02.24.2021
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
This is the second article in our series on prophecy. Today we will cover three topics: the three primary prophetic books, the proper approach to biblical prophecy, and a simple prophecy time-lime.
There are three books in the Bible that are the primary sources of prophecy. Each focuses on a different group of people. Daniel was written to give the future for the Gentiles. Ezekiel describes the plan for the Jewish people. The Book of the Revelation details the endtimes for believers.
There are different ways to approach the prophecies that are found in the Word of God. Only one of them seeks to interpret the text of Scripture at face value.
First, some people look at prophetic scripture as having already been fulfilled. To them there is no future aspect to what others see as prophecy. Often, they will claim that the passages were written after the events had already been fulfilled. For example, the prophecy in Isaiah that foretold a Persian king named Cyrus who would rebuild the city of Jerusalem had to have been given after the fact. Could God actually have given this prophecy to Isaiah some seventy years before it happened, before Persia was even an empire, or Cyrus was even born?
Others see prophecy in an idealistic, or allegorical way. The events are not real, they merely picture the unfolding of principles, especially good versus evil. There will be no actual Antichrist. There will not be ten kings and their kingdoms. These simply represent the armies of the world and their conflicts. They picture spiritual warfare in the world and in the human heart.
In contrast to these positions is a literal interpretation. Why not take Scripture to mean what it says unless it is impossible for it to mean what it says. An example of the latter would be a reference to “the four corners of the earth.” Is the earth square? Is the earth a cube? Of course not. This is poetic language and is easily seen to be such. On the other hand, when the Bible says that there will be time of trouble for the nation of Israel, it means exactly that.
So understand please that as we approach the topic of Bible prophecy, we will be doing so with the attitude that the prophecies presented will be literally fulfilled.
Do we understand every prophetic element? Can we count how many angels there are on the head of a pin? Of course we can’t, but we will do our best to put things in order and with proper perspective.
Now, as for the order of events, here is what I believe the Bible teaches. The next event on God’s calendar is the Rapture—the return of Christ in the air to gather away all those who know Him. This will be followed by seven years of Tribulation on the earth. At the end of this Tribulation, Jesus Christ will come once more, this time to the earth to judge the nations and set up His Kingdom. This Kingdom will be centered in Jerusalem and will last for 1000 years. At the end of this Millennium, there will be several judgments, and the Eternal State will begin.
With basic timeline at our disposal, we will next take a close look at what the Bible says about the Rapture. It could be today—place your faith in the Savior while there is time!