Bible prophecy is a wonderful, God-given blessing to the church and the world. Its benefits are incalculable, including bringing edification, comfort, enlargement to the church. Of course, it is a ‘heads up’ regarding the future.
Yet prophecy is in danger of falling into disrepute through foe and friend alike. Foes seek to ignore, marginalise, or discredit the prophetic word. Prophecy’s ‘friends’ are capable of doing some very unwise things, too. For example, they set the date for Christ’s return. I remember as a 21 year old sitting in church and hearing that a certain high-profile man ‘staked his reputation’ that Jesus would return the very next month! Another man wrote a book called about why Jesus would return that very year. Though the book was from America, it travelled very quickly to Australia (and, no doubt, other parts of the world). Normal ‘Aussie skepticism’ was thrown to the wind as people were stirred up that Jesus might, just might, return that year. One man seemed distressed at the prospect of the Lord’s soon return. ‘I can’t have Jesus return this year … I’m too busy!’
First things first. Friend, when you are ‘too busy’ for Jesus to return to this planet, then you are too busy. Besides, the Lord does not need our permission in order to return.
In recent years, there has been speculation about certain events, implying an apocalyptic outcome. Remember Y2K (1 January 2000)? This was when the calendars on computers would revert to ’00.’ The concern was that the computer would think it was ‘1900’ rather than ‘2000’ and it could potentially result in some catastrophic results, electronically and otherwise. Some prophecy buffs were predicting the worse. The date came and went and was much ado about nothing (of course, there is the possibility that governments and industry fixed the problem just in time and averted disaster).
Then there was the Mayan Calendar of 2012, the blood red moons of 2015, and a total eclipse in 2017. In everyone of these cases, people were saying that there were profound prophetic implications, even the second coming of Christ or the end of the world. These pronouncements caused a great stir and even anxiety among many.
Yet when the appointed time came, nothing happened. Was there a retraction? An apology? To my knowledge, the answer was ‘No.’
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
In an age where deception and delusion are increasing in record levels, we desperately need the gift of discernment. It will help you separate wheat from the chaff and keep you from being led astray. Time, money, resource, and emotions are unwisely spent. Discernment is something you cultivate. It comes by cleaving to God’s truth, knowing His Word, and being filled by the Holy Spirit. Some other pointers to keep in mind.
1. Be open-minded but not gullible: In Proverbs 14:15 it says The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. While we should listen respectfully, discernment decrees that we prove all things and hold fast to what is good (I Thessalonians 5:21).
2. Scriptural literacy: Know God’s word. Like good Berean Christians, search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11). Take the whole context of Scripture. For example, blood red moons (often orange) are not a sign by themselves. They are a package deal, along with darkened sun (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; Revelation 6:12) and falling stars. Don’t settle for ala carte – take the whole menu.
3. Pray: Nothing empowers a person more than prayer, particularly prayer in the Spirit (Jude 20). Prayer will also help give you direction and discernment when you need it most.
4. Credible sources: Don’t just believe anything you see on the internet, secular or even from Christian sources. Not all information is created equal and it is important to weigh all the evidence. In my formal education, I learned to rely on primary sources first and then secondary. Likewise, consider the quality of the source of information before adopting a course of action. Remember, no one is infallible except God. Even experts can get it wrong on occasion. So be discerning.
5. Don’t be manipulated: Often times, star-gazers and prognosticators want to manipulate people to be fearful or to buy something to make things better. Whenever a source tells you to take a course of action based on fear, gullibility, or incentive to buy – don’t fall for it. God does not give us a Spirit of fear but of power, love, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7). Say ‘No’ to manipulation and ‘Yes’ to the control and infilling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).