The Purpose of Prophecy

Focus on Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry

By: Darrell G. Young

April, 2006

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Introduction

   The great philosopher George Santayana is quoted as saying, “those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.” Historians indicate that because of the failure of men to gleam the lessons of history, events in history often seems to repeat in an uncanny cyclical manner. Unfortunately, the lessons that could be learned in one generation are indeed often ignored by another generation, and therefore mankind too often finds itself repeating the same old mistakes, and fighting the same old battles over and over again. In reality though, history doesn’t simply turn in endless cycles, but rather, mankind continues to be plagued by his “fallen condition,” (sinful nature) and to reject the wisdom of His Creator, all of which have demonstrated itself to be nothing more than an overwhelming storehouse of evidence to mankind that there is really nothing new under the sun.

    Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

   Truly mankind needs to search through his vast library of knowledge about the things of the past and realize that if he is to ever find contentment in this world, then he must discover the keys of wisdom concerning the one who holds the future. Perhaps the greatest value to be ascertained form the study of Bible Prophecy is in knowing what the future holds for us. If we (present generation) disregard the object lessons of history, and continue to ignore the Great Revealer of the future, we may be condemned not only to repeat (in the present) the mistakes of our ancestors, but we may also lose hope for our future. Whereas eternal life is the ultimate reward for the servants of the Creator, there is yet also a present blessed comfort availed for residence within the souls of those servants who are wise to the fact that God has a recovery (redemption and restoration) plan, and that the purpose of prophecy is to the intent that the servants (friends) of God can be attuned to His plan for the future.

I tell you truly……….this is the primary purpose of prophecy

Prophecy is for The Servants, Friends and Heirs of the Lord

   Sometime in eternity past, before the creation of man, God the Father made a covenant of Redemption with God the Son (Christ) in which they fore-acknowledged the inevitability of the Fall of Man, (first Adam) and jointly agreed (covenanted) to a plan to save or redeem man. (hence the term redemption and the prepared way of salvation) (I Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,) That Divine covenant was “cut” when Jesus submitted himself to the affliction of the Cross.

   The Father appointed the Son to be the one (notice that God did not covenant with an angel for this mission) who would redeem man through His death.

   John 17:1-5 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

   As a part of this Divine covenant Christ was promised a reward for accomplishing His work. (aka; It is finished!) The Father in his part pledged to deliver the Son from death and to exalt Him to His right hand to rule over heaven and earth.

   Later, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” was granted unto the Son by the Father after the Son completed His mission in the Divine covenant. (lamb-sacrifice) Only the Lamb of God was deemed worthy by God the Father to “loose the seals’ and open the book that contained the Plan of God. The unveiled book was sent to the servants of the Lord, and it specifically revealed details about world events leading up to the imminent return of Jesus Christ to this world, and the time-table to carry forth with the next great phase in THE PLAN.

·         The book of The Revelation specifically states in its opening line that the entire “unveiling” (apocalypse) of the Plan of God was sent to show His servants things which must shortly come to pass.

·         The servants of the Lord that are complicit with the plan of God are also called the Friends of the Lord.

·         By being knowledgeable about Gods Plan and therefore participating better as servants in the enactment of the plan, we are not only friends of God, but are all also made to be joint-heirs of the Lord Jesus and therefore confirmed to be partakers in the Kingdom of God.

   The word “servants” as utilized in the opening lines of Revelation chapter one is taken from the Greek word “doulos” which means to be a voluntary bondservant or voluntary slave to a wise Master. When the reader of “The Revelation” keys in on the idea that the entirety of that prophetic record was delivered to John specifically for the beneficence of the servants, then it makes it all the more urgent and imperative that the servant-friends of Jesus devour and consume the “opened record” and become alerted to the imminent timing of their destiny to reign as heirs with the King!

   John 15:14-15 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

   Psalms 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

   Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

    A further implication about the fact that “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” was specifically conveyed to the “servants of Jesus” is the fact that only true and Spirit-led servants can fully comprehend and understand the unveiled prophetic record and the scope of the foreordained Plan of God. (John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.) (I Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory) (I Corinthian 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty)

When Christians remark to me that they find the book of The Revelation too complex, or too complicated, or find it boring and uninteresting, then I have to wonder about the depth of their Spiritual growth and education. The Revelation of Jesus Christ was not intended to be digested and understood by non-Christians. (non-servants) When we stop to recall the fact that the Holy Spirit is the primary teacher and guide unto understanding the mystery of God, then it stands to reason that it would be impossible for non-Christians to comprehend prophecy. The world, in general naturally finds the content of The Revelation to be a kind of science–fiction quagmire filled with confusing imagery mazes and fanaticism. This was not meant to be so for the servants of Jesus Christ. The “mystery of God” is supposed to become more alive to the servant of God who reads, comprehends, and keeps (maintains) the prophecy of God’s Holy Prophetic Word.

