i'm reading the book of revelation right now in my personal devotion - the one thing i am most sure of is ... i don't understand it all - but it is absolutely obvious that things in the world today are growing closer - and closer - to what God said would be happening in the end
what intrigues me about prophecy is how we really only fully understand prophecy once it unfolds - we study - and imagine - and argue - but we really never see clearly until it happens - and then we say, "aha" - so we guess and make our own predictions - usually to be proven wrong later
a few decades ago people were caught up in naming the antichrist - several world leaders were pointed out - but those politicians' time on the world stage came and went - and we still don't know
a few years later - in 1988 - the book "88 reasons why the rapture will be in 1988" sold 4.5 million copies - guess what? - the author came out with another book in 1989 - it didn't sell as many copies
here is my concern - events on the world stage go through an ebb and flow - in the long-term there is a steady progress toward eventuality - but some months - or years - are less worrisome than others - right now people are searching the Bible for answers - but a couple of peace treaties here - a new government there - and we'll close the Bible - put it away - until our fears once again get the better of us - and many people - perhaps some whom have studied off and on for years - will still be caught off guard - unprepared for the most important event when it does happen
the goal of prophecy is not to simply understand what is happening - it is to help us be "prepared" when it arrives - how are you preparing? - studying is great - it helps us understand and focus - but what are you doing with what you already know about His Word? - the Bible never says to stockpile food and supplies - though I'm not saying you are wrong to do so - what is more important - more wise - is to be careful to not neglect what the Bible does say to do - especially if you believe the end is near - so how are we doing with "train up a child in the way he should go" - "be holy" - "flee from youthful lusts" - "not neglect our meeting together" - "serve one another"?
the final question posed over our lives will not be if we knew God's Word - it will be whether we applied it to our daily lives
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