We all have our hunches about how Bible prophecy along with the book of Revelation will play out, but we’re all wrong. Some of us may have parts and pieces of the truth, but most Bible prophecy will not be fully understood until after it happens.
For the most part, those prophecy pundits and Bible students who formulate timelines, charts and write commentaries on the book of Revelation and other end time Bible prophecies in an attempt to explain the exact meaning of the metaphorical symbols and to
predict how these prophecies will be fulfilled, by whom and when are engaging in folly. No one knows these things exactly, and know will know, again, in most cases, until after they have come to pass, and even then, most people will not even understand the prophecies at that time.
Here is a case in point: Even Yeshua’s disciples didn’t understand what his role was to be or how he was to fulfill the many Old Testament Messianic prophecies about him until after his resurrection. Do we really think that our biblical understanding and spiritual perspicacity is greater than theirs? If so, than this is not only folly on our part, but extreme arrogance and hubris! Perhaps we need to explore the biblical meaning of humility and faith. Let me explain what I mean.
Regarding faith, if we were to know the exact details concerning the fulfillment of biblical prophecy including the book Revelation, then our spiritual walk would no longer be a faith walk as per the biblical definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, would it?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
We’d now be walking by sight, not by faith, which is the opposite of what Scripture enjoins us to do (2 Cor 5:7).
No, the main purpose of Bible prophecy isn’t to provide us with a sort of crystal ball to know what’s going to happen in the future. It’s purpose is only to raise our hope by providing us with a shadowy understanding of future events, like looking through a glass darkly (1 Cor 13:12), even as the ancient Jews had a shadowy understanding about the coming of Messiah, but they didn’t know the full or exact details of how biblical prophecies concerning him would play out. The exact fulfillment of those prophecies was hidden from the majority of Jews, which is why they killed him. YHVH divinely revealed only to a few of Yeshua’s closest associates how he perfectly fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning him.
Now this brings us to the main purpose of Bible prophecy, as I see it. It’s not so that humans can use the Bible as a sort of crystal ball or as a means to divine or augur the exact details of the future, but so that after the prophecies have been fulfilled, and the understanding of them is divinely revealed to YHVH’s faithful saints (as occurred to Yeshua’s disciples after his resurrection) that the omniscience and glory of YHVH Elohim will be manifested causing humans to glorify, praise and worship him. Please not: Even an understanding of the fulfillment of the prophecies is by divine revelation and will not be understood by the vast majority of people. For example, what majority of the Jewish population understood that Yeshua the Messiah was who he was in his day…or even today?
What, therefore, should be the main focus of our spiritual walk as Bible believers? Namely this: We need to pursue holiness and righteousness through a spiritual relationship with Yeshua as we love him by obeying his Word. Our future is in his hands, and the just shall walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 11:1). In his hands, we are safe and secure no matter how the prophecies of the Bible play out.
What is the bottom line here? Keep your eyes on Yeshua and have faith in him, and not on how you think Bible prophecy is going to play out, because no one knows these things. Make no mistake about it, the vast majority of those people who “understand” Bible prophecy are those who have something to sell you; they want to make a name for themselves for the purpose of human pride, control and mammon. Beware!
Really appreciate your insight here. This is exactly how I’ve felt for years – we’re not to speculate what might happen but to watch for signs so that when they do we will recognize them! Thank you!
good perspective deborah….
I agree.
Amen! Amein!
Hi Natan. In a way, what you have written is very “freeing,” in that it sort of gives us permission to be confused about the book! I do not think you are wrong in what you say, but yet there is this tiny part of me that takes note of the very first verse that indicates the revelation was given to show HIs servants what must happen soon….Surely SOMEbody must “get it!” Not me though:<)
Good point bringing up Rev 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.”
Please note that it says these things will shortly come to pass, NOT that we’d understand them ahead of time.
sigh. You are correct in what it says. My little pea brain and the way it works tends to think we wouldn’t be told if not to understand, and yet…my way and His ways….well you know all about that!!! Bottom line here is that knowledge and understanding are minor compared to our walk….and yet we pursue the first rather than the latter because the latter is tougher. :</
Look, we all have pea brains compared to the Almighty YHVH! That’s why I have to keep running back to the word of Elohim to check the ideas my pea brain comes up with against the unalterable truth of Scripture. This is because it’s so easy for my mind to wander off the path of truth and come up with all sorts of crazy ideas! Accountability like this forum provides is a good thing; we can all help each other to stay on the path of truth. Blessings to you and thank you for your ongoing contributions to the success of this blog. Of the approximately 800 to 1100 people who currently read this blog every day, only a small percentage ever comment. You’re one of the few brave ones who does, and we appreciate it greatly!
Just recently started following your blog, can you clarify? Is the picture indicating that you think John the Baptist’s writing is folly? Or the man who wrote to you? Thank you
I’m referring to the man who wrote the commentary on the book of Revelation, not the author of the book of Revelation. By the way, it was not John the Baptist that wrote Revelation, but John who was one of the 12 disciples of Yeshua who also wrote the Gospel of John and the three epistles with his name. These are two different Johns. John the Baptist was beheaded while Yeshua was still on this earth and was Yeshua’s cousins.
This is the best explanation of Biblical prophecy I have read. Too many claim to know exactly when and how YHWH’s prophecies will be fulfilled, only to be proven wrong after the fact. Good article.
Haha Natan! Brave…not so much. Perhaps a bit of a rebel…? :<) I do read most of what you send…I am a reader and not a watcher or listener so much. Sometimes I stay quiet because I agree completely and seems no cause to comment, sometimes I have a different opinion as to how to view something and it is of no great issue and not worth mentioning, and sometimes….well I just jump in because I have a question or am trying to wrap my head around something. Regardless of how often I comment, I AM reading… Carry on please:<).
While we all strive to understand, some things are sealed such as the 7 thunders! If we knew we might faint or even “boast against the natural branches!” Thus we need faith and trust hence the “verily, verily” 🙂
Well said Natan…The Book Of Revelation is such a complex book… certainly John on the Isle of Patmos was seeing into the future; prophetic events that even he would not have understood.! as he was chosen by Elohim to see these things And write them down .
So that was some anointing and the power of Elohim on his life to be able to see these future events by the power of The Spirit Ruach ha Kodesh…..
Of course each individual person who studies & reads the book of Revelation will in some way by the Spirit of Elohim,be given understanding on what the verses are saying to us.Elohim’s Word..but we will only know in part…it can take years of searching the scriptures to fully understand what Elohim is saying to us..in this particular book.. and praying for wisdom & understanding.. by his Spirit… it is certainly an unfolding…as we mature in our Faith Walk trust in him..seek his face & show ourselves approved unto Elohim…he will guide us in all things and reveal and give understanding.
Shalom….