END TIMES

THE BLACK SHEEP OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES

Exclusive: Jake McCandless on missed opportunity of those who disregard prophecy

Christmas brings to mind lots of things – gifts, stockings, family, trees, eggnog, wreaths, Santa, reindeer, sleighs, elves and, of course, the reason for the season – Jesus. 

But, believe it or not, Christmas more than any other time should remind us of the importance of prophecy.

As WND regulars, I know you recognize the value and necessity of studying the end times, as WND consistently provides articles on the subject, and WND Books is a national leader in prophecy books; but, you are rare!

Eschatology is treated as the black sheep of Christian doctrines. 

The subject is rarely touched in “mainstream” Christianity. You would be shocked to know how many church leaders have told me that teaching on prophecy was not something they did at their church. It didn’t fit their vision. 

You’d also be overwhelmed if you knew how many individuals who have reached out to me and shared that their church would not even let them start a Bible study on end-times studies.

In American Christianity, there are only certain pockets of believers who value end-time prophecy, but reflecting on the Christmas story and the following life of Jesus on earth should point us to the importance of the doctrine and the details of prophecy.

Jesus’ birth and the events surrounding it uncannily fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. 

Every Old Testament prophet whose messages are persevered in the Bible alluded to the Messiah and His work in their oracles. 

The details of Jesus’ birth and the reality of His life checked box after box of fulfillment. 

But the people of Jesus’ day did as we do today – they ignored the prophecies and consequentially rejected Jesus.

If only they would have known what Scripture said about the coming of the Messiah, and even more so if they had allowed the Holy Spirit to point them to how those prophecies were being fulfilled before their eyes. 

Just think how things could have been different. What a difference would have been made if those first-century Jews had valued prophecy. 

The same point could also be made to those Enoch and later Noah preached to in the days before the flood. 

And if only the 10 northern tribes had heeded the warnings of the coming Assyrian invasion. 

And if only Judah had been awake to the message of the prophets as Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces encircled Jerusalem.

Jesus checked the boxes provided by the Old Testament:

Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) – check!

A Descendent of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) – check!

Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) – check!

Escaped to Egypt (Hosea 11:1) – check!

Came out of Nazareth (Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 53:3) – check!

And the list could go on and on!

Now, I do agree with Dr. Michael Heiser who writes in “The Unseen Realm” how the message of the Messiah in the Old Testament was purposely encrypted to protect against evil spiritual forces – but the prophecies were still clear enough that the chief priest and scribe council convened by King Herod at the prompted from the Magi visit was able to identify that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

But still in Jesus’ day they rejected him. “Crucified him.”

If only they had been more aware of the prophecies and were watching for fulfillment of those prophecies, they would not only have been able to identify the Messiah but would have followed Him.

Most didn’t give prophecy a second thought; a few did, and they were ready.

Mary and Joseph both had enough of a foundation for Messianic prophecies to heed to the message from Gabriel.

John the Baptist trusted what he was instructed to do and prepared the way for Jesus.

The wise men remembered the prophecies and recognized the star of the Messiah.

There were two figures written about in Luke 2 who seem to be the only ones “ready” for Jesus’ appearing: Simeon, who had taken the Messianic prophecies seriously, was in the temple courts waiting on Jesus (Luke 2:25-35). And the prophetess Anna was also there waiting and saw Jesus for who He really was, because she viewed prophecy as important.

In Noah’s day, people literally missed the boat because they did not consider prophecy as important.

And almost everyone missed the proverbial boat when Jesus came in the first century because they did not prioritize eschatology.

How is it going to be in the future with you?

This Christmas season, as you celebrate and recover from festivities, let Christmas remind you of the importance of prophecy.

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http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/the-black-sheep-of-christian-doctrines/