So why should we understand prophesy? Eschatology is the study of end time events. Basically it’s the study of Biblical prophesy in our case. The two books of the Bible that are most concerned with end time events are Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ ( the last book in the Bible ). The fact that Daniel and The Book of Revelation speak of end time events means that they are books of prophesy. Is it really all that important that we know and understand prophesy? Let’s look at what they Bible says to answer that question:
The Prophesies are a Sure Thing
2nd Peter 2:19 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:
Here Peter telling us we have a more sure word of prophesy. More sure than what? The three verses previous to this one (16, 17 & 18) tell us. In the same chapter Peter refers the time when he, James and John witnessed the Majesty of Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. and they heard a voice from the Father saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” What Peter is saying here is that the more sure word of prophesy is even greater proof and more certain than their eye witness account of this event (the transfiguration). When God predicts the future in multiple events spanning over 6 millennium with 100% accuracy, this would undoubtedly present irrefutable proof that God is alive, intelligent and you can depend on His prophesies.
Peter was very aware of this because he witnessed the prophesies come true for himself in the life of Jesus. He also saw the Pharisees and the Sadducees reject Jesus because they did not see the light nor understand the prophesies in the Bible. This ignorance of the part of the Pharisees is a perfect example of how we can loose our salvation if we misunderstand the prophesies. If you need help understanding the Bible and how to interpret it, check out the following link: Bible Interpretation.
Prophesy is a Light Unto Our Path in a Dark Day
Then Peter goes on to say in 2nd Peter 1:19 that “you would do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” For the days are dark and this word of prophesy which we have is as a light that shines in a dark place. The light in the Bible refers to Jesus who is the word of God {John 8:12}, and {John 1:1-5 & 14}.
Peter also admonishes us that we would do well to take heed of the peophesies. With this information we can understand how to prepare and react to something before it happens. As Peter says, it’s a light in a dark place showing you where to go and what to do when the time comes even before it happens. {Psalm 119:105}
If We Walk in Darkness, We Shall Surely Perish
The purpose of the light is so that we don’t stumble and fall. To fall in battle means to die. We are in a battle, but it is not with flesh and blood {Ephesians 6:12}, and we can loose our life and our salvation if we fall.
To fall also means to sin {Romans 3:23} (to come short can also be accurately translated as to fall short and is in some Bible versions), {Matthew 15:14}, {1Tim 6:9} and {Proverb 16:18}. If we sin we can certainly die and loose our salvation {Rom 6:23}. All the words of the prophesy are contained in the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God and so is Jesus. The Bible is a light unto the world so that we can see how to prepare and how we can prevent ourselves from sinning when the time of trouble comes upon us. We must follow the light in order to survive.
Now let’s go on to see what other books of the Bible say about the importance of learning, understanding and studying the prophesies.
The Wise Shall Understand and Lead Many to Righteoousness
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Before we go on, we should note that Daniel 12:10 and 12:3 is part of the written record of the prophesy which the angel spoke to Daniel. The significance here is that when Daniel 12:10 speaks of understanding, it is referring to understanding the prophesy. In Daniel 12:10 the Old Testament prophet says that none of the wicked shall understand. Why don’t they understand? Because they don’t want to and because they neither study the Bible nor do they pray and ask God to help them understand. That should be a scary statement and should raise a red flag for most people. It basically says that anyone who refuses to study the Bible and understand the prophesies is wicked.
On the other hand Daniel says the wise shall understand. This is the very light which the Bible is giving us to guide our path. It literally tells us that we need to read and understand the prophesies. It is very clear than that in all three places, Revelation 1:3, (below) in Daniel 12:10 and in 2nd Peter 2:19-21 (above) the Bible shows that the children of God have a duty to understand the prophesies, but why?
Daniel 12:3 shows why. It is because the wise shall turn many to righteousness. Daniel 12:3 and 12:10 both speak about the wise. 12:10 says the wise shall understand the prophesies and 12:3 says the wise shall turn many to righteousness. So if you put those two verses together, it means that if we want to witness for Christ and lead people to righteousness, then we must understand the prophesies, and if we don’t then we are wicked. The Bible is the Gospel, and the primary purpose of the Bible is to preach the Gospel because the highest priority of God in this age is that all men should be saved. God has chosen that through the prophesies He would reveal that Jesus is the way the truth, the light and the only begotten Son of God.
God uses prophesy to show the world that He is God. The wise shall understand the prophesies and use them as a witness for God. No one person, nor any other being or intelligence has such an ability to show the future from ancient times, but only the one true living God could do that.
Blessed is He that Read, Hear & Keep the Prophesy
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Now let’s take a look at Revelation 1:3. It literally says that those who read, hear and keep the words of the prophesy will be blessed. If we didn’t already, now we know that we will be blessed if we read, hear and keep “the words of this prophecy,” (referring to the book of Revelation), but why? Clearly, as we can see if we watch the news or read the news paper, it is a dark day in our time. As Peter says in 2nd Peter 2:19 (above) the sure word of prophesy is a light that shineth in a dark place. It is a light unto our feet so that we know where to go and so that we do not stumble. But what does it mean to keep the prophesy? We’ll get to the keeping part after the next paragraph.
