Prophecy Matters.
Jesus said in John 14:29, “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.” One of the primary purposes of prophecy is to strengthen faith.
There is an interesting story from the Bible. The pieces have to be put together from the books off II Kings, Jeremiah, Daniel and Josephus. In 608 BC, the armies of Babylon surrounded Jerusalem. Jerusalem was under a siege. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian general, planned to bring Jerusalem into total subjection. Inside the city the people were afraid and supplies were running out. There were two prophetic schools of thought in the city. The prophet Jeremiah was telling the people and king that God was allowing this because of their wickedness. The many promises of deliverance and protection were based on their obedience to God. The promises were “conditional.” He told them that Jerusalem would soon be overthrown. Some believed him. There were other prophets with a different message. Hananiah led them. They were saying that in just a few days, God would deliver them from the enemy. After all, God sometimes waits until we are at our wits end, and that time was fast approaching. They told the people that they were favored and chosen of God. He had delivered them before and would not let them down now. Basically, they taught “unconditional prophecy.”
If you were a resident of Jerusalem in those days, and two preachers were preaching these opposite views, both claiming divine inspiration, whom would you rather believe? Most went with the positive forecasts.
They say the proof is in the pudding. It was not long before Jerusalem was invaded. Josephus says that 3000 of the brightest young men were taken captive to Babylon. Jeremiah was proven right.
On the walk to Babylon, the Jewish young men had plenty of time for reflection. The ones who believed that God would deliver them were deeply shaken. Their faith suffered. The few who believed Jeremiah and saw the predictions happen just as he stated, were strengthened in their faith. While the ordeal was not pleasant, they believed more than ever that God was alive and well and in control.
Daniel chapter 1 tells the story of the first test of their obedience to God on their arrival to Babylon. These chosen Jewish young men were given the food and drink from the king’s own kitchen. It was food and drink that God had clearly forbidden them to use. Most, whose faith had been severely shaken, gave in and basically said to themselves, “When in Babylon, do as the Babylonians do.” After all, God had not come through for them as promised. But there were four who said, no. Interestingly, those four believed in the prophet Jeremiah. Their faith had been strengthened through the whole ordeal, and they were ready to obey God, no matter what. Because of their faithfulness in this minor test, God rewarded them with promotions into the service of the king. Daniel eventually became prime minister of Babylon. They each had lives of rewarding service. God was able to use Daniel to send prophecies for our study today. It makes a difference who you listen to and who you believe.
Today, millions of people think that God is going to whisk them safely away just before the great time of trouble for the world. The Bible teaches that we will all be here and go through the trouble. Matthew 24:22 says that God is going to cut the trouble short on the account of the saved. That would not be necessary if they were in heaven. The stories found in the book of Daniel illustrate how we are endure the trouble of the last days: the prophecies tell us what to expect, and the stories show us how to survive. In the stories of Daniel, God let them go through the trouble, the fiery furnace and lion’s den, and yet sustained them and protected them. That is the model for the last days. Nowhere except in some theologian’s fanciful imagination is there a teaching that the saved will be whisked away to safety just before the trouble begins.
Just as in the days of the fall of Jerusalem, most people believe teachings that sound favorable to their hopes. That is what is happening today. When the “time of trouble such as never was” begins, and the saved find themselves still here after believing that they would be raptured, many will lose hold of their faith in God. Bad theology leads to a break down of faith.
Since he primary purpose of prophecy is to strengthen faith, what would you say is the primary purpose of false prophecy? That is right! The devil wants to destroy faith. It matters what you believe.
Prophecy matters.
Dennis
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