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I'm especially perplexed by the Christian churches. In my little corner of the world, I don't see many churches even talking about prophecy let alone looking at prophecy and comparing it to what's going on in the world today. (Tweet that!)
I do know there are churches out there that are doing just that. I have people write me and tell me their church and/or pastor is talking about prophecy. That is awesome! I also see some churches that are televised talking about prophecy. I just wish more churches would.
I think it might be denominational – at least partly. Some Christian church denominations are more focused on prophecy while others are not.
In the churches that are not already willing to talk about prophecy, it feels like the topic is taboo. We can't even talk about it. Bring it up and you hear people gasp. (Tweet that!)
It's as if they think if we all ignore it, it will go away.
If we all just cooperate in believing nothing is happening, nothing is going on, then nothing bad will happen. Right?
My fear is that these church-goers are oblivious to what's going on in the world and how it links into the prophecies written in the Bible hundreds or thousands of years ago. I also fear the pastors and/or leadership of these churches are neglecting a major duty they have been entrusted with: preparing their congregations for what is to come.
Things are happening in our world, things that are different than before. Many people see it. Many people feel it. Though some don't understand what they are seeing or feeling. But I assure you, anyone who wants to know what's going on can know. (Tweet that!) God promises that anyone who asks will be given answers. He promises that all who seek, find. And for all who knock, it will be opened for them.
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).
I'm frustrated by the lack of conversation about prophecy, including—or perhaps especially—in the church. (Tweet that!)
I started this blog for that very reason: Because I believe many people are seeing and feeling that something big, something important, is happening but they are not getting the information or they don't know where to look.
Which brings us back to the question of the day: Why should we study prophecy?
I can think of at least four reasons. Here are two. (Tweet that!) We'll look at two more reasons in Saturday's post:
- To strengthen our faith for today.
- To strengthen our faith for the future.
What is prophecy? We'll look at answers to that more completely at another time, but for this discussion:
Prophecy is God telling us what He is going to do before He does it.
So when we look in the Bible at the prophecies God has given, and then we look further and see where those very prophecies have come true in every detail, that strengthens our faith.
It strengthens our faith because we begin to see God's personality:
- that He is absolutely trustworthy.
- that He is powerful enough to have everything under control.
- that He knows the end from the beginning.
- that He is merciful to warn us about what will happen before it does.
All of this strengthens our faith in Him. Strengthened faith means that we have power because we have confidence in God and so we can step out in faith and live boldly and confidently no matter what we face. And no matter what comes.
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