The Computer Age In Prophecy

There is nothing like using the correct tools.  Ever tried to unscrew a nut with a pair of pliers?  Speaking from personal experience, it’s a tedious and almost impossible job.  You are rewarded with sore hands and the nut often lose its sharp angels and become rounded, making it almost impossible to fit within the correct sized socket again.

When trying to decipher Bible prophecy we can sometimes force the Bible to say what we want it to say.  This is like using the wrong tool.  We can twist the Scriptures and smooth out the sharp angles because we use the wrong interpretive tools.  Use the appropriate methods and the job is completed without much damage to the reader or the prophecies.

In the first chapter, I mentioned the disciples’ conversation with Jesus on the Mount of Olives.  They had a natural concern for the future and Jesus knew this. The purpose, however, for which we are given a glimpse into the future is not just to satisfy our curiosity.  Let’s allow the Bible to tell us the reason why prophecy was given:

1.         To show the power of God since only He knows the complete future. Listen to what He says in Isaiah 42:8,9:  "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."

2.         For instruction and warning.  Amos 3:7 states “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets”.

3.         So that we may be led to a life of obedience to God.  As clearly stated in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law”.

4.         To help us identify the Son of God.  Jesus told his disciples in John 13:19, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.”

A quick review of those four purposes will convince you that these are not the most common benefits we see in prophecy.  Our reasons are a little more selfish.  If only I can know whether I will be rich, famous, have a successful marriage or have some other good fortune.  This is the very reason why humans have looked to astrology, psychics, and such arts to find out their ‘luck’.  But the common thread running through all those purposes listed in Scripture is that God wants to have a relationship with us.  God wants us to know He is real.  He also desires us to know Jesus as His Son and so live a life in favor with Him.

Jesus once told Peter the type of death he, Peter, would suffer.  Peter then immediately wanted to know what the future held for another disciple.  Upon this request Jesus rebuked him by saying, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." (John 21:22).  In other words, “Peter, that is not your business.  Just make sure you follow me”.  It will serve no good purpose to know everything about the future, but God gives sufficient revelations to prove he knows the end from the beginning.