It has clearly been shown through scripture that we need to read this prophesy (The Revelation) and all the others too. What does it mean to hear? Well it means that we need to listen to those who have more experience and understanding of the prophesy. As a group or church we must get together, study and discus the prophesies and the fullfillment of those prophesies so we can gain a better knowledge and understanding. Few people can understand the prophesies simply by reading them all by themselves for they are very complex and there are many who have had real life experiences with the fulfillment of prophesy. So we need to learn from the people who have lived through those experiences. We need to study the scriptures together as a body. The experiences I’m referring to are Three Angle Message’s including All the Messages from 1840 through 1844.
Now let’s get back to the word keep and what it means to “keep those things which are written therein:” which is referring to the words of the prophesy. Let’s look a the Strong’s exhaustive concordance to see what the word “keep” which is translated from the word tēreō means.
tēreō
1.) to attend to carefully, take care of
a.) to guard
b.) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
c.) to observe
d.) to reserve: to undergo something
Just as in English and every other language, the word keep and many other words have several meanings. It has an intention. Words are often intended to convey more than one overlapping and related ideas or concepts. This word tēreō or keep means to safely guard the words of the prophesy from corruption. It also means to carefully attend, to observe and to undergo something. In other words, not only is there a blessing when we protect the prophesies from adulteration, but there is a blessing when we actually do or work towards the fulfillment of the prophesies for ourselves. In other words, it says that the 144,000 will keep the commandments of God. Therefore, we need to keep the commandments of God. Not everyone will attain the status or become a member of the 144,000, but the Bible is clearly saying that we will be blessed if we make every effort to live up to what the 144,000 are to become with no excuses.
The Prophesies Prove that God is who the Bible Claims He Is
Isaiah 46:9-10
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 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:
Right there in Isaiah 46:9-10 God is saying there is no one like Him who can declare the beginning from the end. He is offering it as proof that He is God. Although much of the prophesies of the Bible which primarily apply to the past are understood by many, most of even the Christian world have very little, if any, understanding of the prophesies which have yet to be fulfilled. If you are a student of prophesy then you already know that many of the prophesies of the Bible are being fulfilled in our time. If you don’t know that, then I recommend that you study under someone who knows the true prophesy or keep reading on this website. Especially read the articles related to “All the Messages from 1840 thru 1844.”
God is no simpleton as can be seen in creation. The prophesies cannot be understood at a mere glance. God is the God who created calculus and nuclear science. Only through deep study and guidance can a person understand the prophesies, but once but once a person is opened up to these things the stupendous magnitude of the subject becomes eye-opening and the validity of the God head becomes undeniable.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
It is very obvious that as shown through all the selected scriptures on this page that God is very serious about the fact that He wants His people to understand His prophesies. Once again Hosea 4:6 is just another way of saying “none of the wicked shall understand” as it is written in Daniel 12:10. If we fail to understand the prophesies, we shall surely perish.”
Here once again in Hosea 4:6 shows God’s displeasure against His people when they reject His knowledge and because of this He says He will also reject them.
What knowledge is being referred to here? Is it rocket science or brain surgery? No, of course not. It’s the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ which is presented throughout the Bible.
God’s Church Will Keep His Commandments
Near the end Hosea 4:6 God says, “seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God.” The law of thy God is the knowledge he is talking about. In {Jeremiah 31:31-33} God says that He will write His law on the hearts of His people in the New Covenant. At the time in which Jeremiah lived and wrote this prophesy, there was only one law and it was the ten commandments. How could God be talking through Jeremiah to His people about a law that didn’t exist. Surely, when God said, “My Law,” they knew exactly which He was referring to. There is only one New Covenant and God said He would write His law on the hearts of His people. He didn’t say He would write a new law on the hearts of His people. God said He would make a New Covenant. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. He didn’t say He would make a new law. There’s a big distinction.
God only has one law. It is the law of love also known as the 10 commandments. Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it and that not one jot or tittle (meaning punctuation, let alone words or precepts) would pass from the law until all is fulfilled. {Matthew 5:18} That statement by Jesus in itself is a prophesy. So if someone tells you that we don’t have to keep the commandments of God, or that the law of God has changed, then they are a false prophet, because God said He would write His law on the hearts of His people in Jeremiah 31:31-33 and that is a prophesy also.
When God says He will write “His law” in the hearts of his people it’s in the singular form. That’s because He only has one law. He didn’t say He would write one of His laws or the updated version of His law, because He got it right the first time. He is God. He doesn’t make mistakes. I hope the necessity of understanding the prophesies is starting to sink in.
