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Bible Prophecy has given a sure answer to the sequence of events through the ages. It will continue to do so until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to claim His own. The books of Daniel and Revelation contain messages which speak to us in this year 2000. Starting in the 2nd chapter of Daniel, and with the nations which then existed, the prophecies continue until the last chapter of Revelation, which shows us new heavens and a new earth. We would like to have discussion with others who look to Inspiration as a sure guide. Greetings from our Home Church in Tasmania, Australia.
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There seems to be about as many different interpretations of Biblical prophecy as there are intrepretors. And what controversies they have caused! There is only one way to know for sure who is right- wait for the predicted events to happen in due course. Then the arguements will end. If a person is willing to watch and wait until events unfold, then maybe everyone can get together on the same page and be a witness to the world instead of confusing chatter. Until then- it is all speculation. One's interpretation is another's heresy. So to add fuel to the fire, I am including in this reply my favorite scenario. It can be read at: http://www.grandunifiedprophecies.blogspot.com/ When the Final Treaty is signed, then I believe we will start to see events unfold- just as predicted!
Some of the prophetic messages are portrayed in scripture as being given to Earth by an angel flying in the midst of heaven proclaiming the everlasting gospel with a loud voice. A few things to note here.
1) This message is very important 2) It is given to the whole world 3) It is not a meek and timid message 4) It is the everlasting gospel
Jesus said in Matthew 24 that the gospel would be preach to the whole world for a witness and then the end would come. What all this suggest to me is that we should be actively doing almost anything BUT sitting around waiting until the foretold events transpire.
You are perhaps right that many will not be convinced until these events begin to transpire. But many more, the majority of people, will not see it even then. If you recall the deception will be so good that if it were possible even the elect would be deceived. That is a pretty convincing deception. And the ones that fall for the deception are the very ones who did not cultivate a love of the truth. If you reject the truth that God offers then you are left with only the darkness and blindness of falsehood.
Now I am interested in the wording of the verse which says they "received not a love of the truth." Just what does that mean? I believe it means that they did not strive to know what was the truth. They took the easy course and believed what others told them and did not love the truth enough to search it out diligently for themselves--from scripture, of course.
Surely we are not ready to resign ourselves to simply waiting to see who is right and who is wrong. I, for one, want to try to figure it out (which is the watching) while I am waiting (patience) and warn anyone who will listen. We always knew that a flood of falsehoods would be poored out to dilute our faith and deceive many. If we stop studying scripture and watching what is coming on the earth then we may find we miss the boat (or, ark), figuratively.
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Actually when the bible says to "watch and pray", I don't believe it means that we are to be "watching" the current events or the prophecy events that are taking place. Rather it means that we should be watching our lives that we not be found naked. Rev. 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
May the question we should ask is what is Jesus telling us to watch?
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Luke 21:24-28 (KJV) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. [25] And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:34-36 (KJV) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. [35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. [36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Mark 13:32-37 (KJV) But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. [34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
I agree with Kim. We are to watch our selves and pray that we are not found sleeping.
Some teach we’re to watch for the signs and understand all of them. However, the signs began some 2000 years ago as the Lord set up the kingdom and the endtimes began. Men’s hearts have been failing them for years as the many disasters and wars, etc. occurred in history. Every generation since Christ’s was to watch.
What were they to watch? If we continue in Luke 21 we see they are to take heed or watch themselves that they are not over taken in sin and Christ’s return takes them unaware. They are to watch an pray to be accounted worth to escape the wrath of God.
Mark 13 explains that we don’t know the exact time the Lord will return but we are to live like the Master is returning at the very next moment. We must live for him so we aren’t caught sleeping. So we watch our lives so we’ll be ready when we see him coming in the clouds. We watch our lives because we watch for the Lord’s return.
We can’t figure out each event that will occur before the Lord returns; because if we could, we could know when he was coming. His return is soon, so live like it. That is the warning to watch.
