We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19).
God has revealed in scripture His plans and purposes for the end-times. The word used in the Bible for this revelation is “prophecy.”
In the Bible, prophecy speaks for upbuilding, encouragement, and edification (1 Corinthians 14:3). It also speaks about the future.
Scripture is breathed out from God (2 Timothy 3:16), with God seeing the past, present, and eternity all at once. God doesn’t need to predict the future in Biblical prophecy because He sees the future while inspiring scripture!
As Peter writes, prophecy will be like a lamp shining in a dark place.
How many of you have walked across a room in the middle of night and stumbled on something that you didn’t see? Would you drive your car without headlights? How many of us are confused by everything happening in the world right now?
Think about the past four years – in a dark place of confusion, we need light.
God knew about the events of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 before He created time. From this foreknowledge, He inspired or breathed out scripture. What does the Bible say about the current war in Ukraine and other wars?
First, I believe that Jesus could come back at any time. Being sovereign, when God inspired scripture, He didn’t specify the date of Jesus’s return. He didn’t want us to fixate upon a day, but to be prepared.
Jesus said that the end-times will be like “birth pains” (Matthew 24:8), which increase with frequency and intensity. That is what we have seen the past few years. And the intensity and frequency of world-changing events will continue.
God hasn’t left us without knowledge during these times. There are 300 prophecies for the first coming of Jesus and about 600 prophecies describing the second coming of Jesus. Those who study this matter – more expert than Pastor Grant – warn that Jesus could come back at any time.
But I think the earth still has some time. Yep, I’m being contrary.
Jesus says: This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
I’ve heard some of my favorite prophecy teachers say that the gospel has been proclaimed to the ends of the world.
I disagree, as the Great Commission from Matthew 28 gives more specifics of “the whole world” prophecy and specifically says to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
This has not been fully accomplished yet.
I’m praying for a latter-day revival in which the church will disciple the lost, and during extreme trials, will stand triumphant in power.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus, whenever You want; but I believe it is essential for us to be serious about disciple-making until then.
Let’s be the light that shines in a dark place.