based wholly upon the Word of God, and not just someone’s opinion of a fragmented portion from Scripture. It’s important to realize that fully a fourth or more of the Bible deals with the study of prophecy. Why not encourage your pastor to talk about coming events and biblical prophecy ? There’s never been a more important time to do it. All Scrip ture, being the inspired Word of God, is needful and profitable to us. Make it a point, for your own life, to use every opportunity to study this subject in its broadest as well as its specific measure. Your own life will be enriched unspeakably there by. P art II W E can BE grateful that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself made it crystal-clear on numreous occasions that He is coming again. The entire Bible gives ample proof and docu mentation to this fact. It is well to dwell on this subject for prophecy always gives one the right perspec tive for the hour in which he is liv ing. Too often are our minds rather occupied with mere temporal things rather than that which is eternal. Future events predicted in Scripture are powerful telescopes bringing in to full focus the heavenly destiny and blessings of God’s children. Proph ecy, in addition, begets comfort and peace for the trusting heart. Charles Haddon Spurgeon rightly pointed out, “The Christian is by no means immune to suffering, trials, afflic tion, tears and bereavement. But viewed in the light of the prophetic Word, how much do these tribula tions lose their sting!” Further, biblical prophecy always inspires consecration to Jesus Christ. One of the causes for worldliness on the part of Christian people is the almost complete neglect of prophetic truth. If a believer is constantly waiting and expecting the return of his Lord from heaven, he will want to
separate himself from the things of this world to avoid being ashamed at the coming of Jesus Christ. Proph ecy should always inspire a sacri ficial life for Jesus Christ. The night of judgment is fast approaching; we must be about our Master’s business. There are many precious souls to be won to Christ. Knowing something of the awesomeness of eternal perdi tion for the unbeliever should make us all the more burdened to seek others for the Saviour. It is sad to know that some people avoid prophecy because they feel they can’t understand it. This is what the devil would like to have us think. Would the God of love and grace offer to unveil the future and then deliber ately make the message beyond our comprehension? Absolutely not! Rev elation, the last book of the Bible, is the unveiling of the coming glori fication of the Son of God. It is the climax and consummation of all the prophetic Word of God. There is a special blessing promised to those who will take time to read and study it (1:3). This is not to say that prophecy will yield its wonderful truth to the casual or careless read er. The natural man will never begin to comprehend the message. The hon est and humble child of God, who prayerfully studies to show himself approved unto God, will find illumi nation through the indwelling pres ence of the Holy Spirit. But the motive must always be proper. God has never promised to reveal His truths just to satisfy a simple idle curiosity. As a matter of fact, proph ecy is one of the great ministries of God, the Holy Spirit. Prophecy un f o l d s the world’s greatest theme: the glory of Jesus Christ. This is the over-riding sub ject in the Bible’s first prophetic message found in Genesis 3:15. Look that up and see there God’s promise of the coming Redeemer. When Christ went to the cross, He crushed the head of the tempter, even though 1 7
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