Why Bother With Prophecy?

It is easy to get caught up in this earthly life and go along with those around us, adopting their lifestyles and beliefs.  In the Old Testament, God repeatedly sent prophets to the Jews, telling them of future events and reminding them of their need to obey God because of what he had done for them.  Unfortunately, many of the Jews ignored the prophecies, not believing what they were told. 

In the New Testament, he has done the same thing for Christians, telling us of things that will happen in the future and warning us of our need to obey God.   In II Peter 3:1-4, Peter wrote for the same purpose.  “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

Many modern churches no longer teach the prophecies about the Lord’s return, insisting that the old standards and teachings are no longer applicable.  As II Peter 3:5-warned, they have chosen not to believe in the Biblical account of creation or God’s coming judgment of the world.  “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  They have chosen to believe the world evolved through a series of accidents over vast amounts of time, and that morality and religion are just a human efforts to make sense of the chaos.   

When we look back on our own lives, there are events that stand out vividly even though they lasted only a few seconds, while we hardly remember other years.    II Peter 3:8-9 points out that to an eternal God who created the world, what we think of as a long period really seems insignificant.  “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 

God hasn’t forgotten about judging the world, it’s just that what seems like a long time to us is just a few moments to him.   II Peter 3:10 tells us that his judgment is coming.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  When it comes, the very elements of which the earth is composed will melt, burning up everything capable of burning. 

Knowing about God’s judgment, we need to think about how we can please God and escape his judgment, as II Peter 3:11-14 tells us, since we look forward to a time after the earth is judged.  “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”  Studying prophecy reminds us of the need to make the effort to please him so that we can enjoy that new heaven and earth.