Four Prophetic KeysMany reasons could be put forth to explain why our Christian counterparts of long ago were wrong about what they believed to be prophetic certainties. The signs seemed to fit the times. How can we avoid their mistakes? The following prophetic keys will help any interpreter unlock the door to the prophetic past and the prophetic future:
- The first prophetic key is to recognize that prophetic themes are most often set within established time frames. Failure to pay attention to a time frame can lead a person to assume that his generation is the generation experiencing the fulfillment when, in fact, the fulfillment is in the past.
- The second prophetic key is to recognize that as far as history records, little is unique about our era when it comes to calamities like plagues, earthquakes, and wars. This means that their contemporary manifestation does not necessarily carry any prophetic importance. In terms of a given time frame, the fulfillment of such prophecies is more than likely past.
- The third prophetic key is to determine historical context. Before an interpreter assumes a future fulfillment, if the time text is clear, he should search events within the given time frame for possible fulfillment.
- The fourth prophetic key is to distinguish fulfillment from application. There is much in Scripture that is fulfilled, but principles remain that can be applied to any era.
We’ll look at each of these over the next few days.
End times or not - you better be ready!
Sounds like something an instructor would say to a class.
Could you hurry please? I'm in the path of Ophelia...
ping
With the flood in Noah's day...who remained?
I'm not crazy about "Coast to Coast AM's" opinion on these things. The whole program is about things paranormal, alien abductions, and other "twilight zone" topics.
One question I always ponder is "Are these things happening with greater frequency or are they just brought to our attention more in our 24 hour news day?" How would our approach to these things be different if we didn't have CNN, FOX, and satellites?
On a personal level I just don't think anyone is privy to the counsels of God on these matters and every attempt to set a season, time, or place to date has failed. So be ready for whatever comes by having your soul right with God. Frankly even if "the" end times don't emerge today anyone's end time could be today so just be prepared and let God take care of the rest.
Cool, post millenialism!
As a full gospel, apostolic/prophetic type, I could never understand why so many people who accept the authority of the believer, spiritual warfare, victory over sin, sickness and poverty by the blood of Jesus, etc., are so willing to believe in a defeatist eschatology.