Should Prophecy be Ignored Today?

The goateed pastor stood before his small congregation and in a low-talking voice began to murmur comments about the last days.  In a mocking fashion he seemed to ridicule those who pay attention to such biblical events by saying…”no kidding”…”we all know we’re in the last days”…”so why keep talking about it?”…”and why do people have conferences about it?”  But what does scripture say about people who criticize the content of at least 25% of the Bible? II Peter 3:3, 4 tells us, “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 creation.” This sounds a lot like many contemporary preachers. So, “why talk about?” they say.

 

Jesus admonished the Pharisees by telling them that they could discern the weather but could not understand the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3).  II Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves, having itching ears.”  Bible prophecy is “sound doctrine.”   Much of today’s preaching will, instead, scratch the ears of the listeners to make them feel good.  But prophecy to come should make the Christian feel good. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 4:18, to “comfort one another with these words.”  He was telling them about the Rapture to come.  Christians should be aware of signs for the Second Coming (though they will have been raptured by then).  Prophecy is a good witnessing tool to the lost who live as in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37, 39).  Now, these are Tribulation verses but can very well be applicable today.  People are living as in the days of Lot, as well (Genesis 19).  In II Peter 2:5 we are told that God “spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eight person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the ungodly.”  The Greek translation for “flood” is kataklusmos. It is where we get our English word “catastrophe.” We are not even in the Tribulation and we are seeing signs that will only escalate to catastrophic levels following the Rapture of the saints and the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel.  Yet, most church leadership is silent on this. And, are we not to teach and preach the whole counsel of God?

 

Furthermore, Revelation 1:3 advises us, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”  This speaking of the Book of Revelation which is full of prophecy! And if the “time is at hand”, should we be taught about that? Still, much Bible prophecy is ignored or down-played.

 

Sadly, some pastors would rather promote programs than 25% of the Bible, i.e. prophecy.