Prophecy And Evangelism
Isn’t it tragic that
many of our brothers
and sisters in
Christ speak
negatively about
prophecy? Those who
spend much time in
the study of
prophecy are often
ridiculed for doing
so. It is said that
this time could be
better spent
witnessing to the
lost. However, the
wonder of studying
prophecy is that it
instills an even
greater desire to
witness to those who
do not know Jesus as
their Savior.
Actually, the more
one studies
prophecy, the
greater the urgency
to tell the Good
News of salvation in
Christ.
Should a Christian
have no interest in
studying prophecy
when it comprises
roughly one third of
God’s Word, the
Bible? I’m sure they
are influenced by
those who have given
prophecy a “bad
name” in attempting
to set dates for
Christ’s return, and
making predictions
that “so-and-so” is
the Antichrist.
These people are
false prophets and
should never be
given an audience,
but society loves
sensationalism.
Society also loves
to see those who
claim to be speaking
on behalf of God
fall flat on their
face.
If you are a
Christian, you
really need to be
studying prophecy,
if not for one
reason. God expects
you to. He didn’t
place this much
information about
prophecy in the
Bible for it to be
ignored. Pastors
especially, should
be strong students
of prophecy, and
should be teaching
it on a regular
basis, not at the
expense of
everything else in
God’s Word of
course, but it needs
to be taught. Sadly,
very few pastors
know enough about
prophecy to teach it
to their
congregations in the
first place.
We are in the last
days of the Church
age. The Church age
is winding down and
the signs are all
around us. Daniel’s
seventieth week, or
the Tribulation
period as it is
commonly known, is
just around the
corner. Far, far too
many Christians are
going to be caught
off guard when Jesus
returns for His
Church just prior to
the Tribulation.
Does that mean they
won’t be included in
the Rapture? Of
course not, but
think of the lost
people they have
failed to tell about
Christ’s offer of
salvation and His
soon coming. How
many of those will
remain in their sin
because they did not
hear?
For those who say,
“we need to be
witnessing, and let
prophecy take care
of itself,” are you
witnessing? I
realize that
Christians, who know
nothing about
prophecy, do
witness.
Unfortunately, there
are many, many more
who know nothing
about prophecy, and
still don’t witness.
The whole point of
this article is to
emphasize that
prophecy, especially
today, brings out an
urgency in the
prophecy student to
witness. If you are
a legitimate student
of prophecy, I
simply do not see
how you would have
no interest in
witnessing to the
lost. To the
contrary, your
desire to witness
would increase,
simply because you
know the time is
short.
Something else to
consider are those
who study prophecy,
but do not witness
for Christ. Notice
that I mentioned in
the last paragraph
the “legitimate”
student of prophecy.
Yes, there are those
who want to study
the fine points of
prophecy, but aren’t
interested in the
message. Christ’s
message has always
been,
“Go
therefore and make
disciples of all the
nations, baptizing
them in the name of
the Father and of
the Son and of the
Holy Spirit,
teaching them to
observe all things
that I have
commanded you; and
lo, I am with you
always, even to the
end of the age.
Amen.” (Matthew
28:19-20 NKJV)
All too often these
folks just want to
argue about what
they think they
know. That is not
the right attitude
to study prophecy,
or anything else in
God’s Word, for that
matter.
Jesus Christ has
made His message of
salvation very
clear. Even though
this topic too has
been tainted by
false teachers, the
Bible is clear on
our need to be “born
again” and how to be
“born again.” One
example, among many,
would be,
“For
by grace are ye
saved through faith;
and that not of
yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not
of works, lest any
man should boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Therefore, when the
legitimate student
of prophecy becomes
alarmed for the need
of people to be
saved, and they will
become alarmed, they
must be clear on the
doctrine of
salvation as well.
When studying
prophecy, perhaps
the first thing that
comes to mind would
be the spiritual
welfare of our
family members. Then
we start thinking
about our neighbors
and co-workers and
others we know. I
know I sound like a
broken record, but
the natural result
of studying prophecy
is growing in one’s
desire to witness.
It just happens that
way. To study
prophecy and not
grow with a strong
desire to witness is
unnatural. It would
almost be like
seeing a tornado
coming, but having
no desire to warn
others. The natural
process wants to
warn others of the
approaching danger.
So for those of you
who just want to
argue over the fine
points of prophecy,
you need to get a
life. Your heart
isn’t right before
God, and you need to
get that settled
first of all.
For those of you who
want to ridicule
legitimate prophecy
students, you need
to start studying
the one third
portion of God’s
Word you have cut
out and listen to
what God has to say
to you.
-Grant Phillips
Grants articles are
posted at
“Pre-Rapture
Commentary”
http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
and many are also
posted at “Rapture
Ready”
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
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