UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY: IT REQUIRES WORK

Of all the doctrines of the Bible, that which seems to be the least addressed from the pulpit is that of Eschatology (Bible prophecy).  There are several reasons for this.  For one, many pastors are not born again.  They have a form of Godliness, but are without the Spirit, and hence, without His wisdom and power (Jn. 16:7-15; 2 Tim. 3:5). 

Another reason for the neglect is that prophecy is not easily interpreted prior to the events actually occurring.  For example, references to the virgin birth and the crucifixion, were still a mystery to Christ's family and His disciples even after they occurred (Mk. 16:11; Lk. 24:1-53; Jn. 7:3-5; etc.).

But perhaps the greatest reason Bible prophecy is neglected in church pulpits today is because many Bible teachers fail to compare Scripture with all the rest of Scripture, and instead, build errant theologies based upon one or two verses of Scripture.  A perfect example is the Mid-Tribulation Rapture Theory.  It mistakenly interprets the "the trump of God" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52, with "last trump" of 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and with the "seventh trumpet judgment" of Revelation 11:15.  These three refer to two distinct events.

The "trump of God" and "the last trump" are indeed heard by the Church at the time of the Rapture, but common sense tells us that a sound meant to encourage the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:57; 1 Th. 4:18), differs greatly from the "third woe" of the "seven trumpet judgments" of Revelation (8:2 - 11:15).  The first two references apply to the Church's final day on earth, and the last refers to a warning to Israel in the Tribulation, also known as the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7), and Daniel's Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:24-27).

Daniel's prophecy, which declares the seven-year Tribulation period involving the Jewish people, was "hidden" until the early 1800's when Bible scholars discovered the Bible "divisions" known as dispensations (Dan. 12:8-13).  Until then, most believed that God had replaced Israel with the Church; how this was possible when Romans 9-11 clearly teaches that God is not finished with His people yet, is beyond me.  Based upon this "discovery," Matthew 24 - 25, and Revelation 6 - 18 are now viewed by Bible conservatives (those holding to a Pre-Tribulation Rapture and a Pre-Millennial Second Coming) as presenting the order of events as follows:
     1.  The Church Age begins (Acts. 2:2-47).
     2.  The Rapture of the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:49-54; 1 Th. 4:16-17).
     3.  The seven-year Tribulation of Israel (Dan. 9:26-27; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6 - 18).
     4.  The Second Coming of Christ (Mt. 24:30; Rev. 19:11-16).
     5.  The 1000 year Millennial Kingdom of Christ (Rev. 20:1-10).
     6.  The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11).
     7.  The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21:1).

 

This is why it is necessary to "rightly divide the Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15)!