The Revelation Is the Testimony of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:1-2The 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:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
In Revelation 1:1-2 John is saying that Jesus sent an angel to signify and deliver a message to His servants. You see, it says the message was given to John by the angel. Then it says he, John, bore record of it. What did John bare record of? It says right there in verse 2 that John bore record of the Word of God, the Testimony of Jesus Christ, and all the things that he saw. That is a list of three things. The first was the Word of God and the second was the Testimony of Jesus Christ. The third was all of the things that he saw. So the Book of Revelation was a record of all the things that John saw AND it was the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Therefore, since the Bible interprets itself, as we know from our study in Bible Interpretation, then we know that when the Book of the Revelations speaks of the Testimony of Jesus Christ, it is referring to all the things which John saw, and therefore the Testimony of Jesus Christ is the Book of the Revelation.
There may be more to the Testimony of Jesus than that which is written in the book of the Revelation alone, but Revelation is certainly a major part of the Testimony of Jesus. After all, it is titled after the first phrase in that book which is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” and therefore it’s purpose is to reveal Jesus Christ and is therefore His Testimony. How can you have the knowledge of Jesus Christ if you don’t know His Testimony which Revelations is a major part?
Notice also that Revelation 1:1 says that Jesus sent a message, which God gave Him, to His servants. It doesn’t say He sent the message to His slaves, but his servants. Usually servants get paid, but it doesn’t matter if you are a servant or a slave, you must pay careful attention to any message your master sends you. The employees of a company are really the servants of that company. If someone from the in the upper management of a company sends a message to the emplyees, can they safely disregard it? Of course not. If they did they would be in danger of loosing their job. Likewise, His servants cannot safely ignore a message from Jesus given to Him by God and sent through His angel to John.
The Woman Has the Testimony of Jesus Christ
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Notice also that in Revelation 12:17, it says that the woman and her seed, which represents God’s church, would have the Testimony of Jesus Christ and therefore they would certainly have the knowledge that was revealed through the book of Revelation. It seems very clear that the Bible is saying that in order to be part of God’s church, you need to know the book of Revelation and even understand it.
The Woman Keeps the Commandments of God
Oh, and there’s that word “keep” again which happens to be translated from that same word tēreō in Revelations 12:17. Oh, and my goodness, it says the woman and her seed “keep” the commandments of God. So if they keep the commandments, then they would guard the commandments from any form of contamination, but that’s not all.
They also abide and live by the commandments. You can preach and talk about the commandments all day long, but it means nothing if you don’t abide by them. That would make you a hypocrite. So it means nothing if you can recite the commandments. Even Satan and his evil angels can recite the commandments all day long and they do, (Satan uses the commandments to condemn you) but that doesn’t mean they are keeping them. How can it be that the woman keeps the commandment of God when so many Christian Churches teach that the commandments were for the Old Testament Jews and the modern day Church is not subject to them. Could that be a false doctrine? Obviously it’s contrary to the Bible and therefore must be false doctrine. Anyone who teaches otherwise is a false prophet and in in danger of the fearful edict writtnen at the end of Revelation.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Jesus said that he kept all of His Father’s commandments. {John 15:10} How could Jesus have different commandments from the Father if He and the Father are one? {John 10:30} On many occasions He also said, “Follow Me” {John 10:27}. How can you follow Jesus if you don’t keep the Father’s commandments? You can’t! Therefore it is a false doctrine to say that the commandments were for the Jews only. Did Jesus want only the Jews to follow Him when He said “Follow me?”
This is another example of why we must understand the prophesies. If we don’t understand the prophesies, then we may not understand that we are supposed to “keep” the prophesies which indicate that we are required to keep the commandments of God if we want to be part of the remnant which Revelation calls the seed of the woman referring to the church.
Notice also that the dragon, who is Satan, is not wroth or angry with anyone else except the woman and her seed who keep the commandments of God. That is because those who don’t keep the commandments of God are serving Satan. Why would he be angry with them? He has them.
Prophesies Warn Us of the Time of Great Trouble to Come
1st Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
As a final note it should be mentioned as it is written int 1st Corinthians 10:11 that the things which happened in the past were written for our admonition. What does it mean, an admonition? It is a warning. The books of the Bible were written for us upon whom the ends of the world has come as an examples of what will happen in our time. Every book of the Bible has many details that reveal what is coming upon us. I think it would be impossible for any one person to understand all that the Bible has to say to us on the subject, but I can say that there is much to learn and there is much that has already been revealed. This is what we are here to discuss.
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
It is a warning and an admonition because there will be a time of tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world. It will be as the days of Noah and of Lot. God has given his people prophesies and the books of the Bible so He can show His people how He will deliver them through the time of trouble which has never been since the beginning of the world. But as it says in Hosea 4:6, they will perish if they refuse His knowledge and in Daniel 12:10, none of the wicked will understand.