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Why Study Prophesy
By Mark S Watson
http://www.markswatson.com/whystudy.htm
This is a question that
should never be asked by a Christian. Today there are many Christians
who claim to know Christ but do not. They may protest till day's end
that they are 'in the faith' but ignore the warnings and commands of
the one they claim to adore. This is an indictment against both pastor
and parishioner. It is a willful ignorance, which, in short, is an act
of rebellion.
"For rebellion is as the
sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as is as iniquity and idolatry…"
(1 Sam 15:23a)
The study of God's word is an
important task that Christians engage in. It is not to be done in a
haphazard fashion, nor is to be done selectively. It is important to
approach the study of scripture with these things in mind. The primary
reason that the Church today does not have any 'fire' and its 'light'
is dim, if it exists at all, is that the church has refused (not
forgotten) to teach all of the Bible, including Bible prophecy.
This, put simply, is
rebellion. Pastors today know the words, promises and warnings of
Christ concerning his return. Yet, in Church after Church, pulpit
after pulpit, the prophecies that affect the Church of today, the
warnings, pleadings and promises are not taught. They are relegated
to second class status as scripture and in some circles are even
scoffed at. The mark of a true Christian is one who knows Jesus and
obeys him. He doesn't read the same old 'Jesus loves me' versus over
and over again and call it Bible study.
This is not the way to
a deeper walk with God and, if continued, will lead to spiritual
atrophy and perhaps even being 'cast off as an unfruitful branch. The
warnings of scripture require us to do and not do certain things at
certain times. The Prophecies of the Bible are a kind of Divine road
map to the last days. Could you imagine going on a journey to a place
you have never been, being given a map, precise instructions and then
putting that very same map and instructions in your closet, while you
are getting in the car to go in your trip? Or cutting out huge
sections of the map and blacking out every third word of the
instructions intentionally? Does that make any sense? The General
impression of so many people is that the prophecies of the Bible are
not relevant to them.
They are concerned with
raising their children, making more money, taking a vacation, what to
buy their spouses for Christmas. This, to these 'Christians' is more
important than the specific commands of Christ to not be overcharged
with the care of this life, lest that day take you unaware . This is
exactly what is happening today in the mainstream churches. Notice in
the Bible there are two classes of Christians, 1) those that know the
times and the seasons are not taken by surprise and 2) those that are
taken by surprise. (1 Thes. 5:4; Rev 3:3) Watching is of paramount
importance and knowing what to watch for is the key.
The Bible does not teach that
there is such a thing as a Christian who does not know the times or
seasons, at least not a Christian who will remain one for long. Those
who know the truth are not in darkness, however, most Christians today
do not know where we are in Gods prophetic timetable. They are at a
loss to understand because the Churches are still feeding the sheep
with baby food and spiritual 'breast milk'. Some of these Christians
will say they have known the Lord for 15 years and know little about
Gods word.
It is interesting to note
that when Jesus was born the majority of Israel did not celebrate his
birth by honoring him. Indeed, Herod, who ruled over Israel at the
time, tried to kill the Christ child. More interesting is the fact
that some 'unclean' Gentiles came from afar, knowing of the
prophecies and traveled far to honor God's savior. The so-called
heathen knew what time it was, yet God's chosen people, by and large
were clueless. So clueless in fact that God rejected them and grafted
in the 'unclean' Gentiles into his family. The Church today is like
the Jews of old, they are too busy to look into the Bible and do what
God commanded them to do. Watch and pray. Christians must become
dependent on God, his promises and his word. This entails giving up
some precious time and spending time with God, most church people do
not want to give God his due, that being ALL of us, including our
time.
The Israelites did not listen
to the Prophets sent to them. Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah Micah and the
rest were largely rejected as prophets by the people. The prophecies
are for the Church today. Not just for the Church of yesterday and
tomorrow. Now, the US Government is making all kinds of threatening
noises about those who believe in Christ's Return (FBI's
Project Megiddo report) and ominous
things are happening in this country to believers. Where does the
mainstream church stand? In mute silence, because most of them do not
believe (though they may say they do) in the Second Coming of the
Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here is where the commands of Christ are so
important, he commanded us to watch and pray.
Now the Government is saying
to those Christians who believe in Christ's Return, that the FBI will
from henceforth 'watch and prey ' on believers in Christ's return. So
now the command of Christ is beginning to put us at loggerheads with
the US Government. If you believe in Christ's return then you are a
suspected 'terrorist', a potential enemy of the State. Now the true
believer knows who the true ruler of the nations of this world and of
this age, including our own government. To real believers, this type
of report is no shock, in fact in some ways it is welcome, for we know
the day of Christ's Return is closer that ever.
Discernment is needed in the
Church Today. If the mainstream Church cannot discern the times, it
will be lost. God will always have his remnant, many of God's remnant
have moved away from and out of the mainline denominations, to keep
themselves pure from religious apostasy. Pastors must go back to
teaching the Bible. All of it. If they do not, they will have an
unbearable reckoning to make. May God have mercy on them…before that
day comes.
That He May Run That Readeth It -
By Mark S. Watson
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