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A time to pay attention to Prophecy At a time when prophecy needs to be taught and studied, we have leaders like Rick Warren who says there is no need, Warren teaches prophecy is a distraction for the church, and many agree. Thousands of churches follow his program. “People ask me why I don't preach more on prophecy. I say,“Why? Nobody knows” I could get up here and make some good guesses but they'd all be speculation. Jesus said, “Nobody knows when it's going to happen.” What about what is going to happen? We are told in Scripture to look at the signs to know of what is coming. We are to be watching and praying to escape what is to take place. To know of his coming. Even some of the parables were about the Kingdom of God, and they were about the distant future, which is prophecy. One quarter to one third of the pages of the Bible are on prophecy, this is part of preaching the whole counsel of God. He stays away from prophecy. Why? Because it has a negative impact especially on the end times we live in and does not fit into a seeker friendly, or lazy Christian model for doing church. Both Jesus (Mt.24) and Paul said we need to know prophecy so we will not be deceived. “ See I have told you beforehand” (also see 2 Thess.2:1-10 what Paul said). Jesus warns in Mt.7 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED in your name- this is the kind of prophecy the church is now running after to hear, its not from the Bible – but personal prophetic words. Jesus did not accept their appeal to his name. The book of Revelation is about prophesy-- Rev. 1:3 "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. v. 19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. Rev 22:7"Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Rev. 22:7"Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." It is not a sealed book, Daniel spoke of his book being sealed until the end “therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future” (Daniel 8:26; 9:24) “Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase”(12:4), “for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (12:9). The last days the time of the end began at Pentecost, 2000 years later we are far into the last of the end days. Unlike Daniel, John is told: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand” (Revelation 22:10). The book of Daniel, Ezekiel and other prophets are contained in the book of Revelation, it is for the church to know what is coming. We are in the time of the end, what Daniel said was sealed is to be revealed. The time in the end knowledge increases throughout the earth, people are able to travel back and forth incredibly fast. Those who seek God’s Word will begin to understand what was not known centuries before. As the end escalates we will begin to get a clearer understanding of what was already written. For Daniel was told, “none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” (12:10), “But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (11:32). We know God by his word. According to some teachers the mark of the Beast does not matter, its only a imprint, you can take it you can still love Jesus and have the mark Rev 14:9-11 ”And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God” When Scriptures literal meaning is not taken you can conform it to anything you want. Rev 16:2 a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. There is not in between - those who receive the mark worship the beast, and his image, The prophetic warnings are there so we will not be deceived. The mark is yet future. If you do not study or know prophecy you will be open to be deceived. In Rev. 19:20 It is the beast and the false prophet that do the miracles which deceived them to take and those that took the mark of the beast. Even having fire come from heaven (like in the Old Testament), impressive to those who do not know any better. Jesus Himself said 3 times in Matthew 24, “see to it no one deceives you” You have to know the truth to prevent yourself from being deceived. None of us are immune from being deceived in the last days. This includes you; this includes me. None of us are as smart or strong as we think. We need the fear of the Lord for it is the beginning of wisdom and we need to keep his word. May we all be prepared for what is to take place in the coming days.
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