Prophecy and Some Points of Its Purpose

1.      God utilizes Prophecy in his word so there can be a continuous buildup of verifiable historical evidence to mankind of the inspiration, inerrancy, and absolute authority of His Word. Old Testament prophets were sometimes inspired to give a distant prophecy, accompanied by a near prophecy. The purpose for the nearer prophecy was to authenticate both the prophet and his distant (Last Days) prophecy. Prophecy is therefore one of the most powerful authentications of the Word of God gives credibility to the proclamation of the gospel. If Bible skeptics attempt to dispute the Word of God, then they must first disprove the Bible’s proclamations in regard to fulfilled prophecies.

2.      Another purpose of Prophecy is intended to produce hope in the life of the Christian, which, in turn, helps to promotes purity and perseverance. This is one of the predominant themes of prophecy in the Bible. (I John 3:2-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.) The assurance and hope which prophecy produces should cause us to live in this world as though its pleasures were temporary and to invest in the world to come, where its blessings are eternal. (II Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness) Prophecy encourages the saint to persevere in resisting evil and in pursuing what is righteous, even amidst persecution and temptation.

3.      Another point of the purpose of Prophecy is to convey to us the goal of human history. Prophecy explains to us where God is going in history, and how he is working in the affairs of the nations. It informs man of God’s purposes and exhorts men to conform their lives to God’s goals. If we would desire to serve God, we must conform our lives toward His goals. Prophecy gives us a goal which causes us to renounce former ambitions, to shun what we would logically seek in our human nature, and live in the light of our ultimate purpose and calling for Christ in assisting the building of His Kingdom. (Philippians 3:8-14 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,   And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.)

4.      Another valuable purpose of Prophecy is that it intended to create in (especially the generation that begins to see all these things coming to pass-Luke 21:28) us a keen awareness of God’s commitment to his promises and sensitize us to a watchfulness with a measure of urgency and earnest expectations sooner, rather than later. One of the most common maladies of the Christian life is apathy and scoffing in relation to prophecy. Unbelieving scoffers reject the warnings of future judgment, secure in their self-delusion that everything is continuing on as it has from the beginning. Prophecy is given to arouse us from the flesh’s tendency to sleep, and to be energized and alerted to the time for the Lord’s return. (I Thessalonians 5:1-9 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.)

The Purpose of Prophecy is to Reveal Motion in God’s Plan

    As mentioned previously, before creation, and before the Bible was given to man, God had a master working plan, and we must remember that it is to that foreordained plan that He is still working. The Prophet Isaiah wrote by divine inspiration:

   Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory (Isaiah 46:9-13)

   Isaiah’s words are one of the most astounding statements ever written by man. Nowhere in the writings of humankind can anything as profound be found. The claims made herein are supernatural, and therefore, they can apply to none other than God Himself. Here He declares Himself to be the self-existent, eternal, sovereign, uncreated One, “declaring the end from the beginning,” and bringing all his purposes to pass. Where has God declared the end from the beginning? He has told it clearly on the pages of the Holy Scriptures. Holy men of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote of great world events centuries before they were to come to pass. Since it is inherent in the heart of man to know the future, why should he not examine the prophetic Scriptures with an unbiased mind? The magicians, sorcerers, astrologers, diviners, enchanters and necromancers have all failed to predict accurately things of the future. Even today there are multiplied thousands who pay money to listen to palm readers, astrologers, and fortune telling by varied methods, all because of a deep desire to know the future. I believe that such a desire is built within the Creator’s design of man. The first ray of light and hope to come to the world immediately after the fall of man was the promise of a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15). This first prediction is the pivotal point of prophecy for the entire Word of God, for it is the cornerstone of God’s Plan. As Job 38:6, Isaiah 28:16, Ephesians 2:20, and I Peter 2:6 relate, Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of God’s Plan.

   God’s plan for this world was designed around the appearance once of Christ into this world to make a way to put and end to sin by the sacrifice of himself, and to return after His intercessory work as our High Priest at the climax of the days of man to establish His kingdom on earth.

   Hebrews 9:26-28 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

   History has much evidence to offer to even the most skeptical observer that Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone indeed met all the particular prophecies concerning the sacrificial Lamb of God. The Old Testament is the most authenticated document in the history of human recordings, and the theme of its structure shows continuous motion in the course of world history from the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. Even the measurement of earth time itself has been divided in half by the life of Jesus.