I have to say a big Amen to what you said. It is true that as you see a bud form on a tree you can also see that the time is drawing to an end here on this earth in the same manner. But when the bible say to watch and pray I do not think it means that we are to "watch" the end times events, I don't think that is what it means at all. We are to "watch" and keep ourselves, lest we be found sleeping and if we would be sleeping it would affect our garments. Evidently when we keep ourselves in Jesus it affects our garments, what we are dressed in. How often does the bible talk about garments being moth eaten, Jerusalem's skirts, being found naked with no garments. If you sleep, it is going to affect your garment. Watch your life, guard your heart, keep yourself, let not the evil one touch you, let no man deceive you by any means, don't be found naked, don't be an evil servant and be found smiting your fellow brethern is what it means.
Suddenly when you see this you understand that our emphasis should not be on prophecy but rather our lives and making sure that when the moment occurs that you are perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. It is a very serious thing!
It is like Paul says he had to make sure he himself didn't become a castaway.
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Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. (from Revelation 1 and 1 Thes 5).
Just a little balance before we get too far off course and dismiss prophecy altogether. True, our relationship with Christ is all important. But our faith shapes our life. And faith comes by hearing. And hearing by the word of God. God gave Jesus a revelation to share with us through his servants. I think this next verse demonstrates the importance of prophecy to God.
"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: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."
"I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Notice that the "testimony" of Jesus is "the spirit of prophecy." Does the Devil like prophecy? No, this next verse shows he is against God. He hates God's law and the spirit of prophecy.
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev 12:17
When we watch our relationship with God, as you have said we should do, then we ought to also make sure we are not against the law of God nor the spirit of prophecy for this would enlist us in the ranks of the enemy of God as witnessed in Rev 12:17.
One more thing to take notice of from prophecy is that the saints all keep the commandments and have the faith of Jesus.
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev 14:12
The context of this passage is that the saints described here are contrasted with those who receive the mark of the beast, worship the beast and his image, and receive the wrath of God. I think God has given us this warning so we aren't duped into joining with the majority in false worship and loose our relationship with Jesus. Therefore, it seems to me to be very important to understand what is meant when scripture says the saints keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.
Well, we know what the commandments of God are because, Paul tells us in Romans 8:7 that the carnal mind is against God and is not subject to his law. But what about the faith of Jesus. Here are some verses where the term "faith of Jesus" is found.
Righteousness is by faith. So those who have the faith of Jesus are righteous.
quote: Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Justification is by faith. So those who have the faith of Jesus are justified.
quote: Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
The promise is by faith of Jesus. So those who believe have the promise also.
quote: Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
All this comes to light through the spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus Christ which God gave to him to give to us. (Rev 1:1, Rev 19:10).
With that said I ask you again to consider the question. Is prophecy important for today? Then, is it important for us to understand Daniel and Revelation for today? I vote an emphatic YES! If you think studying and mimicking the early church is the truth for today then surely prophecy is even more important because we are living in the end of all time.
We may not know the day and the hour but according to Paul we that live in the light should know when the day is approaching.
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."1 Thes 5
And, how do we know the day is approaching? Jesus told us things beforehand so that when they do come to pass we might believe. "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." But if we neglect to study to know the signs and to watch for them, then we may not see them. We may get too caught up in eating and drinking and marrying--our daily lives. Too busy to take notice. So we need to watch against this spirit of indifference also.
I'm not saying that you can't talk about prophecy. All I was saying that when the bible admonishes us to watch and pray it is not talking about "watching" the prophetic events. The watching and praying has to do with our lives and our hearts. The Gospels are full of places where it talks about watching and praying. Jesus asked Peter to watch with Him for one hour. It also says that it will be a good thing if Jesus finds us watching when He returns.
We might ask ourselves how Peter could have "watched" with Jesus for one hour in the garden. That has to mean prayer. Jesus knew that Peter was going to be tempted to deny Him very shortly and Jesus knew that if Peter could have tarried with Him for one hour in prayer that it could have helped Peter. But unforunately Peter took his rest and slept instead. The "watching" has to do with praying for ourselves so that we remain strong in our lives to fight against temptations. Will you watch and pray instead of making the choice to eat, drink, and make merry and smite your fellow brethern? Will you make the choice to watch and pray instead of being becoming an evil servant? Will you make the choice to watch and pray instead of becoming a slothful servant?
The watching and praying unforunately has nothing to do with watching the end time events and how they play out as so many think today. That is just a lie, sadly, once again.
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