Prophecy is for believers

keras

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Prophecy is for Believers 1 Cor. 14:22b
The Bible has plenty of information on how the Lords plans have been fulfilled in the past and what we can expect in our future. Also, according to His plan, very few will truly understand the full scope and implications of future events. Daniel 12:10 Some reasons for this are:
1/ Those who may profess to be Christian, but in their hearts are not:
1 John 4:4-6 Believers in Christ, you belong in Gods family and you can discern false prophets because the God who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The world listens to the teachings of worldly people, but we belong to God and whoever knows God pays heed to the truth, those who are not His people cannot comprehend the prophetic message.
Isaiah 29:13-14 The Lord says: Because this people worship Me with empty words and pay Me lip service, while their hearts are far from Me and their religion is but human precepts, learnt by rote; therefore I shall shock them and shock again and their wisdom and discernment will be lost. Matthew 7:21-23
2/ Belief in false teaching, leading to a fixed mindset of wrong ideas:
The prime example of a false teaching is the pre-tribulation rapture. This idea denies many Scriptures that say; all will be tested, 1 Peter 4:12, Luke 21:35. This leads to a careless attitude toward prophecy. If you believe you are good enough and sufficiently holy to be taken directly to heaven, in the same way as Enoch and Elijah, then you will be judged for judging yourself. Humility and trust in the Lords saving grace, Isaiah 30:15, must be our attitude, not the pretentious belief of a removal from the earth to avoid any perceived difficulties. Note: John 17:15 Jesus asks for protection, not removal.
2 Peter 2:1-3 In the past, there were false prophets among the people, just as now you will have false teachers. They will promote their theories and speculations, twisting Scripture to suit their fanciful notions. Many will follow their sheer fabrications and credulous people will make them rich and famous, but judgement waits for them: a long prepared destruction will fall upon their heads.
Jeremiah 23:16-17 The Lord says: Do not listen to your false prophets, who give you false hope and voice their own fancies, it is not the Lords Words they speak. They say: prosperity will be yours, and to all who follow their devious beliefs. No harm will befall you.
Isaiah 29:9-12 The Lord says: I will place My spirit of mis-understanding upon all those who are drunk, but not with wine, [that is: who allow themselves to be fooled by false teachings], so it becomes impossible for them to see the truth. Isaiah 8:16
3/ Preterism and non-literal interpretation:
To think that all prophecies have been fulfilled or they are just metaphors and allegories, is a serious error that leaves those who believe that way, without proper knowledge or understanding about the end times.
2 Peter 1:19 We confirm the message of the prophets, to which you will do well to study; it will enlighten your minds, like a lamp shining into a dark place.
4/ Denial or straight out refusal to try to comprehend the prophesies:
Ezekiel 33:31-33 My people will listen to the prophets, but they will not take any action. Fine Words, they will say but with insincerity, for their hearts are set on selfish gain. When disaster strikes, as it will, then they will know the truth of prophecy.
Isaiah 48:3-6 Long ago, I announced what will happen, but because of your stubbornness and your refusal to accept instruction, you think everything can be explained by chance or by natural occurrence. You read the Word, consider it well and admit the truth of it.
Hosea 9:7 The Day of punishment and vengeance comes and all Israel will know it. Their prophets are fools and their wise leaders are like madmen, because they are all deep in enmity with God and He will remember their guilt.


Revelation 22:7b Happy is the person who takes to heart the Words of prophecy in this Book.
Reference: Revised English Bible. Some verses abridged and paraphrased. logostelos.info
 
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keras

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Thanks for bringing my post back to life. Vinsight!
I point out some hard truths, truths that many will refuse to accept to their eventual sorrow. We will all face the Lord in judgement, how will those who have failed to properly discern the Prophetic Word reply to Him?
 
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BABerean2

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Bible prophecy was the key to me becoming a believer.

He was the Seed of the woman foretold in Genesis 3:15.

The scriptures predicted the time of His birth.

The town of His birth was predicted.

His ancestor King David would write some of the words He would speak on the Cross.

The 30 pieces of silver paid to betray Him, would buy the potter's field.

His bones would not be broken.

Lots would be cast for His garment.

And many more prophecies, to numerous to list them all.

The odds of anyone fulfilling all of these prophecies in the lifetime of one man are impossible, if it were not part of a divine plan.

I had to accept it based only on the Laws of Mathematical Probability. I had no other choice, because it is the truth.

Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Son of God.

Based on Galatians 3:16, the promises only come through Him, who is the One Seed.

He is coming back for us, because it is plainly written in God's Word.

 
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Interplanner

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#3 and 4 are weak. There are many places where the NT uses the OT and would not qualify as literal. The significance of this is that many people go directly from the OT to today's newspaper. They don't realize many of the things in the NT that shift how things are seen. Gal 3:15 is one of the key places to see that things are different. There simply is nothing in the NT that resembles what "prophecy" has come to mean today. The Gospel event is much more important to the apostles, not the sequential details of the 2nd coming. There are 5 NT passages that summarize the 2nd coming and none of them have Judaic events going on (neither in Judea nor Judaism).

re denial. Because the "prophecy" industry has become so uniform but also so distant from how the NT sounds, and because there is a huge temptation to claim that we know all the exact details of the future (as though that was the purpose of the Bible), people get very defensive about their favorite view of the future. Just read some posts here! Therefore, it is very easy to cry 'foul!' about anyone who "denies" prophecy, meaning, they deny our view.
 
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keras

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re denial. Because the "prophecy" industry has become so uniform but also so distant from how the NT sounds, and because there is a huge temptation to claim that we know all the exact details of the future (as though that was the purpose of the Bible), people get very defensive about their favorite view of the future. Just read some posts here! Therefore, it is very easy to cry 'foul!' about anyone who "denies" prophecy, meaning, they deny our view.
I deny your view, IP, because that leaves us without a clue of what will happen.
Your abrogation of all OT prophecy is a serious error, there are many definitive statements there that await fulfilment. What the NT does, is obvious from hindsight; it is for Christians during the nearly 2000 year hiatus until the Return. We have to believe in Him, that we cannot see, in a Kingdom that is spiritual and live according to strict laws in a world full of temptation. Those who maintain their faith will be rewarded, those who refuse to believe and go the way of the world will die. Simple as that.
So in order for Christians to pass thru the time of testing, 1 Peter 4:12, it would be most helpful to have, at least some idea of what God has planned for our time.
 
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