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Our Mission: Revelation 14:6-12
If I Were Told the Future - Lesson 2
Prophecy
and You
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We invite you to join us as we pray:
Our Father,
We now know that Your Word is the only trustworthy reference about prophecy.
This brings us to ask a second question: is it really important to study Bible prophecy?
What use is it to us, to our salvation?
May Your Spirit guide us, as we open Your holy Book. In Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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2 Peter 1:19
We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
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Do we really need to study Bible prophecy?
According to the apostle Peter, the answer is: Yes. His writings bring out the importance
of «the prophetic word (...) which you do well to heed».
But why must we give heed to prophecy?
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Daniel 10:21
But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth.
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John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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Why study prophecy?
First reason: simply because the prophecy contained in the Word of God is a source of
truth, just as any other part of the Bible.
And since God invites us to know the truth as revealed in His holy Book, we also have to
try to understand prophecy, which is an integral part of this truth.
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The truthfulness of the prophetic word is confirmed more than once:
«And now I will tell you the truth.» (DANIEL 11:2)
«And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true.» (DANIEL 8:26)
«Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the
holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take
place."» (REVELATION 22:6)
«Then he said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper
of the Lamb!" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."»
(REVELATION 19:9)
«Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He
said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."» (REVELATION 21:5)
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2 Peter 1:21
For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
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How can the prophetic word be an infallible source of truth?
The Bible answers that all its prophecies come from the Holy Spirit, not from man's
imagination.
For this reason, the prophetic word is entirely trustworthy.
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John 16:13
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
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And so the Holy Spirit, the «Spirit of truth», plays a
determining role in communicating prophecy, since he is in charge of telling us «things
to come».
Interesting point: about one-third of the Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit, carries
a prophetic content.
Therefore, to ignore prophecy means to ignore one-third of the Bible.
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Habakkuk 2:2,3
Then the Lord answered me and said:
«Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not
lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.»
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Second reason for which we must study prophecy: because God asks
us to do so.
He gave us prophecy «that he may run who reads it», because He knows that its
fulfillment, though sometimes late, is still absolutely certain.
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Genesis 18:17
And the Lord said, «Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?»
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Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
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God expresses the desire to reveal us His intentions for the
future.
This brings us to the third reason for which we must study Bible prophecy: to prepare
ourselves for what the future holds for us.
As the saying goes: «Forewarned is forearmed».
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Jeremiah 25:4
The Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.
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Unfortunately God's warnings, communicated to men through His
prophets, did not always receive all the attention they deserved...
The Bible is overflowing with sad accounts telling the misfortunes of those who chose to
ignore prophetic warnings.
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Genesis 6:13
And God said to Noah,
«The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through
them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.»
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Undoubtedly, one of the most regrettably well-known stories is
that of the Flood.
Informed of God's intentions, Noah continually invited his fellow men to repent and to
join him in the building of an ark that would save them.
Day after day, for 120 years, the incessant call was sent out to men.
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Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
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What followed is known by all. Repeated again and again, the call
did not arouse any favorable answer among men, until the day the Flood came.
Only eight people believed in God's warning, entered the ark, and thus were saved.
Even the animals showed more wisdom than men...
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Exodus 9:18,19
Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to
rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now.
Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the
hail shall come down on every man and every beast which is found in the field and is not
brought home; and they shall die.
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Here is another example of a very clear warning that God gave to inform men of what the future was holding for them...
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Exodus 9:20,21,25
He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh
made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses.
But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the
field. (...)
And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both
man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the
field.
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... but here again, many attached no importance to God's warning and, as a result, had to suffer the consequences of their choice.
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Matthew 24:15
Therefore when you see the «abomination of desolation», spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand)...
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Jesus Himself reminds us of the importance of Bible prophecy, and invites us to examine the prophet Daniel's book in order to make ourselves acquainted with the warnings written in it.
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Daniel 2:28
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.
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Daniel 10:14
Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days.
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Jesus was right in telling us to study the book of Daniel, because we discover that the content of this prophetic book can definitely help us to «understand what will happen (...) in the latter days».
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Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants, things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.
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Revelation 1:19
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
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Likewise, the book of Revelation holds important information
about the «things which must shortly take place».
We will have to study it too.
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Daniel 12:4
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
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Revelation 22:10
And he said to me, «Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.»
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Let's pay attention to the following point.
In the sixth century B.C., Daniel was ordered to seal his book until the time of the end.
Centuries later, John received the opposite order.
Why? «For the time is at hand.»
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Proverbs 6:23
For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
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Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
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So we see that the prophetic word is not sealed anymore and can
be understood here and now.
As a lamp to our feet, it will guide us along the dark path of the future, preventing us
from stumbling over the many obstacles on our road.
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John 5:39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
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Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
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Another reason showing the importance of prophecy: our need to
better know Jesus Christ.
This study guide will indeed bring us to realize how much prophecy gravitates around the
person of Jesus.
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2 Timothy 3:15-17
From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able
to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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We will also see that prophecy, as well as the rest of the Scriptures, will help us to deepen our understanding of the wonderful and essential salvation God offers us in Jesus Christ.
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2 Timothy 3:1
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.
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Luke 21:36
Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
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The study of Bible prophecy gives us an invaluable help, for the Word of God announces very difficult times, and we must know right now how to properly prepare ourselves.
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Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
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And when, with the help of God, we have properly prepared
ourselves for what the future holds for us, prophecy will no longer be something to arouse
anguish and discouragement.
On the contrary, it will become an inexhaustible source of hope for each one of us.
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Revelation 22:7
Behold, I am coming quickly!
Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
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Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, «Surely I am coming quickly.»
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The return of Christ is near, as this study guide will show us.
And the nearer this great event approaches, the more it is essential to turn our attention
to Bible prophecy.
Let's pay attention to the blessing: «Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy
of this book.»
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1 Thessalonians 5:20
Do not despise prophecies.
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Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
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God promises blessings to those who will take time to study the
prophecies of the Bible.
Why? Because God eagerly desires that we know what the future holds for us, so that we
make informed, accurate decisions right now.
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Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
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Bible prophecy is one of the most precious gifts from God to
mankind.
We must invest a little of our time to probe its content, so that we won't be caught
unprepared like all those people living in Noah's days, who chose to turn a deaf ear to
God's warnings.
May this study guide be very useful in your quest for the truth.
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Summary of the seven reasons why we must study prophecy:
- Prophecy is a source of truth (Revelation 19:9; 21:5; 22:6).
- God asks us to study prophecy (Habakkuk 2:2,3).
- Prophecy helps us to prepare ourselves for the future (Hebrews 11:7).
- Prophecy is not sealed any more (Revelation 22:10).
- Prophecy helps us to better know Jesus Christ (John 5:39).
- Prophecy helps us to better understand the plan of salvation God offers to each one of us (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
- The return of Jesus Christ is at hand (Revelation 22:7,20).
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Let us pray together:
O Lord,
Many people say that Bible prophecy has no importance for the believer. Others state that
it is impossible to understand what it really means.
But You tell us, on the contrary, that the prophetic word is no longer sealed, and that we
must study it, for this is a privileged way to prepare ourselves for the difficult times
coming soon.
May Your Holy Spirit guide our search, helping us to know Your Son Jesus Christ better and
to appreciate more and more His sacrifice for each one of us.
In His name we pray.
Amen.
The test of Lesson 2 is waiting for you!