Many Christians today accept their pastor's word as truth without checking it against scripture. Don't even take our word as truth, but check it against the true Word of God. The apostle Peter says that Bible prophecy is not of any private interpretation ... 2 Peter 1:20 ...'Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.' ... How will you know if your pastor has just given you his own interpretation of end time Bible prophecy, if you don't check it against the word of God yourself? Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:15 ...'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' ... So if end times Bible prophecy is not of any private interpretation, then we can only use the Bible to interpret itself. Let me give you an example: In the prophecy of Daniel 7 we have 4 beasts. Beasts? What are they? Well, if we use the Word to interpret, we can get the answer ... Daniel 7:17 ...'These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.' ... So these four beasts are four kings or kingdoms that rise to power in the earth. Let the Bible interpret itself.
Daniel 2:22 ...'He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.' ... God will reveal anything out of His Word to you if you just come to Him in prayerful study with a humble, open heart, ready to be taught by Him.
"Bible prophecy is the revelation of Jesus Christ"
Don't be afraid to be challenged by God's Word. Even with all the wars, famines, natural disasters and persecution that Bible prophecy says will happen (and is happening), and when all may seem hopeless, the one thing we can hold on to is the fact that Jesus will return soon!
John 14:1-3 ...'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'
This is my favorite verse in the whole Bible. What a wonderful promise from Jesus. Friend, we need to be watching and waiting for this glorious day, and by studying Bible prophecy, we will know more about the end times and be prepared for Jesus' return. Is it possible to know when Jesus will return? Many Christians believe that we cannot know, so they don't bother finding out the truth. This is only partly true, because no one can know the day or the hour of Jesus return, but we CAN know when it is near.
Matthew 24:33 ...'So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.'
Jesus is talking about wars, famines, false christs etc. and when we see these things, we can know that 'it', Jesus second coming is near, "even at the doors". These things have been happening for some time, but Jesus also said something else that shows we are at the very end times ... Matthew 24:14 ...'And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.' ... Everyone has to hear the true gospel message before the end. We are so close to spreading "this" gospel message to the whole world, with radio, tv, internet and publications.
Friend, please don't think that studying Bible end times prophecy is not important, it's VERY important. Jesus has revealed to us what will happen at the end times. He has revealed through prophecy who the antichrist is. He has revealed what the beast mark is. He has also given us the greatest, most fearful warnings through Bible prophecy. If you are not studying prophecy, please start and heed the warning. Take a look through the may Bible studies on this site and compare them with the Word of God. We are at the very end times and Jesus will return soon!