Daniel 12:8-9 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
The study of prophecy is very interesting and challenging. There are many people interested in it – because we want to know the future (at least we think we do). If there is sorrow, problems, death, disease, etc. in our future often we try to avoid it if we know it. You often hear people say, “If I only knew . . .”
Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of Christ – whose birth we just celebrate – and in some of those prophecies they also predicted Him as a coming King. Isaiah said, Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” The people saw the coming king a government and rule, but they missed the first part that said a “child” is born; a “Son” is given. Therefore, they missed Christ when He was born in the manger in Bethlehem and when He toured the country preaching and teaching the gospel of grace. They were looking for a triumphant king not a Sacrifice for their sins. In the COVID crisis of today may are looking for Christ’s return but not as a king to rule in righteousness but as a person to get them out of the present mess we are in.
The church was hidden to the OT prophets so some people struggle to understand why they did not mention it in their prophecies. Paul is clear that it was hidden to them but revealed to the Apostles after Christ’s resurrection -- Ephesians 3:2-6 “ If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; . . . 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
There prophesies in the New Testament are somewhat different from those in the Old but they both point to a consummation, a coming world ruler and judgment. Dp the things we see and are experiencing today have a part in the prophetic word? In the coming weeks I plan to show how all or most of what is occurring fits into the prophetic word. The more we pay attention to this, the better prepared we are for what lies ahead.