   By choosing the man Abraham to father a peculiar and chosen people, (Israel) God set in motion the dynamics that structured a select nation to become the vehicle through which the promised Messiah could be born. The motion of history and God’s Plan in the world can be followed through thousands of prophecies concerning the nation of Israel, in the first, and finally in the second appearance of Jesus. History and God’s Plan are flowing ever in that direction, and the Sign of the Times relative to Christ’s return denotes that the velocity of the motion of history is accelerating towards a climactic landmark in God’s Plan. These facts and signs wave and flutter in the wind out ahead on the servant’s horizon like a victory flag at the end of a great race!

Jesus is The Center of Prophecy

  Begin with Moses and go on through all the prophetic writings, and you will discover that Christ is the grand theme of the Bible. He said: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me” (John 5:46). If we deny Him of whom Moses wrote then Moses, by inspiration, becomes our accuser.

To Adam and Eve Christ was promised as the Seed who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

To Abraham God had said that in Christ all nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18 cf. Galatians 3:14-16)

To Israel the Paschal Lamb foreshadowed the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (Exodus 12 cf. John 1:29; I Corinthians 5:7).

When Philip first met Jesus Christ he ran to Nathanael, and said: “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth. (John 1:45)

   The closing words of the Bible declare that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). This is but saying that the testimony of Jesus is the “key” to prophecy. His name is called The Word of God, hence the spirit of the Word is not that of confusion, but rather of harmony and promise, all pointing to the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever else the prophets predicted, they did not omit the details of Messiah’s two advents. Prophecy relates primarily to the world’s Redeemer. If you fail to grasp this great truth you have lost the key to a clear understanding of the prophetic Scriptures. All prophecy is to find its final application and fulfillment in the past sufferings, present sufficiency and future sovereignty of the Lord Jesus.

The Purpose of Bible Prophecy

v     Prophecy helps Us To Know the Mind of God

   Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). This verse tells us that the prophets themselves are inspired of God, a truth that is supported by the New Testament, for we read, God spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.

   Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

   Before the message of the prophets, we must bow humbly if we desire to know God’s secret concerning things to come. The eternal and omniscient God assures His people that much of that which He intends to do He has told His prophets. If the prophet warns of coming judgment, wars, perilous times, famine and the like, it is not because he is a calamity forecaster, but rather the announcer of that which God has told him will surely come to pass. Why blame the prophets for speaking in accordance with God’s Plan? Why shun what he says merely because he has predicted peril before peace, and poverty before plenty? It is God who has truly transmits all Bible Prophecy! When we study the prophets we are studying the movements of God as He takes measures to move His Plan forward at the proper times.

v     Prophecy Shines As a Light in a Dark World

   Particularly since the development of the atomic bomb, and the wearisome threats from weapons of mass destruction, men in all walks of life, statesmen, scientists, historians, politicians and industrialists, are asking, in effect: “Where are we going? What is the world coming to? Is the world coming to an end?” Many books about the tribulations of our era have been written and their popularity indicates that natural man has uncertainties and worries about the future. The New Testament tells us clearly that understanding of the prophetic Scriptures are essential if man is to have light on the pathway of the future. The apostle Peter said: We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (II Peter 1:19). Peter had just related what he had seen and heard while on the Mount of Transfiguration, where there was both a vision and a voice from heaven, testifying of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

   II Peter 1:17-21 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice (GOD’s) which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

   Peter says that we have the prophetic Word as a surer confirmation of God’s plans than what he himself saw and heard on the Mount. The Old Testament prophecies are stable and trustworthy. Our present age is distressed, exhausted and fearful of what the future holds. The one bright and cheering lamp for the world’s darkness is the prophetic Word, and the knowledge of God’s Plan for this world as it approaches its hour of crisis. How foolish we are to neglect the only ray of light that can afford a sure knowledge relative to God’s plan for the future!

v     Prophecy Provides Comfort and Hope

   There are three different attitudes one may take toward the future. The first is indifference, the second is fear and the third is hope. The Bible even calls it a “blessed hope”, for the servants of our Lord. No rational thinking person would adopt an attitude of indifference towards the things that are presently troubling the world. Only Satan can be pleased when people become ensnared in an attitude of fear. But for humanistic men, atheists, and the non-servants of the Lord, fear is predominant. Fortunately, beciase of the Grace offered in God’s Plan, anyone can possess a hope for the future. There is comfort and hope for all believers who love and study the prophetic plan of the Lord. Paul wrote: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).

I Thessalonians 5:9-11 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  5:20 Despise not prophesyings.

   Hebrews 3:13-14 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

   Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Focus on Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry

The Purpose of Prophecy

By: Darrell G. Young

April, 2006